Country Music

2005-11-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this semester is already coming to an end. It was a great semester but I'm sad that this means my senior year is half over. I had fun with this Blog project, it made me learn more about country music, including stuff about my favorite singers that I didn't even know.

I would like to thank everyone that commented on my blog as well. My favorite part of having a blog was reading everyone’s comments - some of them were funny and made me laugh and others gave me things to think about or new songs to consider. I am surprised at how many people in class like country music, usually I'm just made fun of but I can't help it if I'm just a country girl at heart. I'm glad to see I'm not alone though, and I know country music is becoming more and more popular every year even among non-country listeners.

And in response to someone's comment... rednecks are not the same as cowboys, cowboys are much hotter.

I decided this post would be about my personal favorite country songs. It was very hard for me to decide but I tried to narrow it down to only 10. I also tried to limit it to one song per artist and added some not so well known songs to give you guys a broader range of music. These songs are from various artists with different styles. I hope you will download some of them and enjoy them as much as I do!

1. It's a Great Day to Be Alive - Travis Tritt
2. Good Morning Beautiful - Steve Holy
3. Making Memories of Us - Keith Urban
4. One of These Days - LeAnn Rimes
5. I've Got Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
6. Back Where I Come From - Kenny Chesney
7. Mud on the Tires - Brad Paisley
8. Where the Green Grass Grows - Tim McGraw
9. I'm Moving On and Prayin' for Daylight (I couldn't decide!) - Rascal Flatts
10. When You Come Around - Deric Ruttan

Thanks again for everyone’s great comments! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Save a Horse.
Ride a Cowboy.

2005-11-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

The biggest night in country music was this week!! The 39th Annual CMA awards aired on November 15th and for the first time ever, they were held in New York City instead of Nashville. Here are some of the results, for more details check out the CMT coverage of the CMA’s.

Entertainer of the Year
WINNER: KEITH URBAN
Other Nominees: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley
I definitely think Keith Urban deserved to win this award. If you haven’t been able to tell from my previous posts, I am a huge Keith Urban fan. Every song he makes is a hit, not to mention he’s gorgeous. I did think it was interesting that there were no female nominee’s though.

Female Vocalist of the Year
WINNER: GRETCHEN WILSON
Other Nominees: Sara Evans, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, and Lee Ann Womack
In my opinion there wasn’t really a competition here. Gretchen is a much more prominent country singer than the other nominees. Although they all have great songs, Gretchen’s are better known. Sara Evans would probably come in second.

Male Vocalist of the Year
WINNER: KEITH URBAN
Other Nominees: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Brad Paisley
Keith Urban did really well this year! It is tough competition between these four though, and I think Toby Keith should have still been in the running over George Strait.

Horizon Award
WINNER: DIERKS BENTLEY
Other Nominees: Big and Rich, Miranda Lambert, Julie Roberts, Sugarland
I couldn’t find out exactly what this award was for, but I’m guessing it has something to do with being new in the country music industry. I think Dierks Bentley deserved to win the award because in his few years starting out he has come out with at least 4 hot songs. Big and Rich and Sugarland are also great new groups to watch out for.

Vocal Group of the Year
WINNER: RASCAL FLATTS
Other Nominees: Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, Diamond Rio, Lonestar, and Sugarland
The other nominees can’t even compare to the talent that Rascal Flatts has. They definitely deserved this one.

Vocal Duo of the Year
WINNER: BROOKS AND DUNN
Other Nominees: Big and Rich, Montgomery Gentry, Van Zant, and the Warren Brothers

Other Awards:
Single of the Year: “I May Hate Myself in the Morning” by Lee Ann Womack
Album of the Year: There’s More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack
Song of the Year: “Whiskey Lullaby” written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall
Music Video of the Year: “As Good as I Once Was” by Toby Keith

2005-11-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Hot Country Songs

Here are this weeks top 5 country songs according to the Billboard music charts:

1. Keith Urban – Better Life
I love this song! And pretty much every song Keith Urban comes out with. It’s very upbeat and puts me in a good mood. It reminds me a lot of some of his other songs such as “Better Half” and “Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Me”, which are also very energetic and fun.

