Did you hear that MySpace has gone into the music download business? I read about it, but I wasn't all that interested, since I've got a reliable source for downloadable music (Amazon).
I went to our band's MySpace page today, since I do like to check in once a week or so, and I noticed the "playlists" option. I spent a little time trying to figure out how it worked, and how exactly it would be a benefit to us.
From what I can discern, it's an option for non-band MySpace users to create playlists and post them on their site, I guess to share with their friends or with the world or with whomever might happen to stumble upon their page.
I like it and I think it's a cool option. Who doesn't like to recommend music to other people? I know I do.
I created an "alternate playlist" of songs that the members of Red River like. It's sort of like a puzzle, first figuring out which songs or artists to search for, and then actually finding what you're looking for, and then, of course, sequencing the songs (because sequencing is an art all to itself - just ask my husband - the expert).
So, I'm glad that MySpace created this option. Frankly, it gives me a reason to actually go there, because there's not a whole lot happening for Red River there.
Anyway, if you have a MySpace page, go ahead and create a playlist. And let me know if you do, because I'd like to listen to it.
My playlist is called, "The Eclectic Tastes of Red River". To find it, click on the down arrow next to "featured playlist" on our music player. I probably will add more songs as I think of them, but it's been kind of fun, I must admit.
Then, of course, being the CMA historian that I have apparently become, I created two more playlists; one featuring the singles of the year from 1967 to the present. There was only one that I couldn't find - "Country Bumpkin" by Cal Smith. I don't know what the deal is with this song and its unavailability. I couldn't find it on YouTube, either. There were also two other singles that I could not find by the original artists, so I went with alternate versions.
The more fun playlist, for me, was the CMA entertainers of the year, again from 1967 to the present. This allowed me to pick songs by these artists that I actually like.
I really think the CMA should pay me for all the free publicity I'm giving them. Lord knows, I could use the extra income.
Anyway, as you can see, I'm having "fun with playlists".
Here's our MySpace address. We always welcome new friend requests.
Red River's MySpace Page
Showing posts with label CMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMA. Show all posts
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The CMA Awards - 1968
1968 was the first year that the CMA awards were televised; on CBS, I think.
I remember these awards, for their low point in cutting off Bob Wills, as he was starting to make his speech, after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He got to the stage, opened his mouth to speak, and suddenly we were "joining our regularly scheduled news broadcast, already in progress."
Even at my young age, I knew that was just rude. And disrespectful.
I don't care who you are or how young you may be. If you like George Strait, even a little bit (?), you need to know about Bob Wills. Watch this:
So, Bob Wills was disrespected in 1968. Hold on. It gets worse.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Honey - recorded by Bobby Goldsboro, written by Bobby Russell
Okay, it's a difficult choice, but I would have to say that this is my MOST HATED SONG OF ALL TIME.
Shall we count the ways in which this song is PUTRID? Sappy, yes. But more than that. Words really cannot describe. Suffice it to say that I was SO GLAD that Honey hit that tree with her car. Had she not, I would have had to take matters into my own hands. Honey was a bimbo. She deserved to die. I mean, if you can't even drive your car to the market without ramming into a tree, then your existence is some stupid freak of nature, and yet, some clueless poor sap is now SINGING about you and eulogizing your rank stupidity, and we all have to suffer the consequences.
But knowing Bobby Goldsboro, he also loved his bowl of Rice Krispies (remember the story told, ad nauseum, about how he stepped on a Rice Krispie kernel, and hurt his foot? I think he told Merv, Johnny, Joey, and any local-cable access guy who would listen about his stupid Rice Krispie incident, and it didn't even have a punch line!)
So now, Bobby's mourning the loss of his Rice Krispies, which, sadly had more intelligence in their individual kernels than HONEY had in her vast wasteland of a brain pan.
Moving on (while monitoring my blood pressure), let's look at the:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C. Riley
This song was written by Tom T. Hall, so basically any connection to this song has to be limited to someone with a middle initial prominently displayed.
I don't have any quibbles with this song, except for the fact that it was played over and over and over....and over.
This style of song would never make it nowadays. It really is all verses. There's no chorus. Certainly there's no bridge. Tom was lucky that he was writing at a time when one didn't need to conform to a standard pattern of songwriting. He would just be poor and working at a 7-11, moaning about the fact that nobody will listen to his songs. Join the club, Tom.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
Again, not to come off as being a chronic bitcher, but how many damn times do we need to hear this song? Yea, I know. Key of E. I played it, too. Didn't you? Didn't everyone?
