In early December, ATZ posted Eric Kowalsky’s photos of country singer and songwriter Alan Jackson strumming his guitar on the Coney Island Boardwalk. The music video was released today on YouTube and it’s a beauty. We love it that Coney’s landmark Cyclone, Wonder Wheel and Parachute Jump, as well as the Astrotower and Paul’s Daughter’s Mama and Papa Burger make an appearance along with the Beach and the Boardwalk.
In the new single about the end of a love affair, Jackson sings that he’ll be the SOB, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore.” The shuttered stores and lonely beauty of Coney Island on a December day suit the lyrics, which are sorrowful yet defiant, in the way that the best country songs often are.
I will keep all those memories of the good times
Yeah there were some good times
So when you think of you and me
They won’t even cross your mind
“I didn’t write this one. It was written by Jay Knowles and my nephew, Adam Wright,” Jackson told Country Weekly in December. “This one just hit me. I can say this because I didn’t write it, people are comparing it to ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today.’ I would never put one of my songs up against that one, but since I didn’t write it, it’s OK.”
Thanks to Alan Jackson for making Coney Island the setting for your next no. 1 hit!
Alan Jackson in front of Paul's Daughter, Coney Island. December 2, 2011. Photo © Eric Kowalsky. All Rights Reserved
Related posts on ATZ...
December 3, 2011: Alan Jackson Video Shoot on Coney Island Boardwalk!
October 9, 2011: Coney Island Winter: Garland Jeffreys Live on Letterman
December 16, 2010: Blast from the Past: LFO’s Summer Girls Music Video
November 30, 2010: Video: The Wanted’s Lose My Mind at Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel Park
Amusing the Zillion 
Kind of bizarre to see Coney Island as a setting for that kind of song!
You mean a country ballad? Coney Island is a long way from Nashville, but we do get local bands playing a wide variety of music during the season–rock, folk, jazz, honkytonk, hiphop, reggae–everybody is welcome! There’s a Brooklyn band with country roots –Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers — who have a Coney Island Cowboy CD and play here too: http://www.seankershaw.com
I think a lot of folks will connect emotionally with this song, whether country fans or not. It’s usual for people to blame each other, yet here’s a guy singing about taking all the blame. It’s different and unexpected, perhaps in the same way that Coney Island might be unexpected as the backdrop for a country song.
This is the best and truest country song to come along in over twenty years…Nothing on today’s radio can touch it. Thank you, Alan Jackson for re-storing my faith in real country music because it’s been gone for long time now…
This song is the best I have heard in so long, I love it and would love to meet Alan in person. Freda Ahonen
Pure Country from the heart…….county music has evolved and I have enjoyed country music for many years and I like alot of the new artists…..But this song is “Country” heart felt with real country flavor……….can’t stand the teeny bopper garbage song by Taylor Swift She should get together with Justin Beaver their meant for each other
Love this new song by Alan Jackson I do think it resembeled George Jones stylee but that is part of its appeal and the voice of Jacksonn has matured too it is a sure hit….the type of soundd and lyrics I crave (and I am only 30) hope it starts a trend