Shania name-droppings...

[Brit_girlAmanda]

Hey Mon, Play Me Some Mountain Music …

Posted: April 1st, 2009

I recently got back from a trip to Antigua, West Indies. How refreshing it was to hear the island sounds of reggae and Caribbean beats as I stepped off the plane — those feel-good, “One Love” and care-free types of songs. And though quite pleasing to the ear, I did tire easily of the same songs I heard over and over on the island. It was as though their “Montego Bay” was our “White Horse.” But interestingly enough, music seemed to be a big topic of conversation among the people I met there. Someone was always talking about what song and music they enjoyed most — particularly, country music.

I spoke with a woman from Manchester, England, who told me her favorite country artist was Shania Twain and that she enjoyed George Jones, too. Believe it or not, she had never even heard of Taylor Swift. Can you remember the day? Another lady from New Jersey informed me Carrie Underwood was from Nashville and a man at dinner said he and his daughter danced to Sugarland’s “I Loved Her First” during her wedding. Yes, some of their facts were a bit off, but hey, at least they knew the genre. They had heard the songs. They knew the names. And more importantly, they all seemed to enjoy it. It’s funny how sometimes you have to look from the outside in to appreciate what you’ve got right here at home. How I missed those familiar country sounds and more importantly, Music City, USA.


http://blog.cmt.com/2009-04-01/hey-mon-play-me-some-mountain-music-%E2%80%A6/

[tonyme]

Thanks

[Rami]

Thanks for this Amanda :)

[shaniafan339]

Thanks :)

[uniquestar]

Thanks!

[Troll]

Thanks

[ravshania]

thnx...!

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Robby]

Martina McBride, Shine

by Kevin J. Coyne

March 24, 2009

Martina McBride
Shine



Like Waking Up Laughing before it, Shine promises a far more upbeat album than Martina McBride intends to deliver. It’s almost disappointing, as McBride can be a burst of positivity when she sets her mind to it, with deliciously upbeat treats like “Safe in the Arms of Love” and “Happy Girl” to her credit.

There are a few songs in that vein this time around. “Ride”, the infectious first single, open with a “Yeah!” that would make Shania Twain proud, and McBride belts the song with eager intensity. Equally charming is “Sunny Side Up”, which was co-written by McBride herself. It’s the closest thing to “Walking on Sunshine” that we’re ever likely to hear in country music.

The best of the upbeat material comes late in the album. “You’re Not Leaving Me” is McBride’s most convincing rocker to date, all fiery conviction and stubborn will. You can almost hear her furrowing her brow and putting her foot down, stopping her weak-kneed partner in his tracks.

But a few of the other uptempo attempts falter because they don’t strike the right tone. The jangly “Don’t Cost a Dime” is almost Beatlesque, but the banality of the lyrics make it an unconvincing attempt at boosting the morale of those dealing with hard times.

The lyrics are stronger on album opener “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong”, but the song never gets off the ground. With a faster tempo and a more energetic production, it would have been far more effective.

Then again, McBride is known most for her ballads. On Shine, those are also a mixed bag. She has powerful pipes, more than enough to keep up with the bombastic production of “What Do I Have to Do”, but that doesn’t make it necessary. Witness how much more effectively the simple fiddle and acoustic guitar frame her voice on the opening verse of “Walk Away.” It makes the clutter of the chorus that much more of a disappointment to hear.

The album’s most effective moments are those that avoid the big vocals and bigger sonic backdrops and allow McBride to simply emote. There is a stunning dialogue between a recovering alcoholic and his wife called “I’m Trying”, and it is among McBride’s finest moments on record. She captures the complexity of each character’s emotions, expressing both tension and release as they struggle with his addiction.

