Establishing the mood with a cerebral crowd noise energy, an intricate banjo soundscape and subtle ad-lib of the track’s title, JT Catalano opens Cheers with a timeless acknowledgement of human connection and gratitude.
The opus expands with the lyrics, “Cheers to my sisters and my brothers, to the good moms and their mothers, to the fathers who walked their talk, when push came to shove they walked that walk…”. We are immediately humbled by the concept of the track and how pristine the sound generation is.
JT tells us that the song is “built as a tribute to the parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, counsellors, preachers, and hometown people who quietly shape who we become.” In a world with so much global turmoil, it is refreshing to experience such a wholesome message that invites us to really go inward and appreciate the people around us.
As for the production, it builds into an anthemic and stadium-ready energy, which also has a cinematic allure. We could imagine the song in a film like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Little Miss Sunshine, Garden State, Young Adult or Sweet Home Alabama. Due to the progressive technology used to create the track, the mix is naturally pristine.
The rapped verses are epic, we appreciate the high-octane energy that is contagious. This lyrical authenticity came from a personal full-circle moment for JT. We learn that after leaving Bethel, CT and spending 15 years in South Florida “chasing the wrong things”, the rising artist returned home and realized that what he had been looking for was already there, including his family, roots, memories, and those who raised him. JT says “Cheers is my way of honouring the people who built us. I wanted to write a song for the real ones.”
The track is perfect to sing along to, and indeed, raise a glass! For some historical context, the act of “cheersing” drinks goes back thousands of years to ancient civilizations like Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Back in the day, people would raise up cups to honour the gods, celebrate victories, and show trust through the act of clinking glasses which causes drinks to spill slightly into each other, symbolically proving they weren’t poisoned. Now, it is seen more as a casual gesture of celebration, but it is great to have JT Catalano shine a light on its history with a modern twist!
Needless to say, we deeply appreciate what JT Catalano has created, and have added Cheers to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of JT Catalano, including Back To The Frontier, and Delulu! You can follow JT Catalano on Instagram, here.