Shania with A.K. and Union Station

Brian Wetzstein · Post by **Brian Wetzstein** » 25 Nov 2003 9:27 pm

Wow. That was good. I hope some more of you caught it because they sound great together. Jerry had a really cool tone. He sounded kind of overdriven on the opening track.
I don't think there was any "live to track" happening tonight. Just good old fashioned talent and practice.
brian

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 25 Nov 2003 9:36 pm

After seeing the show tonight, I take back at least 75 per cent of all the bad things I've said about Shania. Jody.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 25 Nov 2003 9:54 pm

I saw some of the show and it was awesome! Jerry's dobro sounded awesome. Jerry can play really fast on the dobro. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 26 Nov 2003 2:14 am

Jody,
I had faith that you would come around!

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 26 Nov 2003 3:10 am

I have to admit Shania sounded good. Maybe she should do it that way all the time. It was nice not to hear the techni-pop junk.

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 26 Nov 2003 3:52 am

Great show, and great singing, AK and ST what a great combination!

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 26 Nov 2003 4:43 am

Interesting set format for the show, it reminded me of Elvis' comeback show in '69, including the black leather! What a great boost for AKUS! Shania didn't have to do it this way, kudos to her for doing it.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Nov 2003 5:58 am

"She's Not Just A Pretty Face"

Theresa

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 26 Nov 2003 7:02 am

What a concept! A bluegrass artist with a POP singer playing an AC/DC song!

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 26 Nov 2003 7:06 am

"Maybe she should do it that way all the time."

Sure, who needs the millions of dollars and castle in Switzerland that pop stardom brings.

IMO, she's a smart lady, who opened the door with her pop sucess. Now she's able to do whatever she wants.

If she started with this acoustic format, and stubornly stuck with it, she'd still being playing Ontario bars.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 26 Nov 2003 7:30 am

With those guys as your backup band, your coon hound would sound great at the front mic. But seriously, it is to Shania's credit that she chose them, and it was a pleasure to hear how good she can sound in a context like that. And when you could see Allison's beautiful face over Shania's shoulder - double your pleasure, double your fun.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 26 November 2003 at 07:32 AM.]

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 26 Nov 2003 9:06 am

Haha, good one, Theresa!

FWIW, I think Shania does more good for Country than bad. I am biased, though, because she lets her steeler get a lot of airtime for Pop Country.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 26 Nov 2003 9:19 am

I don't know where you guys saw what you saw--I'm guessing cable or satellite tv (I have neither). Sorry I missed it. If Shania came out with a CD of accoustic and bluegrass (kinda like the Chicks did), I'd buy it right up. The glistening pop production of her usual material is a bit edgy for me, so as much as I think it's very well written and performed it doesn't quite make my "buy" list. But I'd love it if she'd do more acoustic, bluegrass, and neo-traditional country.

Even so, I'm glad she does what she does. I'd MUCH rather have her sort of "pop" or crossover country out there for folks to listen to, and have it go big, than a lot of other forms of pop music I hear today. Hers is quality music, with upbeat lyrics, done by a person with some real class.

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 26 Nov 2003 9:43 am

Bill, It was on NBC last night from 9:00 to 10:00 ET. It was a great show, and I'm with David Doggett... AKUS would help anyone sound good. WOW, what a great band. Great night for Dobro too - Jerry Douglas was smokin' as usual.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 26 Nov 2003 9:46 am

Bill, it was on NBC, 8-10pm last night.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 26 Nov 2003 11:37 am

Interesting. I noticed Shania was really concentrating on her singing, with her eyes closed alot of the time. I assumed that's because he didn't have to jump around the stage like a jumping bean, and also because she had to synch in with backup singers of a higher quality than she's used to.
I enjoyed Jerry Douglas' dobro playing, but I thought the tone of his instrument was really bad; harsh and plastic sounding. Don't know why.
-John

Brian Davis · Post by **Brian Davis** » 26 Nov 2003 12:37 pm

Jerry had some kind of distortion effect on the first tune...what was that? Kinda sounded like a PSG. It was hard to tell, but was Shania auto-tuned at all? There were times I thought I heard that compression you get with an autotuned vocal. Anybody else? [This message was edited by Brian Davis on 26 November 2003 at 12:40 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 26 Nov 2003 1:31 pm

AK is one of the true pure singers out there today. A voice like an angel and singing chops as well. It is to Shania's credit that she chose to sing with her and risk comparison. Sure would explain the look of concentration on her face! Sorry I missed this.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Nov 2003 2:16 pm

NBC prime time, no comparison between Shania and Allison.
It boosted Allison's career no doubt.
As John Macy mentioned, different concept!
Way to go Shania!

Theresa

p.s.
Allison and Union Station aren't dummies![This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 26 November 2003 at 02:17 PM.]

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 26 Nov 2003 5:12 pm

A-l-i-s-o-n Please.

...no comparison between Shania and Allison[sic].

You are correct, albeit unintentionally.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 26 Nov 2003 5:50 pm

Jeff,
I think Allison is happy to be singing with Shania.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 26 Nov 2003 9:06 pm

Donna, Since Shania's great performance with Dolly on Oprah and her great performance on NBC with Alison Krauss and Union Station, I take back 85 percent of all the bad things I have said about her. Jody.

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 26 Nov 2003 9:10 pm

I think AKUS are great. I think Shania is great. This works for both of them - it raises the profile of AKUS to the general public, and keeps Shania firmly ensconced in the country music genre since AKUS are so highly respected within that genre. FWIW, I did think that "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" suffered by comparison to the record, missing the piano and steel tonality in a big way, IMHO.

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Jeff's Jazz
[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 26 November 2003 at 09:12 PM.]

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 27 Nov 2003 5:29 am

I was entertained, lost in the presentation. I didn't try to micro analyze the music,was not listening intently for voice tuning, etc. I liked the songs she sang on the stool.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 27 Nov 2003 11:29 am

I didn't even know it was going to be on. I luckily talked to friend earlier in the day and he mentioned it.

I tuned in that night expecting another full blown extravaganza like we've become accustomed to from EVERY country start with a prime time special (not just Shania). I like most of her stuff and don't find it abrasive and insulting like most of the pop/rock stuff out there these days (IMHO), and besides at least I'd get some eye candy.

WHOA!!!!!!!!!

I was watching the first couple of songs before I realized that there wasn't going to be no mega presentation. And the background: I've heard that sound before, and it sort of looks like AK&US, but it just can't be. No way.

The first words to come to my mind that describe the whole hour might be sensory overload. The S-woman's physical form and songs combined with the sound of AKUS, and dobro coming out of everywhere. Neither Shania nor AKUS compromised for each other. They did what they do and they worked together (there is a lesson here, not only for music but for life in general). I still can't believe that Shania and AKUS closed the show with, of all the artists on the planet, one of AC/DCs biggest hits.

I personally loved the dobro sound. Just a little bit of clipping with some reverb/echo.

Hey NBC.......want to give a poor boy a Christmas present? Replay this special.....SOON. IMHO this one hour was more entertaining and educational than an entire year of CMA/ACM/Grammy/American Music Awards/etc etc etc.

Here's the funny/sad part. The friend who told me about it, who is a real dobro hound......he didn't watch it.

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Artie McEwan