A Fight Over Pharrell That Country Shouldn’t Even Be Having
If you thought the story of The Band Perry over the last six months was one of the weirdest, most convoluted situations you could ever imagine coming from a mainstream country music franchise, we’re just beginning boys and girls. And where this entire thing ends up, who knows?
We’ve gone from their latest single and pop debut “Live Forever” flopping at country radio, to the endless delays of their latest record Heart + Beat, to a promised collaboration with a pop superstar on a second rebound single that has yet to be delivered, to exiting Big Machine Records under strange circumstances where “Live Forever” disappeared shortly from retail outlets before repopulating solely under The Band Perry’s control, to recently signing with Interscope Records to become a full-on pop act. Or did they?
On May 12th, Billboard reported the news of The Band Perry signing to Interscope and going in a full pop direction henceforth, and that’s the information everyone operated under for the next five days or so. But then on May 16th, it came out through The Tennessean that Interscope was opening up an office in Nashville, and as part of the story it was clarified that The Band Perry’s deal wasn’t just with Interscope, but a partnership between Interscope and Universal Music Group Nashville that would allow the group to “keep one foot in country.” Uh huh.
But the way the news was clarified was all convoluted. As Billboard said when they first announced The Band Perry’s new deal, representatives from both parties declined to comment. So even though The Band Perry and Interscope seemed to think the information was wrong, they took no initiative to correct it.
Then on the 17th of May, Saving Country Music (along with out outlets), received an email from The Band Perry’s publicity company pointing our noses in the direction of a story on Hits Daily Double where the correct information about the deal was.
Are you confused yet? Well it’s about to get even more strange and convoluted, if that’s even possible. In the Hits Daily Double piece, which is totally unattributed, it says Universal Music Group Nashville chief Mike Dungan and Interscope head John Janick jointly signed The Band Perry as opposed to a deal solely through Interscope, yet you’d probably need an interpreter to comprehend that.
Along with other strange editorial choices, the Hits Daily Double article refers multiple times to “The Bible.” It’s referred to in the subheading, “Label Heads Set the Record Straight Following Incorrect Report From the Bible.” A second line also says, “…as suggested in the bible’s story,” and the article is summed up by saying, “In a related story, the Bible is planning a seven-page pictorial on Nashville artists wearing sweater vests.”
“The Bible” is presumably Billboard. But why Hits Daily Double didn’t just say this, why either UMG Nashville, Interscope, or The Band Perry’s management didn’t reach out to Billboard to clarify matters until days later, and then left it to a snide piece in another outlet to attempt to set the record straight just makes the situation that much more unusual.
And then on Tuesday (5-24), the news broke that Little Big Town has been working with pop producer and performer Pharrell, and yet another wrinkle was added to the continuing saga of The Band Perry.
What does the Little Big Town news have to do with The Band Perry? It turns out The Band Perry has also been working with Pharrell on new music, or so was the story about a year ago when the band spoke with Cody of CMT:
“We’re being really crazy about the different collaborations that we’re diving into,” Kimberly Perry told Cody. “We got to hang out with Pharrell a couple weeks ago. He’s like a huge country music fan, and he also really loves what we do with harmony. One thing that we worked on with him was this song where all three of us sing different interwoven vocals on the verse and on the chorus.”
Kimberly Perry’s words sound very similar to the words of Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, who said about their Pharrell collaboration on Tuesday (5-24), “[Pharrell] loves southern harmonies — he’s from Virginia — and is a big fan of country music. He’s good at anything, and such a joy to be around.”
Hypothetically, the Pharrell collaboration with The Band Perry would have been Pharrell’s first appearance in country, and would have been released on the family trio’s Heart + Beat record back in November of 2015 when it was originally scheduled from Big Machine. Who knows, maybe the collaboration was slotted to be released as a single as well.
As the news of the Little Big Town collaboration with Pharrell was breaking, Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry tweeted out:
Was this tweet related to the information on Little Big Town working with Pharrell? There is certainly no confirmation of this, just like there is no confirmation that Hits Daily Double was talking about Billboard when they kept saying “Bible” in their strange piece on The Band Perry’s label deal. But it certainly fits a pattern from The Band Perry that we’ve been seeing from the outfit over the last 6+ months.
Meanwhile, why exactly is Little Big Town working with Pharrell anyway? The fact that we have two “country” acts vying over the same pop producer proves just how immersed the pop world has become in country.
