Why The Hell Was Nick Jonas Playing Guitar on the ACMs Anyway?
On the 2016 ACM Awards, former boy band member and intermediate guitar player Nick Jonas may as well have come out on stage a drown a puppy. On live television, during Kelsea Ballerini’s dumb new song “Peter Pan,” Nick Jonas perfected the most aggressively shitty guitar solo ever played on any awards show or other live television event in the history of ever. It sounded like cats screwing while being electrocuted. I mean this thing was a musical abortion, which begs the question, why on Earth is this pipsqueak even on the stage of the American Country Music Awards in the first place?
All this talk about the importance of performance slots, and how females aren’t getting a fair shake, and we’re doling out face time to folks from other genres in hopes it will entice non-country viewers to watch? Well tough shit ACMs because it didn’t work. The ratings for this year’s show were down a whopping 26% year to year. Granted, last go ’round was their big 50th Anniversary shindig, so there was undoubtedly going to be a decline of some sort, but to lose over a quarter of your audience to Wrestlemania does not look good. And don’t blame the stupid iHeartMedia Awards that happened on the same night. Not even Taylor Swift could pull that show out of the dumpster. It pulled only 2.1 million viewers, or a 0.8 rating. Ouch. Oh, and there’s another awards show in less than a month—the ill-conceived American Country Countdown Awards on May 1st. So look alive.
Though there are some happy faces over Chris Stapleton doing so well at the 2016 ACM Awards, the presentation sucked. In an era when consumers have more choice than ever, these awards shows are going to have to step up their game to entice viewers, and stupid cross-genre collaborations aren’t going to get it done. If folks aren’t going to tune into TNT to watch Taylor Swift, they’re certainly not going to watch Nick Jonas getting his penis stuck in his zipper, trip all over himself, and vomit out a discordant audio mess. Aces in their places. We talk about how their music may suck, but Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Hunter Hays are at least proficient guitar players. We’re not even sure if Hunter Hays was on the premises Sunday night, and Brad Paisley was the lone country representative at that iHeart Awards bullshit. You need a high falsetto? Sure, dial up a Jonas Brother. Otherwise, they can take this weak shit back to “Disney On Tour.”
Will
April 5, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
I’m not especially skilled as a guitarist, and most of my stuff falls under the blues moniker. But hell, I could get up on stage and play a better solo than that.
Andrew
April 5, 2016 @ 6:53 pm
Hell, my 13 brother could blow him away. I would sound like Duane Allman if I played with him…
andythedrifter
April 5, 2016 @ 6:46 pm
Somehow he was the most country artist there.
JC Eldredge
April 5, 2016 @ 6:47 pm
Is she banging him? Or maybe wants to? That’s the only reason I could think of him being there. They pr’d like they were doing some big duet but he barely even sang.
one_time
April 5, 2016 @ 6:53 pm
I was too embarrassed to watch the full video. I have that nightmare…I’m on stage in an arena and I’m playing my guitar but the notes won’t ring out. Everything sounds muted. Nick Jonas is a terrible guitar player. Terrible.
As for Urban and Paisley, I’m not a fan of their music, but both of those guys are extremely talented guitarists. I’m am a fan of Brad’s Wampler Paisley Drive pedal, however.
Sunfish Queen
April 5, 2016 @ 7:09 pm
Wow! Love this! My sentiments exactly!
PETE MARSHALL
April 5, 2016 @ 7:12 pm
I watched WrestleMania 32 instead of the ACM(Pop- rap less country) and I care less about I Heartradio whatever it is.
I miss Stevie Gaines
April 6, 2016 @ 6:41 am
Agreed, fm free radio is horrible where I live, and I have never herd of this guitar player, good read!
Sullie
April 10, 2016 @ 3:00 am
He was one of The Jonas Brothers from the 2000s.