2. Kenny Chesney – Who You’d Be Today
This is one of Kenny’s more mellow songs but it is still really good. It is a sad and emotional song about wondering what someone who has passed away would be like today. I think it can probably be a sensitive song for some people but Kenny does a great job singing it and it deserves its place in the top 10.

3. Dierks Bentley – Come a Little Closer
If Dierks Bentley was singing this song to me I would definitely come a little closer! This is such a romantic song and his deep, smooth voice is perfect for it. I think this song really shows off his talent and versatility as an artist, considering most of his other songs are very upbeat and fast. Other Dierks Bentley songs to download: What Was I Thinkin’, How Am I Doin’, and Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do.

4. Rascal Flatts - Skin
This is probably the one Rascal Flatts song that I do not enjoy that much. “Skin” is a song about a young girl who finds out she has cancer. It is too sad for me and the lyrics are like a detailed story. I think that it is a beautiful song but I’m just not crazy about the content.

5. Joe Nichols – Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
My roommate and I decided that this song is our new going out anthem. I love, love, love it! It is hilarious and so true. You have to download it and listen to it to understand how great it is. I’m sure a lot of people can really relate to it, especially if you are a college girl like me...you know you've lost something at the bar!

Check out other Billboard charts to find out more information about what's hot in music right now!

2005-11-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Billy Currington

Billy Currington is a fairly new country singer who is just beginning to build his career and become better known in the industry. From the first time I saw one of Billy Currington's videos on CMT I could tell that he was going to be a big star. Currington grew up near Savannah, Georgia with his mom and a stepfather who was an alcoholic. Although growing up with an alcoholic father was hard, it actually inspired him to write the song "Walk A Little Straighter" which became his first hit single in 2003. The song "Walk A Little Straighter" tells the story of Billy's life growing up and most of it was written when Billy was only 12 years old.

Currington started pursuing his music career while he was still in high school. He auditioned for Opryland USA when he was a junior and although he didn't make it he continued to pursue his dream. After high school Billy moved to Nashville where he worked for a concrete company and as a personal trainer. Through connections with a client, Currington got work writing songs, and eventually landed a record deal with Mercury Records.

He released his first album; self titled Billy Currington, in 2003. Since then, Billy has gained a fan base and released his second album, Doing Something Right. Billy has also worked with many other artists in producing hit singles. My favorite song of Billy Currington's is "I've Got a Feelin'". It is a feel-good song that has a catchy tune and romantic lyrics. I even used to have it as my ring tone on my cell phone. His new single "Must Be Doing Something Right" was just released a few months ago and is a great song as well. It is a very sweet and slow song. Some of his other new songs that I enjoyed, which are more up beat and fun, are “I Wanna Be a Hillbilly” and “She Knows What To Do With a Saturday Night”.

Billy has also worked with many other country singers in hit songs. One of the more popular ones, “Party for Two” with Shania Twain, has been nominated for a Country Music Award. The CMA’s will air on November 15th, so remember to watch them and see all of your favorite country stars!

2005-10-30T22:08:00.000-08:00

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney has been a well known country singer for years and recently he has become famous even among people who don't listen to country. Kenny is probably the one country performer who gets the most publicity, other than maybe Tim McGraw. This is especially true after his recent marriage and divorce with Renee Zellwiger.

Kenny grew up in Tennessee and gained a fan base by performing at local venues while he was in college. After college Chesney moved to Nashville and, while it took him a couple years, he eventually landed a record deal with Capricorn Records. A couple of years later, Chesney switched to RCA Records and ever since he's had nothing but success.

Kenny Chesney is one of my favorite performers. So far I have seen him 4 times in concert and every time he is amazing. Last year I even got the chance to meet him backstage and also had front row seats for a couple concerts. We were so close I could touch him! I love all of Kenny's songs, both the older ones and the newer ones. The first song of his I ever heard was "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" and to this day it is still one of my favorite country songs. This is probably the song that really helped to boost Kenny's career and success.

Kenny Chesney has tons of great songs coming from 12 different albums, dated as far back as 1994. My top 5 favorite songs are : She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy, She's Got It All, Young, Back Where I Come From, and Anything But Mine. I think this is a good range of songs that shows how he's grown since his earlier albums and also his versatility as a performer. Kenny has a lot of sweet, romantic songs as well as fun and upbeat songs.

