REVIEW: Robert Hale — What People Think of Me Is None of My Business (SINGLE)
Robert Hale’s new Tim Stafford-Jon Weisberger penned single “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” promises to be a transformative track in the West Virginian’s career. It’s the latest in a string of successful one-off releases. Recent past singles such as “A Place Where I Belong” and his Stonewall Jackson cover “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water” have highlighted different facets of his gifts. “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” continues in that vein as Hale’s interpretive powers tackle a different perspective than before.
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The new single and its predecessors are slated for inclusion on his pending album release. The anthemic attributes of the new single will garner many listeners. The Stafford/Weisberger composition is easy to love and grows on you with a single hearing. It isn’t full of empty-headed musical gloss. Hale summons a formidable musical attack that engages the audience on both a physical and mental level. “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” works in close quarters and demands listeners’ reactions.
Banjo acumen drives the performance. However, several classic bluegrass ingredients flavor the recording. Hale strikes an effective balance between paying tribute to the genre’s past while pushing ahead into the present and beyond thanks to its robust production. “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” has a vital sound. The fiddle playing takes center stage during the song’s second half with a scintillating instrumental break that carries the track higher.
It accomplishes a great deal in less than two and a half minutes. The songwriters and Hale condense their joint vision down to the essentials. Unwavering focus is one of the song’s strong suits. “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” sweeps listeners along on an irrepressible trajectory without ever overwhelming listeners. Other lead breaks are never flashy and serve the song.
The bedrock of fundamentals underlying the song reflects Hale’s musical DNA. He’s played the Grand Old Opry supporting bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and stoked his passion for the style since his youth. “What People Think of Me Is None of My Business” derives much of its worth from his background and the seamless way he incorporates it into the performance. It doesn’t attempt merely to imitate tradition. Instead, Hale’s single embodies it without relying on its trappings alone.
The songwriting team of Stafford/Weisberger has crafted a memorable single. The universal appeal of a song such as this, grounded in a well-established colloquialism, doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator. Instead, it uses that figure of speech as an intelligent jumping-off point for an unique and durable track. It has enough one-of-a-kind qualities to stand on its own and enough of a broad reach that it will work into any possible running order Hale pursues for his forthcoming release. “What People Think of Me is None of My Business” opens a new chapter in Robert Hale’s musical journey that should sustain his path forward in years to come.
Colin Jordan
