Back when I was in college, I had the privilege of seeing
Train open up for
Ben Folds Five. It must have been 2001, because I seem to recall knowing at least two of their songs – “
Meet Virginia,” and “
Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).” While both of these songs were present throughout my college years, after college I fell off the
Train train, so to speak. Fast forward to 2009 and the release of “
Hey, Soul Sister,” the bands biggest U.S. hit to date. Like much of the world I was smitten with the band once again. It was like they never left! now it’s 2012 and the band have me smitten once again, this time with their new single, the infectious pop/rock anthem off the band’s sixth studio album,
California 37. Two memorable songs in less than three years? Looks like I’m back on the
Train train once again.
I don’t know why I never noticed this before, but lead singer Pat Monahan is undeniably sexy! He’s a total DILF! While my lustful feelings for Monahan most likely were peaked when he sang about his “untrimmed chest” in “Hey, Soul Sister.” they didn’t solidify until after I watched the new Alan Ferguson-directed video for “Drive By.” Seeing him rolling around in a vat of crushed grapes is just so damn hot! “Drive By” was written by Monahan and Norwegian songwriting/production duo Espionage (Chris Brown, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson), the very same duo who helped craft the band’s smash 2009 hit “Hey, Soul Sister.” This certainly explains the sense of familiarity I feel when listening to “Drive By,” and it looks like I’m not alone in those sentiments, with Billboard getting straight to the point in their review, saying “If at first you succeed — why not try again?” And that they did.
Released in January, “Drive By” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of April 7th taking the #13 spot, becoming the bands third highest charting single in the U.S., behind “Hey, Soul Sister” (#3) and “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” (#5). The song is doing well internationally as well, coming in the top 10 in at least twelve countries. Train released their sixth album, California 37 on April 17th with Columbia Records. Like “Hey, Soul Sister” before it, which received unexpectedly amazing dance remixes from Karmatronic, “Drive By” too has been remixed for the clubs, this time around by Smash Mode. Download Train on iTunes and check out the “Drive By” video BELOW. Oh and make sure you tune into The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight to see Train performing “Drive By.”
