When Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney joined forces in 2012, they brought something refreshingly modern to country music—a sound that seamlessly blends traditional country storytelling with pop production sensibilities and R&B-influenced vocals. The best Dan + Shay songs showcase their remarkable ability to craft emotionally resonant love songs that feel both intimate and arena-ready, with Shay’s soaring tenor vocals perfectly complemented by Dan’s production wizardry. Their catalog spans from acoustic-driven heartbreakers to polished crossover hits that have dominated both country and pop charts, earning them three Grammy Awards and billions of streams. From their 2013 debut through their most recent releases, this duo has consistently delivered songs that capture the butterflies, heartbreak, and joy of romance with authenticity and craftsmanship. Whether you’re discovering their music through quality headphones that reveal every production detail or singing along at full volume in your car, these twenty tracks represent the essential Dan + Shay experience—songs that have defined modern country-pop and connected with millions of listeners worldwide.
Tequila
“Tequila” stands as Dan + Shay’s career-defining masterpiece, a song so emotionally devastating that its simplicity becomes its greatest strength. Released in January 2018 as the lead single from their self-titled third album, the track showcases Shay Mooney’s vocal restraint and emotional vulnerability as he sings about how the taste of tequila triggers memories of a lost love. The production, helmed by Dan Smyers alongside Scott Hendricks, strips away unnecessary instrumentation during the verses, allowing Shay’s voice to carry the emotional weight before building to a cathartic chorus. This Grammy-winning song spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and crossed over to mainstream success, reaching number 21 on the Hot 100—a testament to its universal appeal that transcends genre boundaries. The way the mix emphasizes Shay’s vocal runs during the bridge, with subtle string arrangements swelling beneath, creates moments that sound particularly stunning when experienced through proper audio equipment.
Speechless
Written for Dan Smyers’ wife Abigail on their wedding day, “Speechless” captures the overwhelming emotion of commitment with cinematic production and Shay’s most technically impressive vocal performance. The song builds patiently from its acoustic guitar introduction through verses adorned with delicate piano before exploding into a chorus where Shay’s voice soars into his upper register with remarkable control and power. Released in May 2018, the track became their second consecutive number one on Country Airplay and demonstrated the duo’s ability to write deeply personal material that resonates universally with anyone who’s experienced profound love. The stereo imaging places Shay’s voice front and center while layering harmonies and instrumental textures that create depth without cluttering the emotional core of the arrangement. Producer Scott Hendricks deserves recognition for maintaining clarity despite the song’s orchestral ambitions, ensuring that every string section crescendo and vocal ad-lib serves the song’s emotional arc rather than simply showcasing technical prowess.
10,000 Hours (with Justin Bieber)
This collaboration with Justin Bieber became Dan + Shay’s biggest crossover success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning them their third Grammy Award. The song’s message about the time and dedication required to truly know someone resonated across demographics, while the production cleverly balanced country instrumentation—acoustic guitars, banjo touches—with pop sensibilities that suited Bieber’s vocal style. Released in October 2019, the track showcases remarkable vocal chemistry between all three artists, with Shay and Bieber’s tenors weaving together seamlessly while Dan’s production creates space for each voice to shine. The song’s structure builds methodically, adding layers with each repetition of the chorus until the final minutes achieve an almost gospel-like intensity with stacked harmonies and driving percussion. For fans exploring different songs across genres, this track exemplifies how modern production can honor country roots while embracing contemporary pop elements, creating something that feels fresh rather than calculated.
All to Myself
From their 2018 self-titled album, “All to Myself” captures the possessive intensity of new love with an up-tempo groove and one of their most radio-friendly choruses. The production employs a punchy kick drum pattern and rhythmic acoustic guitar strumming that propels the song forward while maintaining enough space for Shay’s vocals to deliver the yearning lyrics about wanting to monopolize a lover’s time and attention. The song demonstrates Dan Smyers’ understanding of modern country-pop production techniques, utilizing subtle electronic elements—a synth pad here, programmed hi-hats there—that enhance rather than dominate the organic instrumentation. Released as the album’s third single in June 2019, “All to Myself” peaked at number seven on Country Airplay and showcased the duo’s ability to craft upbeat material that maintained their emotional authenticity. The bridge features particularly clever production choices, pulling back to just acoustic guitar and vocals before surging back into the final chorus with renewed energy.
