Kiss Me Like a Stranger (Commentary)

We're celebrating the release of Thomas Rhett's new album, Life Changes
Giving you a chance to hear all the songs on the album
And I hope that you will go and download it
Or buy a copy at the store once you get a chance to hear all of the songs
'Cause I know you're going to love this album

And this next song is called Kiss Me Like a Stranger, and you know what a velvety song
That's the word that sort of came to my mind when I heard it
It's got that old school Motown vibe to it
Was that what you were aiming for when you sat down to write this song
Or what created that sound and that feel of Kiss Me Like a Stranger?

We were on the road, I think, in North Carolina, and I had Dave Barnes
Who a lot of people don't know who Dave Barnes is
But he was like one of the main voices of my college days
(Mm-hmm, phenomenal songwriter)

Yeah, pretty sure I made out to a few of his songs in the backseat of my truck during college
Just like the most velvet, like you said, silky smooth voice I've ever heard
So anytime I'm writing with him
I always want to write like Marvin Gaye, Barry Manilow sounding songs
Because he does it so well
And so I don't remember how we got that title
But I do know that Jordan, the other co-writer, was sitting there
And he said the phrase Kiss Me Like a Stranger in context of some other conversation we were having
And when he said that, we all stopped talking to each other and said, that's the title
I don't know what it means, but that's the title

And really the song is like
Every relationship goes through like a period of just like routine, if you will
You get into, all right, honey, I'll see you after work, and you come home
And you watch three episodes of Parenthood, and you go to bed
And I think every relationship needs somewhat of a waking up every now and then
And that song is basically like, yo, tonight is the night
Kiss me like we just met in a bar
You know, and it's just very vivid in that way
And very, very, probably the sexiest song that I have recorded

Well, you know, one thing that struck me about this song and a few of the songs on this album is
And follow me on this
It seems to me that young female singers
Sometimes they have trouble with people accepting their transition from young girl to young woman
Because people don't want to watch them grow up

And yet young men aren't as challenged with that
But with this song, I see your transition
Because you're now going from maybe being the guy singing about summer love that, you know
I met her in a bar or we're hanging out
And now, I mean, with such conviction and authenticity
I can listen to you singing about, you know, being a stranger in your marriage or your relationship
And believe it and buy it and feel that maturity in you

That means a lot
Thank you very much

Yeah, I just think it's a fantastic song
It's Kiss Me Like a Stranger on Big Machine Radio