“Once Was Blonde” - JD Hinton
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
JD Hinton has always had a knack for spinning words in ways that make you laugh one second and reflect the next, and “Once Was Blonde” is him at his absolute best. The title alone is classic Hinton—playful, witty, and layered with more meaning than you first expect. What sounds like a cheeky twist on a Sunday-school saying—“I once was blonde but now I see”—quickly unfolds into something far more universal: a meditation on innocence lost.
The track opens with a cinematic flourish that sets the mood right away: real New York City traffic sounds, recorded at Rockefeller Center, sliding perfectly into the key of the song. It’s one of those small touches that makes Hinton’s work feel alive, like the city itself is part of the band. Then comes the walking bassline—loose, confident, and full of groove—laying the foundation for Hinton’s story to strut across.
“Convertible was red / The girl was blonde,” he sings, and just like that you’re pulled into a scene that could be the opening shot of a film: a car, a girl, a flash of romance. But Hinton doesn’t leave it as a throwaway vignette—he stretches it out into a bigger story, one where passion collides with regret, and innocence gets flipped inside out. It’s funny, sure—his wit keeps it light—but there’s also a sting, a truth that lingers after the laugh fades.
That’s the trick with Hinton. He can deliver a line that feels like stand-up comedy and, two bars later, have you staring at the ceiling thinking about your own mistakes and renewals. He calls “blonde” an expression of innocence, and the way he uses it as a metaphor gives the song a timeless quality. Affairs of the heart will always wreck us and rebuild us, and Hinton knows the beauty is in that cycle.
Longtime fans will recognize “Once Was Blonde” as a familiar friend—it’s been his go-to encore, a track that gets audiences chuckling before catching them off guard with its quiet wisdom. On record, though, it blossoms into something even richer. The mix is warm and cinematic, and with Hollywood director Dennis Dugan (of Happy Gilmore fame) lending his hand to the artwork, the single feels like it has one foot on stage and one foot on screen.
It’s also another reminder of Hinton’s longevity and range. Here’s a Texas-born romantic who’s written songs for films, acted in hit TV shows, and even performed for the Pope—yet at the heart of it all is a songwriter who never lost the itch to tell stories.
On the surface, it’s a playful story-song with a clever hook. Dig a little deeper, and it’s about how love, even when it knocks you down and makes you older, still leaves you with hope. Innocence may fade, but Hinton reminds us there’s always something waiting in the wreckage—a smile, a song, a reason to get back up again.
“Once Was Blonde” is available now on all major streaming platforms
