Ella Langley's 'Dandelion' (Review)

Four promo singles later, Ella Langley's Dandelion album is out! Her humble growth inspired its conception, especially with current country/pop #1 "Choosin' Texas". Will the record withstand same longevity like the top hit? I overview the singles' beforehand success, then summarize rest of the tracks' themes.

I recommend hearing Episode 4 and Episode 6 to preview this new one.

Dandelion's promo singles: "Choosin' Texas", "Be Her", "Dandelion", "Loving Life Again"

Miranda Lambert discography

Joybeth Taylor's songwriting credits

Laura Veltz's songwriting credits

Jake Worthington's music

ACM nominations

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Theme Song: "Gym Track (2026 Remix)", composed by Jessica Ann Catena

Transcript

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One of our early episodes discussed Ella Langley's music experience and number one hit, Choosin' Texas. That song's officially on her second album, Dandelion, and three other singles preoccupied us until its release. Was it worth the wait? And will the record's popularity last long as its big hit? I'm Jess. I'll update how these promo tracks have done so far, then evaluate the track list. Fresh as a dandelion, learn modern music trends now on Music Media Review! Welcome to the show! When I posted episode 4 on February 21st, Choose in Texas was number one on the Hop 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Country Airplay simultaneously. Record breaking for Billboard's charts, Ella Langley's fairly new country career, and co-writer country singer Miranda Lambert. Big thanks by the way to those who streamed my coverage. If you've wondered the song's status since then, two major things occurred extended charting and a new music video. Choosing Texas Boomerang Top of Hop 100, week of March 7th, March 21st, March 28th, and currently April 11th during Dandelions debut weekend. On Hot Country Songs, it's stayed number one since December 7th, 2025, non-consecutive country airplay, week of February 14th, March 14th, March 21st, Number 1 Country Digital Songs and Country Streaming. So what is the secret earning all this glory? Doesn't hurt, Ella's a beautiful young woman. There's a TikTok trend parodying its misheard diction, really differentiating pop and hip-hop's publicity. Even pop radio's rotating it, achieving top twenty intervals. Also to mention, Choose in Texas came out last October. Very unusual seeing a song trend this well ahead of an artist's main project. The first music video presented Ella facing the viewer sitting at a bar counter with a whiskey glass. Acting out the lyrics behind her are shadow silhouettes of a cowboy wearing a hat twirling a female to dance. Maybe promoters deemed that low budget for a song succeeding so well and wanted to invest a second premise. That came along April 2nd, directed in a short-form film. Ella's a passenger driven by a boyfriend introducing his hometown Texas friends at a bar. She asks if he regrets leaving Texas. His answer doesn't sound convincing that meeting her in Tennessee was worth it. Western TV fans will recognize Luke Grimes playing The Love Interest, recently acted on Yellowstone and Marshalls. Miranda Lambert plays with a band at the bar stage when the couple walks in, Ava Philippe, daughter to actors Ryan Philippe and Reese Witherspoon, as the blonde ex imagining the memories dancing with Luke's character. When Ella goes to the ladies' room checking herself in the mirror, indie country singer Caitlin Butts forewarns her keeping an eye out. Realizing it's true, Ella goes outside for air and Miranda offers a backseat bride back to Nashville if she wants to leave. Without saying goodbye, Luke searches outside for Ella right when the van rides away. I liked the casting in this second video. First one does come off a little cliche. I should point out that Dandelion's album date got scheduled before choosing Texas' attention, so I'm not sure the urgency plugging multiple tracks up to April 10th. I understand expectations and farm fans in the know, but sometimes giving too much spoils the fun when it's actually time for the launch. And I'm saying that across the board because Morgan Wallen pushed 10 promo tracks last year, which was a third of his finished album. Meghan Moroni had four distributing Cloud Nine in February. Having said that, Dandelion strung consistent good hits Be Her, Dandelion, and Loving Life Again. Be Hers up Tempo compared to Choose in Texas's similar composition and Michael Hardy, also known as Hardy, assisted songwriting. The relatable notion women have bettering themselves, I would have expected Be Her having Choose in Texas pop appeal. Getting pretty close, it sharded number 15 Country Airplay, No. 12 on the Hop 100, No. 2 Hot Country Songs, Country Digital Songs, and Country Streaming. I love it. The photo shoot object swapping videos perfect singing along to it. Ella Langley's so modest, it's a central backbone writing these latest tunes. Dandelion's title track embraces her liberation expressed in a twangy ballad. It's charted number 37 on the Hop 100, number seven Hot Country Songs, No. 4 Country Streaming