I AM SO UNBELIEVABLY SICK OF HEARING PEOPLE TALK SHIT ABOUT THE ARTISTS IN MAINSTREAM COUNTRY!!!
Guess what? Every country song ever recorded is available on iTunes! So go download it, and stop listening to the radio if all you're going to do is bitch, moan, and complain about what's on! Or change the station! Either way, PLEASE DO US ALL A FAVOR AND SHUT UP!!!!!! I'm pretty sure that Lynard Skynard & Alabama (among others) were given A LOT of shit for their 'Southern Rock' sound back in the 70's. Yet, they've been dubbed two of the greatest bands of ALL TIME. Moral of the story.. Just because you don't like Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen, or the music they're putting out... doesn't mean that they aren't great artists who make music that the rest of us LOVE!!
One more thing... growing up, I remember Country Music being a 'family'! What happened to that? When did everybody start being so shitty just because they don't agree with the music someone else makes? Get over yourselves!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
He's baaaaaaack! GARTH BROOKS officially announces 2014 WORLD TOUR!
I am the happiest country music fan in the entire world today! Garth Brooks officially announced on GMA this morning with Robin Roberts that he WILL be doing a WORLD TOUR in 2014! With the exception of George Strait still heading into retirement, ALL is right in the world of Country Music! Rest assured that if it takes me selling a damn kidney to see him in concert, it will be done!
In 2000, an emotional Brooks took to the television airways to announce his retirement. Married to then-wife Sandy, he'd decided that he wanted to take on his biggest role full-time as a Dad to daughters Taylor, August, and Allie. With Allie now a senior in High School, and the older girls away at college, he says that he's now just a 'phone call Dad'. And he's alright with that.
Since his retirement in 2000, Garth has played few and far between charitable events. And done one collaboration with 'The King' himself, Mr. George Strait at the 2013 ACM Awards to pay tribute to the late Dick Clark. That night on stage, as he sang his hit 'The Dance', aside from the big 'shit-eatin' grin' on his face, you could the light behind his eyes. At that moment, he was exactly where he needed to be. On stage!!
After a 3 year run of low-key sold-out shows at the Wynn in Las Vegas, Garth has just released an 8 disk box-set that includes not only his biggest hits, but the music that influenced him to do what he does, and be who he is as an artist. And now, with the blessings from all of his girls, including Mrs. Garth Brooks (Trisha Yearwood, whom I'm PRAYING will be on the road with him next year!), he's finally going back to doing what he loves most in the world, besides being a Dad, and that's making and playing music!!
Garth Brooks is responsible for bringing country music to a whole new audience of people around the entire WORLD! He revolutionized so many things about what it means to be an entertainer. In any genre! Having already sold out every single major arena in the world, not to mention playing for over 1Million fans in CENTRAL FREAKING PARK, Garth Brooks is STILL the standard to live up to. Good luck next year Garth and I can't wait to see you on the road!!
In 2000, an emotional Brooks took to the television airways to announce his retirement. Married to then-wife Sandy, he'd decided that he wanted to take on his biggest role full-time as a Dad to daughters Taylor, August, and Allie. With Allie now a senior in High School, and the older girls away at college, he says that he's now just a 'phone call Dad'. And he's alright with that.
Since his retirement in 2000, Garth has played few and far between charitable events. And done one collaboration with 'The King' himself, Mr. George Strait at the 2013 ACM Awards to pay tribute to the late Dick Clark. That night on stage, as he sang his hit 'The Dance', aside from the big 'shit-eatin' grin' on his face, you could the light behind his eyes. At that moment, he was exactly where he needed to be. On stage!!
After a 3 year run of low-key sold-out shows at the Wynn in Las Vegas, Garth has just released an 8 disk box-set that includes not only his biggest hits, but the music that influenced him to do what he does, and be who he is as an artist. And now, with the blessings from all of his girls, including Mrs. Garth Brooks (Trisha Yearwood, whom I'm PRAYING will be on the road with him next year!), he's finally going back to doing what he loves most in the world, besides being a Dad, and that's making and playing music!!
Garth Brooks is responsible for bringing country music to a whole new audience of people around the entire WORLD! He revolutionized so many things about what it means to be an entertainer. In any genre! Having already sold out every single major arena in the world, not to mention playing for over 1Million fans in CENTRAL FREAKING PARK, Garth Brooks is STILL the standard to live up to. Good luck next year Garth and I can't wait to see you on the road!!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Jamie Lynn Spears!