“It’s not a country record,” Karen Fairchild says about the 8-song album Wanderlust being released on June 10 that came about from the Pharrell collaboration. Okay, then why does it matter if Pharrell is such a fan of country music, and born in Virginia?
Karen Fairchild goes on to say, “And it’s not like anything we’ve ever done. It’s fun to be spontaneous and put it out there to the fans, because we want to, and not to overthink it, but just because it has brought us a lot of joy, and we think it will for them as well. So why not? We’re going with our gut and putting it out there. It’s just music, you know?”
It’s just music? What does that even mean? That quote proves how valueless all of these pop/country collaborations are. It’s not even about the music. The music is just the excuse to keep these celebrity entertainment franchises in the spotlight. It’s about names, not music. Nobody’s feeling a deep human emotion and then articulating it into song. They’re just pairing hot names together like the producers of superhero movies. Demi Lovato and Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and that girl from No Doubt, Batman vs. Superman; it’s just one big effort to start off the buzz cycle in the media to hopefully stretch dwindling music relevancy into continued celebrity status.
“We’re lucky to be Grand Ole Opry members,” continues Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. “And I don’t know if we can talk him into that, but wouldn’t that be fun, to invite Pharrell to the Opry and introduce him to Nashville? He’s gonna love everybody there.”
Yeah, introduce Pharrell to everybody so he can make even more pop records with country artists. Why not just have every single artist in the country music mainstream collaborate with Pharrell? That way nobody gets butt hurt by feeling left out, or feels like someone is stealing their thunder. At least Little Big Town bringing Pharrell to the Grand Ole Opry would mean the foursome actually fulfills some of their performance obligations to the institution, which they neglected in 2015.
In fairness, Little Big Town says they’re also working on more country-oriented material that will be released in proper album form in the future, but why even bother? By that point, pop and country will be one big blob, if we aren’t at that point already. With all the collaborations across country and pop, no matter what station you tune into, you’re hearing the exact same people, and the exact same music.
There have been pop and country collaborations over the history of both genres, so let’s not be too alarmist here or gloss over that truth. But where before the concern was pop stars with dwindling popularity turning to country to hopefully find further life in their careers, now the concern are these producers who come in and turn country pop from the inside out. That’s what we’re seeing with Pharrell, with RedOne who was behind The Band Perry’s “Live Forever,” Max Martin and Taylor Swift’s move to pop, and “busbee” whose been collaborating with just about everybody. Even Shane McAnally, who used to be thought of as a critically-acclaimed songwriter, was the producer behind the ultra-pop efforts of Sam Hunt and Old Dominion. This isn’t about blending country and pop. It’s about turning country into pop because that’s more convenient than moving the whole operation to L.A.
Who gets credit for collaborating with Pharrell first? Who cares. They shouldn’t be working with Pharrell in the first place. And nothing against Pharrell. He seems like a nice, genuine dude. But coveting the star power of pop stars is not the business country music should be in to. It should be putting its own best foot forward, pronouncing its own virtues to the world, be launching artists other genres want to collaborate with instead of vice versa, and be influencing other genres in the way it offers peerless storytelling through critical writing, and a genuine tie to the roots of American roots that is missing in too much of popular music today.
Pop music is “just music.” Country music is our tie to the land, a tie to the past, and an expression of who we are that makes us unique in the brilliant tapestry that is the diverse American culture.
Razor X
May 26, 2016 @ 9:26 am
Who the heck is Pharrell anyway and why is he considered to be such a big deal?
Coop
May 26, 2016 @ 9:59 am
Because he has found the fountain of youth and hasn’t aged in 20 years. That’s the real reason for these collaborations, I’m certain. The Band Perry doesn’t even try to hide their motives, what with the “Live Forever” song. Their motives are clear…
THEY SEEK IMMORTALITY!
witness
May 27, 2016 @ 9:35 am
Pharrell is one of the biggest Hip Hop/Pop producers of all time
I miss Steve Gaines
May 26, 2016 @ 9:34 am
I LOVE this web page and check it everyday, and the readers are very witty and most have great music taste, but I really didn’t quite understand this story, have a good day all!
Melissa
May 26, 2016 @ 9:52 am
“Not to overthink it” = “We know this is gonna suck but we like money.”
