A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Shaboozey

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is the fourth single from Shaboozey’s album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going and is his biggest hit to date. Although Shaboozey made his major-label debut in 2018, this track is his first single to chart and has since achieved multi-platinum status around the world.

Released on April 12, 2024, the single was collaboratively written by Shaboozey, Nevin Sastry, and Sean Cook and features a prominent interpolation of J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy.” Sastry and Cook handled production on what turned out to be a chart-topping crossover success. It climbed to number-one on the Hot 100 and multiple other charts. It made history as the first song to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay, and Rhythmic Airplay charts simultaneously.

The song’s widespread appeal stems from the talent of its writers and producers, who skillfully blend original content with the catchiest elements from J-Kwon’s "Tipsy." It features a mix of country, hip hop, and pop influences, all of which are in tune with key trends of 2024’s biggest hits. However, it also possesses a folk influence that helps it stand out from the pack and is the only Hot 100 top 10 hit in the past decade to blend all four influences under one roof. The song’s organic production elements combine with pop polish for a crowd-pleasing sound that rocketed the song to the top of the charts.

The real magic, however, lies in how all these elements come together to create a cohesive vibe and a strong emotional bond with the listener. This prosody - the harmony between the song’s elements - is the secret sauce that deepens the listener’s connection and keeps them coming back for more.

At-A-Glance

Artist: Shaboozey
Song: A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Songwriters: Capo, K-Kwon, Shaboozey, Tarboy
Producers: Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook
Record Label: EMPIRE
Primary Genre: Country
Influences: Country, Folk, Hip Hop/Rap, Pop
Length: 2:50
Form: I-A-PC-B-VB-A-PC-B-VB-PC-B-O
Key: F# Minor
Tempo: 81 BPM
First Chorus: 0:48 / 28% of the way into the song
Intro Length: 0:12
Electronic vs. Acoustic Instrumentation: Primarily Acoustic
Prominent Instruments: Bass (Acoustic), Drums/Perc (Acoustic/Electronic Combo), Guitar (Acoustic), Strings (Fiddle)
Primary Lyrical Themes: Introspection, Lifestyle, Partying/Living It Up
Title Appearances: 12 Times

Section Abbreviation Key

IB = Instrumental Break | VB = Vocal Break | “D” = Departure | T = Turnaround | O = Outro

Music notation and lyric excerpts are reproduced here under Fair Use terms, for the purposes of commentary and criticism.

Song Structure

Overview

"A Bar Song (Tipsy's)" structural characteristics are largely in line with Hot 100 top 10 trends. Among them are its familiar and easy-to-follow form, the inclusion of two verses and three choruses, catchy post-choruses, beginning with an intro and concluding with an outro, and running on the shorter end of the spectrum.

The main area where the song goes against the grain is with its atypical pre-chorus 3 “D” (departure) section as opposed to a more common bridge.

Song Sections

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” contains 12 sections within its framework:

One intro section
Two verse sections
Three pre-chorus sections
Three chorus sections
Two vocal break sections
One outro section

Song Section Classifications

“D” (Departure) Section Classification

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” features two back-to-back “D” (departure) sections. The first is pre-chorus 3, which appears 70% of the way into the song, right where one would expect to find it (“D” sections commonly occur between two-thirds and three-quarters of the way in). Compared to pre-choruses 1 and 2, pre-chorus 3 incorporates changed up melodies and lyrics along with a low-energy breakdown arrangement.

Directly following pre-chorus 3 is chorus 3, which is twice the length of the other choruses. The first half of the section provides a notable departure against the other choruses with its breakdown, clap-along quality before shifting to a denser and more energetic arrangement in the second half. Along with heightening interest, the clap-along breakdown is A.P.M. (audience participation moment)-primed for a live setting.

While most non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits continue to include a “D” section in their framework, it’s use has recently been in decline. In the first quarter of 2024, only 56% of songs contained a “D” section, compared to 70% in 2023, and 85% in 2022.

The use of a pre-chorus “D” section as opposed to a bridge is even far less common. Over the past five years, it was the case with only 3% of non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits. Notable representatives include the #1 hits “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus) and “Permission To Dance” (BTS), and the #2 charting “Don’t Start Now” (Dua Lipa).