I remember hearing Jamie Lynn sing on 'Zoey 101'. But I don't remember THIS voice! WOW! I mean, just... wow! I am incredibly impressed! I absolutely love 'How could I want more'!! Fantastic song! Really, really great! I'd just like to say to Miss Jamie Lynn Spears... WELCOME to country music honey! I'm definitely looking forward to what you'll be bringing us in the future!!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
The 47th Annual CMA Awards
Well, obviously I'm a little late with my thoughts on the 47th Annual CMA Awards. But, having just celebrated my birthday, and with the holidays coming up, this girl has been busy!!
So, on the 6th I sat in front of my TV like 16.6 million other people and watched the CMA's. First of all... Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line... one word; YES! Absolutely fantastic performance! Just what the show needed to kick it off with a bang!!
Then of course, there was Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood's ever-infamous opening monologue. Between their playful digs at Luke's 'mini-seizures', feuding in Country music, and their fabulous rendition of 'Obamacare by Mornin'", there were tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! Then again, we can always count on Brad and Carrie to make the CMA's an enjoyable watch for us fans.
Now, let's get to the winners.
A huge congratulations to Taylor Swift for her incredible night full of wins! Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year with Tim Mcgraw & Keith Urban - And of course her Pinnacle Award! Gotta be honest, I was never really much of a fan of Taylor's. But over the last year, year and a half, she's really done a lot to reel me in!
Congratulations to Lee Brice, and the songwriters of 'I drive your truck' - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary on their win for Song of the Year! Definitely a touching song that still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it!
Was there ever ANY doubt that FLAGAline was going to take home Single of the Year?? Pssssssh, NO! Every station on the planet was playing 'Cruise' every 10 minutes! Congrats to Brian and Tyler on this, as well as their win for Duo of the Year!! Certainly well deserved, guys!! Can't wait to see how you top all of this in 2014!!
Congratulations to Blake Shelton on his wins for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year! I absolutely love 'Based on a true story' and have it on repeat on my iPhone. If you've ever seen Blake in concert, in an interview, on The Voice, or just read his tweets, you're aware that he's quite a character and loves the world of Country music just as much as we love him!
New Artist of the Year - Ooooookay... I pride myself on NEVER writing anything truly negative about an artist/songwriter. But I have to be completely honest when I say that I don't agree with the choice for New Artist of the Year! I truly think that the award belonged to Lee Brice! Being that this is his SECOND year in a row to be nominated!! I'm not a fan of Kasey Musgraves. Not to take away from her win, or her talent!! But, clearly the Academy sees something in her that I just can't see. Sorry Lee!! But I have no doubts that you're gonna blow everybody away this year on the 'That's my kinda night' tour with Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell!!
A HUGE congrats to Little Big Town on their Vocal Group of the Year award!! Definitely well deserved, and well earned! So proud for you guys!! Can't wait to see what's next!!
Love, love, love, love, love Miranda Lambert!!! A big congratulations to her on her Female Vocalist of the Year award!!! This woman is well on her way to being the next Queen of Country Music! Being an East Texas girl myself, I gotta say how proud I am to call her 'one of us'!
Entertainer of the Year..... Is anyone really surprised that George Strait went home with the trophy? He is, after all, THE KING of Country music! Not to mention, he's on the final leg of his 'The Cowboy Rides Away' Tour!! I'll be honest, I believe the award would have made more sense going to Luke or Taylor. However, it would've been downright disrespectful not to let King George head into 'semi-retirement' without a parting gift!! Having said that, I'd like to point out that I am, and have always been a HUGE George Strait fan! I'm not at all trying to take away from his talent or his win! It's certainly well deserved!! However, I'm entitled to my opinion just like everyone else.
SOME of the performances of the night were a combination of fantastic, incredible, amazing, with a side of holy shit that was good!!! Like I said, Luke & FLAGAline starting out the show with a bang, and some hip-shaking was definitely a 'winner-winner'! Taylor's performance of 'Red' with the ever-amazing Alison Krauss and Vince Gill was perfection!! Blake's 'Mine would be you' was as captivating and true-to-form as ever! Miranda and Keith's new single 'When we were us' was a perfect mash-up of his country rocker style with her true country girl 'swag'!! Carrie Underwood definitely dazzled us with her medley of hits! The 'Night Train' ride that Jason Aldean took us on was just heavenly! Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flatts paying homage to Kennt Rogers was truly fantastic! And of course Alan Jackson and George Strait paying tribute to the late-great Possum, Mr. George Jones with 'He stopped loving her today' couldn't have been any better! I know it brought tears to my eyes!!
Again, I really do hate to be negative. But I was not a fan of the Zac Brown Band performance, or Eric Church's. With all the talk of Country Music not being 'Country' anymore, I was NOT happy with the direction they chose to take. I am a huge Eric Church fan, and I love his music. But this, was not 'it' for me. I just didn't enjoy it. I've never been much of a Zac Brown fan anyway. But if I was, this performance would've sent me running in a different direction!! Wasn't really impressed with Kasey Musgraves performance either. I appreciate that she's a talented songwriter. But I don't believe that she's a great vocalist. Sorry.
