Recap of Country Music's Biggest Night! - The 47th Annual CMA Awards

Even though the CMA Awards are not a noteworthy country album, it is considered “Country Music’s Biggest Night”. They honor the very songs, albums and artists that I love and write about on a weekly basis. What kind of country blog would I be if I did not share my thoughts on this wonderful evening in country music? So here is my take on the 47^th Annual CMA Awards which aired on ABC last night, November 6th:

No one does an awards show quite like Nashville, Tennessee and the folks of country music. It is such a good time that even P. Diddy had to join in on the fun. Yes, Puff Daddy, the former rapper, was at the award show dubbed “country music’s biggest night”. Despite that awkward cameo, made complete by a shameless plug of Diddy's new music company, the night went as close to perfect as live shows can get these days.

The VMAs and other music award shows have begun to feel like a huge concert with the scattered presentation of awards inconveniently interrupting the performances. The CMAs, however, have managed to incorporate great performances and still feel like an award show. With performances from big names such as Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, the CMAs were rockin’ but they never forgot what the main purpose of the show was. The best part about the CMAs, and country music in general, is the sincere support and admiration that the artists have for one another. These feelings of encouragement between the stars are so strong that they practically jump through the TV screen and wrap you in a warm embrace. The way they smile at, interact with and root for one another is so heartfelt that you can’t help but cheer for every single one of them in return.

Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line rock the opening of the CMAs

Photo courtesy of The Tennessean

The show was co-hosted for the sixth time by country music superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. These two are one of the best duos to ever host an award show. Due largely in part to playing to sell out stadiums across the world, they are naturals on stage and in front of a live audience. But most importantly they are natural with one another. There is no competition for who can sneak in the most one-liners, nor is there awkward tension and uncomfortable silences. It is apparent that Paisley and Underwood are just as good of friends off-stage as they seem to be on-stage. These two also nail a crucial part of hosting: the humor. Paisley and Underwood’s jokes are spot on, perfectly timed and do not feel forced in the slightest. These days, a host is expected to do it all: look fabulous, deliver lines flawlessly and have the audience cracking up at their every joke. Most hosts fail to accomplish this, but Paisley and Underwood are a well-oiled machine and excel at their jobs as emcees.

Their opening song of “Why Can’t We Be Friends” was pure genius and was centered on the ridiculous feuds between celebrities today. This even prompted Luke Bryan and Zac Brown to hug out their widely publicized disagreement. It was hard to tell if this was spontaneous or had been scripted as a part of the opening, but it was awesome all the same. The duo held no punches when it came to making cracks at Miley Cyrus. Paisley publicly thanked Taylor Swift for managing to grow up in front of their eyes without “humping a teddy bear or gyrating with Beetle Juice”. He then went on to don an outfit later in the show that was incredibly similar to Thicke’s at the VMAs.  The best part of the Paisley/Underwood opening was their Duck Dynasty twist on the ever-popular “Blurred Lines” song. The performance was made complete with twerking from Willie and Jase Robertson.

Bryan and Brown hug it out! 

Photo courtesy of CBS

Paisley channels his inner Thicke and Underwood rocks her own foam finger

Photo courtesy of E! Online

It was surely a star-studded evening, with some of the biggest names in country music taking home trophies. Florida Georgia Line were two time winners for “Single of the Year” and “Vocal Duo of the Year”, while Blake Shelton took home awards for “Album of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year”. The biggest surprise of the night, however, came when George Strait beat out Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift for “Entertainer of the Year”. No disrespect to King George, because he is a country music legend and always will be, but I can’t help but think that this win may have been for sentimental reasons rather than deservedness. It is hard to believe that a 61 year old could beat out some of the hardest-rocking, stadium-filling artists to ever be in country music. The fact that Strait announced his imminent retirement once his Cowboy Rides Away Tour is over, definitely swayed some votes his way. King George most definitely deserves our respect and admiration, and if that means giving him “Entertainer of the Year” one last time, then so be it. But there is no question that his win left some viewers scratching their heads.