I also enjoyed the album closer “Lies”, which is thematically similar to Dolly Parton’s “The Grass is Blue.” The lyrics are a tad contrived, but McBride’s vocal is anything but cloying. Like all of the best moments on Shine, it sounds authentic and she sings it without straining for power, a reminder that she can be quite the deft interpreter when she’s not reaching for the glory notes.


http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/03/24/martina-mcbride-shine/

[Robby]

Pop Goes the Country, Part I
by Kevin J. Coyne

March 9, 2009

What follows is a guest piece from Country Universe reader VP exploring the latest wave of country artists who have crossed over to the pop charts. Part II, written by me, will follow later in the week. - KJC

I have always found the country music industry to be a reputable one. Generally the artists seem to be intelligent, hard working, honest and all around nice people. However, my thoughts after hearing Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” on a pop station was, “When is it okay to have your music crossover, and when is it just wrong?”

I was quite surprised when I first heard “Love Story.” I thought this is the kind of music Taylor should be making, nothing that is vocally challenging or out of her reach. She is a soft singer, and this single was reminiscent of “Tim McGraw”, which was the only song I appreciated off of her debut album.

Then while flipping through the stations, I found the pop remix. I wondered, “Where did the fiddle go? Where is the steel guitar? Where are the country elements that were once part of this song?” This type of crossover I don’t agree with.

To take a song from its original form off of its original album and have someone re-cut it to fit the format of pop radio is unethical to me, a slap in the face to country music. Now I started to take notice of country music when Shania came around (being Canadian and all), but in the beginning her songs crossed over with barely noticeable remixing.

Then followed Martina, Faith, and Lee Ann to the AC charts. Shania even come out with a dual disc for Up!, one country and one pop. She made two cuts of all the same songs for two different formats. She laid it out there, and there was no disguising it.

These women were the ones who I believe invented mainstream country, and were the last surge of country artists before now to feel the crossover affect. Now you have Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, who are both popular mainstream country artists. Carrie has publicly stated that when she was approached to reformat “Before He Cheats”, she said “absolutely not. Either you like it how it is or you don’t.”

It ended up one of the the biggest natural crossovers to date, the anthem for scorned women everywhere, and is still going strong three years later. Taylor has yet to make a statement that I know of about crossing over, but we do know it is what she has done, including MTV appearances, promoting this remixed version that is not available on the album, but can be bought as a digital single. When she performed it on Saturday Night Live, she used the pop remix. For all the praise she received for being one of the few country artists to perform on that show, she didn’t actually sing her song in its country form.

I wonder, did the Shania generation do it right? Did they teach the new generation to be ethical about it and maintain their country roots, or did they teach them to make it all about the money, fame and glory? Should country songs be remixed for pop radio, or should they sink or swim based on their original arrangements?


http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/03/09/pop-goes-the-country-part-i/

[Robby]

Chris Willman Joins The Huffington Post
by Kevin J. Coyne

March 13, 2009

One of country music’s finest journalist has a new outlet for his talents. Chris Willman has written for Entertainment Weekly for many years and he also wrote the essential book Rednecks and Bluenecks, which explored the history of politics in country music.

He’s now joined The Huffington Post, and the online format allows him to write exponentially longer essays. His first explicitly country article is up now, and it’s a fascinating read: Jamey Johnson and John Rich Help Country Radio Get Real.

One of Willman’s gifts as a writer is his ability to get artists to speak more deeply and more candidly about their craft. Thus, even an interview with an artist like John Rich, who I generally find insufferable, is still interesting. The article closes with tidbits about upcoming Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley songs, too.

The Huffington Post isn’t for everybody, so thankfully I can link directly to Chris Willman’s index page, avoiding the tabloid politics entirely. Since the man wrote my favorite line ever in a music review*, I’ll be checking it regularly for updates.

* His 2002 Shania Twain review -”Up! is like Abba Gold without all the melancholy.”

Thanks to CU reader Dudley for the link.
http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/03/13/chris-willman-joins-huffington-post/

[uniquestar]

Thanks for posting!