Again, do you think in your wildest dreams that a song like this would make it nowadays? Ha! (as Johnny would say). You'd be patted on the head and sent off on your way back to your factory job, shame nipping at your heels. You'd join old Tom T. Hall, working at the 7-11 and bitching about how A&R guys have no taste; no taste at all, in music.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tammy Wynette
Whew! Something I can get behind, finally! What can I say about Tammy Wynette? I am just in awe of her talent. I miss Tammy. We'll not see the likes of Tammy again, well, probably never. Like Patsy, someone like Tammy comes along once in, what, 50 years?
Here's the song that probably won her the award in 1968:
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Glen Campbell
This single was released in 1967, so it probably played a major role in Glen winning the male vocalist award in 1968. It was written by John Hartford.
I like this one. I know that Glen tended to record Jimmy Webb songs, and I like some of those. But this is just a nice, folky kind of song (that has a lot of verses, if you study it) and it has a banjo! And didn't Glen use this as his theme song for his show on CBS? So, I guess he liked it, too.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
Okay, I wouldn't technically call Porter and Dolly a "group", but there wasn't a "duo" category back then, so there you go.
Porter and Dolly went on to win this award countless times, deservedly so. Their major competition, at least for awhile, was Conway and Loretta, so I think there might have been some knock-down, drag-out fights in the alley of the Ryman Auditorium, over who was the better duo. But alas, Conway didn't want to muss up his oily slicked-back "coiff", so Porter won.
Here's a 1967 song, that probably garnered this duo their first (of many) awards:
COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Ben Colder
Okay, it's maybe an acquired taste. Maybe you had to be there. But I frankly find Ben Colder (Sheb Wooley) funny. "Ben Colder here". She said, "It ain't been no colder here than anyplace else".
What Ben (Sheb) did was take-off's on popular songs, in a drunken, debauched kind of way. So here's "Almost Persuaded # 2 1/2":
The INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR and INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR repeated from 1967: Chet Atkins and The Buckaroos. Take a look back at my previous post to see a sampling of their wonderful performances.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Glen Campbell
Yes, Glen was at his peak in 1968. I like Glen better now than I did back then. It was, to be honest, a stretch to call what he was doing "country". Jimmy Webb is a wildly successful songwriter, and I love his song, "Galveston". I just don't really like this one. But it put Glen in the catbird seat, and made him entertainer of the year for 1968.
Are we having fun yet? I am. I like this retrospective of the CMA awards, year by year.
And if 1968 sucked, and you know it did, just hold on. It starts to get better, as the years go by.
I remember these awards, for their low point in cutting off Bob Wills, as he was starting to make his speech, after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He got to the stage, opened his mouth to speak, and suddenly we were "joining our regularly scheduled news broadcast, already in progress."
Even at my young age, I knew that was just rude. And disrespectful.
I don't care who you are or how young you may be. If you like George Strait, even a little bit (?), you need to know about Bob Wills. Watch this:
So, Bob Wills was disrespected in 1968. Hold on. It gets worse.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Honey - recorded by Bobby Goldsboro, written by Bobby Russell
Okay, it's a difficult choice, but I would have to say that this is my MOST HATED SONG OF ALL TIME.
Shall we count the ways in which this song is PUTRID? Sappy, yes. But more than that. Words really cannot describe. Suffice it to say that I was SO GLAD that Honey hit that tree with her car. Had she not, I would have had to take matters into my own hands. Honey was a bimbo. She deserved to die. I mean, if you can't even drive your car to the market without ramming into a tree, then your existence is some stupid freak of nature, and yet, some clueless poor sap is now SINGING about you and eulogizing your rank stupidity, and we all have to suffer the consequences.
But knowing Bobby Goldsboro, he also loved his bowl of Rice Krispies (remember the story told, ad nauseum, about how he stepped on a Rice Krispie kernel, and hurt his foot? I think he told Merv, Johnny, Joey, and any local-cable access guy who would listen about his stupid Rice Krispie incident, and it didn't even have a punch line!)
So now, Bobby's mourning the loss of his Rice Krispies, which, sadly had more intelligence in their individual kernels than HONEY had in her vast wasteland of a brain pan.