Rod Johnson
April 5, 2016 @ 7:16 pm
That wasn’t very good, lol. Loved the breakdown of the solo in the YouTube video. The only worse solo is Little Wayne, here is a good breakdown of that gem. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jf9-VyXEKE
Six String Richie
April 5, 2016 @ 7:19 pm
Additionally the ACMs may have been overshadowed by MLB Opening Day in certain markets. Tampa Bay, Kansas City and New York all had teams playing that evening.
Lewis
April 5, 2016 @ 7:26 pm
The second video is pretty darn funny. Heck, both videos are.
WBK
April 5, 2016 @ 7:32 pm
Say what you will about their music, but Keith Urban was already at the show, and could’ve provided something quite good for that song. Hunter Hayes could’ve done the same, and given them the whole next generation youth country performance act they could’ve promoted. Is it really rocket science to these people?
Also, laughed my ass off at the tutorial. “Use this time to think about your life.”
hoptowntiger94@gmail.com
April 5, 2016 @ 8:12 pm
Hey! If Sam Hunt can be on the ACM stage, then why the hell not Nick Jonas?
I like Nick Jonas … as an actor in the TV show Kingdom (I can’t name one of his songs). If you haven’t seen it, Nick’s character is a closeted gay MMA fighter, the son of a former MMA prizefighter who is struggling to raise his boys and keep his Venice Beach training gym open. It’s a pretty awesome show; the second season just wrapped up.
My point, I have more respect for Nick than over half the assclowns that were on the stage Sunday night.
cloudeleven
April 5, 2016 @ 8:14 pm
I didn’t even think he was playing when I was watching. I thought he was faking it. Then I saw the Youtube video and the mistakes, eek.
Matty T
April 5, 2016 @ 8:35 pm
If only Waylon and Paycheck were still here to kick some asses…
Unknown Shredder
April 5, 2016 @ 9:00 pm
What in the Hairy H was that???
That was sooooo bad. That dude should go into hiding forever after that embarrassment..I sure would.
I wish I could have seen all the faces in the audience…especially the guitar players.
Ya, what was he doing there???
albert
April 5, 2016 @ 11:11 pm
‘If folks aren”™t going to tune into TNT to watch Taylor Swift, they”™re certainly not going to watch Nick Jonas getting his penis stuck in his zipper, trip all over himself, and vomit out a discordant audio mess. ‘
With all due respect to your otherwise right-on piece above ,Trigger ,most of the demographic for the product Jonas or TS peddles would have no idea ,much less even care,that his solo ( or TS’ live vocals ) sucked. If that demographic had the capacity to recognize and appreciate musical talent they would most certainly be aware of the lack of it .
Lunchbox
April 6, 2016 @ 1:12 am
Justin Timberlake, Nick Jonas, Bruno Mars is next…watch
scott
April 6, 2016 @ 7:19 am
At least Timberlake, and Mars have talent…
Orgirl1
April 6, 2016 @ 7:14 pm
Who next? Snoop Doggy Dog? MC Hammer and Britney Spears “sing” a duet? I read a Facebook comment – ACMs “AIN’T COUNTRY Music” Awards. I agree.
Mark
April 6, 2016 @ 2:11 am
“We talk about how their music may suck, but Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Hunter Hays are at least proficient guitar players”
Brad Paisley’s music sucks?? Hell dude, I may agree that his last album is a dud but have you ever listened to He Didn’t Have to Be, American Saturday Night, One of those Lives, I Do Now, No, We Danced, I Wish You’d Stay, Anything Like Me, Letter to Me, Whiskey Lullaby, Eastwood, Oh Yeah You’re Gone, Welcome To The Future, Hard Life, The Cigar Song, Rainin You, Part II or Who Needs Pictures? and I might go on and on.
Even when he releases pop oriented music he still offers interesting music (Southern Comfort Zone, Karate, Officially Alive).
Trigger
April 6, 2016 @ 9:45 am
Not all of Brad Paisley’s music sucks. He has some good songs and good albums. That was a bit of hyperbole to prove a point that there’s many, many country artists who can play a guitar solo and we don’t need a Justin Bieber alternative to do so.
