Sam Hunt sings of a romantic high point in his grooving new single, “23,” mixing warm nostalgia with a hint of sadness for days gone by. And for its official video, he tributes the magic of a moment with a virtual twist.
An engaging clip directed by Tim Mattia, the video features a trio of characters who have all moved on from what they remember as the prime of their lives — but in this fantasy world, it’s not totally out of reach. Whether its a single mom who dreams of carefree freedom, an old man who longs for a fast horse and the open range, or a woman still holding on to that 23-year-old summer, each is able to do what we still can’t. They simply put on a virtual reality headset, and relive their most treasured memories — if only for a few minutes.
“No matter where I go, no matter what I do / I’ll never be 23 with anyone but you / You can marry who you want / Go back to Tennessee / But you’ll never be 23 with anyone but me,” goes the chorus.
Written by Hunt with Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, and Chris LaCorte, “23” was released in early September as the first new track since Hunt’s Southside album. That chart-topping project featured the hits “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s,” “Kinfolks” and “Hard To Forget,” and so far there’s no word on the package “23” will eventually be a part of.
Meanwhile, Sam Hunt is currently on tour, and has also released an acoustic version of “23,” recorded at Nashville’s Ocean Way Studio and featuring a performance video to match.