Jewel

Sorry guys yet again I have to vent about another cross over artist. On the way to work today I was listening to K102 like always and I heard one of Jewels songs. In no way is she country to me and I don't understand why she is getting air time on K102. Don't get me wrong I don't hate all the girls music. When I was 12 in 1997 I did enjoy bopping along to "You Were Meant for Me" and "Who Will Save Your Soul." But, I don't understand where her new found love for country came from. In 1998 she received much criticism after singing the national anthem at the XXXII Super Bowl. She forgot the beginning of the anthem and it didn't help that she was lip-syncing so everyone heard the words but magically her lips weren't moving. I don't know many country stars that would do any of the above. Her first country album, Perfectly Clear, was released on June 3, 2008. To my surprise it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Charts. But not to my surprise, the next week it dropped down to #25. Its lead single, "Stronger Woman" was released to country radio on January 17, 2008. Its peak position on the country music charts was three months after it was released at #13. I know there are some of you out there that think i am crazy so please let me know I love to hear opinions that aren't the same as mine and who knows you might convince me to not turn the station every time one of her songs comes on. Also, for those of you who love the country Jewel I found out that you can get Mystic Lake Showroom tickets to see her on January 27. This is one country concert you probably won't see me at.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has no reason to have "teardrops on her guitar." Her sophmore album Fearless was a smash hit! It was released in the United States on November 11, 2008. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Its sales of 592,000 was the best single week for any country album in a year. She released the lead single from the album, "Love Story", which reached #2 on iTunes Store Top Downloaded Songs and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Taylor Swifts personal life has been a little rocky lately. Swift confirmed in a 2008 interview with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show that she had dated singer Joe Jonas and that he "dumped her over the phone in 27 seconds." Swift wrote the song "Forever & Always" about Joe Jonas, and the song appeared on her album, Fearless. It was the last song that she had recorded, and it was a last minute addition to her album, making it 13 songs total. 13 is also Swift's "lucky number". I have a feeling Taylor isn't thinking about Joe Jonas anymore. Her album will continue gain more sales as she releases more amazing singles. The girl is unstoppable at this point which I am happy about!

The Myth Concert experience

On Friday night three of my girlfriends (Lindsay, Mary, and Jamie) and I went to the Myth Nightclub to see Chris Cagle. I didn't know what to expect because, like I said in my previous post, I have never been to the Myth Nightclub before. I have heard some not great stuff about this club. I heard that the security is awful, that it gets extremely packed, and a few other things. I was happy to learn that none of this was true Friday night. My friends and I had the time of our lives! It is a fairly small club so you are really close to the performer and that is one of the things I loved about it. The opening band was a no-name band from a small city in Wisconsin. They were okay but, since you were so close to the band and felt like you were partying with them it didn't really matter what they sounded like. Chris Cagle sounded amazing and everyone there was so hyped to see him. It almost felt like a house party with everyone having a great time together and Chris Cagle just happened to be there partying too. I can't wait to go back there for the Gretchen Wilson concert on December 5th.

A few tips if you plan on going to the myth:
1. Get valet parking it is only $10 and it is totally worth it
2. Make friends with the bartender and bouncer it makes everones night more pleasant
3. Girls if you wear heels make sure they are comfy cause I got in trouble for taking my heels off for 2 seconds.

Kenny Chesney

I use to be Kenny Chesney self proclaimed biggest fan. I have seen him four times in concert and sang along with every song every time. He has a song for almost any event that might happen in your life that you can relate too. Lately I have had a change of heart. When my friend, Jamie, told me that she hated Kenny's new CD I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Jamie is the one who I would go to the concerts with and she loved Kenny as much if not more than I did. I decided to take a listen for myself and sadly I had to agree with her. His new CD is defiantly not music you expect to hear from Kenny I could barely call it country. It is mostly Caribbean/island music and there aren't any amazing "ballads" like there were on his previous albums. This week Kenny did win Entertainer of the Year award at the CMAs. He joined Garth Brooks as the only artist ever to claim the trophy four times. This win surprised me a little bit because I haven't heard much from Kenny lately. But, there is no doubt that he does put on an amazing show and I hope he comes back to his county roots soon.

“Country Music’s Biggest Night.”

It's finally here "Country Music's Biggest Night" a.k.a the 42nd Annual CMA Awards. Hosting this magical event is the reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Just to get everyone ready for the big night I will give you a little background on Carrie and Brad. Paisley has stated that his love of country music stems from his maternal grandfather, Warren Jarvis, who gave Paisley his first guitar at eight years old. by age thirteen, Brad was an opening act for country singers such as The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, and George Jones at the Capital Music Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia. His debut as a singer was with the label Arista Nashville, with the song "Who Needs Pictures" (released February 22, 1999). In May of that same year, he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Seven months later he had his first #1 hit with "He Didn't Have to Be." Since then Brad has released 5 extremely successful albums. His most current single is "Start a Band" which he sings with Keith Urban. He’s been nominated for a whopping 38 CMA Awards since 2000, the year he won the Horizon Award.
Carrie Underwood is an American country pop singer and songwriter. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and has become a multi-platinum selling recording artist and a multiple Grammy Award winner. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. Her second album, Carnival Ride, was released on October 23, 2007. It has so far sold about 2.3 million copies and has produced four number one country hits, "So Small", "All-American Girl", "Last Name", and "Just a Dream." "Just a Dream" is now one of my favorite country songs and the music video is just as amazing as the song.
With backgrounds like this you have to expect an awesome show. I can't wait to see who the winners are and how good people do on there performances!

