Artist: Johnny Carter
Title: Nice Guys
Genre(s): Pop, R&B
Length: 3:13
Writers: Johnny Carter, Christopher Hudson, Ilya Salmanzadeh
Producer: ILYA
Label: Just Record Records
From The Album: Human
Nice Guys is a song by American singer-songwriter Johnny Carter, released as the lead single from his upcoming second studio album, Human. The song was released on November 10 2019, without any prior official announcement or promotion. The track was written by Carter, Christopher Hudson and Ilya Salmanzadeh. The latter also produced the track. Lyrically, the uptempo pop and R&B crossover track is about being attracted to dangerous men and, while appreciating "nice guys", finding them underwhelming as lovers.
In the spring of 2018, it was rumoured that Carter had began working on his sophomore effort, with pictures of him entering a recording studio in L.A. circulating online. Several song titles were registered to ASCAP with Johnny listed as writer and performer, however, nothing materialised from this time. Carter would then go on to take a lengthy break from the spotlight, not making any official media appearances and even coming off all of his social media accounts for almost two whole years. His relationship with fellow singer Joshua Grimmie grew strenuous and Carter found himself in a depressive state and considered to be "done" with music. An entire album's worth of material was scrapped.
Acclaimed songwriter, TV personality and member of The Stat Nerds, Christopher Hudson initially wrote the original version of "Nice Guys" along with Ilya with the intention of pitching it to a female pop star. According to Hudson, acts such as Eilidh and Amy-Jayne were possibilities. When Johnny began to write again in the summer of 2019, he reached out to Hudson and booked several sessions together. Christopher played the demo for Johnny and "his eyes lit up". Carter immediately put his voice to track and then the pair reworked the lyrics to make it more suitable for Johnny.
Johnny wrote:"To me, "Nice Guys" was a huge turning point. It was the song that made me want to and feel excited about releasing a body of work again. For the best part of two years, I had been in a rut both professionally and personally. I was sort of going around in circles and not being happy or motivated by anything. I scrapped an entire album because it was...crap. I sounded lifeless and disinterested because, I was! When I got into the studio with Christopher, things changed."
"I usually come out with my own ideas. I don't really touch already existing songs but something about the fun production and the naughty and sexy lyrics just put a smile on my face. I wanted to get into the booth ASAP as soon as the demo finished playing. "Nice Guys" was like a stepping stone for me. It was the first time I was pumped about music in a long time and, in turn, it motivated me to push ahead and create the album I have today."
"The song is definitely the most pop thing on the record. In fact, it's probably the most pop track I've ever put out but it serves its purpose. It gives me that buzz. It's just a fun, catchy and naughty little song. There are a lot of songs on my new album, "Human", which are very introspective and heavy in nature. I didn't want my comeback song to be anything too deep. You'll get to experience all that with the album and tour. I just wanted to come back after two years away and serve up something upbeat and sexy. We all need to escape and have fun from time to time...and we all love a bad boy, right?"
"Nice Guys"I've had my tears dried in the pouring rain
Didn't need anyone to come wash them away
Under the midnight sky, I can love whoever
Sweet is good but nasty just hits it better
You can wrap it all up with tiny little bows
But that's not the way my river flows
I'm sure you can keep it on the low
But can you take me where I need to go?
You hesitating, yeah I don't think so
No, I don't think so
True what you heard, nice guys always finish last
Yeah, burning too bright, too fast
Just don't cut, there's a test they'll never pass
Yeah, one course they could never crash
Don't cry about it, I'm sure there's another
Your shades are pale, I need a red hot kinda lover
Sorry to say that nice guys always finish lastNever hated the game and always loved the players
Guess that I've always been drawn to danger
Walking a fine line between what's wrong and right
But I love the thrill, I'm far from terrified
I like it like that, don't need further explanation
Let me drop a pin to my location
I'm sure you're cool, cooler than ice
But if I give you commands, would you think twice?
No cookie cutting, I need a little more spice
Yeah, a little more spice
True what you heard, nice guys always finish last
Yeah, burning too bright, too fast
Just don't cut, there's a test they'll never pass
Yeah, one course they could never crash
Don't cry about it, I'm sure there's another
Your shades are pale, I need a red hot kinda lover
Sorry to say that nice guys always finish lastNice guys always finish last
Nice guys always finish last
Burning bright and burning fast
No, they just don't last, oh
Nice guys always finish last
Nice guys always finish last
Burning bright and burning fast
No, they just don't last, oh
True what you heard, nice guys always finish last
Yeah, burning too bright, too fast
Just don't cut, there's a test they'll never pass
Yeah, one course they could never crash
Don't cry about it, I'm sure there's another
Your shades are pale, I need a red hot kinda lover
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