Dan + Shay have become a country music powerhouse, topping the charts with their hit songs “Tequila” and “Speechless” and taking home a Grammy in 2019 for Best Country Duo/Group . Their latest single, “10,000 Hours,” is pre-released off their upcoming album and features Justin Bieber.
Bieber described the tune as “wedding music” on Twitter, as the song closely mimics the wedding anthem vibe from “Speechless.” The song’s title refers to Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything, and the trio describes how to master the art of being a committed partner. Dan + Shay and Bieber alternate between verses and choruses, each showcasing the song’s most memorable line: “If it’s ten thousand hours or the rest of my life / I’m gonna love you.” The song itself is simple with a sweet message about love and feels fitting given Bieber’s recent second wedding to Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin).
While the single musically stays true to the organic country roots of a Dan + Shay tune with twangy guitar riffs and steady rhythms, it also contains some elements of pop interwoven throughout, allowing for Bieber’s style to seamlessly fit into the song. It possesses the satisfying simplicity of Dan + Shay’s lyrical approach with lines like “Want the good and the bad and everything in between / Gotta cure my curiosity” and the added “ohs” mixed between lines of lyrics.
“10,000 Hours” is a promising tease of what’s to come from Dan + Shay, and it will undoubtedly be the most played songs at weddings this fall season.