Congratulations to ALL of the nominees, performers, and WINNERS! Can't wait to see what the 48th Annual CMA's will bring us next year!!
So, on the 6th I sat in front of my TV like 16.6 million other people and watched the CMA's. First of all... Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line... one word; YES! Absolutely fantastic performance! Just what the show needed to kick it off with a bang!!
Then of course, there was Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood's ever-infamous opening monologue. Between their playful digs at Luke's 'mini-seizures', feuding in Country music, and their fabulous rendition of 'Obamacare by Mornin'", there were tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! Then again, we can always count on Brad and Carrie to make the CMA's an enjoyable watch for us fans.
Now, let's get to the winners.
A huge congratulations to Taylor Swift for her incredible night full of wins! Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year with Tim Mcgraw & Keith Urban - And of course her Pinnacle Award! Gotta be honest, I was never really much of a fan of Taylor's. But over the last year, year and a half, she's really done a lot to reel me in!
Congratulations to Lee Brice, and the songwriters of 'I drive your truck' - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary on their win for Song of the Year! Definitely a touching song that still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it!
Was there ever ANY doubt that FLAGAline was going to take home Single of the Year?? Pssssssh, NO! Every station on the planet was playing 'Cruise' every 10 minutes! Congrats to Brian and Tyler on this, as well as their win for Duo of the Year!! Certainly well deserved, guys!! Can't wait to see how you top all of this in 2014!!
Congratulations to Blake Shelton on his wins for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year! I absolutely love 'Based on a true story' and have it on repeat on my iPhone. If you've ever seen Blake in concert, in an interview, on The Voice, or just read his tweets, you're aware that he's quite a character and loves the world of Country music just as much as we love him!
New Artist of the Year - Ooooookay... I pride myself on NEVER writing anything truly negative about an artist/songwriter. But I have to be completely honest when I say that I don't agree with the choice for New Artist of the Year! I truly think that the award belonged to Lee Brice! Being that this is his SECOND year in a row to be nominated!! I'm not a fan of Kasey Musgraves. Not to take away from her win, or her talent!! But, clearly the Academy sees something in her that I just can't see. Sorry Lee!! But I have no doubts that you're gonna blow everybody away this year on the 'That's my kinda night' tour with Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell!!
A HUGE congrats to Little Big Town on their Vocal Group of the Year award!! Definitely well deserved, and well earned! So proud for you guys!! Can't wait to see what's next!!
Love, love, love, love, love Miranda Lambert!!! A big congratulations to her on her Female Vocalist of the Year award!!! This woman is well on her way to being the next Queen of Country Music! Being an East Texas girl myself, I gotta say how proud I am to call her 'one of us'!
Entertainer of the Year..... Is anyone really surprised that George Strait went home with the trophy? He is, after all, THE KING of Country music! Not to mention, he's on the final leg of his 'The Cowboy Rides Away' Tour!! I'll be honest, I believe the award would have made more sense going to Luke or Taylor. However, it would've been downright disrespectful not to let King George head into 'semi-retirement' without a parting gift!! Having said that, I'd like to point out that I am, and have always been a HUGE George Strait fan! I'm not at all trying to take away from his talent or his win! It's certainly well deserved!! However, I'm entitled to my opinion just like everyone else.
SOME of the performances of the night were a combination of fantastic, incredible, amazing, with a side of holy shit that was good!!! Like I said, Luke & FLAGAline starting out the show with a bang, and some hip-shaking was definitely a 'winner-winner'! Taylor's performance of 'Red' with the ever-amazing Alison Krauss and Vince Gill was perfection!! Blake's 'Mine would be you' was as captivating and true-to-form as ever! Miranda and Keith's new single 'When we were us' was a perfect mash-up of his country rocker style with her true country girl 'swag'!! Carrie Underwood definitely dazzled us with her medley of hits! The 'Night Train' ride that Jason Aldean took us on was just heavenly! Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flatts paying homage to Kennt Rogers was truly fantastic! And of course Alan Jackson and George Strait paying tribute to the late-great Possum, Mr. George Jones with 'He stopped loving her today' couldn't have been any better! I know it brought tears to my eyes!!
Again, I really do hate to be negative. But I was not a fan of the Zac Brown Band performance, or Eric Church's. With all the talk of Country Music not being 'Country' anymore, I was NOT happy with the direction they chose to take. I am a huge Eric Church fan, and I love his music. But this, was not 'it' for me. I just didn't enjoy it. I've never been much of a Zac Brown fan anyway. But if I was, this performance would've sent me running in a different direction!! Wasn't really impressed with Kasey Musgraves performance either. I appreciate that she's a talented songwriter. But I don't believe that she's a great vocalist. Sorry.