Eric
April 6, 2016 @ 2:35 am
The whole idea of looking to the pop world to find an electric guitarist was folly to begin with. The irony is that the best electric guitarists today are found in mainstream country. It has become the core instrument of country, while pop has “moved on”…
Big Red
April 6, 2016 @ 6:42 am
Country is heading there. Witness Sam Hunt’s and Charles Kelley’s performances.
Kross
April 6, 2016 @ 3:21 am
Walking Dead 90 minute season finnale was on. I’m telling you, that’s what most of America was watching.
Craig
April 6, 2016 @ 5:12 am
I’m kind of impressed by the cajones on the guy. Knowing that his skill level is pre 5th grade talent show, and yet still carting that thing onstage to tinkle away in front of a national audience…I’m at a loss for words to describe either the audacity or utter self delusion.
Aside from that, watching that particular idiot holding that particular guitar is proof of the base unfairness of life. (for additional proof, see Kelsea Ballerini’s legs)
Gtrman86
April 6, 2016 @ 5:37 am
That lovely guitar masterpiece must be the musical soundtrack that is playing in Sam Hunt’s head over and over and over and over again…………… Kinda brings a tear to the eye don’t it.
George
April 6, 2016 @ 6:22 am
I could walk into my local Guitar center and find a dozen guitar players better than him.
Jim
April 6, 2016 @ 6:24 am
The actual solo was so freaking bad I burst out laughing right here in my office.
The other guy’s instructional video? Troll Level 9000. Excellent.
BrandonRMM
April 6, 2016 @ 7:47 am
“Troll Level 9000.”
Personally, I would up the score to 9001.
RD
April 6, 2016 @ 6:51 am
C.C. Deville cringed….
Jack Williams
April 6, 2016 @ 7:31 am
You know, before listening, I thought maybe Trigger was being a bit hyperbolic and the solo would be basic and cheesy, sort of like I remember David Cassidy do on some Dick Clark special years ago. But, Good God, that was emabarrasingly awful.
marky mark
April 6, 2016 @ 8:17 am
Funnily enough, sometimes guys in pop bands can shred and you just can’t tell from the band’s music. i always loved how Andy Taylor from Duran Duran (clearly not a guitar band) tore it up for both the Power Station and on his solo album. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing when it came to hiding his mad guitar skills. Sadly, Mr. Jonas did not surprise us the same way.
Toothless
April 6, 2016 @ 1:47 pm
Duran Duran were some serious musicians. John Taylor is a sick bass player. Check out the bassline on Rio. Very intricate for a pop song.
Kale
April 6, 2016 @ 8:22 am
Brad Paisley’s music isn’t bad, or at least it didn’t used to be. Sure, Brad had some dumb songs, but the earlier ones like “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” “Ticks,” and “Celebrity” were legitimately fun. He’s also one of the few mainstream country guys who frequently used pedal steel guitar and fiddle. To me, he’s the perfect example of how to put rock in country but still be country. Honestly, Brad is probably my favorite artist. So don’t be hatin’ on ‘im!
Six String Richie
April 6, 2016 @ 8:29 am
I seem to remember back in like 2009, when Joe Jonas was dating Taylor Swift, that Joe said “Waitin’ On A Woman” was his favorite song of the year.
Say Whaa
April 6, 2016 @ 9:21 am
I’m on the fence on this one.
Obviously, it was terrible. In any context. It’s especially bad at a show celebrating a genre that still at least kind of values guitar.
On the other hand, I do feel like guitar/guitar solos have become a lost art in mainstream music, and there’s a part of me that applauds someone like Nick Jonas for emphasizing it. It’s the same reason I applaud Ariana Grande’s song Dangerous Woman for featuring a guitar solo. It’s such an incredibly lame and cheesy solo, but there’s still something cool – at least in my mind – about the epitome of a pop tart putting a guitar solo on an aggressively mainstream pop song.
Same with The 1975. The guitarist isn’t good, but it’s still cool to see what is effectively a boy band actually making the solo feel like a “moment” during their live gigs.