If you get the chance I would recommend downloading some of Kenny Chesney songs if you haven't already, even if you aren't normally a country music fan.

2005-10-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Country Concerts

There are alot of great country concerts coming up at the end of October and all through November. Most of them are in Atlantic City but there are also a few in Baltimore. No matter who your favorite country singers are, there is bound to be a concert that fits your taste. Sorry, Billy Ray Cyrus will not be performing any time soon.

LeAnn Rimes featuring Phil Vassar and Aaron Lines
Saturday October 29th, 8 pm @ Mark G. Etess Arena/Trump Taj Mahal
For the price of one concert you get to see three great artists! LeAnn Rimes has been around for awhile but she is still coming out with great songs. One of my favorites is her new one called "Probably Wouldn't Be That Way". Phil Vassar and Aaron Lines are also amazing performers, although they haven't been around as long. Phil Vassar has had many hits such as "Just Another Day in Paradise", "That's When I Love You", and "In A Real Love". The song Aaron Lines is most famous for is "You Can't Hide Beautiful" which is one of my favorite country songs.

Alan Jackson with Sara Evans
Saturday November 12th @ Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ
I saw these two during the summer in Virginia and it was an amazing concert! If anyone has a chance to go see them, I definately recommend it. Sara Evans starts the show off with some of her well known songs such as "Born to Fly", "Suds in the Bucket", and her newest, "A Real Fine Place to Start". Alan Jackson is a great singer to see in concert. He has been around for awhile and has so many songs that just put you in a good mood and make you want to sing and dance. My favorite Alan Jackson songs are "Where I Come From", "Chattahoochee", "Designated Drinker", and "That'd Be Alright". His most famous song is probably "5 o'clock Somewhere".

Keith Urban with Little Big Town
Thursday, November 17th, 7:30 pm @ Sovereign Bank Arena Trenton, NJ
I also saw Keith Urban this summer as part of the Kenny Chesney tour. In my opinion, Keith Urban is one of the hottest country singers out there. He is actually from Australia but he grew up listening to country music. My favorite song of his is "Making Memories of Us". It's so romantic, I would love it if a guy ever sang it to me! He also has alot of songs that are upbeat and always put me in a good mood, such as "Who Wouldn't Want to Be Me", "Somebody Like You", and "Better Half". I would love to go to this concert and get the chance to see him in a full show instead of just opening for someone.

Other concerts coming up are Alan Jackson on November 17th on the boardwalk in Atlantic City and Pat Green at the Rams Head Live in Baltimore. Also the Country Music Awards show is coming up on November 15th, live from New York City.

2005-10-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Josh Gracin

Some of you may remember Josh Gracin from American Idol 2 (the one with Rueben and Clay Aiken) as the marine who sang everything like it was a country song. Josh was elminated from the competition after making it to 4th place but he has definitly become more successful than the winner, and the runner-up. Although Josh didn't make it all the way to the end, it was his performances on the show that helped him gain his huge fan base and become one of country music's newest stars.

Josh Gracin was born and raised in Michigan, just outside of Detroit, and grew up listening to Elvis, pop, and rock. When he was 8 his favorite radio station turned country and from then on he was a cowboy. Some of the first country singers to influence him were Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie, Randy Travis, and George Strait. After high school Josh enlisted in the Marines and a few years later he was married, had a daughter, and won a spot on American Idol 2. He may not have won the title of america's Idol but the episode where he sang "I'm Moving On" by Rascal Flatts (my favorite song!) led him to a record deal. Luckily, the singers of Rascal Flatts happened to be watching and were so impressed that they helped get Josh signed on their record label, Lyric Street.

I admit I wasn't a big fan of Josh on American Idol. I was cheering for Rueben the whole way. I thought his first two singles, "I Want to Live" and "Nothing to Lose", were alright but it wasn't until his newest song "Stay With Me" that I fell in love with Josh Gracin, and his music. I have the song downloaded on my computer and I would listen to it all day on repeat if my room mates would let me! After hearing this song, I was converted into an official Josh Gracin fan and I downloaded the rest of his CD. Another one of my favorite songs is "Peace of Mind". Josh has only released one album so far but I can't wait for him to make another one, I am anticipating it to be amazing!

