Dancing in the Living Room
| "Dancing in the Living Room" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Cameron Hawthorn | ||||
| from the EP Mustang | ||||
| Released | March 7, 2019 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:44 | |||
| Label | Self-released | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | John Silos | |||
| Cameron Hawthorn singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Dancing in the Living Room" on YouTube | ||||
"Dancing in the Living Room" is a song by American country singer-songwriter Cameron Hawthorn. It was self-released on March 7, 2019, as the lead single from his second extended play Mustang.[1][2][3]
The song gained widespread attention following the release of its gay-themed music video, which received critical acclaim from both mainstream critics and country music outlets.[4][5]
Background and release
[edit]In an interview with Rage Monthly, Hawthorn said about the track:[6][7]
"I literally wrote “Dancing in my Living Room” just after dancing with my boyfriend at the time. It was one of those things, I don’t know, I was just sitting around and I had this idea. It just felt so simple and the video kind of developed from there. I wasn’t out as an artist up until last year and when I came out on social media, this was really the first time I had ever written a song around it. This was a chance to put a real story into a song, especially with the music video. To me the song is just about love in the end, but the video was an opportunity for me to put myself out there."[8]
— Cameron Hawthorn on the inspiration behind "Dancing in the Living Room"
Music video
[edit]An official music video directed by Cameron Hawthorn and Kelsey Karter, was released on March 8, 2019. It features different romantic couples dancing to Hawthorn's music, and its ends with Hawthorn dancing along with his male lover in a living room.[9] The video was widely praised for its progressive message and its role in normalizing such relationships within the traditionally conservative world of country music.[10] Media outlets dubbed it Hawthorn's 'coming out moment,' despite the fact that he had already come out to his family and to his following prior to the video's release.[11][12][13]
Reception
[edit]"Dancing in the Living Room" was met with critical acclaim from both country music and Queer media outlets.[14][15][16]
Bear World Mag praised the track, calling it a "wholehearted love song," and highlighted Hawthorn’s songwriting, organic instrumentation, and his "passionate and heartfelt" vocal performance.[14] Meanwhile, Medium called the track "a very sweet modern country love ballad," highlighting its "tenderness."[15]
Janette Ayub of Girl Underground Music described the song as "an endearing ride that will touch any person who has ever been in love", calling it 'a gorgeous testament to love and the quiet, intimate moments shared," and praising Hawthorn’s narrative style as "a classic form of intimacy."[16]
Accolades
| Publication | Year | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homosensual | 2019 | 10 LGBT+ Music Videos You Won't Get Out Of Your Mind | Listed | [17] |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Apple Music.[18]
- Cameron Hawthorn — performer, songwriter
- Cameron Ernst — songwriter
- John Silos — producer
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | March 7, 2019 | Self-released | [18] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Addresses Sexuality in Music Video Months After Coming Out as Gay". People.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Duffy, Nick (2019-03-10). "Country singer Cameron Hawthorn comes out in powerful music video". PinkNews. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "Country Singer-Songwriter Cameron Hawthorn Talks Musical Style, Songwriting And 'Dancing In The Living Room'". The Harlton Empire. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Westphall, Kimber. "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Comes Out as Gay in Music Video". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Comes Out Via His New Video". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "Cameron Hawthorn: Boy Discovered - Rage Monthly Magazine". 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Cameron Hawthorn". Music Musings & Such. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "Cameron Hawthorn: Boy Discovered - Rage Monthly Magazine". 13 May 2019.
- ^ Stroude, Will (2019-03-11). "Country singer Cameron Hawthorn comes out as gay in new music video - WATCH". Attitude. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Megloranzo, Janeen (2020-09-08). "Exclusive: Getting to Know Cameron Hawthorn". The Country Note. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Addresses His Sexuality In New Video". HuffPost. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Moore, Matt (2019-03-11). "Cameron Hawthorn uses new music video to come out as gay". GAY TIMES. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Westphall, Kimber. "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Comes Out as Gay in Music Video". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ a b Staff, B. W. M. (2019-03-11). "Country Singer Cameron Hawthorn Comes Out in Stunning Music Video". Bear World Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ a b Reviews, Z.-side's Music (2021-10-20). "Cameron Hawthorn — Mustang E.P. (Review)". Modern Music Analysis. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ a b Ayub, Janette (2019-03-09). "Cameron Hawthorn Delivers his Coming-Out Letter on Country Ballad, 'Dancing in the Living Room'". Girl Underground Music. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ Almazán, Yet Akatzin (2019-10-14). "10 videos musicales LGBT+ que no sacarás de tu mente". Homosensual (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ^ a b Dancing in the Living Room by Cameron Hawthorn on Apple Music, 2019-03-07, retrieved 2025-06-18