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As Cassadee Pope's solo debut single, "Wasting All These Tears" is a sufficient offering, perfectly straddling the line between pop and Country.It samples the boisterous production of her contemporaries, namely Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and offers up a guitar-laden arrangement that will fit perfectly at radio, both Country and Top 40. There won't even be a need for a remix, honestly. The instrumentation skews to the extreme of pop-rock with a dash of down-home banjo.
With females (save for Taylor, Carrie and Miranda Lambert) struggling to find radioplay, Cassadee's future remains in limbo, even with this stellar pop affair. The hook is infectious and should lead the singer to at least gain traction with a Top 30 hit.
‘Someone Somewhere Tonight’ is Kellie Pickler’s first single
on Black River Entertainment, but it existed for some time before Kellie chose
to record it. Previously performed by Kenny Rogers and Pam Tillis among others,
to give Kellie the radio hit she so utterly needs and deserves they needed to
update the song a bit musically.
And that is exactly what they have tried to do.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, it doesn’t work. The song begins with delicate
mandolin and acoustic guitar, with electric guitar beginning to make its
appearance, with the occasional strum to build atmosphere. That’s all fine and
good, but it continues to build and build, until the second verse sounds like a
mess. It doesn’t help that the sound they’re using is quite a dirty, rough guitar
sound, and it absolutely overpowers what should be a gentle, humble song.
However, they’ve tried to make a sweet, thoughtful ballad into a big, powerful
country rock ballad, and it’s just not one that can be belted vocally. That
results in Kellie straining to be heard above the noise, and the other aspects
of the production get totally lost.
It drops completely down for the second chorus, using fiddle
to carry it, back to where it should have been in the first place, and it
sounds much better. But then the solo (the biggest mistake I think), seems to
hold a guitar-off, using too many pedals, too much distortion, too much
overdrive, and too much tone. It shrieks unnecessarily in a song that should be
a focus on the meaningful lyrics. These lyrics tell the stories of so many
people all over the world, yet brings it back to the simple love felt between
two people during the chorus. The third chorus is again trying to be big, and I
can see why they would do that if they had chosen to make the rest of the song
gentle, but that is not the case. Then yet again they drop it down to close,
and it seems they simply couldn’t make up their mind what they wanted the song
to be. Whilst trying to remain relevant, different and edgy they ruined a
brilliant song that didn’t need to be over-done. It totally distracts from the
premise of the song and erases any emotional effect it may have had.
Kellie’s vocals, however, are the song’s saving grace.
Although more wavery than I’ve heard them before, there’s a vulnerability and a
truth-telling in them, carrying the song and making some twists and turns
without over-doing it. If it hadn’t have been for the over-production, I would
have rated this song highly.
I was worried about the use of a ballad, and one that had
been done many times before, to give Kellie the sales and radio boost that she
was denied during her ‘100 Proof’ era. I was worried that it might come across
as more “old-fashioned” and thus wouldn’t translate well with a young audience
lapping up the likes of Florida Georgia Line and Hunter Hayes. However, clearly
it would have been better off like that! I’m not sure how this song will fare,
although I’ll tentatively make a prediction of top 20 on her fanbase alone. But
as someone who had high expectations for new music from Kellie, I’m
disappointed, and hoping for better when her album comes out.
You can watch the lyric video for ‘Someone Somewhere
Tonight’ here:
Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog
it's For The Country
Record, and you can follow me on
twitter @planmymistake. You can email
me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.
I may be behind in my things to do; but the work to support and erase hunger never stops. Since the inception in 2012 of the Outnumber Hunger program 6,825,375 meals have been secured, not too far from the goal of up to ten million that has been set. Can they meet and exceed such a large undertaking? I believe they can.
