Brad Paisley photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Sometimes it’s intended, sometimes it’s not. But Brad Paisley’s career seems to be in sync with the world around him.

Monday was a particularly good example. He announced details of his upcoming H2O World Tour on what was officially recognized as World Water Day. He also held a No. 1 party in Franklin, Tenn., at Nucci’s Italian Ice, cleverly dovetailing the event with the “Italian ice” reference in the chorus of “American Saturday Night,” one of two songs being honored at the party.

The other No. 1 song demonstrated even greater synchronicity, though Brad had little control over the latest advance in the storyline. “Welcome To The Future” was inspired in November 2008 by the election of Barack Obama, when Brad just happened to be in Times Square, where he witnessed a huge celebration. The first time he performed the song live was last July at the White House with President Obama just a few feet in front of him. On the morning of Monday’s No. 1 party, the front page of The Tennessean trumpeted the news about Obama’s signature policy: “Congress passes health-care bill.”

“Don’t tie me to healthcare!” Brad laughed of the coincidence.

But his timing is clearly excellent. Particularly with “Welcome To The Future,” Brad’s had a really fortuitous connection to the events of the day. Whether or not he agrees with the administration, his song — which recognized the progress of a nation electing its first African-American leader — has remained incredibly relevant, even when it wasn’t intended.

“As far as [I’m] tied to current events, I definitely have synchronicity, but that’s not by design,” he said. “I don’t know how these things happen to me. I’ve always had that kinda life. I’m just, in many ways, Forrest Gump. There I am standing there, I’m playin’ ping pong one minute, and the next I’m being recognized for something stupid, and I don’t know how or why — or that I deserve it. But don’t go thinkin’ of me as one of these celebrities that think they know it all, ‘cause I don’t.”

In fact, like a lot of Americans, Brad doesn’t know what to think about the controversial legislation.

“I hear one side argue this and one side argue that,” he said, “and they both sound right.”

Brad’s been around the leaders on both sides. In fact, in January, he attended a black-tie Washington event, the Alfalfa Club Dinner, as a guest of former Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, rubbing elbows with politicians from both sides of the aisle: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Colin Powell, Rahm Emmanuel and John McCain.

“What was really interesting,” Brad reflected, “was they all get along at these events! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, ‘cause really, when you watch the pundits and you watch the right and the left just [butting heads], there’s this feeling that they must really wanna kill each other and beat each other up for real. Then you go to an event like that, and they’re goin’, ‘How’s it goin’?’ ‘Hey, come over here; I want you to meet so and so!’ I’m like, ‘You guys talk!?’”

Talking at Monday’s actual No. 1 presentation was surprisingly kept to a minimum. ASCAP, one of three American performing rights organizations, held the event, with plaques handed out to Brad, Arista Records, producer Frank Rogers, a cadre of music publishing companies and the songs’ co-writers: Chris DuBois, who co-authored “Welcome To The Future” with Brad; and Ashley Gorley and Kelley Lovelace, who took part in “American Saturday Night.”

Both songs have a patriotic component to them, which only underscores Brad’s ability to make things fit together.

“I’m lookin’ at the positivity, the hope, the glimmers that maybe some things are going the right way,” he said. “Maybe some things aren’t, but [I’m] writing about some positive things about living in this country. It’s still the best place, I think, to be born, to live, to have these opportunities. There’s a reason so many people try to come here.”

ShareThis