Moving on (while monitoring my blood pressure), let's look at the:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C. Riley
This song was written by Tom T. Hall, so basically any connection to this song has to be limited to someone with a middle initial prominently displayed.
I don't have any quibbles with this song, except for the fact that it was played over and over and over....and over.
This style of song would never make it nowadays. It really is all verses. There's no chorus. Certainly there's no bridge. Tom was lucky that he was writing at a time when one didn't need to conform to a standard pattern of songwriting. He would just be poor and working at a 7-11, moaning about the fact that nobody will listen to his songs. Join the club, Tom.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
Again, not to come off as being a chronic bitcher, but how many damn times do we need to hear this song? Yea, I know. Key of E. I played it, too. Didn't you? Didn't everyone?
Again, do you think in your wildest dreams that a song like this would make it nowadays? Ha! (as Johnny would say). You'd be patted on the head and sent off on your way back to your factory job, shame nipping at your heels. You'd join old Tom T. Hall, working at the 7-11 and bitching about how A&R guys have no taste; no taste at all, in music.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tammy Wynette
Whew! Something I can get behind, finally! What can I say about Tammy Wynette? I am just in awe of her talent. I miss Tammy. We'll not see the likes of Tammy again, well, probably never. Like Patsy, someone like Tammy comes along once in, what, 50 years?
Here's the song that probably won her the award in 1968:
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Glen Campbell
This single was released in 1967, so it probably played a major role in Glen winning the male vocalist award in 1968. It was written by John Hartford.
I like this one. I know that Glen tended to record Jimmy Webb songs, and I like some of those. But this is just a nice, folky kind of song (that has a lot of verses, if you study it) and it has a banjo! And didn't Glen use this as his theme song for his show on CBS? So, I guess he liked it, too.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
Okay, I wouldn't technically call Porter and Dolly a "group", but there wasn't a "duo" category back then, so there you go.
Porter and Dolly went on to win this award countless times, deservedly so. Their major competition, at least for awhile, was Conway and Loretta, so I think there might have been some knock-down, drag-out fights in the alley of the Ryman Auditorium, over who was the better duo. But alas, Conway didn't want to muss up his oily slicked-back "coiff", so Porter won.
Here's a 1967 song, that probably garnered this duo their first (of many) awards:
COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Ben Colder
Okay, it's maybe an acquired taste. Maybe you had to be there. But I frankly find Ben Colder (Sheb Wooley) funny. "Ben Colder here". She said, "It ain't been no colder here than anyplace else".
What Ben (Sheb) did was take-off's on popular songs, in a drunken, debauched kind of way. So here's "Almost Persuaded # 2 1/2":
The INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR and INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR repeated from 1967: Chet Atkins and The Buckaroos. Take a look back at my previous post to see a sampling of their wonderful performances.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Glen Campbell
Yes, Glen was at his peak in 1968. I like Glen better now than I did back then. It was, to be honest, a stretch to call what he was doing "country". Jimmy Webb is a wildly successful songwriter, and I love his song, "Galveston". I just don't really like this one. But it put Glen in the catbird seat, and made him entertainer of the year for 1968.
Are we having fun yet? I am. I like this retrospective of the CMA awards, year by year.
And if 1968 sucked, and you know it did, just hold on. It starts to get better, as the years go by.
Friday, September 19, 2008
CMA Nominations - A Look Back - 10 Years Ago
Since I was a bit confused by this year's CMA nominations - I wasn't sure if the list was from 2008 or 1998 - I thought I'd take a look at the nominees from ten years ago, just to see what was up way back then....when I was still fairly young, thin, and still had that dewy, line-free complexion.
Oh, and the music was better, too.
One thing I noted, right off the bat, is that they had fewer categories! That's a plus! Let's stop muddying the waters, I say. You can have 538 categories, and that still doesn't mask the fact that the music today is crummy.*
*The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author. The CMA takes no responsibility for the words that may or may not be typed on this page. Side affects include headache, nausea, diarrhea, extreme hunger pangs, listlessness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty breathing, black, tarry stools, indigestion, night sweats, day sweats, rosacea, clinical depression, anxiety, and conditions yet to be discovered. Your mileage may vary.