““It’s not a country record,” Karen Fairchild says… Okay, then why does it matter if Pharrell is such a fan of country music, and born in Virginia?”
Exactly. Make a pop record if you want to, but don’t try to have it both ways. It reeks of desperation, like most of mainstream “country” right now.
Cilla
May 26, 2016 @ 10:07 am
Well,this sounds like “we are desperate to become “pop” stars and have Taylor Swift success.
This is nothing but noise…..Uh,Nashville There seems to be a lot of Dysfunction going on.
Weird times for Music Row,I guess.
Al
May 29, 2016 @ 12:38 pm
And they will never be able to recreate Taylor’s success because it has already happened. Everybody else’s crossover attempts are now derivative.
Nadia Lockheart
May 26, 2016 @ 10:08 am
I don’t know what to make of Little Big Town’s release strategy, exactly.
On one hand, I respect that they at least are insisting that “Wanderlust” is NOT a country album and have the decency and discernment to state in interviews that it’s a stand-alone project. And, by the looks of it, no singles will be issued from the project as well.
On the other hand, their most recent album with Jay Joyce, “Pain Killer”, had minimal country influence. It was decidedly blues-infused rock and roll and other Triple A-sensible sounds. It was by no means a bad album, but that was nonetheless categorized and marketed as a country album.
What I’m hoping is that Little Big Town serve this contrast effectively by indulging in their pop-star fantasies with “Wanderlust”, then aspiring for a “Mr. Misunderstood” brand of rawness with their follow-up with Jay Joyce. Otherwise, if their next Jay Joyce-led effort smacks more closer to misguided “The Outsiders”-esque or Halestorm “Into The Wild Life:-esque “experimentation”, it pretty much defeats the purpose to contrast those efforts.
seak05
May 26, 2016 @ 10:26 am
yeah exactly, they aren’t even really releasing singles or pushing it to radio, so it doesn’t feel like much of a money grab, or at least not a very good one.
Trigger
May 26, 2016 @ 11:20 am
Same was said of Zac Brown’s “Beautiful Drug.”
Nadia Lockheart
May 26, 2016 @ 10:15 am
As for the story in the broader sense:
(impersonates Chris Tucker from “Rush Hour” in the scene where he is standing in bewilderment trying to understand Jackie Chan)
“……………………………What Did You Just Say?”
seak05
May 26, 2016 @ 10:25 am
Sheez, LBT isn’t even saying this is country, they’re admitting it’s not country, and just a side project. And heck if Pharrell wants to produce country (real country) he might actually be good at it. Dave Cobb spent a bunch of time in LA before coming back to Nashville.
And yes I find the number of country-pop duets currently popping up interesting. For instance, Dierks just released a new one with Elle King (that is terrible), but did we really need a drive by hit on Gwen Stefani? I mean “the girl” writes all her own stuff, and won a few grammy’s, she could at least get a name (and that one doesn’t really fit into the statement you made anyways, for a variety of reasons, sorry).
Sandy
May 26, 2016 @ 11:47 am
Calm down seak05, we know you are probably a Shelton/Stefani fangirl but that song was horrific and the blatant attempts that they & NBC are promoting that relationship is vulgar. Also Gwen “girl from no doubt” can’t sing.
“This isn’t about blending country and pop. It’s about turning country into pop because that’s more convenient than moving the whole operation to L.A.” Totally agree that this rush for everyone to duet w/ “outsiders” is showing their lack in creativity. Add a Pop Star a get more downloads smells of desperation.
seak05
May 27, 2016 @ 8:53 am
I mean No Doubt was awesome. Seriously though, just don’t think you need to be disrespectful to be critical, & especially given the level of disrespect women generally face in this industry, I was surprised to see Trigger go there. But really, relationship aside, If Blake wanted a “hot name”, Selena Gomez, or several others, would’ve been a better choice. I mean Brad managed to get Demi. Gwen hasn’t really released anything that impacted in a decade. OTOH at least they actually wrote it themselves.
I do find the trend interesting, and crappy.
Trigger
May 27, 2016 @ 10:05 am
I was into No Doubt before Gwen even joined the band, when they were a true 2nd generation ska revival band started by her brother. I’m not even opposed to “Tragic Kingdom.” But then she totally took that spotlight and became a massive pop star.
