Red Dirt country singer/songwriter Wade Bowen first shared “Hidin Behind This Microphone” as the final track of his acclaimed 2024 album Flyin. The song quickly became a favorite among fans. It also struck a chord with Bowen’s fellow country singer Cody Johnson. Today, American Songwriter is proud to premiere the new stripped-down version of “Hidin’ Behind This Microphone” featuring Johnson.
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Written by Bowen, Jim Beavers, and Randy Rogers, the song takes listeners behind the curtain of life on the road. There’s plenty of gratitude for being able to make a living through playing music. However, the song also looks at the less glamorous side of touring. Just like workers at any job, musicians have off days on tour. “Hidin Behind This Microphone” is about putting on a smile and hiding the hard times from the audience. The lyrics resonated with Johnson, an artist who spends months on the road every year.
The original version of the song featured a fairly Spartan arrangement. Steel guitar and understated percussion played under soft guitars while Bowen sang the heartfelt lyrics. This rendition strips things back a little more. The bulk of the song features a single acoustic guitar under Bowen and Johnson’s voices. A steel guitar enters the mix after the track’s halfway point. The sad pedal-steel solo helps drive home the forlorn emotion of the lyrics.
Wade Bowen on “Hidin Behind This Microphone”
Wade Bowen discussed the song and how he came to record the new version with Cody Johnson. “I’ve loved this song so much from the moment we wrote it, and it took us a long time to finish it, which happens sometimes,” Bowen says. “It was already one of my favorite songs on the album when I started getting texts from Cody about how much he loved the song and related to it some nights,” he adds. “Obviously, coming from a guy like him, that means the world. He’s one of my favorite voices and has always been a good friend to me. I’m so glad we finally get to do something together.”
Featured Image by Cameron Gott
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