Meaning of “Tequila” by Dan + Shay

In the song “Tequila”, the dynamic country duo of Dan + Shay take on the character of a guy who likes to party alright, which includes the enjoyment of different types of alcoholic beverages. However, when he drinks tequila, it has a special, unique effect on him. And why is that? Because it ends up conjuring up memories of a lost love.

 This woman was apparently someone he was familiar with through college. She also seems to be a dancer who likes partying just as much as he does. But perhaps more significantly than any of that, was her mutual affinity for tequila, as Dan + Shay also recount fond memories of her hitting the bottle.

Thus when they too taste this drink, the natural result is images of her flooding to mind. Indeed the flavor alone is enough to induce a spell of reminiscing; intoxication is not necessary. And while it only seems that these memories are brought about via taking this beverage, that doesn’t negate the fact that the singer misses his ex and still requires her love.

What is Tequila?

For readers who don’t know what tequila is, it is a very popular Mexican alcoholic drink that is made from the agave plant. In the United States, tequila ranks high in the list of the most famous alcoholic drinks consumed there.

Facts about “Tequila”

• Writer(s): This song was written by the members of Dan + Shay (Shay Mooney and Dan Smyers). However, the duo didn’t write the song alone. They got assistance from two other songwriters: Jordan Reynolds and Nicolle Galyon.
• Producer(s): In addition to co-penning this track, Dan Smyers also co-produced it along with Scott Johnson and Scott Hendricks.
• Album/EP: This is the second song featured on Dan + Shay’s self-titled 2018 album (Dan + Shay).
• Release Date: “Tequila” was released on 10 January 2018.
• 1^st Interesting Stuff: Backup vocals on the hook of this track were provided by Abby Law Smyers (who is Dan’s wife). This marked the first time she ever sung on a record.
• 2^nd Interesting Stuff: The music video for “Tequila” starred a deaf actor, Nyle DiMarco, with one of the purposes of such being to bring attention to the deaf community.
• 3^rd Interesting Stuff: Dan + Shay not only won a 2019 Grammy for this song, but they also performed it at the ceremony.
• 4^th Interesting Stuff: The idea to write this song came about through Dan + Shay’s pal Jordan Reynolds, who co-wrote “Tequila”, due to his acknowledgement of the pair’s preference for this drink.

How did “Tequila” perform on the charts?

This song reached number 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. On the US Billboard Hot 100, “Tequila” peaked at number 21. It went on to receive double-platinum certification by the RIAA and Music Canada. 

What Grammy Award did Dan + Shay win for “Tequila”?

The song won the duo the Grammy Award for Best Country Dup/Group Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards. In winning the award, this song beat four others, including “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line.