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[shaniafan339]

Thanks for those :)

[ravshania]

thnk u...:)

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[tonyme]

Those are good reviews!

[Rami]

Thanks a lot for these :)

[Tammy]

This is not really an article, but i guess it's fine to post it in this thread since it was random comments about shania that I heard on TV :up:
So i was watching a show and the commercials were on, and they showed stars on the JUNO carpet and I heard MANY artists, including michael bublé saying "Oh yeah, i think shania would snap Celine Dion anytime" Other artists have also said the similar thing, though they meant it in a good way :love: They were talking about how Celine Dion didnt win the award that she was nominated in, and i guess they were saying that if shania was nominated she would've won it? i think thats what Michael meant when he commented :great:

I'm so proud that shania's name still roams around on TV and radio stations :love: it's amazing!

[tonyme]

Thanks for posting this Karine!

[shaniafan339]

That's great!!! Thanks for posting that! :)

[RKSTFan]

The following excerpt is from a long Yahoo! article (http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/32688/chart-watch-extra-you-wont-believe-these-albums-stalled-at-2/) that talks about 32 famous Hit albums that were Hits...but they never reached # 1 on the Billboard album sales chart in the U.S.

Here is the Shania-related excerpt:

Chart Watch Extra: You Won't Believe These Albums Stalled At #2

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/chart_watch__6/chart_watch-99523406-1238456642_thumb.jpg?ymC1uBBDp3a4IDaa (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b)

Posted Fri Apr 3, 2009 12:05pm PDT by Paul Grein in Chart Watch

Pearl Jam (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AkrtyExFFkxH0sKcm083068PwiUv/SIG=11h0hdbnc/**http%3A//music.yahoo.com/ar-259450---Pearl-Jam)'s debut album, Ten, jumps to #1 on this week's Catalog Albums chart, thanks to the release of a 2-CD "Legacy Edition." Ten helped to set the course of rock in the ‘90s, with such tracks as "Jeremy" and "Alive." In addition, the album was a commercial powerhouse. It has sold 9,662,000 copies since its release in late 1991, which makes it the 19th best-selling album since Nielsen/SoundScan began tracking sales for Billboard that same year. Yet, despite amassing an impressive 35 weeks in the top 10, Ten never reached #1. How can it be that such a classic, massive-selling album failed to top the chart? It logged four weeks at #2 in August-September 1992 behind Billy Ray Cyrus (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ApXLSBrJh0Sa4ibGCS_2d_cPwiUv/SIG=11nvemr3h/**http%3A//music.yahoo.com/ar-311757---Billy-Ray-Cyrus)' Some Gave All, the album that gave us "Achy Breaky Heart." Ten is far from the only classic and/or hugely popular album that stalled at #2.

Shania Twain (http://new.music.yahoo.com/shania-twain/)'s Come On Over (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) is the best-selling album of the Nielsen/SoundScan era, with sales of 15,478,000. The album logged 54 weeks in the top 10. Eight songs from the album reached the Hot 100, including three that went top 10: "You're Still The One," "From This Moment On" and "That Don't Impress Me Much." Yet Come On Over (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) also failed to hit #1. It peaked at #2 in November 1997 behind two different #1 albums, Mase (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AhHYPp8Pdo5rF7JoY7PJT.EPwiUv/SIG=11c6adji5/**http%3A//music.yahoo.com/ar-270947---Mase)'s Harlem World and Barbra Streisand (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Air87YeKp.w2bl1MtQtuTzMPwiUv/SIG=11opr1qcd/**http%3A//music.yahoo.com/ar-265970---Barbra-Streisand)'s Higher Ground. How can this be? It just means that there was never a week when Come On Over (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) was the best-selling album in the U.S. But there were many weeks when it was one of the best-sellers, which allowed it to pile up its enormous sales tally.

