Country singer-songwriter Eric Church has just released an inspiring spoken-word piece before teasing an upcoming track, "Through My Ray Bans," in a YouTube video, April 18.
"Where there once was roars, now they're just echoes," Church's new piece opens. He laments how physical activities such as handshakes and hugs are now considered dangerous but he stands firm, saying that he does not believe in panic. The uplifting message opened up to a sequence of empty concert venues leading to a multitude of audience holding up their phones for light.
"This damn virus has any idea what it's up against: the American resolve," Church added, describing it as being "steeled by the world, steadied by faith, calmed by song, healed by prayer."
As the roar of the audience complements the rising accompaniments and chants, Church stands defiant in the face of adversity. "When the question of 'who will answer this call' is asked, thousands will raise their fist and say 'I will, we will," the Nashville artist proclaimed.
Eric Church then preached the power of faith and prayer, believing that the best is yet to come. He assured his fans, "We shall rage. We shall roar."
"I cannot wait to see you again - through my Ray Bans," he softly says, as an uplifting song takes over with a glimpse of his fans before showing the country star singing.
"Everybody's got their arms around everybody else's shoulders," the song begins. "Wish you could stay the way I see you through my Ray-Bans," he sings as the 2:28 video fades to black.
The 42-year-old artist has established his on-stage bad boy appeal thanks to his signature Ray-Ban aviators. In a 2014 interview with CMT, he said that he doesn't usually wear sunglasses but since his eyes don't do "well in lights," he has shades on whenever he plays.
Born Kenneth Eric Church, has released six studio albums starting with his debut "Sinners Like Me" in 2006, spawning three hits on the top 20 of the Billboard country charts - "Guys Like Me," "Two Pink Lines," and "How 'Bout You."
His debut was followed by five more to date "Carolina" (2009), "Chief" (2011), "The Outsiders" (2014), "Mr. Misunderstood" (2015), and "Desperate Man" (2018). His albums also spawned respective hits landing on the Bilboard country charts, including his number 1 hits "Love Your Love The Most" and "Springsteen."
While Eric Church is known as a country rock star, his musical style has also been described as outlaw country or southern rock, citing Hank Williams Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Ray Wylie Hubbard as his inspiration.
Church has recently released a single during "ACM Presents: Our Country," an in-home concert taking the place of the postponed 55th Academy of Country Music (ACM). He started out with a solemn reminder to follow self-isolation bravely, explaining that "The hardest thing about this for me - as a dad, as a husband, as a business leader, as a citizen - has been the unknown" before performing his song, "Never Break Heart," which is a country ballad apparently encouraging his heart to "go and get" and "live and let learn."
