CMA award show last night

[angus63]

Let me start off by saying this is the opinion of a New Yorker who has limited exposure to country music other than the standards my dad used to subject us to at the top of his lungs on long car rides (Tom T Hall, Waylon&Willy, Hank Williams, etc..). This Taylor Swift is a beautiful young lady with alot of appeal, but her singing ability and the songs she made popular pale in comparison to some of the other talent I witnessed last night. Carrie Underwood's voice is tremendous! Sugarland's lead female has a range and quality in her voice that is amazing, and their songs have great structure and lyrics. Martina McBride and Reba commanded the stage with their ability to deliver a song. Is anyone else taken aback when ability and talent is overlooked for pop appeal and marketing at award shows? My sentiments are probably best explained by my 13 yr old daughter who often exclaims and did last night, "oh Dad, you're just old!"

 

[gonefishie]

Re: CMA award show last night

ability and talent is overlooked for pop appeal and marketing at award shows? !"

Welcome to the new age, that's what it all about. Sports all-stars are the same way. They make the starting line up based on fan popularity. The reserves are the ones actually got voted in based on their skills by the coaches . I don't listen to country either but have to admit they have to hottest females in the business.

 

[roscoe]

Re: CMA award show last night

I agree.
Swift does have talent and potential. She needs to take some time off to develop it. Every song is written in the same format. Her voice is limited. Her sing song style is aggravating and monotonous. But she has great market appeal. Considering she is still a teenager, I'm sure her parents and manager are pulling all the strings. Wait for her to fade away for 5 years. Then see if she can come back and be a success again.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: CMA award show last night

Let me start off by saying this is the opinion of a New Yorker who has limited exposure to country music other than the standards my dad used to subject us to at the top of his lungs on long car rides (Tom T Hall, Waylon&Willy, Hank Williams, etc..). This Taylor Swift is a beautiful young lady with alot of appeal, but her singing ability and the songs she made popular pale in comparison to some of the other talent I witnessed last night. Carrie Underwood's voice is tremendous! Sugarland's lead female has a range and quality in her voice that is amazing, and their songs have great structure and lyrics. Martina McBride and Reba commanded the stage with their ability to deliver a song. Is anyone else taken aback when ability and talent is overlooked for pop appeal and marketing at award shows? My sentiments are probably best explained by my 13 yr old daughter who often exclaims and did last night, "oh Dad, you're just old!"

You won't hear an argument from me! The wife loves country music and knows all the upcoming singers...I don't, but will admit that I can listen to Waylon Jennings until I pass out!

P.S. Did you know that a certain young bass player (Waylon) passed on taking the fatal plane ride that killed Buddy Holly? Yep...Waylon decided to take the bus instead....

 

[Tig]

Re: CMA award show last night

I gave up on understanding awards in 1977 when Starland Vocal Band won best new group, Grammy I think. The criteria is of course subjective and I generally don't get it. One awards show I do love is the East Coast Music awards in Canada. Some good honest down home musicians on that stage.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: CMA award show last night

Taylor swift is very talented and is enlighteing to see that a girl who represents wholesomness can dominate without having to sex it up. She writes her own songs and yes her voice is limited, but like lots of other artists, she makes it work..

I loved lady Antebellums appeal to the troops on Veterans day. I thought that was very special.

I also was blown away by the Zac Brown Bands rendition of Devil Went down to Georgia.. That was simply awesome..

Check it out..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o27_Iii4Bfg

 

[aspeck]

Re: CMA award show last night

Aww Angus, your just old!

 

[angus63]

Re: CMA award show last night

Aww Angus, your just old!

Still waiting to peak! I still can work the deck for 18 hrs staight with kids less than half my age, only difference is now I can't move the next day!!! :redface:

 

[redone4x4]

Re: CMA award show last night

i used to listen to country music alot. then Chris LeDoux died. that was about the end of it for me, since he actually wrote about stuff that HE had gone thru. what a great performer, he was an all time legend. This new stuff seems like they dont know what radio station to play it on. the pop hits or country stations out here. swift can make stuff catchy, and i think that helps sell more than anything sometimes.