I’m not even against Gwen. I’m just into the whole smarmy world of celebrity relationships. Who really knows where the love begins, and the marketing ends?
seak05
May 27, 2016 @ 10:38 am
2002’s Rock Steady was actually really interesting, at their best they blended styles in a way that was unique, and innovate. They also made some terrible stuff. Tony Kanal is massively underrated. I don’t really care for Gwen’s solo stuff, but I’ll give her credit for at least having a hand in writing it. As a general rule, I forgive a lot (or at least give respect) to artists who are willing to put their names on their songs.
And I couldn’t answer you that on celebrity relationships, My guess is that it’s based on real feelings, but then the feelings get exploited for commercial gains as well. Beyonce and Jay-Z are currently taking this to another level.
Anyways, no problem with any of that, but you properly named Blake as well. Just think referring to her in that way was disrespectful, and I was surprised because it didn’t seem like something you usually see on the blog.
TIg
May 27, 2016 @ 12:10 pm
if you look at Eric Stefani’s timeline, there was never a time when Gwen wasn’t in the band. She was there from day 1.
Tig
May 27, 2016 @ 9:35 am
not a Shelton fan at all, but Gwen is not chopped liver, by any stretch. If she wasn’t a part of this messed up Shelton/Lambert debacle, she wouldn’t be receiving this much hate.
Jen
May 26, 2016 @ 10:38 am
I can’t stand LBT anymore. The crap they’ve put out of late is garbage.
Jen
May 26, 2016 @ 10:39 am
Oh, and TBP are hasbeens, which is why Pharrell went with LBT.
Elliot
May 28, 2016 @ 2:42 am
TBP never were anything to begin with. Maybe a few slightly above average songs but nothing more.
Scott S.
May 26, 2016 @ 10:45 am
Does Little Bigtown even make country music? I have a feeling their music with Pharrel won’t sound much different than what they release now.
Holly
May 26, 2016 @ 11:00 am
If Little Big Town and The Band Perry want to jump ship, let them. It won’t be any skin off my back side. I am too busy listening to those who are no question about it country.
God bless my favorite singers always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
P.S. If only I had found my newest favorite sooner. (burying my head)
Jen
May 28, 2016 @ 3:37 am
I pretty much only listen to country oldies, now. Hank FM is awesome. I just wish they’d get rid of that annoying announcer! Then I have outlaw country on Milk Music. Life is good! 🙂
Holly
May 28, 2016 @ 6:18 am
When I am not listening to my newest favorite, I am still listening to the regular country stations, but I have been doing a lot of surfing lately to find songs that I have not grown sick of hearing. To me, good country music is still getting played, but of course it is having to share the stations with the more pop oriented material now which in my opinion is what makes country radio the drag that it is becoming because the pop oriented material is more pop than it is country and to me that is never how it should be on country radio. Any pop influences that there may be in the music should never over shadow what makes the song country if it is still country at all because that means that you have strayed from what is supposed to be the main focus and that is actual country music. How does straying from country music help country music when walking away from it is all that is really being done? To me its bad enough that the playing field has never been level where country is concerned when you look at how popular other musical formats have been. Well in my opinion, going into them other formats is like saying that you give up. I once heard it said that if you run with chickens, you yourself are going to start clucking. Well I don’t know about everyone else, but I for one have grown sick of all the clucking. (shaking my head)
God bless you always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
P.S. My newest favorite singer, by the way, is the late Billy Joe Royal, a beautiful precious that I sadly did not officially discover until just after his going forward last October and I hate it…I love him so much and now its too late for me to personally tell him that. (burying my head)
Jen
May 28, 2016 @ 6:23 am
After reading Ritchie Sanbora is now “flirting” with country, I decided country is now the “fast and easy slut” of the music industry! She will now do anyone, in any genre, at any time, if the price is right!
Holly
May 28, 2016 @ 8:00 am
Actually in a way, our music being saluted by a non country act doesn’t bother me. On one hand, its really cool of them to think that our music is worth paying any attention to at all in first place, but on the other hand, if their country material gets so much attention, that is just less attention for those who really are country.
God bless you always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
P.S. This is why I can’t smile when a country act goes into pop music, unless its just a temporary departure of course, because if they have no intention of coming back, then that is like a really good hard kick in the stomach to us because in my opinion, pop/rock has never needed any help out of anyone from another musical format.
Cap'nWain
May 26, 2016 @ 11:03 am
The Little Big Pharrell Perry Band, coming soon to your No.1 Country Hits Station.