Out of the artists I've written about so far, Josh Gracin is the only one I haven't seen in concert. He is not doing tours yet, but I did find out that he is playing at West Chester University in Pennsylvania on October 21st, if anyone wants to go see him.

2005-10-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Gretchen Wilson... country's true redneck woman.

I had noticed every week I was focusing mainly on cowboys (I can't help it, I love them) so for this week's blog I thought I'd feature one of country music's rough and rowdy cowgirls - Gretchen Wilson. Gretchen was born in Illinois in 1973 and has not had an easy life since then. She lived with her mom, moving from trailor to trailor, and by the time she was 12 she was working full time at a bar to help pay for living expenses. She never thought she'd make it in the music industry until country stars Big and Rich ("Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy") heard her singing at a local bar. Now a few years later, Gretchen, who is also a mother, has two hit albums and is a strong female icon for many women. After listening to her music, you can tell that she has gone through some rough times but in the end those are the things that made her stronger. She's proud of who she is, where she comes from, and everything else that goes along with that!

Gretchen is still new to the country music industry. Her first album "Here For the Party" was released in May of 2004 and really took off with the release of her first hit single "Redneck Woman". Even though"Redneck Woman" is a little wilder than most country music, especially by female artists, it was a huge success! I'm sure almost all of you have heard the song by now and just like many of her other songs it has a catchy tune and humurous lyrics. Another one of my favorites is "Homewrecker" - you can't listen to it without blasting it and singing along. Gretchen's newest single, "All Jacked Up", is a typical Gretchen Wilson song - fun, wild, and a mix of rock and country. She does have alot of mellow songs too though. Some of my favorites are "When I think about Cheatin", "Holdin You", and "What Happened". These songs show that Gretchen isn't as much of a hard ass as she seems to be at first, she has a soft side too. Her latest album, "All Jacked Up", was just realeased a couple of weeks ago. I haven't had the chance to listen to it yet but I'm looking forward to it!

In response to people's comments...
Meg- I'm not sure if there is anywhere to go country line dancing around here. I tried looking it up but I couldn't find anything. I have a friend from home who does it and she always talks about how much fun it is. If you find a place though, let me know, I would love to try it - what can be better than dancing with cowboys?
K Ricker - I love the song "Austin"! But I'm not sure if it is Brad Paisley who sings it. I always thought it was Blake Shelton, but maybe I'm wrong. When I looked it up on Google it had both names as singing it, so who knows. I also love Dierks Bentley - I'm sure his concert was amazing!

2005-09-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Brad Paisley

Ahh Brad Paisley, possibly my favorite cowboy. The first time I saw Brad Paisley in concert was the summer after my freshman year of college. He was playing in Virginia along with Rascal Flatts, Brooks and Dunn, and Aaron Lines and it was amazing! Actually now that I think about it, that was my very first country concert... so I guess Brad was the one who got me hooked. Like all true country fans, my friends and I went extra extra early to tailgate. We went so early that the parking lot wasn't even open yet so they sent us down to the local Wal-Mart where they said "everyone" would be tailgating because Brad Paisley was inside signing autographs there. So of course we went and tailgated outside of Wal-Mart (really I'm not a redneck, I promise) - we were the only people tailgating there but we had a great time and we even got pictures with Brad!

Brad Paisley was born and raised in West Virginia, so he was basically destined to be a country singer from the start. He started playing music and singing well before the age of 10 and at the age of 12 he was writing his own songs. He attended Belmont University in Nashville and this is where he met his producer, co-song writers, and many of the musicians he has worked with. Just a week after he graduated Brad had a record deal with Arista. In 1999 Brad released his first number one single, "He Didn't Have to Be", off of his debut album Who Needs Pictures. Since then Brad has released 3 other albums: Part II (2001), Mud On the Tires (2003), and Time Well Wasted (2005).