Nothin’ Like You
The second single from their self-titled album perfectly encapsulates Dan + Shay’s ability to write swoon-worthy love songs that avoid cliché through specific, vivid imagery. Shay’s vocals convey genuine wonder as he catalogues beautiful things—sunsets, wine, summer nights—before declaring that none compare to his beloved, and his delivery sells the sentiment through subtle vocal choices rather than oversinging. The production features pristine acoustic guitars as the foundation, with Dan Smyers layering in electric guitar accents, atmospheric synth textures, and carefully placed drum fills that emphasize key lyrical moments without overwhelming the song’s intimate feel. Released in March 2018, the track reached number one on Country Airplay and demonstrated their consistency in crafting chart-topping singles. The final chorus adds backing vocals that create a fuller, more anthemic sound, showing thoughtful arrangement choices that build emotional momentum throughout the song’s runtime.
From the Ground Up
This early hit from their sophomore album “Obsessed” became a wedding staple and showcase for their storytelling abilities, chronicling a relationship from its foundation through building a life together. Released in February 2016, the song reached number one on Country Airplay and established Dan + Shay as serious contenders in the country music landscape beyond their initial debut success. The production maintains a relatively traditional country sound with acoustic guitar, subtle pedal steel, and restrained percussion that allows the lyrical narrative to remain the focal point throughout. Shay’s vocal performance balances tenderness during the verses with powerful conviction during the choruses, conveying the song’s message about enduring love built on solid foundations rather than fleeting passion. The bridge features a key change that elevates the final chorus, a classic country songwriting technique that Dan + Shay employ tastefully rather than manipulatively.
19 You + Me
The lead single from their debut album “Where It All Began” introduced Dan + Shay’s sound to country radio in October 2013 and immediately established their knack for crafting memorable melodies. The song’s production showcases their early aesthetic—cleaner and more organic than their later polished pop-country sound, with prominent acoustic guitars and subtle mandolin adding traditional country textures. Shay’s vocals display the technical ability and emotional connection that would become their trademark, navigating the song’s melodic leaps with ease while maintaining conversational intimacy in the verses. “19 You + Me” reached number one on Country Airplay and set the template for their career: well-crafted love songs with strong melodies, relatable lyrics, and production that honored country traditions while embracing contemporary sounds. The song’s structure demonstrates solid songwriting fundamentals, with verses that establish the story before choruses that deliver the emotional and melodic payoff listeners crave.
Glad You Exist
Released in February 2021 as the lead single from their album “Good Things,” this track showcases Dan + Shay’s evolution toward more introspective, grateful material rather than new-love excitement. The song’s production features a prominent piano riff that drives the arrangement, with Dan Smyers incorporating electronic drum elements alongside organic percussion to create a contemporary sound that maintains warmth. Shay’s vocal delivery conveys sincere appreciation for someone’s existence in his life, and the lyrics avoid the possessive language of earlier hits in favor of simple gratitude and wonder. “Glad You Exist” reached number one on Country Airplay and demonstrated the duo’s continued commercial viability while exploring slightly more mature emotional territory. The mix places emphasis on the vocal melody while creating a lush sonic landscape with layered guitars, keyboards, and carefully crafted reverb that makes the song feel spacious and intimate simultaneously.
Keeping Score
From their “Obsessed” album, “Keeping Score” addresses the petty arguments and scorekeeping that can damage relationships, offering relationship wisdom wrapped in an infectious melody. The production utilizes a driving rhythm section with prominent bass guitar and crisp snare hits that give the track undeniable momentum, while the arrangement leaves space during the verses for the lyrical content to land clearly. Released as a single in August 2016, the song showcases Dan + Shay’s ability to tackle relationship complexity beyond simple declarations of love, acknowledging the work required to maintain healthy partnerships. Shay’s vocals navigate the song’s melodic contours with characteristic ease, and his delivery conveys both frustration with destructive patterns and hope for breaking them. The chorus hook—”we gotta stop keeping score”—delivers its message with melodic immediacy that makes the wisdom go down easy, demonstrating how effective pop songwriting can communicate meaningful ideas.