So, without further a-dew, here are the 1998 CMA nominations:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks*
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
George Strait
*Remember when Garth Brooks was relevant? See 1989 - 2001, Chris Gaines, some concert in Central Park, dismissed Capitol Records executives, striped Roper shirts.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
Collin Raye
George Strait*
*Remember when George Strait was relevant? See 1981 - present, legends of country music, will most likely never be topped, at least 56 number one songs, awards too numerous to mention, the post-modern granddaddy of country music, what all those other guys wish they could be.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Faith Hill
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Lee Ann Womack
Trisha Yearwood*
*Remember when Trisha Yearwood was one of the most admired female country music singers? One of those who actually could sing? Guess what - she still is.
HORIZON AWARD
Trace Adkins
Dixie Chicks*
Jo Dee Messina
Michael Peterson
Lee Ann Womack
*Remember when the Dixie Chicks were nice?* Before they got all strident?
*The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author. The Dixie Chicks take no responsibility for the words that may or may not be typed on this page. Side affects include angry protests, placard carrying, sign-waving, bitter blog scribblings, left-wing Grammy award winnings, country music abandonment, and self-righteousness. If symptoms persist, please see your duly-elected President. Your mileage may vary.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks*
The Mavericks
Sawyer Brown
*See above.
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn*
The Kinleys
The Lynns
Thrasher Shiver (is this a typo? Who the...?)
*Remember when somebody other than Brooks & Dunn won this award? I don't.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Come On Over - Shania Twain
Everywhere - Tim McGraw*
Long Stretch of Lonesome - Patty Loveless
One Step At A Time - George Strait
Sevens - Garth Brooks
*What?
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers - drums
Paul Franklin - steel guitar (hey! they still used them then!)
Brent Mason - guitar*
Matt Rollings - keyboards
Brent Rowan - guitar
*I could be wrong, and frankly, I'm too lazy to look back at my previous post, but aren't the musician nominees the same in 2008 as they were in 1998?
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A Broken Wing - Martina McBride
Holes In The Floor Of Heaven - Steve Wariner*
I Just Want To Dance With You - George Strait
This Kiss - Faith Hill
You Don't Seem To Miss Me - Patty Loveless (with George Jones)
*Remember this song? I barely do.
VOCAL EVENT/VIDEO
Still don't care* *
*If it involves Faith Hill in any way, then I'm better off not knowing.
SONG OF THE YEAR
A Broken Wing (Sam Hogin/Roger Cook)
Holes In The Floor Of Heaven (Billy Kirsch/Steve Wariner)*
How Do I Live (Diane Warren)
I Just Want To Dance With You (John Prine/Roger Cook)
It's Your Love (Stephony Smith)
*Considering the other nominees, I can't really complain about this one. Can you?
Okay, maybe I looked back a bit too fondly to 1998. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
But, you know, you have to take the CMA's with a grain of salt. There's a whole bunch of politics and back-room finagling, and tit-for-tat, going on. I don't exactly know what that means, but it sounds plausible.
But, in perusing the hits of 1998, I found one that didn't get any nominations, but, believe me, is WAY better than anything that Tim McGraw or Brooks 'n Dunn, or Garth Brooks, for that matter, released.
So, for your video enjoyment, I offer this:
Oh, and the music was better, too.
One thing I noted, right off the bat, is that they had fewer categories! That's a plus! Let's stop muddying the waters, I say. You can have 538 categories, and that still doesn't mask the fact that the music today is crummy.*
*The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author. The CMA takes no responsibility for the words that may or may not be typed on this page. Side affects include headache, nausea, diarrhea, extreme hunger pangs, listlessness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty breathing, black, tarry stools, indigestion, night sweats, day sweats, rosacea, clinical depression, anxiety, and conditions yet to be discovered. Your mileage may vary.
So, without further a-dew, here are the 1998 CMA nominations:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks*
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
George Strait
*Remember when Garth Brooks was relevant? See 1989 - 2001, Chris Gaines, some concert in Central Park, dismissed Capitol Records executives, striped Roper shirts.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
Collin Raye
George Strait*
*Remember when George Strait was relevant? See 1981 - present, legends of country music, will most likely never be topped, at least 56 number one songs, awards too numerous to mention, the post-modern granddaddy of country music, what all those other guys wish they could be.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Faith Hill
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Lee Ann Womack
Trisha Yearwood*
*Remember when Trisha Yearwood was one of the most admired female country music singers? One of those who actually could sing? Guess what - she still is.
HORIZON AWARD
Trace Adkins
Dixie Chicks*
Jo Dee Messina
Michael Peterson
Lee Ann Womack
*Remember when the Dixie Chicks were nice?* Before they got all strident?
