Bubba Reeves is a singer and songwriter out of West Monroe, Louisiana. The home of the world famous Duck Dynasty. He attended public schools in West Monroe from preschool to senior year where he was an active participant in local sports programs. Presently, he’s a country musician, father, and a hard working oilfield hand.
Recently, Bubba Reeves was nominated people’s choice style for Country Artist of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Singer-Songwriter of the Year, and Male Performer of the Year for NELA Music Awards in Monroe, Louisiana. He received top four nominee status in Emerging Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year.
Due to multiple nominations, Bubba was asked to perform one song at the awards show.
Bubba went to Nashville in August of 2023 to record a new single that he’d written a few years prior. Bubba set the release of his new single “How I Grew Up” to align with his performance at the awards show this November 9th, 2023. To prepare the house band for the show, Bubba’s booking agent sent the song over to the committee.
A few days later, Bubba’s booking agent received the following email:
Subject: NELA MUSIC AWARDS
“Hi Bubba,
I need to speak with you as soon as possible concerning your scheduled performance. The next time I can speak by phone will be late morning tomorrow (Saturday). Would you be available to speak during that general time frame? If so, I can call you……”
*Original email available upon request
Bubba got a call from the committee member over performances on October 28th at 11:45 am. The committee member explained who he was and his position in the community as a lifelong musician. The committee member relayed that he thinks it’s a good song, but his only concern is there is a man involved in the music awards that he knows personally will be affected by this song. Apparently, this fellow musician has been struggling with his gender and the committee member doesn’t want Bubba’s song to make the committee member feel unwelcome by performing “How I Grew Up.”
The committee member explained that Bubba would need to change the lyrics of his original song or change his song choice to sing at the awards. The committee member relayed that he believes everyone should be able to speak their minds, but we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Song Lyrics:
I remember I was growing up me and my buddies had Tonka trucks
And we’d load ‘em with dirt and build a mud hole
A ball and glove and that was all it was
A tire swinging that was good enough
Wasn’t no hoverboards and that yuppy stuff
Reality TV shows
We liked it simple and everybody knew your last name
Now girls are guys and guys are girls
Could somebody explain?
Where is Walker Texas Ranger? The Ninja Turtles? And the Power Rangers?
Back talking to daddy’d only angered the backside of his hand
Now it’s too much to stand up for the stars and stripes that we love
This new worlds got it all jacked up
Too dumb to understand
I still believe in God We Trust
But that there ain’t at all how I grew up..
They traded football for some beer pong
Rod and reel for a cellphone
Got the hip hop music on the ringtone
That ain’t the way my dad taught me
Ipads no notebooks
Meet your wife on the facebook
Ain’t got a clue in the world how she really looks
Except for what’s there on that screen
Could somebody please explain to me?
Why Pledge Allegiance to the Flag pisses people off so bad?
Not really knowing what they really have so they bite the hand that feeds ‘em
They think wifi’s the key to life
Praying for a Tiktok like
Get that selfie looking just right so the instagram can see ‘em
Man yall can keep all of that stuff
‘Cause you’re doing it all wrong
Guess the good ‘ol days are gone
And that there ain’t at all how I grew up
Website: https://www.bubbareeves.com/
Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnOzoOjwARk