We take you behind the scenes and explore the making of one of our favorite tunes with The Song Remembers When…
Song: “Roller Coaster”
Songwriters: Michael Carter and Cole Swindell
Album: Crash My Party
In 2014, Luke Bryan released the double-platinum, chart-topping hit “Roller Coaster.” It was the fifth single from his album Crash My Party. Luke has often shared that he knew the song was destined for the album the moment he heard it.
What made “Roller Coaster” even more special for Luke was the writers – his close friends Michael Carter and Cole Swindell. When he first listened to the demo with Cole’s vocals, Luke was confident that Cole would soon land his own record deal.
For Cole, “Roller Coaster” remains one of his all-time favorite songs that he’s ever written. The story is personal, inspired by the writers’ shared experiences as Georgia boys spending summers on Panama City Beach. The song is about summoning the courage to connect with someone during a fleeting summer romance, even if the moment ended too soon. Luke said the line that really resonated most for him was, “She’s got me twisted like that ole beach roller coaster.” It captured the highs and lows of a teenage summer romance.
“Roller Coaster” reached number one on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in October 2014.