In April of this year the first ever Outnumber Hunger LIve concert event took place in Las Vegas on Friday night, during the 2013 Academy of Country Music weekend. The event brought awareness for the Outnumber Hunger Program in their quest to secure meals for its network of local food banks. This marks the second year that Big Machine Record Label is working alongside Feeding America, and General Mills to reach their goals. There is also no shortage of support from the label's roster of artists which include The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Cassadee Pope and Greg Bates who put on a wonderful night of music to kick off the 2013 campaign. There will also be other support from artists such as Rascal Flatts, Reba, the Eli Young Band, Thomas Rhett, Raelynn, The Mavericks and Ella Mae Bowen throughout the campaign.
But after all the glitz and glamour the work still continues. As part of the 42nd Annual CMA Fest taking place in Nashville June 6-9 country artist Thomas Rhett has invited fans to volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank for the 2nd consecutive year. Volunteers will be participating in helping sort and pack food alongside Thomas to help hungry Middle Tennesseans . This event filled up very quickly and it will give those involved a chance to learn more about hunger issues throughout Middle and West Tennessee followed by sorting food for Second Harvest's Emergency Food Box Program.
There is a misconception that hunger only relates to the very poor. This has led people to think it could not possibly be someone they know like a neighbor or a family in their church or childrens school. Yet it is true; it could be anyone you least expect. Please take the time to read these startling facts and dig deep into the ways you can help this program. It is so easy and totally affordable. You purchase certain products with the Outnumber Hunger banner on the front; find the code in the back of the packaging; go to the website; enter your code; follow the instructions and you are done. You will feel so good knowing you helped. http://www.outnumberhunger.com/hunger-in-america
There are many programs to help fight hunger which are very easy to work into your life. You don't have to be a big star to help; the bottom line is: JUST HELP DO WHAT YOU CAN...The rewards outweigh the awards.
After a crazed Taylor Swift fan decided to take a couple mile swim to Taylor's new pad at 2 in the morning earlier this week, one of Taylor's neighbors decided to write to CDAN to gripe.
"I want to remain completely anonymous, but as someone who lives where Taylor Swift just bought a summer home, it's already a circus. Apparently there has been a stalker scare so a section of the beach is roped off. We live here all year, pay taxes all year, to enjoy three months at the beach...and now that might be in jeopardy. I don't want to speak for everyone, but you're kinda not welcome."
Completely anonymous? Sounds like someone doesn't want to jeopardize an invite to any of Taylor's sure-to-be-amazing summer barbecues that I'm sure she'll be throwing.
As her potential debut single (it has not been confirmed, but she did tell MTV News that she wants it to be), "All Cried Out" is a knock-out punch of emotions. Coming from a place of unabashed honesty, Kree pours her pain and soul into the song's stirring lyrics. The tune was co-written by Katrina Elam, Gordie Sampsonand Steve McEwan -- the songwriters behind such hits for Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes, Reba McEntire and newcomer Lauren Alaina.
At first listen, I got chills. That doesn't happen often, but when it does, I know I'm listening to something really special.
According to Rolling Stone, Jennifer will be releasing a solo album this fall with the help of Rick Rubin, former co-president of Columbia Records and founder of Def Jam Records.
"I am absolutely thrilled and wholly proud to be working with Rick", Jennifer says. "If you ask any musician who is on their producer 'bucket list', Rick would be on each and every one."
As for what sort of music will be on the as-of-yet untitled album, it sounds like it will be ecclectic ... just what you'd expect from Nettles.
Rubin says. "There's country, but also blues, jazz, island rhythms, great classic rock moments, and a lot of soul. The organizing principle is Jennifer's voice and tastes. There's a lot of styles, but it all sounds like her."
Adds Nettles, "It's a celebration of my roots, and where I am today. I'm a different version of myself than what people might have known before – not only in my songwriting and performance, but even in the sounds on this album. It reflects a more soulful, grittier life. A lot has been lived in the time between the last record I made and now, and you can hear that."
Jennifer's solo album isn't really a surprise at all since both Jennifer and Sugarland partner, Kristian Bush, have said they're interested in doing things on their own as well as together.
I don't know about you but I'm kind of excited to hear what funky music Jennifer will be gifting to the world.