Now, you can certainly argue that Nick Jonas wasn’t doing this to “bring back the solo” but to present himself as a cool, legitimate musician. And he failed in that regard. But it’s telling (and endearing) that playing guitar — not showing off some vocal runs — is how he tried to demonstrate his musicianship.
— As for the question of why give the solo to a subpar guitar player when it could have gone to one of the many legitimate players at the show…there’s a degree to which I think that’s the wrong question.
The ACM Awards producers clearly wanted Jonas’ “star power” on this performance. If they were going to look to someone like Hunter Hayes, they would have, because he’s both a better musician AND at least a self-identified country artist. Better performance, less backlash.
So if you assume that they needed Jonas, you’re left with him playing a brief guitar solo….on Kelsea Ballerini’s song, where Kelsea Ballerini still comes off as the star (and a bigger one since more people, in theory, were paying attention to this performance than they would have if she were solo). Or he sings a verse and/or mashes up with one of his own singles, as they did last year.
This is clearly the better option as far as building the country singer’s brand, even if it resulted in a suboptimal music moment.
Amanda
April 6, 2016 @ 10:56 am
The question should be “Why the hell was Nick Jonas even on a supposedly country music awards show anyway?”
Chris
April 6, 2016 @ 1:20 pm
I’m asking the same question about Kelsea Ballerini, honestly. In fact I’d ask what Kelsea Ballerini is doing in the country music field period. Both she and Nick Jonas are pure pop so this was actually not that much of a mismatch.
Amanda
April 7, 2016 @ 9:20 am
Kelsea Ballerini should eventually make the move into the pop genre. She’d be an excellent fit in pop, she’s terrible in country.
WeirdUncleBob
April 6, 2016 @ 11:49 am
He should’ve screamed “Shag my friends tonight!” after that face melter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MI-_jWAmlE
Adam
April 6, 2016 @ 12:12 pm
Kelly pepperoni is a dog faced gremlin
Jason
April 6, 2016 @ 2:03 pm
Sad thing is that this is probably the best thing Nick Jonas has ever done.
Orgirl1
April 6, 2016 @ 6:57 pm
Oh….
I can’t talk about these award shows, they piss me off soooo much. Wtf. Katy Perry? Nick Jonas? AAHHHH!!!!!!! It is so insulting to me as a country music fan that these pop singers are there. I find it horribly condescending. Like, country music is so easy, right? WRONG. I despise the way these shameless shows have cut country music off from its roots. The terrible thing is that younger viewers miss out on seeing amazing legends like Vince Gill play guitar, or Alan singing. It’s terrible. “Modern country”. Like Vince Gill sang, ” watch ’em burn it to the ground.”
len spin
April 9, 2016 @ 7:24 pm
today’s country sound in my opinion is: verses of boring counry rap followed by obnoxious screaming choruses then more stupid rap and more “ear unfriendly” choruses…oh then a bridge before a final ear piercing chorus. in other words…truck truck truck…screeeeeem…truck truck truck….screeeeem….truck truck truck…screeeem…bridge…screeeeeem. who buys this shit?!?
len spin
April 9, 2016 @ 7:25 pm
today’s country sound in my opinion is: verses of today’s cookie cutter country…boring counry rap followed by obnoxious screaming choruses then more stupid rap and more “ear unfriendly” choruses…oh then a bridge before a final ear piercing chorus. in other words…truck truck truck…screeeeeem…truck truck truck….screeeeem….truck truck truck…screeeem…bridge…screeeeeem. who buys this shit?!?
Skwissgaar Skwigelf
April 10, 2016 @ 8:12 am
Whos the hells is dis dildos?? At leasts ze Toki Wartooths dat I hates plays better guitars den dis dildos!! I could gives dis guy the Advanced Hand Finger Wizard Master Class and he’d still bes a dildos on ze guitar like Toki!!!!
Woogeroo
April 20, 2016 @ 12:38 pm
*enthusiastic clapping*