Say what you will about Taylor Swift, but there is no denying that she is a bona fide superstar. Last night Swift was honored with the Pinnacle Award. This is an award that is given to artists who have brought country music to a global audience and has only ever had one other recipient (Garth Brooks in 2005). Despite the fact that Taylor may have deviated from country music and gone down the pop path in her latest album Red, there is no denying that she has put country music on the global stage. In case you were on the fence about Ms. Swift’s worthiness of this award, Tim McGraw and company put any rolling eyes to rest. While listening to McGraw give tribute to Swift and watching the amazing video package that was put together, you can’t help but admire the person that Swift has grown into at such a young age. During the package she received congratulations from celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Ellen DeGeneres and Ethel Kennedy. It was heartwarming to see Taylor being embraced by such an eclectic group, and it speaks to the superstar that she has become. Now, I know that we have all grown tired of Taylor’s aw-shucks disbelief as she wins award after award but last night her surprise and gratitude were complete genuine. The look on her face as she watched the video was one of sincerest shock that made you remember why she became America’s sweetheart in the first place. Swift closed her acceptance speech in an incredibly humble way saying, “You’ve made me feel so special right now, thank you”. Well Taylor, after all you’ve given to your fans and the lives that you have changed, you deserve to feel “so special”, because you are.

Swift accepts her Pinnacle Award with sincere gratitude

photo courtesy of CBS News

If you are one of those people who simply “doesn’t get country music” watch clips of this award show online. The CMAs are a great representation of why country music is so special. It’s the people, it’s the atmosphere, it’s the music…. It’s everything! 

A Review of Chris Young's "A.M."

Photo courtesy of Country Weekly

There is a saying that “nothing good ever happens after midnight”, but that was before Chris Young’s latest album. Young’s A.M. is all about the things that happen in the wee hours of the morning. Whether it’s staying for one more drink that turned into one too many, or feeling lonely and needing love, Young’s songs touch upon the parts of our lives that never see the daylight. With a sound much more mature than previous Neon and The Man I Want To Be; Young’s fourth album is his best by far. He has expanded his range from twangy country ballads to a much stronger country rock sound. Even with this growth, Young has stayed true to his roots. He still sounds like the Chris Young that fans have come to love but he has developed his craft to become a better version of himself. 

            Previously known for his slower songs, Young picks up the tempo on this record with infectious tracks that you can groove to all night long and into the morning. Young is the perfect balance between Luke Bryan or Billy Currington and Jason Aldean. He is unique in the fact that his voice has a sweet richness to it, like Bryan’s or Currington’s. But it also has a gritty soulfulness that is much more similar to Aldean’s voice.  For those outside of the country music realm, Chris Young is the country version of Adam Levine. Levine is one of those artists who can sing a sweet pop song one minute and then rock a stadium the next. Throw a little country flavor into that mix and you’ll have what Chris Young has done with his latest album. The following is a song-by-song deconstruction of Young’s latest album A.M.:

1)    Aw Naw

“Aw naw, it would be so wrong if we didn’t dance one more song, show off those jeans you painted on.” The first song on the album is a fun, rocking, party song. It is what a Saturday night with your best friends would sound like: an effortlessly good time. Young’s deep voice draws you in and makes you want to dance along with him. “Aw Naw” demonstrates Young’s growth as an artist perfectly. It is up-tempo with rock influence that even those who do not like country music would enjoy listening to. It is the perfect opening song and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

2)    Hold You To It

“I love the way you're movin', feel the backbeat groovin', I'm gonna hold you to it.” “Hold You To It” is the typical country play on words, and you can almost tell where the story of the song is going before it even begins. This song is closer to Young’s older music. It is extremely reminiscent of “Getting’ You Home”, but Young still maintains the fun and up-tempo theme of A.M.

3)    Lonely Eyes

“Look at me, and I think you'll see those lonely eyes don't have to be alone tonight” The relatable nature of country music is extremely present in this song. Everyone has been lonely at one point or another, and it’s always that much worse to be lonely and “looking for something” (as Young puts it) late at night. “Lonely Eyes” is a slower tempo than the previous songs but it is still not a ballad. The guitar and drums keep the song from moving too slow.

4)    Goodbye

“So whatever you do don't let us die. The love of a lifetime is worth at least a million tries. Baby what we got is too good for goodbye.” “Goodbye” is by far the best track on the album. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful ballad. Anyone who has gone through a break up can relate to this song in one way or another. Despite it being a ballad, Young manages to keep this song relatively up beat with the guitars and drums in the background. His dynamic voice reaches through the speakers and tears at your heart with every hushed verse and powerful chorus.

