Screenshot - William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Blake Shelton, Duane Allen, Richard Sterban
Rather as a surprise comes a sixth single of Blake Shelton's 2016 album "IF I'M HONEST" and I guess to tone down the suggestive lyrics of "Doing It To Country Songs," its video is packed into an animated, family-friendly, cuddly, furry affair. Actually half-way country with rich harmonies and if it will chart, song partners, The Oak Ridge Boys will be back in the country single charts for the first time in 18 years. Laudable, isn't it? Well, it seems after a close watch of the cartoon, that there is a hidden message in the video-clip subsiding the fun.
Blake is not the first and probably not the last to use animation for a music video. Remember Lonestar's "Mr. Mom" or Brad Paisley's "Crushin' It" which actually featured an animated, beer-guzzlin' Shelton. In "Doin' It," the bar featured in the clip, named "Ol' Reds" as in the song and the venue Blake is gonna be opening in Nashville, a prominent beer advertisement disguised as a clock, promotes "Paisley Lite Beer." Nothing wrong with that.
Blake's video is full of easter eggs to be discovered. Besides leaving song titles on bar jars, on the wall, and guitar cases, even making a reference to his guests' big hit "Elvira," there are even some funny moments among the furries and one amphibian friend. That Blake casts himself as a stag, called Blake Buck on the marquee is quite humorous. The Oaks are cast as a possum, William Lee Golden; a beaver, Joe Bonsall; a wolf, Duane Allen, and Richard Sterban as a bullfrog, him catching the barfly and swallowing it, priceless.
Screenshot
I neither have an issue, that this rather light tune was written by heavy-weight Paul Overstreet together with Jakob Lyda and Marty Dodson. Sometimes a ditty is a ditty and the harmonies of the Oaks made me smile.
I also think choosing a hound-dog as the bartender and a skunk as the janitor are pretty funny, just think about it, "when it comes to clean, there is only one skunk."
But then Blake Shelton wouldn't be Blake Shelton if he couldn't land a side jab at every traditional country music fan that still wears a hat and a silver belt-buckle with pride. I guess by now that would be the "old farts and jackasses," you may see in every true Texas dancehall.
To make his point, he uses the janitor skunk to actually dress up. But to get his new accessories, the skunk is diving in the trash and rescues the hat and buckle out of the dumpster. As subliminal as it may be, shame on you, Blake!
When I heard that Bull Shiter aka Blake Shelton had a new single out, "Neon Light" from his upcoming album "Bringing Back The Sunshine," I was intrigued. Starting out the song with a light Hip Hop beat didn't really draw me into the song, but the lyrics (written by Andrew Dorff, Mark Irwin and Josh Kear - a trio who had written hit-songs for other artists before) had a lovely retro feel - something I haven't heard quite in a while coming out of Trashville. The lyrics actually do tell a story and in the second verse actually get quite mean - even though the two last lines with the three word repetitive are contemporary stupid as the mentioned opening beat is required in 2014:
“I take a shot of I don’t care what you’re doing now
Chase that one with a cold screw you
When that’s done I just might wash it down with a big pitcher of someone new
That blonde, blonde, blonde at the bar, bar, bar
See if she wants to try an unbreak my heart, heart, heart”
The banjo, the slight guitar work, Shelton's vocal range during the choruses also speak for this single. The production by Scott Hendricks unfortunately does not. Even though there is cool, bluesy overtone to it, it's completely over-produced and over-compressed with several unnecessary layers, which lower the song almost past mediocracy.
But then once again, Blake simply couldn't shut up and the BS started flowing when he told Rolling Stone Country that "The song, the melody, the chorus is so George Jones or George Strait. It really is."
Nope, it's not, even though he also claimed to know the history of country music: "Of course, I’m always going to have the haters and critics out there that say it's not. But then, kiss my ass! I know more about those records than a lot of people."
Maybe he does to a certain degree, but then he would have had a good chance on being the leader to move some of the music back to it's more traditional roots. A song like this, with a late 80's early 90s feel to it would have sounded wonderfully. And producer Scott Hendricks should have known better. As the producer (with Keith Stegall) he not only engenieered Alan Jackson's debut album "Here In The Real World" which contained the lovely Honky Tonk anthem "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" but also another ode to the legendary bar signs, in Brooks & Dunn's "Neon Moon" from their album "Brand New Man."
Even the James Stroud produced, two year old "Neon" by Chris Young, written by Texan master-songwriter Shane McAnally with Josh Osborne and Trevor Rosen which reached #23 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs sounds with it's leading steel guitar and fiddle more country as Blake's last outing. And if you want it really traditional just listen to Austin favorite Wayne "The Train" Hancock and his little ditty "Thunderstorms & Neon Lights" with the late great twangmaster Paul Skelton on guitar.
