Johnny Stimson’s cool, sleek “Hard to Say Goodbye” pulses with the pain of homesickness before even leaving home, aching with a raw and polished longing.
Stream: “Hard to Say Goodbye” – Johnny Stimson
Leaving home is never easy, especially when that includes the love of your life. For rising R&B artist Johnny Stimson, the pursuit of his musical dream means a life spent largely on the road and away from his loving wife. Stimson’s cool, sleek new single “Hard to Say Goodbye” pulses with the pain of homesickness before even leaving home, aching with a raw, polished longing.
You make it hard to say goodbye
I die a little every time
I find it impossible to leave you
with that look in your eyes
Oh, you make it hard to say goodbye
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering the music video for “Hard to Say Goodbye,” the second single of 2020 by pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Stimson. A Dallas native with over 35 million global streams, Stimson introduced himself and his slick R&B sound five years ago and has been releasing a steady stream of singles and EPs ever since.
Following the heartfelt January single release “Hallelujah,” “Hard to Say Goodbye” is a slick, tight R&B groove driven by emotive passion and heartfelt longing. Stimson’s hypnotic smooth singing and aching inflections make the song an intoxicating experience worthy of repeat listens.
Little tiny Aphrodite I don’t wanna wake you up
When you smile in your sleep I wonder what you’re dreaming of
You got that temporary cherry blossom potion on your lips
I wanna swallow up your ocean but I only got a sip
And there’s an Uber on the way because my flight is in an hour
I still gotta pack a bag and brush my teeth and take a shower
So I take a mental picture cause I know I’m gonna need it
The hardest part of loving you is leaving
“I wrote this song is about being homesick before you even leave home,” Stimson shared on the day of release. “It’s something I feel often since I have been traveling so much. It’s about noticing every bit of perfection on the way out the door and hoping everything will be the same when you get back. This was one of those songs where one line was stuck in my head for a while, then one day the whole song just spilled out of me. I spent a big part of last summer in LA and was really missing [my wife] Bethany at home. I kept hearing these little chords and melody, “you make it hard to say goodbye…i die a little every time,” in my head and it became the silent soundtrack to my summer. A few months later I was working in New York and the verses just poured out in the middle of the night. I wrote exactly about the scene I left back home a few days before. I hope everyone’s doing okay out there in these weird times. I’m bummed to be missing out on some shows, but i’m thankful to not have to say goodbye for a little bit.”
I don’t want to
But I have to
I already feel so lonely
I don’t want to
But I have to
I gotta let you go
You make it hard to say goodbye
I die a little every time
I find it impossible to leave you
with that look in your eyes
Oh, you make it hard to say goodbye
Directed by Brad Wong, Stimson’s “Hard to Say Goodbye” music video is as enticing as the song itself. Cute and colorful, the visual captures the artist’s love for his wife.
“We had an absolute blast making this video for “Hard to Say Goodbye.” The director, Brad Wong, is incredible and has worked on a ton of awesome videos,” Stimson tells Atwood Magazine. “I’m so thankful he wanted to work on this with me. I especially enjoyed this process because it meant my wife, Bethany, and I got to go out to LA together for a few days to film. I always love having her with me and she looks amazing in the video. This whole song is about having to leave her all the time for travel, so it was really special to get to film this together.”
Supermodel Dalai Lama you’re the lover from above
You’re that lightning in a bottle I can’t ever get enough
It’s like my hand is on the throttle but my heart is on the clutch
Wishing I could be two places at once
So if I leave my heart
Beside the bed
Would you promise me
You won’t forget me
Don’t forget me
Don’t forget
I don’t want to
But I have to
I already feel so lonely
I don’t want to
But I have to
I gotta let you go
“Hard to Say Goodbye” is just the latest of Johnny Stimson’s great musical conquests. A cool, exciting listen, the song accentuates Stimson’s sharp singing and gilded voice – not to mention his unadulterated sincerity. A rising star in the R&B world and a fervently independent success story, Johnny Stimson has proven his talents yet again.
Watch “Hard to Say Goodbye” exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
You make it hard to say goodbye
I die a little every time
I find it impossible to leave you
with that look in your eyes
Oh, you make it hard
You make it hard
You make it hard to say goodbye
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Stream: “Hard to Say Goodbye” – Johnny Stimson
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