A total of 407 albums have peaked at #2 since Billboard combined its separate mono and stereo charts in 1963. In most cases, it's not a great injustice that these albums stalled at #2. (Often, they were lucky to get that far!) But some of these #2 albums really seem like they should have made #1--and probably would have if they'd had better luck or timing. Many of these albums had the misfortune of going up against blockbusters that just wouldn't budge. Some, like Come On Over (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b), were blocked by two different albums. (Four unlucky releases peaked at #2 behind three different albums.)

Here are 30 more heavyweight albums that you probably always assumed hit #1. No such luck. Let's take them in reverse chronological order.
.
.
.
.
.
Go HERE (http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/32688/chart-watch-extra-you-wont-believe-these-albums-stalled-at-2/) or HERE (http://lounge.teamshania.com/showthread.php?t=6803) to see the complete list.

[shaniafan339]

Hummm... How can COO only be #2 :sad:

[dreamer]

who cares?! SHANIA IS THE ONLY ONE STILL THE ONE AND #1

[ravshania]

Shania ll b alwyz # 1...no mttr wat...:boogie:

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[faithfully]

Chart number doesn't matter, the quality of music does :great:

[tonyme]

This album is a masterpiece and a crossover hit, no one can deny the sales and success.

[Troll]

Thanks

[ravshania]

This album is a masterpiece and a crossover hit, no one can deny the sales and success.

u tru pal...:up:

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

This album is a masterpiece and a crossover hit, no one can deny the sales and success.

Well said Tony!!!! :) I Agree!!!! :up:

[tonyme]

Glad you do!

[shaniafan339]

There's no reason for me not to ;):funny:

[ravshania]

:funny:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Troll]

Does animal print ever go out of fashion? It seems to creep back every year regardless of whether or not it figures on the catwalk.

Right now it really is everywhere, on anything and everything from frocks and socks to cardigans and clutch bags and most celebrities, from Kate Moss to Madonna.

I used to think animal prints were a love or hate thing. You either wore them or you didn’t. You were a leopard print person or you weren’t. I have to say I’m not.

My least favourite video ever is Shania Twain’s That Don’t Impress Me Much, in which the singer, dressed head-to-foot in garish leopard print, thumbs a lift on a dusty motorway. She even carries a matching hat box and has a fake tail swinging from her leopard print coat.

On a bad taste level it’s up there with The Pussycat Dolls and Spice Girls. Yet Shania’s video effectively put her on the map, made her a global superstar and (wait for it) a fashion icon.

There must be a primeval instinct that lurks within all women. Perhaps we yearn to look like a modern day version of Loana, the cave girl Raquel Welch played in the movie One Million Years BC.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090412/LIFE/262880882/-1/SPORT

[tonyme]

Oh well

[Tammy]

This person doesn't know shania the way most people do, thanks for that

[dreamer]

MAybe I'm blind but I didn't see a tail:rolleyes:

[shaniafan339]

I don't recall seeing a tail??????????? :hmmm:

[Tammy]

oh yes :funny: i forgot to add that... wow this "person" has some imagination alright! :biglaugh:

[shaniafan339]

Ya, that person is seeing things :biglaugh:

[Tammy]

:biglaugh:

[shaniafan339]

Tail :biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:

[dreamer]

uhhhh

[Essa]

I don't remember a tail either, the coat's like a duster style, since it drags on the ground. But still, a tail? Strange.

[shaniafan339]

There's no TAIL :biglaugh:
That person is just Crazy!!!