 

[mphy98]

Re: CMA award show last night

I agree with rogerwa, Taylor is a refreshing change from a lot of other acts out there. I am old to to some of you 55, and even I like some of her songs. Winnona came out and said she wasn't ready as well. It all sounds like sour grapes to me. Yes Carrie has a great voice, but she is also one of tayler swifts best friends from what my daughter has told me. It was nice to see genuine emotion when she won, not some oh you really like me BS.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: CMA award show last night

We all have our favorites. And as we age, so do they. The awards usually go to the fresh faces.

I was glad to see Darius Rucker win New Artist of the Year. He seems to retain the humility that is lost by so many (read Kanye West...or is it East. On this I agree with the President - he's a jackass). I remember when my youngster nephew liked "Hootie and the Blowfish". First time I'd heard of them. I said right then, "now there's a one-hit wonder if I've ever heard of one". Later on, they became one of my favorites and I have a some of their music in my playlist.

 

[adamjr]

Re: CMA award show last night

Personally I agree and disagree with the OP. To me country music these days is more along the lines of countrified pop. It's been that way since the mid to late 80's. I miss constant hits from Waylon, Willy, Glenn, and Johnny. Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton and even a little Reba. Barbara Mandrell is tops in my book.

As far as what is out there now I think Taylor Swift is really good considering the listening choices I have. I don't find her to be too "sing songy" and I think she has spirit. I think at the moment she is really good and will at some point develop into an incredible singer.

I didn't care much for Sugarland. I think the lead singer has the ability to sing but what I heard was a woman with an annoying voice singing through her nose. It worked for Zac Brown but not for her.

When it came down to the new arrangement Zac Brown Band did to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" aside from the violinist that I thought was incredible the rest seemed forced and rushed.

The best thing about this discussion, nobody is wrong. They are opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs. I've got an MP3 player in my car and I fill it with what I like. I suggest everyone do the same when they get sick of the commercial stuff playing on terrestrial radio or get a sattelite receiver where you've got over 100 music channels to pick from.

 

[PeterMcG]

Re: CMA award show last night

There are a lot of female vocalists in country music that I enjoy. From old school Patsy Cline, through Tanya Tucker and Reba to Wynona, Shania, Suzy Boggus and more current. I became immediately enamored by Martina McBride's voice the first time I heard Independence Day. I think the collaboration that Alison Krauss did with Robert Plant was amazing -- I never would have figured on that pairing....sorry, I digress from OP's point.

Yes, I think there is a certain amount of style over substance in who gets promoted and commercialized these days -- probably why I didn't get hooked by Faith Hill or Shania Twain immediately. I figured they were marketed because of their appearance, but once I gave them a chance, I liked what I heard.

Taylor Swift has a pretty voice, but (my opinion) she is not a great vocalist (perhaps in time).
Leanne Rhymes at that same age knocked my socks off with her rendition of "Blue." (Someone played it for me without telling me the age of the singer.)

(To be fair, country music does not have a monopoly on female vocalists: I truly enjoy Alicia Keyes, Ami Lee, Nelly Furtado, Joss Stone, Fiona Apple and Natalie Merchant to name just a few.)

 

[Les Robb]

Re: CMA award show last night

In the for what it's worth department, that first song she sang was horrible and the sing song style wears thin on my old ears.

However I do believe she has tremendous appeal to a group that normally wouldn't bother to listen to Brad or Reba. My guess is there are a whole lot of young people out there that are great fans. Will her voice and style mature or will she continue with the sad sing song ballads about the trials and tribulations of a poor little girl at the ripe old age of 19.

For me I'll stick with the more traditional singers.

God bless the USA

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: CMA award show last night

My ears must need calibrating. I can't stand to hear Taylor Swift sing and don't think her skills merits all of the attention she's getting right now.

Darius Rucker...I've seen him twice this year. He sounds as good live as recorded.