Just moments after the ball dropped in NYC, Blake Shelton dropped the first single from his upcoming album. “Sure Be Cool If You Did” is a smooth, mid tempo tune about a guy wanting to get a girl over a few drinks – typical Blake. But a closer listen to the song has me thinking it’s got crossover potential.

The lyrics to “Sure Be Cool If You Did” are rooted in true country fashion: Meet me in the middle of a moonlit Chevy bench seat and do a little bit of country song; but it’s song’s production that’s going to make this Blake’s first crossover hit.

The song starts with the groovy, R&B-esque finger snaps and grows into a strong, catchy chorus. It’s completely void of twang guitars and banjos, not to mention Blake’s country influenced voice. In fact, his vocals are processed towards the end of the song, a trick that’s extremely popular in the pop world.

At this point anything Blake Shelton does is a sure number one hit on the country charts (his last 7 singles have reached the top spot) and “Sure Be Cool If You Did” will be no different. But even with Blake’s crossover success on reality television as a judge on The Voice, he’s yet to make that jump onto pop radio. One thing’s for sure though: Blake and his team are trying with this recent single.