Birthdays and lash outs in the country world today

Today seems to be a busy news day for country fans. Lets start with the happy news... It is Miranda Lambert (1983) and Chris Cagles (1968) birthday today. Since I just wrote about Chris Cagle because I got Myth nightclub tickets for his concert on November 14th, I will write a little bit about Miranda Lambert. Lambert grew up in Lindale, Texas. In 2003, Lambert auditioned for the talent competition Nashville Star, eventually becoming a third-place finisher on the show. On September 15, 2003, she signed with Epic Records and released her first album, Kerosene, in 2004. I was addicted to this album I was some how able to relate to most of the songs. Even till this day if I hear a song from that album I have a flash back to what was going on in my life back then and how the song related. Some of the amazing songs that came off that album were; "Me and Charlie Talking", "Kerosene", and my favorite "Bring Me Down." Her second album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was released in 2007and has already had a few top 40 hits. "Famous in a Small Town", "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", and "Gunpowder and Lead" are going to make this a very successful album for Miranda.
On to the bad news....
Toby Keith is not very happy with the CMA's today. Toby has been recognized by Forbes as the biggest income-earner in the business at the moment, but he’s nowhere to be found among the CMA nominees. Toby tells reporters, "How can you be the No. 1 ticket-seller, No. 1 album-seller, Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year?, BMI Songwriter of the Year, American Music Awards winner, Billboard — all of them — and not win? And then they blackballed me. These last two, three years, I haven't been nominated." I am by no means one of Toby Keith's biggest fans but on this one I agree with him. I love watching all the country award shows, but they always seem to snub a few people. With almost all the award shows I never see Dierks Bentley which is absolutely crazy to me and this time countries biggest seller isn't nominated. I will always love the country community but sometimes you have to wonder what is going through there minds during award seasons.

Chris Cagle

I am slowly going to spend every cent I have on country concert tickets. But, luckily I am okay with that cause there isn't anything else I would want to spend my money on. I just bought Chris Cagle Tickets he is coming on November 14th these tickets were only $55. Like I usually do I will give you a little background on Chris Cagle. While working at a restaurant, Chris was discovered by an agent of the newly-formed Nashville division of Virgin Records, and was signed to a recording deal with the label in 2000. Cagle's rendition of "I Breathe in, I Breathe Out" became his first Number One hit in early 2002. By the end of the year Play It Loud, his first album, had been certified gold in the United States. Capitol released Cagle's second album, Chris Cagle, in the middle of 2003. His second consecutive gold album, it produced the Top 5 singles "What a Beautiful Day" and "Chicks Dig It", as well as the #39-peaking "I'd Be Lying." After his vocal recovery, Cagle began work on his third studio album, Anywhere but Here, which was released in 2005. "Miss Me Baby" served as the album's first single, reaching a peak of #12 on the country music charts. "Miss Me Baby" is my favorite Chris Cagle song and the main reason I bought the tickets. His most recent single release is "What Kind of Gone" and it topped the country charts at #3. I can't wait to hear these songs and many more when he plays at the Myth Nightclub on November 14th.

Crossing over to country

I have contemplated whether I was going to write this blog or not. I finally came to the decision that I would put my opinion out there about this topic and see what all of you are thinking about it. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a "pop" star crosses over to country because they can't make it in the pop world anymore. The only exception I have is when someone does a duet with a country star for one song and then goes back to there own type of music. Like when Nelly did a duet with Tim Mcgraw on "Over and Over again" or Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow on "Picture." The newest artist I cant stand hearing on K102 or any other country station is Jessica Simpson. Yes her song "Come on Over" is a little catchy it still is not a country song in my book. She recently got "booed" at one of her first country concerts she preformed. She is also disliked by Dallas Cowboy fans. She is dating there quarterback Tony Roma. She seems to be bad luck since every game she goes to Tony doesn't play his "A" game. I just don't appreciate when an artist who has never showed any interest in country music crosses over just to make a little extra money or to get a little more fame. Maybe I am being closed minded let me know what you think of the cross over artist.

Country Stars and Politics

Since it is election day I thought I would talk a little about politics. Most people believe that all country stars are Republican. I did a little digging and found a few that aren't just for you Democrats out there. Toby Keith is a life long Democrat and has said "I am very impressed with Barack Obama." Also, power couple Tim McGraw and Faith hill are Democrats. And then there are the outspoken Dixie Chicks. They almost lost all of there fans and music career a few years ago for a political comment. The lead singer announced at a concert that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas. Don't worry my Republican country fans you still have many singers on your side including John Rich who sang at a rally for Mcain.
In the November issue of Redbook there were many country stars showing there patriotism. Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Taylor Swift share the cover of an issue that aims to celebrate freedom, patriotism and the American experience. None of them said who they were voting for. They all sent out the same message that it is extremely important to vote, and I agree with them. I hope all of you reading this that are 18+ get out there and vote today.

CMA Awards

I am so excited about the CMA Awards! They are going to be on November 12th at 7 pm. This year Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will be hosting which is awesome since it is two of my favorite artist. Preforming this year will be Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. All of which are nominated for an award. Taylor Swift was just in the Twin Cities at the Xcel Energy Center with Rascal Flatts. I was unable to make that concert but I will luckily get to see her preform on Wed. I can't wait to see who wins awards and who puts on a better performance. Let me know who you are excited to see perform