TikTok trends signal what's hot in country music beyond introducing us to Randy Travis and Tim McGraw's favorite up-and-coming artists. The popular social media app joins Spotify in establishing that Gen Z (folks born between 1997 and 2012) joins older fans in eating up '90s country classics.
For example, a remix of Brooks & Dunn's 1992 country hit "Neon Moon" spawned a TikTok dance craze for country music lovers of all ages. It's gotten so huge that the superstar duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn recently joined in the fun. They mirror the viral trend's dance moves while Brooks manages to not spill whatever's in his red Solo cup. In the process, they taught those of us with fond and vivid memories of the '90s that the @brooksanddunn TikTok account is a thing.
"It's crazy cool to see all your videos, keep 'em coming!," reads a social media caption that doubles as a challenge that country music TikTok will surely accept.
@brooksanddunn It?s crazy cool to see all your videos, keep ?em coming ! #brooksanddunn #sungoesdown #neonmoon #neonmoonremix #countrymusic
During a November appearance on Reba McEntire's Spotify podcast Living & Learning With Reba McEntire, Dunn admitted that the social media revival of "Neon Moon" caught the duo by surprise.
"It came out of the blue," he said. "We don't even know what was happening. It just happened for us."
The original "Neon Moon" single's from Brooks & Dunn's debut album, Brand New Man. The title track and "Neon Moon" were among the four straight No. 1 hits that launched the duo's career, with the other two being "My Next Broken Heart" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie."
Brooks & Dunn revisited the song with Kacey Musgraves in 2019 for its collaborative Reboot album.
"Neon Moon" Lyrics
When the sun goes down on my side of town
That lonesome feeling comes to my door
And the whole world turns blue
There's a rundown bar 'cross the railroad tracks
I got a table for two way in the back
Where I sit alone and think of losing you
I spend most every night
Beneath the light
Of a neon moon
Now if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a neon moon
I think of two young lovers running wild and free
I close my eyes and sometimes see
You in the shadows of this smoke-filled room
No telling how many tears I've sat here and cried
Or how many lies that I've lied
Telling my poor heart she'll come back someday
Oh, but I'll be alright
As long as there's light
From a neon moon
Oh, if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a neon moon
The jukebox plays on, drink by drink
And the words of every sad song seem to say what I think
And its hurt inside of me, ain't never gonna end
Oh, but I'll be alright
As long as there's light
From a neon moon
Oh, if you lose your one and only
There's always room here for the lonely
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a neon moon
To watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a neon moon
Oh, watch your broken dreams
Dance in and out of the beams
Of a neon moon
