Nashville country rocker Gwen Levey and the Breakdownâs new album Not the Girl Next Door finds Levey breaking free and reclaiming her voice. Levey seamlessly blends modern country with classic rock to make a sound that is uniquely her own.
The lead single off the album is the anthemic womenâs rights hoedown âBarefoot and Pregnant,â which comes in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Its tongue-in-cheek lyrics tackle a difficult subject with satiric wit and charm. Its drums propel the song forward like a freight train, as Leveyâs witty lyrics challenge outdated social conventions. Itâs a rowdy, honky tonk banger that sounds happy, but you can almost hear the tears behind the smiles.
âBarefoot and Pregnantâ emphases the ideal of feminist icon Emma Goldmanâs paraphrased quote, âA revolution without dancing is not a revolution worth having.â The songâs sentiment struck a chord and went viral on TikTok from Leveyâs live versions before she even made it to the studio.