“Burning Man” by Dierks Bentley (featuring Brothers Osborne)
“Burning Man” is the title of a 2018 duet by country music singer Dierks Bentley and country music duo Brothers Osborne. The words of this song not only pay tribute to the Burning Man festival but are also inspired by it.
What is “Burning Man”?
It is a major art festival held annually in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, United States. The biggest highlight of this festival is the traditional burning of a giant wooden model or sculpture of a man. This traditional practice is where the event got its name from. This event generally centers on art and artistic self-expression.
Having briefly explained what the Burning Man festival basically is, let us now turn our attention to the song, which it inspired.
According to Luke Dick (who co-wrote the track), a significant percentage of the song’s lyrics were inspired by his wonderful experience at the art festival in question. Dick revealed this during a 2018 interview with Taste of Country.
To him, the amazing people letting loose at the desert festival represent the “burning man” in the average person and the desire to be free from the captivity of the monotony of life.
Facts about “Burning Man”
- Neither Dierks Bentley nor Brothers Osborne penned this song. Who then are the writers of “Burning Heart”? We hear you ask. Songwriter Luke Dick teamed up with country music artist Bobby Pinson to write this song. According to Bentley, he had an instant connection with the track’s lyrics the moment he heard it.
- Jon Randall and Ross Copperman worked with Bentley and the Brothers Osborne to produce this song.
- The release date of “Burning Man” was May 25, 2018. It was the second single off Bentley’s 2018 album The Mountain. This was his ninth studio album.
- The song was performed live for the first time by Bentley at a Las Vegas concert in December 2017 – several months before its official release.
- This collaboration or rather duet proved to be Bentley’s first collaboration with Brothers Osborne. Bentley said he sent a text to the duo asking if they wanted to appear on the track. The pair then reportedly responded in just a matter of minutes expressing their willingness to record the track with Bentley.
- Noted music video director Wes Edwards directed this song’s official clip. Prior to this, Edwards had worked with Bentley several times, including on songs such as “5-1-5-0” and “Riser”.
- The song’s video was shot in a desert near Palm Springs, California. During the filming of the video, the weather was so hot that a number of the crew members battled with mild to severe heatstroke symptoms.
- “Burning Man” was Bentley’s last single of 2018. It was also Brothers Osborne’s last of 2018.
What musical genre is “Burning Man”?
It is 100% country.