*The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author. The Dixie Chicks take no responsibility for the words that may or may not be typed on this page. Side affects include angry protests, placard carrying, sign-waving, bitter blog scribblings, left-wing Grammy award winnings, country music abandonment, and self-righteousness. If symptoms persist, please see your duly-elected President. Your mileage may vary.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks*
The Mavericks
Sawyer Brown
*See above.
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn*
The Kinleys
The Lynns
Thrasher Shiver (is this a typo? Who the...?)
*Remember when somebody other than Brooks & Dunn won this award? I don't.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Come On Over - Shania Twain
Everywhere - Tim McGraw*
Long Stretch of Lonesome - Patty Loveless
One Step At A Time - George Strait
Sevens - Garth Brooks
*What?
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers - drums
Paul Franklin - steel guitar (hey! they still used them then!)
Brent Mason - guitar*
Matt Rollings - keyboards
Brent Rowan - guitar
*I could be wrong, and frankly, I'm too lazy to look back at my previous post, but aren't the musician nominees the same in 2008 as they were in 1998?
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
A Broken Wing - Martina McBride
Holes In The Floor Of Heaven - Steve Wariner*
I Just Want To Dance With You - George Strait
This Kiss - Faith Hill
You Don't Seem To Miss Me - Patty Loveless (with George Jones)
*Remember this song? I barely do.
VOCAL EVENT/VIDEO
Still don't care* *
*If it involves Faith Hill in any way, then I'm better off not knowing.
SONG OF THE YEAR
A Broken Wing (Sam Hogin/Roger Cook)
Holes In The Floor Of Heaven (Billy Kirsch/Steve Wariner)*
How Do I Live (Diane Warren)
I Just Want To Dance With You (John Prine/Roger Cook)
It's Your Love (Stephony Smith)
*Considering the other nominees, I can't really complain about this one. Can you?
Okay, maybe I looked back a bit too fondly to 1998. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
But, you know, you have to take the CMA's with a grain of salt. There's a whole bunch of politics and back-room finagling, and tit-for-tat, going on. I don't exactly know what that means, but it sounds plausible.
But, in perusing the hits of 1998, I found one that didn't get any nominations, but, believe me, is WAY better than anything that Tim McGraw or Brooks 'n Dunn, or Garth Brooks, for that matter, released.
So, for your video enjoyment, I offer this:
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The CMA Nominations - What Year Is This??
I read the list of Country Music Association nominees this week, and I was surprised! I don't even listen to country radio anymore, and even I recognized most of the names on the list.
If I didn't know better, I'd think it was 1998, not 2008. What happened? Is the talent pool a little shallow? (That's a rhetorical question.)
Here's the list. Tell me if you don't agree that we've suddenly taken a voyage back in time.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Cowboy Town - Brooks & Dunn
Good Time - Alan Jackson
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates - Kenny Chesney
Troubadour - George Strait
Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Don't Blink - Kenny Chesney
Gun Powder and Lead - Miranda Lambert
I Saw God Today - George Strait
Stay - Sugarland
You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins
SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriter's award)
Good Time - Alan Jackson
I Saw God Today - Rodney Clawson, Monte Criswell, Wade Kirby
Letter To Me - Brad Paisley
Stay - Jennifer Nettles
You're Gonna Miss This - Lee Thomas Miller, Ashley Gorley
MUSICAL EVENT/MUSIC VIDEO
Don't care; these are needless categories.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas, dobro
Paul Franklin, steel guitar (they still use those in country?)
Dann Huff, guitar
Brent Mason, guitar
Mac McAnally, guitar
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler
Let's start out by mentioning the categories that need to be done away with.....(this will also serve to shorten the awards ceremony):
MUSICAL EVENT (what the heck does that mean anyway?)
MUSIC VIDEO (I don't watch 'em; therefore, I don't care.)
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR (They're scrounging to even come up with 5 nominees this year - The Wreckers aren't even together anymore. How about we just roll this one into the VOCAL GROUP category?)
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let me say now that of the singles/albums/songs nominated in their respective categories, I only recognize about two or three, and the only album I purchased was the George Strait one.
So, I say, let's get rid of the SINGLE OF THE YEAR category, and just give George Strait the award for ALBUM OF THE YEAR (since that's really the only one worth buying anyway, in my humble opinion. Alan Jackson's might be okay, I guess. I don't know - haven't heard it; sorry).
