The Band Perry’s Reaction to Their First Radio Airplay? Silence … Then Screaming
Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, known collectively as the Band Perry, released their first single, "Hip to My Heart," in November of 2009; six months later, in May of 2010, they followed with "If I Die Young," which became their first No. 1 single. Below, the Perrys recall what it was like hearing those two songs on the radio for the very first time.
Kimberly Perry: The three of us were in the same car. We had just actually flown into San Francisco, and [we heard] "Hip to My Heart." It was funny because we were in transit to our hotel from the airport, and the radio was turned down low, and all of a sudden we heard the opening hook of the song. We all just sort of got really, really excited, rolled the windows down and cranked it up.
Reid Perry: We screamed like little girls. It was kind of embarrassing.
Neil Perry: Ever since we started playing music, we've always waited for that moment, and it finally came. It was such an exciting moment for us ...
Reid Perry: It was almost like we didn't even really register that it was playing until well into the first verse. Then we all kind of sat there silently, then we were squealing. Our hearts were pumping, and the same thing happened when we heard "If I Die Young" for the first time.
This story was originally written by Pat Gallagher, and revised by Angela Stefano.
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