Erik North
May 27, 2016 @ 2:35 pm
Maybe Little Big Town just wants to “Get Lucky” (inside joke) (LOL).
And not that it matters, but Pharrell, among other things, is making the hats worn by national park and forest rangers chic again.
JB
May 26, 2016 @ 11:12 am
This is really bizarre. I don’t mind artists collaborating, but this seems more like selling out for financial gain. Maybe that’s who they really are though. If that’s the case, we’re better off without them.
Elliot
May 28, 2016 @ 2:44 am
99% of the music industry is now just selling out for personal gain. It’s just the way it is now and we just have to search through the crap to find the good parts.
Shastacatfish
May 26, 2016 @ 11:15 am
“Country music is our tie to the land, a tie to the past, and an expression of who we are ”
Bingo.
Stringbuzz
May 26, 2016 @ 11:45 am
I will say I was invited to a LBT show by the inlaws (more like a demand of my time LOL) and I really had a good time at their show. Very talented and entertaining.. (also helped that Kacey musgraves)
I do think they are moving away from country.
Although, I think they realize they are aging and probably don’t fit in today’s country world anymore.
I loved the number they did with Trombone Shorty that time.
Ronald
May 26, 2016 @ 12:27 pm
All of these things are why I personally have been listening to less and less Nashville country and more Texas country.
seak05
May 26, 2016 @ 12:41 pm
Speaking of country/pop collaborations, I’ve heard rumors that Ashley Monroe is working with Justin Tranter – who is a super pop song writer (think Bieber).
Tig
May 27, 2016 @ 9:52 am
Justin co-wrote every single song on Gwen Stefani’s last album, that must be some strange strange conversation. Looking at the IG’s of Justin and partner Julia Michaels, it looks like they are meeting with Kacey Musgrave as well.
Elliot
May 28, 2016 @ 2:47 am
These artists are broadening their musical experiences by seeking outside help. Why do they have to be stuck working with the typical Nashville crowd? If they want to work with someone who’s not part of the Nashville scene what’s so wrong with that?
BwareDWare94
May 26, 2016 @ 12:44 pm
I really hate Little Big Town. “Bring it On Home” is pretty much the only tolerable single they’ve ever released, and that guy doesn’t get to sing at all anymore.
Marc
May 26, 2016 @ 1:16 pm
I must admit when I hear the song Motorboatin my inner Beavis and Butthead come out…..
Angelo Rinaldi
May 26, 2016 @ 1:26 pm
I look forward to hear the story of The Band Perry, it never fails to make me laugh.
They’re so desperate to find success in pop, yet nobody wants them AHAHAHAH.
When I saw that tweet from Kimberly I thought she meant that LBT stole the song they (TBP) should’ve cut with Pharell. But I guess I was wrong, who knows.
LBT are now making a move towards pop, and they will fail miserably. I already feel sorry for them ahahah.
CJ
May 26, 2016 @ 6:28 pm
I hate that I wish The Band Perry such professional ill will. I’d like to think I’m bigger than that but that tweet by Kimberly was juvenile and sophomoric (much like me taking the time to comment?). I don’t care about Pharrell or really, LBT for that matter. As a matter of fact, unless the other 7 songs are better than the lead off, it may well be career suicide by a band that seems to take one step forward and two steps back on a regular basis. Plenty talented and very lovely people from my limited interactions, but damn, they seem hellbent on being perpetual openers.
justin casey
May 26, 2016 @ 10:13 pm
can we just discuss the fact that this new little big town song is just awful (even by pop radio standards)
Jen MALCOM
May 28, 2016 @ 3:40 am
Everything from Motorboatin on up has been terrible.
albert
May 27, 2016 @ 7:40 am
“We’re lucky to be Grand Ole Opry members,” continues Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. ”
How desperate IS the Opry for members ??? How about Bieber or Ozzy ?
Sylvie Groleau
May 27, 2016 @ 8:18 am
Now, do not bash me on this anyone. But the last sentence of the text says “American culture”. “America” is not a country. I live in Canada, which is in North America, and it makes me an American too. There are 3 “Americas” North, Central and South. I know that many of you in the United States think that “America” is your country, but there is no such country whose name is “America”.
So, to me, when I read the last sentence of the text, I think of at least “North America”, that what my mind reads anyway.