Now. NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR. The only one I recognize is Kellie Pickler, and that's only because I watch American Idol. So, since I don't know any of these people, let's get rid of this award also.
We'll keep the SONG OF THE YEAR category, because this is the only piddly little award that actually recognizes songwriters. You know, those people without whom the artists would be releasing recordings of simply dead air. I must say, however, when did we start requiring a committee to write one simple little song? You know, I could even get on board with two writers, but three? If you need three people to write a song, I think you need to go find some better writers.
I wish to retain the VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR award, simply because I think it would be hilarious and ironic for the Eagles to win. They are one of the very few artists who are actually releasing country records nowadays.
As for the other categories that we'll keep, I don't care. Anyone can win. Pick one and get it over with.
Country music has lost its soul. I don't listen to "country" radio, and I won't be watching the CMA's.
There was a time when I got excited about country music. I'm over it. Maybe someday the wheels will turn, and somebody will "re-re-invent" country music; you know, like back in 1998, when Alan, George, Randy, and those guys were hot, and the music was, too. I like to think that that may happen. I'm sort of pessimistic, though.
If I didn't know better, I'd think it was 1998, not 2008. What happened? Is the talent pool a little shallow? (That's a rhetorical question.)
Here's the list. Tell me if you don't agree that we've suddenly taken a voyage back in time.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Cowboy Town - Brooks & Dunn
Good Time - Alan Jackson
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates - Kenny Chesney
Troubadour - George Strait
Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Don't Blink - Kenny Chesney
Gun Powder and Lead - Miranda Lambert
I Saw God Today - George Strait
Stay - Sugarland
You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins
SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriter's award)
Good Time - Alan Jackson
I Saw God Today - Rodney Clawson, Monte Criswell, Wade Kirby
Letter To Me - Brad Paisley
Stay - Jennifer Nettles
You're Gonna Miss This - Lee Thomas Miller, Ashley Gorley
MUSICAL EVENT/MUSIC VIDEO
Don't care; these are needless categories.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas, dobro
Paul Franklin, steel guitar (they still use those in country?)
Dann Huff, guitar
Brent Mason, guitar
Mac McAnally, guitar
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler
Let's start out by mentioning the categories that need to be done away with.....(this will also serve to shorten the awards ceremony):
MUSICAL EVENT (what the heck does that mean anyway?)
MUSIC VIDEO (I don't watch 'em; therefore, I don't care.)
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR (They're scrounging to even come up with 5 nominees this year - The Wreckers aren't even together anymore. How about we just roll this one into the VOCAL GROUP category?)
Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let me say now that of the singles/albums/songs nominated in their respective categories, I only recognize about two or three, and the only album I purchased was the George Strait one.
So, I say, let's get rid of the SINGLE OF THE YEAR category, and just give George Strait the award for ALBUM OF THE YEAR (since that's really the only one worth buying anyway, in my humble opinion. Alan Jackson's might be okay, I guess. I don't know - haven't heard it; sorry).
Now. NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR. The only one I recognize is Kellie Pickler, and that's only because I watch American Idol. So, since I don't know any of these people, let's get rid of this award also.
We'll keep the SONG OF THE YEAR category, because this is the only piddly little award that actually recognizes songwriters. You know, those people without whom the artists would be releasing recordings of simply dead air. I must say, however, when did we start requiring a committee to write one simple little song? You know, I could even get on board with two writers, but three? If you need three people to write a song, I think you need to go find some better writers.
I wish to retain the VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR award, simply because I think it would be hilarious and ironic for the Eagles to win. They are one of the very few artists who are actually releasing country records nowadays.
As for the other categories that we'll keep, I don't care. Anyone can win. Pick one and get it over with.
Country music has lost its soul. I don't listen to "country" radio, and I won't be watching the CMA's.
There was a time when I got excited about country music. I'm over it. Maybe someday the wheels will turn, and somebody will "re-re-invent" country music; you know, like back in 1998, when Alan, George, Randy, and those guys were hot, and the music was, too. I like to think that that may happen. I'm sort of pessimistic, though.
Friday, August 31, 2007
CMT Nominations
I'm not sure if anyone pays attention to the CMA Awards anymore. I used to. There also was a time when I couldn't imagine not watching the show (breathlessly), and even taping it for later playback.
I don't watch it anymore.