Steal My Love
This album track from their self-titled record showcases Dan + Shay exploring slightly more R&B-influenced production with its groove-based rhythm section and falsetto vocal moments. The song’s structure emphasizes the pre-chorus sections, building tension before releasing into a satisfying chorus that plays with rhythmic phrasing rather than relying solely on melodic hooks. Dan Smyers’ production incorporates subtle electronic elements—filtered vocals, synth bass, programmed percussion—that create a contemporary feel while maintaining enough organic instrumentation to keep the song grounded in country-pop territory. Shay’s vocal performance demonstrates his range and control, moving between his powerful chest voice and delicate falsetto passages with seamless technique. Though not released as a single, “Steal My Love” represents the deeper album cuts where Dan + Shay could experiment with different sounds and production approaches, rewarding listeners who explored beyond the singles.
I Should Probably Go to Bed
Released in October 2020, this lead single from “Good Things” finds Dan + Shay in vulnerable territory, with Shay’s narrator admitting he should stop thinking about someone but finding himself unable to resist. The production features a hypnotic, circular guitar riff that creates a sense of obsessive repetition mirroring the lyrical content about circular thoughts and patterns. Shay’s vocal performance conveys the exhaustion and resignation of someone trapped in an emotional loop, and his delivery during the chorus—where he admits “but I won’t” after each “I should probably”—captures both weakness and self-awareness. The song reached the top five on Country Airplay and demonstrated Dan + Shay’s ability to maintain commercial success while exploring less triumphant emotional spaces than their typical love song fare. The mix emphasizes intimacy, placing Shay’s voice close in the stereo field with minimal reverb during verses before opening up spatially during choruses.
Somewhere Only We Know
Dan + Shay’s cover of Keane’s 2004 alternative rock hit demonstrates their ability to reinterpret material from outside country music while maintaining their sonic identity. Their version, recorded for “The Notebook” musical adaptation, strips away the original’s anthemic production in favor of a more intimate arrangement centered on acoustic guitar and Shay’s emotive vocals. The duo’s interpretation emphasizes the song’s nostalgic yearning, with production choices that highlight the melody’s inherent beauty without attempting to replicate or drastically reinvent the original arrangement. Shay’s vocal performance showcases his interpretive abilities, bringing country phrasing and emotional directness to lyrics originally written from a British alternative rock perspective. This cover demonstrates how Dan + Shay’s core strengths—impeccable vocal execution, tasteful production, emotional authenticity—translate across different material and genres.
That’s How You Know
From their debut album, this track showcases early Dan + Shay balancing traditional country storytelling with contemporary production elements. The song catalogs the small, meaningful gestures that indicate genuine love—someone knowing your coffee order, loving you with messy hair—through specific, relatable details rather than abstract declarations. Shay’s vocal performance maintains conversational intimacy during the verses before opening up emotionally during the choruses where the melodic hook delivers maximum impact. The production features bright acoustic guitars, subtle electric guitar accents, and a rhythm section that propels without overwhelming, representing the duo’s early aesthetic before they embraced more pop-oriented production on later albums. “That’s How You Know” demonstrates solid songwriting fundamentals, with verses that establish specific scenarios and choruses that extract universal emotional truths from those details.