5)    A.M.

“Spendin' what you spent the week makin', ask a little hottie what her name is. The whole world's asleep, but we're wide awake in the A.M.” This is another great song for those people who may not be the biggest fans of country music. It is similar to some Jason Aldean songs, particularly with the strong electric guitar presence. “A.M.” is simply a toe-tappin’ head-noddin’ good time.  

6)    Nothing But the Cooler Left

“Y'all sing along, this night ain't over yet. We're gonna stay right here til there's nothing but the cooler left.” With this song, Young gets back to a more typical country music feel. It manages not to be too twangy, but there is not nearly as much of a rock influence as the other songs on the album. It maintains the “good times” theme that is present throughout all of A.M. and is the perfect soundtrack to summertime tailgating.

Photo courtesy of KORA 98.3 FM 

7)    Who I Am With You

“And when I'm holdin' you, it feels like I've got the world in my hands. Yeah, a better man is who I am with you.” This song is an outright power ballad, and is closer to Young’s older music. For a man who has made most of his music career singing these types of songs, it should come as no surprise that he would excel at them. But it is still remarkable to hear the way his voice shines throughout the music with a touching mixture of strength and vulnerability that few musicians can master. True to country music, this song is an extremely beautiful sentiment and fills the listener with all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings.

8)    Text Me Texas

“Gotta feelin' that you're not alone. It's breakin' my heart and I'm startin' get the message. Come on and text me, Texas.” In an otherwise tight album, this song is the obvious odd man out. While the title and wording of the song is clever, it just doesn’t fit into the album. The rest of the songs are either power party songs or power ballads, but this song totally deviates from that musical theme. It has a Kenny Chesney or Jack Johnson feel to it with its laid-back music and drawn out lyrics. “Text Me Texas” sounds as if it should be listened to while sitting underneath a palm tree rather than sitting at a barstool. The song is not terrible, but it is too slow moving for this specific record and it disrupts the flow.

9)    We’re Gonna Find It Tonight

“This ain't any candlelight, warm glass of wine night it's more a whiskey water drink that's on the rocks kind.” Young gets back to what this album is all about with “We’re Gonna Find It Tonight”. The story of the song is similar to “I Don’t Want This Night To End” by Luke Bryan, as are the instrumentals. However, where Bryan’s song is on the soft, sweeter side of country, Young’s is faster paced with subtle rock influence. With this being his third infectious party song in this album, Young really establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in this country/rock genre. Despite the fact that he is new to this style, it’s as if he has been playing this type of music all his life. His voice is a natural fit with the powerful electric guitar and drums.

10) Forgiveness

“And one sleepless night it dawned on me. The piece I need so desperately is buried in the one place I can't get to. Girl, it's gotta come from you.” This is a beautiful song about the difficulties of finding peace of mind and what is really important in life. The highs and lows fit Chris’ voice perfectly and show off his impeccable range. However, this song is not for non-country people. There is very little rock influence and it has a slight twang to it.

11) Lighters In the Air

“Just one night to hold you, no, that ain't what I call fair. But the memories burn in my mind like those lighters in the air.” Conceptually similar to “Springsteen” by Eric Church, “Lighters” paints a vivid picture that can bring anyone back to their first concert. It tells the story of that quintessential summer night which changes everything. The lyrics and music are so artfully put together that you feel as though you have lived this moment yourself. If you close your eyes you can almost feel the breeze on your face and smell the smoke in the air. By closing the album with “Lighters” it is as if Young were closing out a concert and asking all his fans to put their lighters in the air. It is the perfect conclusion to an excellent album, and ties everything together nicely.

Young’s talent really shines in this album. He has a rich, soulful tone unlike any other voice on country radio today. The songs on A.M. show this off perfectly, with a dynamic combination of low dips and growls matched with soaring high notes. A.M. is powerful and irresistible. Between his rock-infused up-tempo songs and his classic country ballads, Young mixes it up and keeps things interesting throughout the entirety of the album. Young has done what is difficult for so many other artists: he has managed to mature and upgrade his music without changing himself completely. There is not one song on this record that could not be a hit single on the radio. 

Photo courtesy of Taste of Country