Funny (meaning, "pathetic") story: In my teens, I really, really wanted to be part of the CMA nominating and voting process, so I lied and said that I either worked for or owned a radio station (can't remember which). I made up call letters for my station and everything. I think it only cost something like $15.00 to become a CMA member.
Obviously, the CMA didn't employ fact-checkers, because I easily became a member.
It was fun. I think the first ballot listed a bunch of names for each category, and also included a space for write-in votes. Then, a short while later, the second ballot came in the mail. That one had each category narrowed down to 10 names, I believe. Then, later, the final ballot.
My people/songs usually didn't win, however. But, hey, at least my voice was heard (the voice of the fictitious radio station owner/manager/what-not).
Ah, so many years ago.
Now, it doesn't really matter to me. Like anything that one grows tired of, it happened gradually. The last CMA awards show that I remember distinctly was the 1987 telecast. That was the year that Rodney Crowell won for best album for "Diamonds And Dirt". I was so thrilled. I LOVED that album.
Subsequent years became increasingly boring and/or irritating. I was always happy when George Strait picked up an award, but other than that, it pretty much lost its relevance.
The only connection I have to the CMA's nowadays is reading the list of nominations, and later, the list of winners.
I did find it interesting this year, however, that the two artists who garnered the most nominations were Brad Paisley and George Strait. Both very traditional country artists. Had Alan Jackson been in the mix, I would have thought I was back in the eighties again.
All I can say is, HA! So! I guess real country wins out in the end after all. Maybe I'm not so old and over the hill. Maybe I'm right in the MAINSTREAM of country music, and all those OTHER people are woefully out of touch. Either that, or I've entered the twilight zone.
I mean, what the heck? What happened to all the country music "superstars"? Where are their nominations?
Oh sure, there's a Keith here, a Kenny there. But where are Bo and Hope....I mean, Tim and Faith? Where's Toby? Where's all those "hot", smokin' artists?
In case you haven't seen the list, here it is: CMA Nominations
It feels like 1987 again, again.
I don't watch it anymore.
Funny (meaning, "pathetic") story: In my teens, I really, really wanted to be part of the CMA nominating and voting process, so I lied and said that I either worked for or owned a radio station (can't remember which). I made up call letters for my station and everything. I think it only cost something like $15.00 to become a CMA member.
Obviously, the CMA didn't employ fact-checkers, because I easily became a member.
It was fun. I think the first ballot listed a bunch of names for each category, and also included a space for write-in votes. Then, a short while later, the second ballot came in the mail. That one had each category narrowed down to 10 names, I believe. Then, later, the final ballot.
My people/songs usually didn't win, however. But, hey, at least my voice was heard (the voice of the fictitious radio station owner/manager/what-not).
Ah, so many years ago.
Now, it doesn't really matter to me. Like anything that one grows tired of, it happened gradually. The last CMA awards show that I remember distinctly was the 1987 telecast. That was the year that Rodney Crowell won for best album for "Diamonds And Dirt". I was so thrilled. I LOVED that album.
Subsequent years became increasingly boring and/or irritating. I was always happy when George Strait picked up an award, but other than that, it pretty much lost its relevance.
The only connection I have to the CMA's nowadays is reading the list of nominations, and later, the list of winners.
I did find it interesting this year, however, that the two artists who garnered the most nominations were Brad Paisley and George Strait. Both very traditional country artists. Had Alan Jackson been in the mix, I would have thought I was back in the eighties again.
All I can say is, HA! So! I guess real country wins out in the end after all. Maybe I'm not so old and over the hill. Maybe I'm right in the MAINSTREAM of country music, and all those OTHER people are woefully out of touch. Either that, or I've entered the twilight zone.
I mean, what the heck? What happened to all the country music "superstars"? Where are their nominations?
Oh sure, there's a Keith here, a Kenny there. But where are Bo and Hope....I mean, Tim and Faith? Where's Toby? Where's all those "hot", smokin' artists?
In case you haven't seen the list, here it is: CMA Nominations
It feels like 1987 again, again.
Friday, August 10, 2007
2006 Country Music Hall Of Fame
(originally posted 09-03-06)
The good, no, great news is, George Strait is being inducted into the CMA Hall Of Fame this year. I’m currently listening to George on my computer, and good grief - he is SO good!
