Pete Droge delivers a lovely message and sentiment in his latest single. ‘You Called Me Kid’ is dedicated to Droge’s adoptive parents and his words on the gift of unconditional love are truly touching. The accompanying music video, directed shot and edited by John Jeffcoat, features footage submitted by fans celebrating the paternal figures in their lives; it is brilliantly put together and helps to make all the emotions and meaning in the song feel even more authentic.
Droge says of the song: “While ‘You Called Me Kid’ was written as a tribute to my dad after he passed away, I dedicate the song to both of my parents. When I was a young boy, he’d hand me a few bucks and say, ‘Knock yourself out, Kid,’ and into my adult life he continued to call me ‘kid.’ Now, ten years after his passing, I can still hear his voice in my head with a warm, affectionate tone saying, ‘How you doin’, kid?’ As the old saying goes, all you need are three chords and the truth. The heart of the song is the last line in the chorus: Never in this life could anybody find a more generous or precious gift to give. As an adoptee, I am grateful for the sacrifices my folks made to raise me. And from a songcraft perspective, I love how that lyric hangs on the melody. It’s so satisfying when you get exactly what you want to say to fit perfectly into the space you have to say it in.” Indeed, this is one of those beautifully-crafted songs that appears to have been perfectly formed as it emerged from Droge’s heart.
‘You Called Me Kid’ appears on Droge’s new album, “Fade Away Blue”, which is themed around his experience of reuniting with his birth family while battling a mysterious illness. In the process, he explored his identity and discovered himself. It was 16 years ago that he went looking for his birth mother. Instead Droge found her obituary but connected with his surviving relatives and his life was forever changed. Recorded with GRAMMY-winning producer Paul Bryan (Aimee Mann), the album is personal and heartfelt. A gifted team of musicians supported Droge on the album, including: guitarist Rusty Anderson (Paul McCartney), drummer Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss), pianist Lee Pardini (Dawes, Chris Stapleton), pedal steel player Greg Leisz (Jackson Browne), and fiddler Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers). The resulting record will arrive on 22nd August, an excellent collection to explore towards the end of summer.
