Kenny Chesney recently talked with us about meeting Dave Matthews back at Farm Aid in 2005, and today he shares more of the story about how they came to record their smash single, “I’m Alive.” Kenny thinks it’s a great testament to the universal quality of music that two artists with different styles and from completely different parts of the world can come together so naturally to make a record. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• “I’m Alive” is featured on Kenny’s not-to-be-missed second Greatest Hits collection, available now!

  Kenny Chesney says that “I’m Alive” was a great musical fit for him to do with Dave Matthews. (:39)
“I had already written ‘I’m Alive,’ and Dave told me he loved that ‘I’m Alive’ song and that he felt like that would be something that would fit on one of his records to stand alone, you know? And I said ‘Well, why don’t we try doin’ it?’ And then it just…it was just magic in the studio when we did it. I didn’t realize how natural my voice and his voice would sound together. (laughs) You know, ’cause it’s completely two different styles. We come from completely two different worlds. I mean he was born in South Africa. I was born in East Tennessee. You know? (laughs) So it just goes to show you how universal music can really be.”