Blake Shelton - "Neon Lights"
Alan Jackson - "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow"
"Neon Monn" Brooks & Dunn
Chris Young - "Neon"
Wayne "The Train" Hancock - "Thunderstorms & Neon Signs"
There is a new picture - taken by Shelton's wife Miranda Lambert, circulating on Twitter and some Facebook pages; it depicts Ray Price and Blake Shelton, meeting on Ray's tour bus outside of his show at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. Miranda and Blake obviously visited with the Hall of Famer to bury the hatchet. Miranda commented on the picture as follows "Country music binds us together! We are a family. Forever and always. Tonight was a celebration of friends and hero's (sic)." According to other sources, Blake was even introduced by Price on stage".
But the boycott is continuing, the facebook page, dedicated to boycott loud mouth Blake Shelton, counts over 1250 members by now and is still growing. As you may see, by clicking on the site, Grand Ole Opry legend Jean Shepard came out to reflect on Shellton's initial BS, and basically called him to be full of it.
Willie Nelson renamed his current tour, he was among other shows part of President Barack Obama's inauguration celebration, into the "Old Farts and Jackass"-Tour in response to Shelton's comment (see below in original post). As self-proclaimed co-leader of the "Old Farts" party, he not only shared with us, that he was completely dressed in black by "designer" Levi Strauss, but also chipped in, into the controversy if Beyonce lip-synched at the festivities. He assures us that his music is no "Willlie Vanillie" and that he can testify in front of Congress that country music is in good hands (with him). Read more about the funny Wille updates on his website - www.willienelson.com
Next up for Blake - to reconcile with Willie Nelson and Jean Shepard. One thing that may help Blake in this undertaking is, that the original video was withdrawn from circulation because of "copyright" issues. (Really?!)
Dale Watson chipped in with a song sent from Antwerp, Belgium - enjoy
The fanpage Miranda & Blake on facebook had to close down it's wall postisngs...
The page's likes below keep on growing, adding over 250 likes in roughly 12 hours, keep on going there and click that "like"
Update (2013-01-24 11:11pm) - there is now a page on facebook that asks for boycotting Blake Shelton, I dare you to like it, the more the better... http://www.facebook.com/BoycottBlakeShelton
--------------------------------------------Original post below:----------------------------------------------------
Even though he told US Weekly that one of his New Year's resolution is to "keep the peace" on Social Media (as in his mouth shut and his twitter fingers numb), he stepped in a big pile of BS again. This time with a traditional media outlet, GAC TV in one of their biographical segments called "Backstory" and we are not yet four weeks into the New Year.
"If I am 'Male Vocalist of the Year' that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying."
You can find the original quote at the very end of the tape at 14'25"
And sure enough, after offending gays, when he published rewritten verses for a Shania Twain song, and after upsetting animal lovers for killing a tortoise by just drivin' over it, his mouth needs a good washin' with a bar of soap again.
Well this time he didn't just upset a certain segment, but almost all of the people of whole genre of music, by not acknowledging the tradition and history of Country Music and basically piss on it!
Screenshot of Ray Price's fb page
That didn't sit to well, with 87-year old two time Grammy Award winner and Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Price. After seeing the threat in "Saving Country Music," he commented on his facebook page, comparing Shelton's career as a flash in the pan and wondering out loud, where Shelton's accomplishments may be in 63 years from now.
Also commenting on the whole upheaval was Country Comedian Ray Stevens, through his publicist: "... 'Old Farts and Jackasses', all I want to know is how he found out the title to my next single because it's been a closely guarded secret here at the "Home." He also promised to release the single on vinyl or 8-Track at your nearest Tower Records store, therefore having some fun with the "old ways of music distribution."
Blake finally came out in the afternoon and started tweeting apologies from his twitter account @blakeshelton (pasted together...) Whoa!!! I heard I offended one of my all time favorite artists Ray Price by my statement “Nobody wants to listen to their grandpas music”..And probably some other things from that same interview on GAC Backstory.. I hate that I upset him.. The truth is my statement was and STILL Is about how we as the new generation of country artists have to keep re-inventing country music to keep it popular. Just EXACTLY… The way Mr. Price did along hid journey as a main stream country artist.. Pushing the boundaries with his records. “For The Goodtimes” Perfect example with the introduction of a bigger orchestrated sound in country music.. It was new and awesome!!! I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better(as always ha!) and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended.. I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me. I’ll put my Lo(v)e and respect and knowledge About it up against anybody out there… ANYBODY…
Well nice try and I do see hand reaching out for peace, but he's still unapologetic, thinks that his words were taken out of context. He was also high-fiving fans who told him they would stand by him any which way...
