Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad

Greetings to fans of real country 
music, and welcome to this week’s 
Essie Country’s 21st Century Real Country Music Song of the Week, for the week of 03/15/26 thru 03/21/Greetings to fans of real country music, and welcome to this week’s Essie Country’s 21st Century Real Country Music Song of the Week, for the week of 03/15/26 thru 03/21/26

Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad 
Cowritten & Performed by 
Drake Mulligan
Released 11/07/2025
Intro by Gene Johns 
essie-country.com

On November 7, 2025, real country artist and songwriter Drake Milligan released his second studio album titled “Tumbleweed.” I read an AI-generated review of the album, which said, “The 14-track album blends neotraditional country, Texas country, and Western swing with modern Nashville influences, showcasing Milligan’s storytelling and musical versatility.” 
 
Honestly, I didn’t know what neotraditional country meant. So, I asked ChatGPT for the definition of neotraditional country, and this was the answer: 
 
Neotraditional country is a style of country music that appeared in the 1980s as a reaction against the more pop-influenced sounds of that time. It focuses on reviving traditional elements of classic country-think fiddles, steel guitars, honky-tonk rhythms, and a more straightforward storytelling approach to lyrics.
 
On March 8, 2026, I reviewed all 14 songs on that album. One song, in my opinion, stood out among the other 13 neotraditional songs: “Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad.” Why? Because its easygoing melody and its pure, classic two-stepping dance-hall country style sound offered a delightful and genuine country tune that Essie Country seeks to promote. 
 
In the world of real country music, “Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad” might not be a top contender, but it’s not that bad. Plus, dog-gone-it, it’s a great example of what today’s fake country music is missing: the sound of real country music, like the steel guitar and the fiddle. Can I get a “YEEHAW?”
 
Drake finished third on America’s Got Talent Season 17, which wrapped up on September 14, 2022. Do I really need to say it—"that ain’t all that bad!” His third-place finish showed that genuine country artists are still popular in America. Can I get another “YEEHAW?”
 
You're invited to experience an almost live “on stage” performance of “Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad” by Drake Mulligan. How? Just tap the link below and shout out YEEHAW! Okay, you don’t have to shout “YEEHAW,” but you do need to tap the link below. 

            Goodbye Ain’t All That Bad
                     by Drake Mulligan
            https://youtu.be/8AzuLlaLqtQ?si=fq9cFki5locKIfIf