Save Me the Trouble
Another highlight from their “Good Things” album, “Save Me the Trouble” addresses the desire to skip relationship games and communicate honestly from the beginning. The production incorporates a prominent bass line and rhythmic acoustic guitar that creates an almost reggae-influenced groove, showing Dan Smyers’ willingness to incorporate diverse influences into their country-pop framework. Shay’s vocals deliver the song’s plea for straightforward communication with both vulnerability and slight frustration, conveying the emotional exhaustion of navigating unclear romantic situations. The song’s melodic hook during the chorus—particularly the way Shay’s voice rises on the title phrase—demonstrates their continued ability to craft memorable vocal moments that reward repeated listening. When experienced through quality earbuds that reproduce bass frequencies accurately, the song’s low-end groove becomes even more apparent and adds physical presence to the track.
How Not To
From their sophomore album “Obsessed,” this track showcases Dan + Shay tackling the aftermath of heartbreak with more cynicism than their typical optimistic love songs. The lyrics describe someone attempting to avoid thinking about an ex while doing exactly that, and Shay’s vocal delivery captures the contradiction between stated intentions and actual behavior. The production maintains a mid-tempo groove with acoustic guitars anchoring the arrangement while electric guitar accents and keyboard textures add color and dimension throughout. Released as a promotional single in November 2016, “How Not To” demonstrated the duo’s range beyond purely romantic material, showing they could address relationship complexity and emotional contradiction. The mix creates intimacy during verses before opening up spatially during choruses, using production techniques to mirror the emotional push-pull described in the lyrics.
Remedy
This track from “Good Things” showcases Dan + Shay in full pop-country mode, with production that emphasizes infectious melodic hooks and contemporary sonic textures. The song’s message—positioning love as a cure for life’s difficulties—gets delivered through Shay’s soaring vocal performance and an arrangement that builds methodically from restrained verses to explosive choruses. Dan Smyers’ production incorporates electronic drum elements, synthesizer pads, and carefully crafted vocal layering that creates a polished, radio-ready sound while maintaining enough organic instrumentation to stay grounded. The chorus features particularly effective vocal production, with Shay’s lead melody supported by carefully arranged harmonies that enhance rather than obscure the hook. “Remedy” represents Dan + Shay fully embracing contemporary production values and demonstrating their ability to compete in both country and pop radio landscapes simultaneously.
Show You Off
From their debut album, this track captures the pride and excitement of new love with an up-tempo arrangement and one of Shay’s most exuberant vocal performances. The production features bright, jangly acoustic guitars and a driving rhythm section that creates immediate energy from the opening notes, establishing a celebratory mood that the lyrics and melody sustain throughout. The song’s structure maintains momentum by avoiding unnecessary dynamic shifts, instead riding a consistent wave of enthusiasm from start to finish. “Show You Off” demonstrates early Dan + Shay understanding that variety in their catalog came from exploring different emotional spaces rather than always relying on ballad dynamics. The mix emphasizes the song’s brightness, with crisp high-end frequencies on the acoustic guitars and Shay’s voice sitting prominently over the instrumental bed.
Marry Me
Not to be confused with other songs of the same title, Dan + Shay’s “Marry Me” from “Obsessed” delivers their take on the marriage proposal song with characteristic melodic strength and emotional directness. The production builds patiently from a simple acoustic guitar introduction through verses that gradually add instrumentation before the chorus delivers the emotional and sonic payoff. Shay’s vocal performance conveys both nervousness and conviction, capturing the vulnerability of putting your heart completely on the line through a marriage proposal. The song became another wedding staple in their catalog, joining “From the Ground Up” and “Speechless” as go-to tracks for couples planning their ceremonies. The arrangement’s final chorus adds strings and fuller vocal production that create a cinematic quality appropriate to the life-changing moment the song describes.
Lying
From their self-titled album, “Lying” showcases Dan + Shay exploring relationship dishonesty with a groove-oriented production that leans more heavily into pop territory. The song’s rhythmic foundation—built on programmed drums and a syncopated bass line—creates a contemporary feel that distinguishes it from their more traditionally country-leaning tracks. Shay’s vocals navigate the melodic phrasing with precision, particularly during the pre-chorus sections where his delivery adds rhythmic complexity to the melodic content. The production incorporates subtle electronic elements throughout, with filtered vocals and synthesizer textures adding modern polish while acoustic guitars maintain connection to their country roots. “Lying” represents Dan Smyers’ continued evolution as a producer, demonstrating his ability to incorporate diverse influences and contemporary production techniques while maintaining the duo’s essential sound.