Sorry Blake but in my opinion that just doesn't work. And yes your statement is not just hurtful, but also deceiving, it's the old farts and jackasses who still buy music, but it's music that matters to them from artists that matter to them. And yes people are tuning out of the commercial crap offered on the airwaves - instead they listen to more public, satellite or other radio-stations that cater to them (eg KOKE FM in Austin). Or they tune into internet stations, like TexasPrideRadio.com or have their own programs (like Pandora) on their phones, iPads or computers.
But I don't want to finish this with a sour note - below is "chief old fart and jackass" Ray Price - with the opening track of his 2002 album "Time", the lovely shuffle "You Just Don't Love Me Anymore". John Morthland wrote in his review about this album, "doesn't come across as nostalgic, but rather as the eloquent statement of a masterful artist who knows he's just not done quite yet, thank you."
No it wasn't POTUS, who graces the new cover of Rolling Stone, who risked a big lip that got him into trouble. It was country star, Eric Church, who not only blasted fellow performers but also the senior fans loving more traditional country music.
Church who turns 35 tomorrow (5/3/12) lashes out in quite frank and profane tones. He's quoted as to tell his guitarist, Driver Williams to play Pantera instrumentals before their own set to clear out older fans.
"It didn't interest me to play for people who were 80 years old," he says flatly. "They'll be dead soon anyway. By the time you come back on tour and play again, they'll be gone."
In the piece he also has a tirade against all the reality music shows that clutter the TV:
"It's become American idol gone mad. Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green fucking turn around in a red chair, you get a deal? That's crazy. I don't know what would make an artist do that. You're not an artist."
and yes, he does not wish to be part of one of these shows"
"If I was concerned about my legacy, there's no fucking way I would ever sit there [and be a reality-show judge]. Once your career becomes something other than music, then that's what it is. I'll never make that mistake. I don't care if I fucking starve."
That did not sit very well with the Shelton/Lambert couple. Miranda tweeted on her account, that his quotes don't make her, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban a star and then she sarcastically thanks Eric for being part of her 2010 tour.
(All of the mentioned acts have at one time in their career either participated or won a music reality show). Lambert being the most successful "Nashville Star" participant, although she only finished third, Carrie Underwood taking the crown at "American Idol" and Keith participating in a Toyota contest and being a guest judge.
Miranda's hubby Blake, simply stated "I wish I misunderstood this." and later tweeted "Why?"
Well according to his publicist, Eric Church apologized to Miranda, Kelly, Carrie and Blake but did not take his statements back. Church is also pretty outspoken in the upcoming issue of "American Songwriter" where he states that the people at the record labels are out of touch with reality.
"Everyone tells you these people are industry experts, but you figure out that the real experts are out there in front of you every night."
And he re-iterates, something which has been said about the Nashville scene for decades, that the industry seldom has new ideas and just tries to copy what's ever successful at the moment.
"That's something Nashville always tries to do, though. If something is successful, the try to repeat it by telling other people, "He do what that guy did." I Just don't think it works that way. The first one who there, the one that cuts that path... it's always the roughest path, but I think it's got the most reward at the end."
P.S.
A new music reality show is planned for E! Television, the competitors are to be found on the internet and one of the judges is supposed to be Brad Paisley.
IMHO
Eric Church has a point, all these reality TV shows have nothing to do with the real life and struggle of "most of the" musicians, who write songs, record on a small(er) budget, tour in vans and try to make a living with their own original music, instead of being set-up with an immediate deal, a sound, an image, a tour bus, a fashion nanny and a choreographer who makes sure all the dance steps are in the right place. Whatever the name of the reality show, it doesn't matter, "American Idol," "The Voice," "America Got Talent" or the now defunct "Nashville Star" cater to the lowest denominator in the music biz. And yes some artists may actually come up and establish themselves as true artists, but these are the exceptions to the rule.
But in the close-knit industry that country music still is, rants like this do not make you any friends in the business. Charlie Rich was one of the first ones who had to learn this the hard way. After burning the winning envelope for John Denver, who won "CMA Entertainer of the Year," Rich's singles produced just one Top Ten hit the next year (1976).
And yes country music always had it's outlaws, Cash, Jennings, Nelson etc., but they were to a certain degree defying the system or even turning away and at this point in country music history, that was still possible. Unfortunately it is not anymore, when a few companies decide what's on the air and what's not. Eric Church may have to learn the business aspects of Red Dirt or Texas Country Music and say goodbye to the assembly line, that Nashville these days more than ever is.