Use of a “D” Section in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Use of a Pre-Chorus Bridge Surrogate “D” Section in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Post-Chorus Section Classification

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” contains three post-chorus “hook centers” in its framework – vocal breaks 1 and 2 and the outro. All share the commonality of two repetitions of the song title hook, “Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy,” and fiddle hook. Supporting these hooks is the continuation of the preceding chorus’ core accompaniment, which keeps the listener locked in and their full attention on the hooks without distraction.

Over the past four out of five years, the majority of non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits have featured post-choruses in their structure. Among these, vocal breaks and outro post-choruses have consistently been the two most popular types of post-chorus sections.

Use of a Post-Chorus in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Post-Chorus Sections in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Form

Time and Percent into the Song When Core Sections Occur

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Core A-B-A-B-D-B Form in Hot 100 Top 10 Hits (Q2 2023 – Q1 2024)

The timing of “A Bar Song (Tipsy’s)” core sections (verse, chorus, and “D” section) is relatively consistent with the averages for non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits from the year prior to its release. All of these sections occur within 6% of the average, contributing to the song's structural familiarity.

“A Bar Song” (Tipsy) / Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Average

Verse 1: 7% / 8%
Verse 2: 42% / 39%
Chorus 1: 28% / 22%
Chorus 2: 56% / 53%
Chorus 3: 78% / 77%
First “D” Section: 70% / 65%

Song & Section Length

Song Length

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” clocks in at 2:50, 31-seconds shorter than the non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 average of 3:21 in the year prior to its release. This is in-tune with the top 10’s general gravitation towards shorter run times in recent years, with the under three-minute range being most common or second most common over the past five years.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has a runtime of 2:50, which is 31 seconds shorter than the non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 average of 3:21 from the year prior to its release. This shorter length aligns with the general trend in recent years towards shorter runtimes, with the under-three-minute range being either the most common or the second most common over the past five years.

Song Length Ranges of Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Section Length

“A Bar Song (Tipsy’s)” section lengths are highly uniform, with all except for three landing at 12 seconds/8 bars. The exceptions are the double length verse 1, which provides additional narrative development early on in the song, the double length chorus 3, which further immerses the listener in its catchy hooks on the backend of the song, and the unique pre-chorus 3 “D” section, which is two seconds and one bar longer than the other pre-choruses. This deviation creates an unexpected, tension-laden moment that heightens the impact of the ensuing chorus final chorus.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy’s)” features highly uniform section lengths, with all but three sections measuring 12 seconds and 8 bars in length. The exceptions are: the double-length verse 1, which adds extra narrative development early in the song; the double-length chorus 3, which further immerses the listener in catchy hooks towards the end; and the unique pre-chorus 3 “D” section, which is two seconds and one bar longer than the other pre-choruses. This deviation creates an unexpected, tension-filled moment that heightens the impact of the final chorus.

Compared to the average section length of non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits from the year prior to its release, the sections in “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” are slightly to moderately shorter, except for chorus 3, which is the same length.

Intro: 1-second shorter
Verse: 2-seconds shorter (verse 1), 16 seconds shorter (verse 2)
Pre-Chorus: 3-seconds shorter (pre-choruses 1 and 2), 1-second shorter (pre-chorus 3)
Chorus: 12-seconds shorter (choruses 1 and 2), equal (chorus 3)
Vocal Break: 3-seconds shorter
Outro: 10 seconds shorter

*Note: Section lengths are rounded.

Total Section Breakdown

Like most hit songs, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” allocates the most time to the chorus, which makes up 28% of the total composition. The verse and pre-chorus sections follow closely, at 22% and 21%, respectively. The vocal break accounts for 14%, while the intro and outro each make up the smallest portion at 7%.

In terms of hooks, they appear in 79% of the song, with the exception of the verse sections.

Compared to the averages for non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits from the year prior to its release, the most notable differences are a 10% smaller allocation for the verse and a 7% larger allocation for the pre-chorus, largely due to the inclusion of three pre-choruses instead of the typical two.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” / Q2 2023 – Q1 2024 Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Average Time Allocation

Intro: 7% / 7%
Verse: 21% / 31%
Pre-Chorus: 22% / 15%
Chorus: 28% / 32%
Vocal Break: 14% / 13%
Outro: 7% / 12%

Tempo and Key

Tempo

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has a tempo of 81 BPM, which is 14 BPM slower than the non-hip hop top 10 average of 95 BPM from the quarter prior to its release (Q1 2024). The 80-89 BPM range has been declining since 2021, falling from 17% of songs to just 6%, its lowest level in over a decade. The only song in this range in Q1 2024 was Taylor Swift’s hit “Cruel Summer” (85 BPM).

