I enjoyed the CMA show!

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 16 Nov 2005 8:22 am

I've just read all the negative posts about the CMA award show.

Is there anyone besides me that watched it and enjoyed it?

I thought it was a lot of fun. Big and Richs' song "Coming To Your City" was hilarious fun. Brad Paisley's acoustic guitar/vocal solo was incredibly sophisticated and what a great song! Vince Gill's NYC accent as "Vinney" had me rolling! George Straits performance was perfect. Alan Jackson singing an Eric Clapton song was very cool. Alison Krauss's mic malfunction proved she was really singing. Gretchen Wilson's slight "pitchiness" in her vocal was live and still very good. Willy Nelson singing "Still Crazy" and then Paul Simon singing "Crazy" was very cool! I could go on and on.

It was a fun show that tried to include people from other music genres and basicall just entertain and have fun in a city that is not known for country music but obviously has many fans.

The show made a point of illustrating the diversity of country music. There's plenty opf room for diversity and it ain't gonna ruin the music. It can only grow.

I don't understand all the negativity. It was a good party and everyone there was having a good time.

So what if some of it was tracked. Not all of it was. The vocals were live. Try setting your band up and do a sound check during a 3-minute commercial!

I really enjoyed the show. Anyone else feel this way or am I just not getting the real picture here?

Terry

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 16 Nov 2005 8:26 am

Would Paul Simon have sounded better if he had taken the trouble to actually learn the melody and chord changes to "Crazy"?

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 16 Nov 2005 8:34 am

Over all I thought it was good. More steel than I've seen or heard on the awards show in a couple of years. Lots of steel for a change is a good change. I even dug Garth Brooks' part of the show. There's something about ol Garth that lets you know he's enjoying what he's doing and he's giving it his all. I got a good laugh out of big and rich. All in all a good night as compared to some awards shows.

Rick

Kenny Drake · Post by **Kenny Drake** » 16 Nov 2005 10:55 am

Earnest, I hear you man. But when he can write songs like "Still Crazy After All These Years", I forgive his shortcomings. I would've been satified if Willie would've finished that song and let Paul just stand there silently......

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 16 Nov 2005 11:11 am

I really enjoyed the show. Anyone else feel this way or am I just not getting the real picture here?

No, some folks are just easily amused.

The show made a point of illustrating the diversity of country music.

Country music has no diversity. It either is or it ain't. I dig everything from Jazz, Rock, Blues, Swing, Country, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Western Swing etc. I would be just as pi$$ed off if they gave Porter Wagoner the "Artist Of The Year" award at the "Handy's.

The negativity is not hard to understand.

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 16 Nov 2005 11:33 am

I agree there was much to enjoy in the show.
I was not thrilled about some of the awards but so be it. I was not UNhappy that Gretchen was female vocalist but...I think her forte is uptempo kicka** stuff not the type song she did last night, her pitch was off quite a bit. I could live with that but...the huge pictures in the background of JFK & Jackie, Lucy & Desi, Johnny & June, and even Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, apparently as examples of cheating husbands was in very bad taste IMHO. Gretchen's idea?? I doubt it. I agree that Jennifer from Sugarland is a really great singer and is quite "country" in my opinion, nice twang in her voice. My prediction we will see much more of her and quite possibly WITHOUT her "Sugarland" partners. Does that guy ever stop jumping around and actually play the mandolin?

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 16 Nov 2005 11:41 am

Country music has no diversity. It either is or it ain't.

Traditional Country, Bluegrass, Bakersfield sound, Country blues, New Country, Country Rock, Western Swing...

The music genre has diversity. Peoples minds are another matter.

Paul Simon was performing his interpretation of Crazy. His own style. I suppose that's against the "rules".

I enjoyed it all and I am a diverse multi-instrumentalist that enjoys all forms of music and not easily amused.

Terry

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 16 Nov 2005 1:01 pm

I agree with you Terry. In my opionion, the CMA show was enjoyable overall. Needless to say, there were some performers who were defintely not my favorite and wondered how the got there. But overall, I personally enjoyed the 'good ones'.

As with any musical genre, there are some performers that are excellent and there others that must have forgot to practice.

Hosting in NY was a great move! To have Time's Square full of people for a country performer...Madison Square Garden jammed...Larry King hosting 4-5 of country's top female artists (including Barbera Mandrel), I think this is wonderful exposure for country.

I remember thinking years ago how anyone would think the Outlaws were country! Growing up it was Country and Western...well, I'm very glad it expanded over the years with Ray Price and the orchestra etc, etc,.

It has certainly exposed a lot of new people to 'country' music. Frankly, I hear a lot of steel in country music

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 16 Nov 2005 1:14 pm

The girl in Rupert Jee's Hello Deli said that she came to New York to go to the CMA show but decided not to go when she found that tickets cost $2500.

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 16 Nov 2005 1:23 pm

I always enjoy awards shows for the chance to see so many artists in one building. Martina's vocal performance of "Help Me Make It Through The Night" was great and Gretchen Wilson singing "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" Had me choked up a little at the end. Congrats for Gretchen : Female Vocalsit Of The Year! That was a suprise, Not that she hasn't earned it but there was some tough competition. Musician Of The Year: we all know Jerry Douglas Rocks!

------------------
Tele-Bender-Blaster-Caster
Line 6 Amps
www.jimwalkeronline.com

[This message was edited by Jim Walker on 16 November 2005 at 01:24 PM.]