We are much luckier in Canada than in the United States, simply because our Canadian country music and artists have remained much more sincere and true to original, real country music.
We do not have any of our Canadian country artists pretending to be – for example – Keith Urban doing a pop-dance-techno (!) CD (“Ripcord”) which – Billboard (they must have been on drugs when they did this, really, not knowing at all) did put in the “Top Country Album Chart” – right on top at Number 1 in its first week there.
That is why – in the last few years – I’ve turned to our Canadian country artists much more simply because most – if not all of them ! do much more real country sounding music, – globally – than the ones in the United States.
Nowadays, you put 5 or 6 notes of steel guitar, banjo, or /and fiddle in a pop / dance , or ballad song, and “Ah…Voilà” it is called a COUNTRY song !
I wanted to write (still do ! ) to Billboard Magasine’s Executives to complain about “Ripcord” being on their country sections / charts, and reminding them (Billboard) that they had NOT put Taylor Swift’s “1989” CD anywhere on any of their country charts , when the album came out. Then, why doing it with Urban’s “Ripcord” then?
But so far I have not found any contacts of any kinds in order to reach Billboard’s executives. I’m still looking though, do not worry.
I remember literally throwing up when what used to be my favourite new country radio station, WSIX in Nashville played TONS of times a day Taylor’s “Shake It Off” (first excerpt from the “1989” CD – getting TONS of complaints every single day about this from their listeners, and NOT caring about any of them, and just kept on playing the song so many times a day that you would very quickly switch to other “new country” or “so called country that is not country music at all” radio stations to hear the latest songs released, or just to other stations”, or doing other things than listening to the radio.
As far as WSIX go, I have not listened to them for a single second ever since June 2015 anyway.
So, if I want to hear TRUE country music coming from the United States, either I do listen to Chris Stapleton, or just switch to traditional country radio stations.
Or put on old CDs.
That is why I do not listen much to any of these “new country” radio stations anymore from anywhere now. This is not what I like nor what I’m looking for when I want to hear country music.
It is not about new artists, we could have new artists doing REAL country, and sounding like Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Matea, Patti Loveless, Tracy Lawrence, Highway 101, Randy Travis, etc…
Australia, for example (I’m not talking about Keith Urban here, he was born in New Zealand anyway, but was raised in Australia) have the very same problem, most of their artists do real , traditional country music. They have such great country artists that do REAL country music (just search the Web or Facebook to find them).
What I have always hated is that radio stations from the Untied States NEVER play other countries’ music, not in the country genre anyway (with the very few exceptions of Terri Clark, Gordon Lightfoot (if you want to talk about older stuff), Shania Twain when she was doing country music that is), etc…
I do know Blair Garner personally (NASH FM in Nashville), and I’ve written to him a few times about playing Canadian country artist, since Montreal (Québec) born / Medecine Hat (Alberta) raised Teri Clark was then working with him as a DJ on NASH’s “Morning Show” – they could not, nor I_Heart/Clear Channel nor Cumulus Network will EVER allow to play non United States’ music on their radio stations (with the very exceptions that I have just mentionned above).
We in Canada – (and I’m sure that it is the very same thing with – for example- Australian country music radio stations) have to play music coming from the United States (although we do have cotas to play Canadian music, a certain percentage has to be respected for each radio stations here).
Unfair? The word here is very very small, believe me… Disgusting? Yes.
It is a shame that you in the United States can not discover music – if you want to talk country music that is – coming from other countries than yours.
There is AWESOME music coming from anywhere in the world, believe me .
Sylvie from Québec.
Travis
May 27, 2016 @ 6:48 pm
I’ll bash you since I’ve bashed several Hispanic friends who have told me the same thing regarding people from the USA calling themselves Americans. Do you know what the A in USA stands for? You can call yourself a Canadian, my friends can call themselves Venezuelan, are we supposed to refer to ourselves as United Stateians? Why the hell does it bother people from the America continents that aren’t from the USA, when we refer to ourselves as Americans? I’ve heard this a shit load of times from people from south and central America while growing up in South FL. First time I heard it from a friendly Canadian!