Take Me Home for Christmas
This holiday track from their 2021 Christmas EP “The Christmas Party” showcases Dan + Shay applying their romantic songwriting approach to seasonal material. Rather than covering traditional holiday standards, they crafted an original that uses Christmas as the setting for a love song about wanting to introduce someone special to family during the holidays. The production incorporates subtle Christmas instrumentation—sleigh bells, warm organ tones—without overwhelming the song’s core identity as a Dan + Shay love song that happens to occur during the holiday season. Shay’s vocal performance maintains the emotional directness that characterizes their best work, delivering the sentiment with sincerity rather than forced seasonal cheer. The song demonstrates how Dan + Shay’s essential strengths—melodic hooks, vocal performance, relatable romantic lyrics—translate effectively across different contexts and occasions while maintaining their authentic voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Dan + Shay form as a duo?
Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney met in Nashville in December 2012 at a house party, where they immediately connected over their shared musical vision and began writing songs together. They officially formed Dan + Shay in early 2013 and signed with Warner Music Nashville later that year, releasing their debut single “19 You + Me” in October 2013. The duo’s chemistry was apparent from their first collaborations, with Dan’s production expertise and Shay’s powerful vocals creating a complementary partnership that has sustained their success for over a decade.
How many Grammy Awards have Dan + Shay won?
Dan + Shay have won three Grammy Awards from nine nominations throughout their career. They won Best Country Duo/Group Performance three consecutive years—for “Tequila” in 2019, “Speechless” in 2020, and “10,000 Hours” with Justin Bieber in 2021. These wins recognized both their vocal performance and the songwriting/production quality that distinguishes their work, cementing their status among country music’s elite acts. Their consistent Grammy recognition reflects both critical acclaim and their ability to create music that resonates with voting academy members beyond just commercial success.
What is Dan + Shay’s best-selling song?
“10,000 Hours” featuring Justin Bieber stands as Dan + Shay’s biggest commercial success, certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA and reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration exposed Dan + Shay to Justin Bieber’s massive global fanbase while introducing Bieber’s pop audience to contemporary country music, creating a true crossover moment. However, “Tequila” remains their most critically acclaimed single, winning the Grammy and becoming a cultural moment that transcended typical country radio success with its emotional resonance and stripped-down production approach.
Who writes Dan + Shay’s songs?
Both Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney are credited as primary songwriters on the majority of their catalog, typically collaborating with additional Nashville songwriters on individual tracks. Dan generally focuses on production and musical arrangements while also contributing to lyrics, while Shay often drives the melodic and lyrical concepts with his strong sense of vocal melody. They frequently work with established Nashville writers like Jordan Reynolds, Andy Albert, and Nicolle Galyon among others, embracing the collaborative songwriting culture that characterizes much of country music’s creative process.
What vocal range does Shay Mooney have?
Shay Mooney possesses a tenor vocal range with impressive upper register extension and the ability to access falsetto when needed. His technical control allows him to navigate wide melodic intervals with precision while maintaining emotional authenticity rather than simply showcasing vocal gymnastics. Shay’s voice carries a slight rasp that adds character and emotion, particularly on sustained notes and vocal runs, distinguishing his tone from the cleaner, more polished sound of some contemporary country vocalists. His vocal performances work particularly well when listened to through proper headphones that reveal the nuances and subtle techniques he employs throughout their recordings.
Has Dan + Shay toured internationally?
Yes, Dan + Shay have toured extensively both throughout North America and internationally, performing in Europe, Australia, and other markets where country music has gained popularity. Their “The Tour” in 2021-2022 marked their first major arena headlining run, demonstrating their growth from club and theater venues to larger capacity rooms. They’ve also served as opening acts for major country stars including Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts earlier in their career, experiences that helped them develop their live performance skills and build their fanbase before headlining their own tours.