Average Tempo in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

80-89 BPM Tempo Range in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Key

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is in the key of F# minor. While the use of minor and major tonalities among non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits has been relatively close in recent years, the gap widened significantly in the first quarter of 2024, with a split of 31% minor and 69% major.

Major vs. Minor Keys in Non-Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10 Hits: 2019 – Q1 2024

Genres & Influences

Genres & Influence Blend

Key

X: The influence appears prominently within the stanza and/or section
x: The influence appears minimally within the stanza and/or section
-/-: Divides stanzas

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)" blends elements of pop, country, folk, and hip-hop/rap. These influences are put into effect by the qualities of the vocals, instrumentation, lyrics, and overall production.

Pop Influences

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is heavily influenced by Pop, evident in its radio-friendly qualities. Among them are its catchy K.I.S.S. ME (keep it simple, singable, and memorable) melodies, built in A.P.M.s (audience participation moments), infectious hooks, familiar and easy-to-follow structure, and modern production qualities.

Country Influences

Country influences are also prominent throughout the song, predominantly showcased in the vocals. Shaboozey’s vocal performance includes a southern twinge, and the lyrics include references to “two-steppin’ on the table” and “a party downtown near 5^th Street.” In addition, the use of acoustic and pedal steel guitars, banjo, and fiddle in the song’s main “hook centers” (chorus 3 and post-choruses), heightens its country appeal.

Folk Influences

The song also draws on multiple folk sub-genres, including stomp ‘n holler and bluegrass. Putting these influences into effect are the acoustic instrumentation and background vocal textures, which evoke a communal, rustic atmosphere of an old-timey bar. It is also evident in the clap-along backbeat and stomping four-on-the-floor kick drum pattern in sections like the second post-chorus, third chorus, and outro.

Hip-Hop/Rap Influences

In addition to its pop, country, and folk influences, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” also incorporates subtle elements of hip-hop/rap due in part to the interpolation of J-Kwon’s 2004 hit, “Tipsy.”

Vocally, Shaboozey's delivery in the second verse takes on a rap cadence, and this style is also present to a lesser extent in the pre-choruses. Later in the song, the background vocals include the use of adlibs, a hallmark of the hip hop/rap genre.

Lyrically, alongside its theme of partying and living it up, the song also touches on lifestyle, a theme that is highly commonplace in hip-hop. It also includes hip hop influenced lyricism including specific references of luxury items ("My baby want a Birkin”), slang ("Tell my ma, I ain’t forget"), and occasional profanity ("we gon’ do this sh*t again").

Blending In & Standing Out in the Hot 100 Top 10

“A Bar Song (Tipsy’s)” expert balance of genres and influences enabled it to both blend in and stand out in the Hot 100 top 10 and broaden its crossover appeal. The song holds the distinction of being the first ever to reach the top 10 on the combination of Billboard’s Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts.

Blending In

On the familiar side is the song’s pop influence, which unsurprisingly was present in every non-hip hop/rap Hot 100 top 10 hit over the past five years and beyond.

Also familiar is its hip hop influence. Although hip hop’s impact on non-hip hop hits has declined in recent years, it played a role in some recent #1 smashes like Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” and Sam Smith and Kim Petras’s “Unholy.”

Country, while not as popular as pop and hip hop in the upper regions of the Hot 100, has been on the rise. The genre’s representation increased from just 6% of songs in 2022 to 21% in 2023 and held steady at 25% in the first quarter of 2024.

Standing Out

Far less common is the song’s folk influence. Over the past decade, only 3% of non-hip hop Hot 100 top 10 hits have possessed a folk influence, with most appearing in 2013. Notable examples include The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” and OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars.”

Furthermore, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” holds the unique distinction of being the only Hot 100 top 10 hit in the past decade to feature all four of these influences under one roof, with folk being the main distinguishing factor. With folk removed from the equation, the percentage rises slightly from 0% to 2%. Notable examples include “Cruise” (FGL featuring Nelly, 2013), “Body Like A Back Road” (Sam Hunt, 2017), “Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019), and “Last Night” (Morgan Wallen, 2023).