Nashville Star-less

Nashville Star is the official family program in our house - all four of us watch every (DVR'd) episode. We all love country music. It's 99% family friendly. The musicians are actually talented and the judges are trying to get the best out of them and not just score zings or upstage the hosts (like American Idol).



With only one episode to go this season, it's clear that the brother-sister finalists will definitely be around for a while, however this NY Times article points out that Nashville Star is missing a bona fide breakout star to really put it on the map. I thought for sure last year's winner, Chris Young, would've been huge by now, but for some reason he hasn't cracked the country music rotation. I'd like to think that this season's winner might get over the hump, but somehow I don't think they're the polished package Nashville is looking for.

What's With the Sugarland Dude?

Sugarland used to be a trio, then one of the members left, leaving Jennifer Nettles (lead singer) and Kristian Bush (guitarist/mandolinist) to carry on and make many big hits and lots of money. Nettles might not have the most range, but she IS Sugarland at this point. I could see the value of Bush if they sang true duets or he was playing some mean guitar, but as the video for their latest single "Settlin'" clearly shows, the guy is barely playing rhythm guitar and his vocals are rarely all that audible.

I imagine that even if he's writing most of the songs that Nettles will tire of splitting all that cash with Bush and she could easily go solo without missing a beat. It's time for him to start adding some value or step out of the spotlight and sit back with the rest of the uncredited backup band members.

The Unnecessary "Pop" Remix

While remixes are nothing new, I feel there's an unsavory trend in the music business when the label tries to "cross-over" a country star to the pop radio stations. Shania Twain was shameless in this, releasing entire albums full of pop remixes, not that her music sounds all that country to begin with. But recently I've heard a few of these country hits remixed for "normal" audience and I just don't see the point.

Two examples would be TimMcGraw's "Live Like Your Were Dying" and The Wreckers' "Leave the Pieces." In the first case, there is no amount of background music that is going to make McGraw NOT sound country. His wife might be able to pull that off, but there is no hiding his Southern vocals. Plus, "Live Like You Were Dying" is not a song that musically sounds all that country to begin with.

No. 2 would be The Wreckers first single, "Leave The Pieces" off their debut Stand Still, Look Pretty. Again, this is not all that country-sounding (unlike their second single "My, Oh My"). So, I was somewhat horrified to hear this jangly pop remix on Boston's Mix 98.5. It sounds totally unconnected from the vocal tracks and I think would be less appealing to a pop crowd than the original.

I know Nashville is more of a hit factory than a land of artistic freedom, but to me these remixes undercut the power of any song and its original vision. I'm pretty sure a mainstream audience can handle the hint of a steel pedal guitar in the background. I have NO problem with pop covering country and "country covering pop, but you shouldn't cover yourself.