I think my favorite song of Brad Paisley's is "I'm Gonna Miss Her" from his Part II album. This was his first song I ever heard and I loved it. If you haven't heard it you should download it, its pretty funny. Some other popular songs of his to download are: We Danced, Wrapped Around, Mud on the Tires, Celebrity, and Little Moments. I haven't listened to much of his new CD yet except for the single "Alcohol" - I like it! So that's it for this week... I'll leave you with a few words from Brad himself...

Well I got you in trouble in high school

But college now that was a ball

You had some of the best times

You'll never remember with me

Alcohol

Gotta love him!

2005-09-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

Rascal Flatts

In response to everyone’s comments I decided to dedicate part of this weeks post to Rascal Flatts and their upcoming concert. Tickets already went on sale on September 17 but it’s not too late to still get them. The cheapest seats are $39.00 and the easiest place to get them is on Ticketmaster.com. The concert, which is part of their “Here’s To You” tour, is on Saturday, October 15th in Baltimore, MD at the 1st Mariner Arena. It is scheduled to start at 8pm with opening acts from Blake Shelton and Blaine Larson, who are both great country singers.

Rascal Flatts is one of my all-time favorite country bands, especially live. I have already seen them three times in concert and each time it gets better and better. I would love to see them again in Baltimore, but I already saw them over the summer when their “Here’s To You” tour stopped in Virginia. If any of you are still thinking of going, I definitely recommend it. The concert was amazing, one of the best, and they played hits from their older albums, such as “Praying for Daylight” and “These Days”, as well as some of their new songs like “Fast Cars and Freedom”.

And in response to Drew's comment…Trisha Yearwood will not be performing at this concert. Sorry Drew, you may have to enjoy her slow, love songs in the privacy of your own home this time but if you want company, let me know, I have her greatest hits CD.

In other country news, Kenny Chesney is single again! Just last week, Kenny Chesney and his wife, Renee Zellweger filed for an annulment after only being married 4 months. They had only been dating since January of 2005 and their marriage was a shock to almost everyone. I know it’s probably not right to be rejoicing over someone getting divorced but I’m sure I’m not the only girl out there who was happy when she heard this. Not that I have a chance with Kenny Chesney, but it’s always nice to dream!

Until next time… Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!

2005-09-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

People and organizations all across the world have been donating their time and money to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina - including many country singers! CMT (Country Music Television) has put together a benefit concert called "One Country" that is scheduled to air October 1st on CMT live from the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The concert is named after CMT's new campaign, also called "One Country”, which encourages people to volunteer, both locally and nationally.

This benefit concert is a perfect example of how a little bit of volunteering can go a long way. Some of the musicians who are scheduled to perform are George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, and Martina McBride, and more acts are expected to be added soon! All of the supplies and equipment needed to put on the concert were also donated to ensure that all the proceeds go directly to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This concert is guaranteed to draw a huge crowd and raise thousands of dollars to help rebuild the Gulf Coast. I know I would pay almost anything to see that many of my favorite country singers in one show, especially if it was for a good cause! Lots of hot cowboys and good music, what more could you ask for?!

Besides the "One Country" volunteers, many other country stars have been stepping up individually to do whatever they can to help. Several artists donated proceeds from their concerts that were already scheduled and others sent semi-trucks full of cell phones, clothing, and other supplies directly to New Orleans.

So don’t forget to watch the “One Country” concert on CMT on October 1st… I know I will! And if you get inspired to volunteer, there are tons of opportunities available. Check back next week for more country music updates…

2005-09-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll welcome to my country music blog! This blog is for all those people out there who, like myself, love country music, cowboy hats, and southern accents! Country music has come along way since the days of Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker. More and more, country music is becoming more upbeat and mainstream. Such artists as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, and Kenny Chesney are well known even among people who don't consider themselves country music fans.

In my opinion, there is nothing quite like a country concert. Even if you aren't a huge country fan, the laid back and fun-loving atmosphere of a country concert is contagious. Over the past summer I saw Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Pat Green, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, and Rascal Flatts. My favorite of those concerts was Rascal Flatts, you should check them out!

In my future blogs, I plan on posting updates on country music tours, news about the hottest country singers and links to their homepages, billboard ratings, music clips, and some of my opinions and reviews of new music and concerts. I hope some of you will also post comments about your favorite country stars and any updates on new country music!