Sylvie Groleau
May 27, 2016 @ 8:07 pm
Dear Travis, hopefully, you will have an opinion on the rest my post too. I’m not going to reply to you nor anyone about this anymore, but please amuse yourself with these links.. I wish you peace… (I think I was respectful and not harsh with harsh words) (I’ve always used the term États-Uniens quand je parle français,and I’ve always used the term Untied Stateiens when I speak English.) Many people do use the term too, I’ve noticed throughout the years, (it reminds me of Québecois people calling our Province a country, due to their political view , while Québec (yes, with the accent on the first of the “E” because it is the way to write it !) never was a country. Still, at times, us, Federalist Québecois people are being bashed by Québec separatists who really do not like that – we call ourselves Canadians , because to them, Québec is already a country of its own, and can not understand that some of us – MANY of us here in Québec should I say are Canadians ) LINKS: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100227145105AAL228E also: http://www.usaisnotamerica.com/ and also: http://www.usaisnotamerica.com/ But one thing IS sure and you can not deny it Travis. …at every Olympic games, it is true that each circle reprensents a continent, and not a specific country.. And this: http://mentalfloss.com/article/31263/what-do-olympic-rings-mean You will notice that under Pierre de Coubertin’s picture (the second picture, which is in black and white) it is written the Americas. But as I said, I also hope that you have an opinion on the rest of my post, about you guys in the’States missing on some AWESOME music from other countries than yours.NOTE: By the way, did you ever notice that the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, even in the English language is spelled en français Canadiens (and not the Montreal Canadians?) It is possible that history is wrong at times Travis. History is not perfect all the time. (I never write Québec without the accent on the first of the 2 “E”s, even if I write in another language than français. Go ahead and dscover other countries’ wonderful music in all genres ! ! (In reply to your question, the “A” for USA stands for which of the Americas ? Merçi beaucoup pour ton commentaire quand même Travis Sylvie.
Jen
May 28, 2016 @ 3:52 am
That’s because I heart wants money. These countries refuse to play any artist that doesn’t pay them to, and I’m willing to bet other countries don’t have a “pay to play” system. This is the most corrupt industry in the US…if you don’t payola, they don’t playola! Radio needs to go back to individually owned studios that play whatever the hell they want, without some corporate blowhard telling them what to do. It’s coming….iheart is about to become ihurt! More and more people are going to streaming, and downloading music. They want nothing to.do.with mainstream radio. Don’t forget there’s also Sirius…which I don’t yet have, because I just can’t see spending money for something I get everywhere else for free. I don’t own it, either way, unless I own the CD, so it really was wastep money for me to buy it, but I only paid $10, so I’m not out that much. I may still get it hooked up, but I’m still not sure.
Justin
June 10, 2016 @ 1:21 pm
“I remember literally throwing up when what used to be my favourite new country radio station, WSIX in Nashville played TONS of times a day Taylor’s “Shake It Off”
You actually did throw up when your favorite country station played Taylor’s “Shake It Off?”
Sylvie
June 10, 2016 @ 2:26 pm
Hi there Justin. Any of these new country radio stations really get me so mad, I have trouble with this new country music…. I stay away from anything new country,except for very few acts. I have my personal issues with WSIX anyway, and all I can say is that I have not listen to any new country radio station in more than 1 year now. Did I throw up? I think I did, really…
Justin, you did a mistake in rewriting my words. I wrote: what used (past tense) to be my favourite “new country” radio station.
You wrote “your favourite country radio station”.
As I just wrote, I have not listened to WSIX – among all of them – in more than a year.
I mostly do listen- when I want to hear anything country – only to traditional country radio stations now, both here in Canada and in the United States.
Thank goodness, traditional country radio stations STILL exist !
And besides, just the fact that WSIX -did not listen to any of its listeners and completely ignored all the complaints that they had in playing this SO SO NON COUNTRY song that it was enough to make me puke too! (At first, when “Shake It Off” was released, WSIX was playing the song every hour!
And WSIX IS registered with I_Heart as a country radio station.
dogit
May 27, 2016 @ 8:20 am
Guess what, no one liked you in country music. No one wants in pop either. Throw them in the river at dawn already.
witness
May 27, 2016 @ 9:36 am
Little Big Town was in the studio writing with Timberlake not that long ago so that might be why Pharrell is working with Little Big Town
witness
May 27, 2016 @ 10:20 am
Pharrell is one of the best producers of all time. Artists should want to work with him regardless of genre
Krissy
May 27, 2016 @ 10:40 am
“Pontoon” wasn’t bad enough?! I’m disappointed in what LBT has become.
