Chris Erasmus Turns the Good Guy into Country's Newest Bad Boy

Chris Erasmus figures out the age old riddle of good guys and bad boys in his new single "Good Guy with a Bad Side." There’s a familiar character in every country bar: the guy who knows how to behave, holds the door open, makes sure you get home safely—and somehow still ends up watching someone else get the girl. Chris Erasmus knows the type because, according to the inspiration behind his new single “Good Guy with a Bad Side,” he was sitting right there in the middle of it.

The idea for the song came to Erasmus during a songwriters round surrounded by female country singers sharing stories about heartbreak and the “bad guys” who caused it. His reaction was simple: maybe the problem wasn’t that women wanted bad boys—maybe the good guys just needed to show a little more edge.

That thought became the tongue-in-cheek premise behind “Good Guy with a Bad Side,” where Erasmus plays the role of the cowboy who has plenty of swagger without all the baggage. He’s six-foot-four with bright blue eyes, whiskey on his breath and enough rodeo credentials to sound dangerous—but he’s also the guy who makes sure you get home safely.

“I also realised I cannot be all bad, I need to keep my good side,” Erasmus explains, crediting his three sisters and “badass mother” with making sure he doesn’t take the character too far.

Musically, “Good Guy with a Bad Side” is built for a night out. With its rowdy country energy, cowboy references and larger-than-life personality, the track invites listeners to get out of their seats and have some fun. Erasmus isn’t arguing that everyone needs to become the bad guy. Instead, he’s making a case for something a little more entertaining: being just bad enough to keep things interesting, while still being a good guy when it counts.