John Rich song for Senator John McCain
Written by Michael Vass
Music is integral to life. Whether you are young and rebellious, stressed from a hard day of work, or out with friends on Friday music is something that is ingrained as part of our lives. And in this current Presidential election cycle music has taken an unprecedented importance.
Senator Obama has had several songs and music videos made about his historic nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate (even though Bill and Hillary Clinton might dispute that). The most recent came from an unexpected source, ensconced in wording that insulted everyone that heard it – including Senator Obama. Such is a song by rapper Nas (real name Nasir Jones).
But lest you believe that the only music in the nation or appropriate for a Presidential candidate is gansta rap or hip hop, John Rich would like to prove there is alternatives.
For those unfamiliar John Rich is part of the multi-platnium country music duo Big & Rich. He can also be seen on the popular Nashville Star television program. He’s sold over 5 million albums, and was part of People magazine’s music industry ‘power’ list. In other words he’s no slouch.
John Rich is also a conservative and Republican. And after observing all the hoopla surrounding the Obama videos and the insults made by Nas, he decided to even the playing field a bit.
Statler Brothers Get Their Day in the Sun
Typical of a Nashville summer day, the sun beat down on gawkers as they waited to get their first glimpse of Country Music’s latest inductees to the Hall of Fame. Shortly after 5PM, the four men known as the Statler Brothers arrived on the red carpet. A few hours later, they joined Tom T. Hall as the recipients of the highest honor that can be bestowed upon country music legends.
Founded in 1955 in Staunton Virginia, the group officially became the Statler Brothers in 1965. The group got it’s start singing gospel music in local churches. Don Reid sings lead and Harold Reid sings bass, with Phil Balsley and Jimmy Fortune rounding out the quartet. In 1990, the group lost Lew DeWitt after a long battle with Crohn’s Disease. The group remained close to their gospel roots and over the years, each one of the group’s albums contained at least one gospel song. In attendance to honor the inductees were country music superstars Vince Gill and Reba McEntire.
They had their first hit in 1965 with “Flowers on the Wall”. They had several more Top 40 hits through the 1970s and 1980s, including “The Class of ‘57″ and ”Do You Know You Are My Sunshine”. The group finished the show with a beautiful performance of ”I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You”.
Snoop Dogg in Country Music: a bad experiment
Written by Michael Vass
Oh my… I have seen everything now. Snoop Dogg has made a country music song, and a video to go with it.
Now as your shock subsides I will present the video to you
This video was dedicated to Johnny Cash. Somehow I don’t think he would be pleased with the song itself. Perhaps the idea would have made him smile though.
I have no problem with an artist crossing over to a different genre. Many of the greatest have done it and quite well. Ray Charles is perhaps one of the best known for his ability to convey emotion while introducing a new style of music to his listeners. Johnny Cash notably did so with his powerful rendition of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails.
But Snoop Dogg?
Well in listening to the song I can say there are several positives. Sadly there are several negatives that are what has made Snoop Dogg popular.
The music is fine if not a bit simplistic. It’s catchy in an older style of country music flavor (which is more my favored style). The vocals include a large helping of Willie Nelson, thankfully crowding out the fact that Snoop Dogg cannot sing. But the combination mostly works throughout most of the song. And that’s all the positives I found.
Now if you actually listen to the song, it’s not really country music to me. It’s basically a drug dealer talking about pimping his girl to get high. I’m not overly-familiar with country music today, but I’m not familiar with any entertainer that promotes such a thought in their music. It is what I would expect from Snoop Dogg though, and I don’t think it’s what Johnny Cash would have like.
Cash told stories of life, and mistaken choices that often involved abuses of alcohol and/or drugs. He was anti-drugs, and his music tried to uplift the spirit. I’m not saying he was the most cheerful of entertainers, but he was meaningful. Snoop’s My Medicine is not.
Looking at the visual presentation, perhaps the worst aspect is watching Snoop Dogg try to hold a guitar. He looks lost. He makes it quite apparent that he has virtually no musical ability, unless playing Guitar Hero counts. Slightly less unappealing is his country-esque clothing. The cowboy hat is ok, but some of the outfits just don’t work. He looks as silly as the song deserves to be considered.
My ultimate problem is the wording. Snoop Dogg seems to be trying to bring country music to the same guttural level that rap music has fallen to. His reference to his girlfriend being less important than the money for his drugs disturbs me. It’s not presented as a person with a serious problem, but as a fact of life that is enjoyed. I have a problem with that.
This is a fluff song. There is nothing to it, besides the hope of the promoters and music company executives of gaining higher sales for their respective artists and music genres. I don’t think Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash or country music are in any form of desperation for listeners. Thus this was an experiment.
On levels this experiment works, on many others it fails. Hopefully there will be others that can pick up this idea and make it really work. Blending country music and rap makes sense. Both depict stories of life and lessons learned. Both are grounded in life today. But gangsta rap is an exaggerated aberration of the reality that exists, and country music has no equivalent. If it never gains such an extreme I think it will be the better for it.
Otherwise the CMT Music Awards can expect to be giving out awards to entertainers starring in videos of women in Daisy Dukes - that the women of Hazzard wouldn’t go outdoors in – riding a horse while villainous black hats shoot down lawmen while singing/rapping the glory of selling drugs.
Think it can’t happen? Let this video catch on and music execs will do to country music what happened to all other forms of rap except gangsta rap.
But what do you think of the video?
Does She Know What a Long Neck Is?
When I think of country stars, I believe there are certain things that you have had to at least experience before you call yourself a country star. First and of course, you have to believe that the ride in a good old pickup is more enjoyable than a Rolls Royce. Second, I have to be able to envision you walking out of a country home with a swinging door which makes that unforgettable closing sound which reminds me of country summers. If you don’t know about that sound, think roosters and porches and it’ll probably come back to ya. Finally, you’ve had to have a beer in a coon-ass country town in order to call yourself a country star.
When I think of Jewel, the newest star to go country, I just don’t think of a country star. After all, she’s from Utah and she now lives in San Diego. What do you get, a snow bunny skiing down the back bowls of Alta in Utah and I just couldn’t imagine Willie Nelson doing the same.
But as one of my buddies said, that lady can sing.
Business Tip to Nintendo- Go Country
I contacted the suits at Nintendo and told them that it’s about time that they stop shunning the country music fans throughout North America and finally take Guitar Hero country. After all, groups such as Led Zeppelin have shaped the music ears of people like myself but you can make the case that more people in this country know the music of Garth Brooks than they know of Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam. In fact, when kids on Beale Street are more familiar with Foghat than they are familiar with Vince Gill, I need to scream.
Here’s more at CMT.When Will Guitar Hero Go Country?