Songs, and Number 3 Country Digital Songs. Looks like Ellis sat in the same garden background of Dandelion's cover for the music video. And finally, Loving Life Against Self-Guidance as Stevie Nicks composed Landslide at the same crossroads between Career and Maturing. The clarity they both would turn to music calming down made them realize they should feel rejuvenated and not dread given the opportunities they had. This fully recharged Ella Langley's Starting A New. Loving Life Again has charted number 46 on the Hop 100, number 12 Hot Country Songs, Number 11 Country Streaming, Number 2 Country Digital. Country songwriter Devin Dawson co-wrote it with fellow country singer Ernest. Now that we sail through the foundation, I've harvested my thoughts hearing Dandelion straight through. Comfortably singing Ella's deep alto range, she veers traditional country blues in various senses. With the exception strumming Froggy Wenacorton's Folk Diddy to open and close Dandelion, Track 10's Speaking Terms, Track 12's It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, the 13 other tracks were penned by groups of songwriters and herself. Running 56 Minutes, it's 10 minutes longer than Hungover's debut album, weaving post-breakup lounge songs, open mind dating, and worthiness. I took a nice walk playing its entirety, imagining Ella singing at country bars, the way you look like you love me, and choosing Texas videos set the scenes, and certain times thinking the crowd lip-syncing these new ones in an audience. Mixing fast syncopation, melodic ballads, Dandelion emotionally lets you in Ella Langley's heart. She refreshingly confines a poised reputation, no blade games in the journey. Easy to match theme patterns, it is a lot to remember though on your own. Publishing more than 40 minutes in 10 plus tracks is plentiful. Could explain the four promo singles while warming up a taste was presented. Track 7's You and Me Time comes off very cutesy for Ellish Drifting Personality. To me, couples are likely to hold one another swaying the words back seeing this live. Challenging out of comfort zone commitment, she's backed up by collaborators serenading in the background. Their mentoring lengthened further here than just writing tracks. Track 16's Butterfly Seasons, a duet Miranda supports Rebirthing. Aaron Raytier did You Look Like You Love Me with Ella Langley and Riley Green in 2024, Megan Moroni's Am I Okay the same year, on Dandelion His Work Return on You and Me Time, Track 11, I Gotta Quit, Track 17, Most Good Things Do Acoustic. Quite a turnaround, he's gone from romancing to reacquaintance. Juxtaposition done well on his part. Most Good Things Do eloquently quotes Dandelion and Butterfly to promise moving forward. Ben West sang, plays, and produces on multiple dandelion tracks. I liked the keyboard work he and Dave Cohen did inserting organ rifts and twangy swirls. Smoothly transitioned traditional country blues to sound modern to feel wholesome and playful each track. Joy Beth Taylor was Ella's right-hand woman crediting 11 tracks. I read she's from Alabama too, helping out modern country artists in her mid-20s. According to the album's liner notes, reality country singer Jake Worthington harmonizes on track 12. It wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. I remember when he came second place on The Voice in 2014. Kudos to him getting around in the industry. Indie Country singer Carter Faith chimed in as well with Jake and Ella. Industry songwriter Laura Feltz sang on track 14, Broken. Laura's written many pop country hits. If I didn't look up Dandelion's album credits, you could have fooled me that it wasn't God who made Honky Talk singles would pass as a sequel to You Look Like You Love Me. It has the same intonation, melody, and octave. Already, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Dandelion four stars, its debut number one iTunes top album downloads. I estimate the same on Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums. Might not match Choosing Texas this streak, probably will coincide top tiers pre-calculating April 19th week. Overall, I'm optimistic Ella's strolling a nice path and glad she just earned four upcoming Academy of Country Music Award nominations, female vocalist of the year, artist songwriter, choosing Texas Up for Single and Song of the Year, and Music Event of the Year's collaboration on Riley Green's Don't Mind If I Do. Good luck. Looking forward to seeing her on there. The ACM Awards will live stream Sunday, May 17th on Amazon Prime Video, 8 p.m. Eastern. I'll post a pre-show prediction show on Friday, May 15th to Kickstart. Hope you tune in. Subscribe Music Media Review now on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHearp Radio, Podcast Attic, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Brudsprout, Audible, Deezer, or wherever you're streaming. Our social media pages update every week on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Please share, rate, comment, and vote some polls I created on Spotify SAP on some recent episodes. Contact Inquiries to Music Media Review Podcasts at gmail.com. I'm Jess. Thanks for tuning in. Talk to you next week.