Congratulations to ALL of the nominees, performers, and WINNERS! Can't wait to see what the 48th Annual CMA's will bring us next year!!
Friday, September 27, 2013
My Top 10
Since starting this venture into country music blogging, I've been so very fortunate to connect with so many incredible artists. While not excluding the fact that most of these artists have already made quite a name for themselves, I decided to come up with a list of the top 10 that I think have a bright, bright future in the world of country music.
1. Cole Swindell
2. JJ Lawhorn
3. Clark Manson
4. Old Southern Moonshine Revival (OSMR)
5. Tigirlily
6. Rachele Lynae
7. Memphis Cole
8. Craig Gerdes
9. Jake Kellen
10. The Springs Band
There are so many more artists that I'd love to include. But these are the top 10 that I think have a big year ahead in 2014. All of these artists can be found on Twitter, so make sure you go and follow them to find links to their pages and find out when and where you can get their fantastic EP & LP's.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Oh no, he didn't!
Let me start out by repeating myself. Country music is the one genre that is always evolving but constantly stays the same. For this small town Texas girl, being 'country' is about tailgates, cold beer, bonfires, huntin', fishin', Momma's cookin', Friday night football, and Sunday mornin' church.
Recently, Zac Brown Band front man was quoted as saying that Luke Bryan's newest single "That's My Kinda Night" (his SECOND #1 single off of his SECOND #1 album this year!) is "the worst song I've ever heard". WOW! Are you shittin' me??
Zac says "If I hear one more tailgate in the moonlight, daisy-duke song, I'm gonna throw up", in an interview with Vancouver's 93.7 JRfm.
Here's my take on that; how in the hell can you possibly have anything negative to say about any country song having to do with "tailgates in the moonlight" when the beginning of the biggest song of your career is "Ya know I like my chicken fried. Cold beer on a Friday night, a pair-a jeans that fit just right, and the radio up."
Kind of hypocritical. Don't you think? That song was oozing with 'commercial appeal'. Annoyingly so!!
Brown also said “My opinion is not about Luke as an artist, it’s about that song. He didn’t write it. I’m a fan of Luke, but definitely not that song.”
Well here's my opinion; for anyone who has actually followed Luke Bryan's career, you're very aware that Luke does not record music that he doesn't believe in, 110%. He is a talented and dedicated performer and songwriter. (Hense, that little ol'e ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR award). So, by not only saying that you hate the song, but basically implying that it disgusts you, you are insulting him as an artist!! Not only that, you're insulting Dallas Davidson who DID write the song and happens to be one of Luke's best friends! As well as SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR!!! So, obviously, he's doing something right! Intentional or not, it was a shitty thing to say. And if you're having to defend it, already... then you probably should've just kept your mouth shut to begin with!
My Momma always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all. Well, I'm sorry Momma but I gotta say this; Mr. Brown, your comments sound like those of a pretentious, bitter, and jealous man. Luke Bryan has recieved his WELL DESERVED success for three reasons. 1) He makes music for his fans because it's what he loves to do. 2) He never puts out a song that he doesn't believe in wholeheartedly. 3) He does everything in his life/career with a smile on his face. - Luke Bryan continues to not only revel in his own success, but he praises others in the world of country music, for theirs as well. Something all great artists are known and respected for!!
I was sort of a Zac Brown Band fan before. But I can honestly say that after this, I'll have a hard time not changing the station when one of his songs comes on.
Luke, Dallas, we LOVE you guys and we're so, so proud of both of you and all of your success. Dallas... The song is AMAZING! Keep em' comin' baby!!
In closing... all I can really say is.. Shame on you, Zac Brown. Shame on you!!
•Quotes provided by "The Boot" article - via Vancouver's 93.7 JRfm•
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Prayers for Cole Swindell
As a huge fan of "Chillin' it", as well as the amazing songs he's written for Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" album, I was deeply saddened to learn that Country singer/songwriter Cole Swindell experienced a devastating blow over Labor Day Weekend, when suddenly on Monday (Sept. 2) he lost his father.
Having lost a parent, I know first hand that there is absolutely nothing that can be said or done to ease the heartache and confusion that Cole is feeling right now. But we, at Country Girl Review just want to express our deepest condolences to him, his family, and others close to him that have been affected by this terrible tragedy.
Cole, please know that I am so, very sorry for your loss. You and your family are at the top of my prayer list, and I'm praying Angels around all of you. Sending lots and lots of love your way. God bless you, darlin'.
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