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 16 Nov 2005 3:11 pm

I dis-agree. You have to draw the line at some point! Let's call a spade a spade. Nashville has thrown in all genre's of music under a country umbrella. Why? M-O-N-E-Y!! Hell, they trying their damnist to make country cool with the young crowd. The only way to do it is to bring in rockin & rapping. My complaint is a simple one. Stop calling it country! And as far as some compare what they're calling country today to the Outlaw movement. Don't forget that Willie recorded and sang pure country for many years before exploring other avenues. As did Ray Price. Just listen to Ray's early stuff. Hell he was basically imitating Hank Williams.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Traditional Country, Bluegrass, Bakersfield sound, Country blues, New Country, Country Rock, Western Swing...

The music genre has diversity. Peoples minds are another matter.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So tell me Terry, why stop there. Just how much diversity would you give the genre? Why not just go on and add heavy metal and rap. Call it country metal or country rap. Expand the market. Can you honestly say that Kid Rock, Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry for that fact isn't stretching the genre a little too far.

I have an open mind when it comes to music, hence the appreciation of all forms of GOOD music. What was not understood in my previous post was, don't call Porter Wagoner a blues artist and likewise, don't call Keith Urban a country artist.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 16 Nov 2005 4:31 pm

Charles, I'm not big on labels. If you are, then I see your point.

The word "country" is no sacred cow with me.

I get a kick out of seeing peerformers of different genres getting together.

Life's too short to get mad about award shows.

Terry

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 16 Nov 2005 5:18 pm

It was good.

...heck of a lot better than the OSCARS!

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 16 Nov 2005 5:36 pm

Let's forget about all the labels and just enjoy the music (or ignore it if you don't like it). Quite simple, really.....

------------------
www.gregertsen.com

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 16 Nov 2005 6:29 pm

I bet you guys don't vote either. No need to take a stand on anything. Life's too short to be reading my post (just ignore them if you don't like them)

P.S. Hopefully you taped the show. That way you can "enjoy the music" over & over again.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 16 Nov 2005 6:44 pm

Terry ,You mentioned [Hilarious Fun],were you watching reruns of THe Three Stooges? The [so-called]awards show I saw was a pathetic slap in the face of country music!!!!

Kenny Burford · Post by **Kenny Burford** » 16 Nov 2005 7:03 pm

I thought last nights concert was fantastic of course I am talking about my youngest granddaughter's Second Grade school concert because that’s where I was. As for the CMA Awards I have to side with Charlie Louvin on that one. I just cannot bring myself to watch the CMA Awards anymore. For those of you that liked the CMA Awards Show I say bully for you, but I am not going to lie and tell you how much I like something that turns my stomach. As far as I am concerned the really great acts in country music today are Dale Watson, Redd Volkaert, Jimmy Lauderdale, Biller & Wakefield, and all the other indie artists across this country that are playing killer music. Real talent, not glitter and gloss.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 16 Nov 2005 7:33 pm

Terry ,You mentioned [Hilarious Fun],were you watching reruns of THe Three Stooges?

Well, there was three of them - Big, Rich, and some really short feller !

Terry

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 16 Nov 2005 7:51 pm

For those of you who really liked the show, more power to ya, but I don't think you really get it. First, if you had read the plethora of pre-show news articles, you would have seen that Nashville purposely moved the show to NYC in hopes of establishing a country radio station there, where no one existed. It wasn't about anything (musically) noble, it was commerce. Ms. Womack was heard to exclaim as she won one of her awards, "I love country music!" (She's still traveling without a steeler.) Brad Paisley was nominated for six awards and came away with bupkis. What's up with that? Garth Brooks showed us he can stroke his ego better than all the rest of us overweight, balding, middle-aged schlubs. And the clothes - white-trash on parade! I know somebody's invariably going to ask me now how I REALLY feel about it, well, now ya know ....[This message was edited by Barry Blackwood on 17 November 2005 at 05:56 PM.]

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 16 Nov 2005 8:15 pm

I turned on for a minute and saw a strange looking person that was reputed to be Dolly Parton singing with Elton John. What an interesting deal that was. Dolly sounded and looked just weird and the medly that they sang had Elton pitched in a key so low it was humorous. That is all I saw. Kind of reminded me of the X files.

Hope the rest of the show was better.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 16 Nov 2005 9:46 pm

"It wasn't about anything (musically) noble, it was commerce."

Well, all awards shows are about commerce. Awards shows have always been a promotional event.

That being said, as a non-country person, I have to admit to being confused by the "it's not country" rants. As an outsider, it sure sounds country to me. It may have borrowed elements from pop, rock and even rap, but no one would mistake it for any of those genres. I understand that it doesn't sound like "traditional country" of the 50's and 60's, but either does jazz, rock, soul, pop, or classical for that matter. I'm not sure what else you would call it. It sure sounds country to me, but then it is not my genre.

I imagine its like someone listening to some of the artists that Bluenote has signed recently. It doesn't sound like jazz to me, but I would imagine anyone not a jazz fan like me would call it jazz when they heard it.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 17 Nov 2005 4:54 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Dolly sounded and looked just weird... Elton pitched in a key so low it was humorous.
Hope the rest of the show was better.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Heck, I thought that was the highlight.

But I thought Willie and Paul Simon would've been funnier in chicken costumes (for tho'se who've watched Saturday Night Live). And Norah too.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 17 Nov 2005 5:17 am

Bill (McCloskey)you clarified the whole thing in your last paragraph. (If it sounds like a duck" ....)

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 17 Nov 2005 7:22 am

It was just a show, folks!

Elton is not going to Nahsville to do a country record.

Bon-jovi is not changing his name to Banjo-vi!

Im curious. For those that were around when Ray Charles decided to do a country record, what kind of controversy did that stir?

Terry

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 17 Nov 2005 8:17 am

None that I recall, although that was a long time ago, but what does that have to do with puds like Big & Rich, Montgomery Gentry, or Cowboy Troy? Unlike Charles, they don't have any artistic integrity ... [This message was edited by Barry Blackwood on 17 November 2005 at 08:19 AM.]