Remember When LeAnn Rimes Put Her Own Twist On John Anderson’s “Swingin'”?
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Years ago, LeAnn Rimes put her own spin on John Anderson’s hit “Swingin’, ” giving the song a whole new meaning.
On October 21, John Anderson’s family announced that he had passed away at the age of 71. The news came as a shock to the country music community, since he had made a public appearance just three days earlier.
Since then, fellow country singers have shared tributes to Anderson, remembering the impact he had on their lives and careers. One of those included an Instagram post from LeAnn Rimes.
Rimes shared a clip of herself from the music video she filmed for her cover of Anderson’s 1983 hit “Swingin’.” She recorded the song for her 2011 album Lady & Gentlemen.
“i lost a big piece of my childhood today and we all lost a very kind man and one of the most unique voices this world has ever experienced,” Rimes wrote in the post’s caption. “@johnanderson thank you for the music, especially this one.”
The project was Rimes’ second cover album of her career. On the album, she covered classic country hits originally sung by male artists, but she reworked each song to be from a woman’s perspective.
Rimes’ reimagined take on “Swingin'” became a hit, peaking at No. 57 on the charts. It also went on to earn her a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011.
Rimes’ post continued, “this song once soothed me as a baby and then, many years later, it was the first song that immediately came to mind when covering all my favorite male country songs on an album of mine called “lady and gentlemen.” i still, often sing this song in my shows and will forever keep on “swinging” in your memory. rip 🤍”
Watch LeAnn Rimes’ Music Video For John Anderson’s Swingin’
If you haven’t heard Rimes’ version before, it sounds quite different from Anderson’s original. Her rendition has a faster pace and a more flirtatious and wild feel.
Instead of singing about a girl named “Charlotte Johnson” like Anderson does, Rimes tells the story about a boy named “Charlie Johnson.”
The video begins with an ’80s-inspired dance marathon, where the participants look like they’re about to fall asleep as they try to keep moving. But when Rimes takes the stage, their energy picks up immediately, and they can’t help but break out into some impressive dance moves to her song.
Rimes eventually joins the competition herself, showing off her quick steps before taking home the win… and ultimately falling to the ground in exhaustion like the other dancers.
In memory of John Anderson, watch LeAnn Rimes’ fun version of his classic “Swingin'” in the video below.