Sylvie Groleau
May 27, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
Dear Krissy, I went to see Little Big Town with Luke Bryan and Dustin Lynch at Le Centre Bell in Montreal on Thursday, February 25th of thisyear. The only reason why I went was Dustin Lynch, who is the most country of the 3 acts. Did I feel like I was attending a country music concert? For Dustin’s part, definitely, but for LBT and Luke? No… (I was able to meet Dustin before the show, so I’m very glad I went).
Krissy
May 28, 2016 @ 8:29 pm
I’ve seen Dustin Lynch, he deserves more success. LBT went from singing great harmonys and good songs (imo) like ‘Bones’ to contributing to the mindless dreck that is coming out today. Very exciting you got to meet him.
PETE MARSHALL
May 27, 2016 @ 10:37 pm
I said enough things about The Band Perry. I hope Little Big Town “Wanderlust” be a good cd and I am not against Pharrell at all. Hey Trig! Are you going to review Blake and Dierks cd anytime soon?
Trigger
May 27, 2016 @ 11:59 pm
Blake’s and Dierks’ Apple exclusive, and a lack of review copies have put a crimp in getting reviews up for them, but I’m sure reviews will get posted eventually.
BrandonWard
May 28, 2016 @ 2:18 am
Just wait until the new LBT and TBP albums come out, BOMB completely, and the re-emerge mired in the mddle (if not near the top) of the “Americana” charts!!!
PETE MARSHALL
May 28, 2016 @ 3:17 pm
I agree with 100%.
Al
May 29, 2016 @ 12:50 pm
Those last two paragraphs are excellent, Trig! Really nice and concise way of describing our current problem.
D
May 30, 2016 @ 10:53 am
I hate what “country music” has become. I stopped listening to The Highway on Sirius right around the time they decided country pop rap CRAP is the way they need to go. Screw every single one of these money grubbing posers.
Tiffany
June 2, 2016 @ 8:39 am
I heard LBT new duet with Pharrell on You Tube. From my point of view, it is way too busy and cluttered and there is only a couple of places were it sounds like them. In conclusion, I wasn’t very impressed with what I heard. As far as the Pharrell being the “in” producer that these artists want to collaborate is sad. Just because he is from Virginia and likes country music doesn’t make him an authority on it.
Tiffany
June 2, 2016 @ 8:45 am
I heard the new LBT song on You Tube. It sounds too busy or too cluttered. And, it is not that I don’t LBT, but I’m not sure about this collaboration. Or the TBP collaboration as well. Just because Pharrell is from Virginia and likes country music doesn’t make him an authority in it.
Trevor
June 5, 2016 @ 1:21 pm
One thng I am sure of is that much, even most ,of what is being labelled as Country these days just ain´t country. They try to tell us the music has to move on but for the most part it has moved on out of “country”.
Orgirl1
June 6, 2016 @ 8:04 pm
I saw the LBT performance of their new song on the the Voice. I will say that in the intro of the song, the word “country” was not mentioned. That made me glad, but I don’t know if it was for marketing sake or out of respect for the genre. Or who knows, maybe both. I will say that Pharrell on the Voice is excellent at differentiating between subtleties in music like Southern rock, Blues, gospel, rock, pop, r and b, country. If anyone could produce an actually decent country song, it would be him. So hold out hope for him. He has a huge respect for music of all kinds.
My second thought is yeah, I could do without these pop/country duos. They don’t even work. Demi and Elle sound weird and unbalanced and the girl from No Doubt just flat out sings off key. Of all these duets I’ve heard, Carrie and Keith Urban sound the best-but their duet sounds like a disco song. I actually like the song, but country? Uh…not really.
My last thought is the whole selling out situation. I’ve been pretty mad about this lately. If I hear one more Nashville country artist talk about how country needs to “evolve”, or they’re playing what people want, or there is experimentation, or collaboration, or whatever other bullshit they’ve got going, I’m going to puke. I love Carrie and Keith Urban but HOW can they in good faith call their duet a country song? Nashville country is starting to remind me of a bizzare Orwellian world where country means pop. Oh, and please spare me the whole “it’s so hard” thing that Kimberly Perry was hinting at. We have an entire genre that is now FULL of Edm, laundry lists, and pop singer duets, while REAL country singers who can actually sing on pitch can’t even get a break on national radio. Thank God for Texas Country, that’s all I have to say.