Travelling back in time, to the 1980’s, when I’d had my fill of the country music that was being played on the radio (sound familiar????), I switched over to rock (thank goodness, or my kids would be outcasts, being exposed to only country music). And thank goodness, I have “Jump” by Van Halen seared into my brain.
It was around the late ’80’s when we started going out to a nice club called Dakota Lounge (ah, those were the days) to dance to the featured bands. I started hearing songs that were REALLY GOOD. And I thought, hmmmm, maybe I should check out the country radio dial to see what’s up. Naturally, I’d missed the revolution that had happened in country music. There was this guy called “George Strait”. Actually, I remember before that, going over to Mom & Dad’s, and they insisted on playing this VCR tape they had of a “George Strait” concert. I was like, who is this guy? He seems real popular.
But back to the radio dial. There were some really good songs by singers I’d never heard of. Some guy named “Clint Black” was doing “Better Man”. There was this guy in a white cowboy hat, who was “country with an edge”, doing songs like, “Guitars, Cadillacs”. There was a new guy, with a song called, “Here In The Real World”. I really liked him. Then there was a guy named Randy Travis, doing, “1982″. On the female side, there was a group called “Sweethearts Of The Rodeo”, and I really liked their songs. Theirs was actually the first cassette tape I bought, once I decided to take the plunge back into country music.
Anyway, I thought, “just my luck. I finally turned away from country music, and it got GOOD while I was away.”
So, I changed the dial in my car back to the country station, and I heard this guy, George Strait, more and more. And I REALLY liked him. I started anticipating when his next record would be released, because I knew that I would love the songs. I sat at the junior high school, waiting to pick up my kids, and I heard George’s songs on the radio, and all was sublime.
Then it became just obnoxious. I made mix tapes with all George songs on them. I played the tapes in the car. I found out that his birthday was May 18, one day before mine. Once CD’s took over, I would scour the liner notes to see which writers George had chosen to record songs by. I nodded my head in agreement that he had picked people like Jim Lauderdale and Wayne Kemp.
I admired the fact that he liked the old songs, too. “Love Bug”, an old song by George Jones (that all the reviewers mistakenly labeled as a Buck Owens song). “Drinkin’ Champagne”, a song written by one of my favorite overnight disc jockeys, Bill Mack, and recorded by one of my all-time favorite artists, Faron Young.
George could do no wrong.
Now, if this were a cautionary tale, it would end with George somehow betraying my trust and me becoming disillusioned. Naw, George is still NUMBER ONE in my book. I’ve followed him for many a long journey, and I will always buy George’s CD’s (and I don’t buy very many CD’s).
And to the business side of things, record executives in Nashville better THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS that George Strait appeared on the scene. How many millions has he made for these people? How consistent has he been? How many years, and still putting out NUMBER ONE records? Over twenty? Who can match that?
I finally (finally!) got to see George in concert. It was a torturous quest. We travelled to Billings, Montana to see him, only to find out that his tour bus had gotten caught in a snowstorm in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the concert was cancelled. So, we trudged back to Bismarck, playing my mix tape of George’s songs.
A year or so later, it was announced that George would be appearing at the Fargodome. Okay, on the phone to Ticketmaster, got the tix, got the hotel reservations, and off to Fargo. It was summertime, so no snowstorms!
The audience was crazy. Girls and “older women” standing up on chairs to get a better view. George finally appearing (after the so-so opening act), working the crowd like a politician, working his way to the stage, accompanied by the Ace In The Hole Band playing “Deep In The Heart Of Texas”.
And he was so nonchalant and cool, leaning on his guitar, rarely even strumming it. Knowing that “the voice” was what people had come to hear, and no doubt knowing that the man himself was no slouch to look at, either (!)
The coolest part was when he did an old Conway Twitty song, “Linda On My Mind”. George always threw a song into his concerts that he had never recorded , and this time it was the Conway song. Again, superb taste.
When I got back to work the following Monday, my folks gave me a lot of grief, knowing what a huge fan of George I was. One of them presented me with a picture of George that they had “personally autographed”, just for me. Another person had pictures blown up of George in concert, and gave them to me. I still have those.
I know, as a writer, I should probably be appalled that George doesn’t write his own songs. But, frankly, I don’t care. This man has more talent than all of Nashville and beyond put together. This man truly deserves to be inducted into the CMA Hall Of Fame, and I will record the program on my DVR and fast-forward to the “George” part of the show, and then I’ll pop “Amarillo By Morning” into my CD player and all will be right with the world.
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