Can't be all that smart seeing as how he didn't even like the video to begin with :funny:

[Tammy]

this persons "story" is a "tale" :biglaugh:

[Essa]

That's it, Karine.:)

[shaniafan339]

this persons "story" is a "tale" :biglaugh:

Ya!!! :biglaugh: Well said!!! :biglaugh:

[tonyme]

Well said Karine! :funny:

[RKSTFan]

10 Years ago, on April 12, 1999, Shania Twain made music history.

The following is from Billboard:

THIS DAY IN MUSIC

April 12, 2009 (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/april-12-2009-1003959819.story)


1999 – Country music singer Shania Twain becomes the first female to sell 10 million copies each with back-to-back album releases: “The Woman in Me” (http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Me-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001E68/ref=pd_sim_m_2) and “Come On Over.” (http://www.amazon.com/Come-Over-Shania-Twain/dp/B000001EW3/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b)


Source: Billboard (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/april-12-2009-1003959819.story)

[shaniafan339]

Thanks :)

[ravshania]

this persons "story" is a "tale" :biglaugh:

:biglaugh:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Can't believe it's been 10 years already! :shocked:
Time sure does fly!!!

[ravshania]

Can't believe it's been 10 years already! :shocked:
Time sure does fly!!!

let me try...if i cn fly...

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/sunnymun/smiley-vault-misc-076.gif

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[tonyme]

A huge honor :)

[Troll]

let me try...if i cn fly...

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/sunnymun/smiley-vault-misc-076.gif

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

Nice smiley.

[shaniafan339]

let me try...if i cn fly...

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t342/sunnymun/smiley-vault-misc-076.gif

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

:funny: That's cute Ravs!!! :p

[ravshania]

:funny: That's cute Ravs!!! :p

:funny:...:p

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Rami]

Thanks for these :)

[Tammy]

It has been 10 years :D Im so proud of her!

[shaniafan339]

Yeah, I'm very proud of her too :love:

[ravshania]

proud 2 b Shania fan...:love:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[uniquestar]

:nod:

[shaniafan339]

Me too, I'm so proud to be a Shania Fan!!! :love:

[ravshania]

nthn els mks me so proud...:]

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

I agree :)

[ravshania]

:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[dreamer]

me three:]

[Reenee]

Me four!:boogie:

[Tammy]

Proud to be a shania fan till I die :]

[dreamer]

:nod: and she is needed more then ever

[Tammy]

Oh, definetly! But i can still wait :cry:

[dreamer]

we all will if we are forced to but I'm hoping for a cd in JUNE

[Essa]

June would be good, Misty. Of course May would be better, but I think we'd have heard something by now if it was May. Sigh. Just keep hoping it comes before the end of the year.

[shaniafan339]

I hoping for a May release still.. :)

[ravshania]

Proud to be a shania fan till I die :]

proud 2 b a Shania fan evn aftr i die...:faint:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Yup! There will be Shania music at my funeral :p

[ravshania]

Yup! There will be Shania music at my funeral :p

ya...$ evry1 ll sing..."God Bles d Child..."...:funny:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:p Good One ;)

[ravshania]

$ in my Funrel...Shania ll sing...

"...u'r Stil d 1..."

:p

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:music:

:boogie:

:p

[ravshania]

i mit wk UP 4m Death Bed...if Shania strt singn...sittn in frnt of my dead bdy...:eek:...

:biglaugh:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:biglaugh:

You were faking your death just to meet Shania :p

[ravshania]

No...i mean Shania hs so mch of pwr in hr singn...dat evn if i m dead...i mit cm bak 2 lif...:eek:...

(ppl ll strt runn here $ der thinkn dat...Ghost hs awak...)...:biglaugh:...

i dd do n e thn 4 Shania :kiss:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Oooh I get it :p

[ravshania]

bt i hvnt gv u n e thn yt...:p

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Oh boy... I'm getting a present :p:biglaugh:

[ravshania]

gud wy 2 ask 4 presnt...:biglaugh:

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[shaniafan339]

I got something for you Ravs... :)

Here ----> :hugs::hugs:

[ravshania]

I got something for you Ravs... :)

Here ----> :hugs::hugs:

awww...u so sweet...:hugs:

heres 4 u J'lo...wit intrst...:p

:hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs:

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:D :D :D

:hugs:

[ravshania]

:p

:hugs:

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[tonyme]

June would be good, Misty. Of course May would be better, but I think we'd have heard something by now if it was May. Sigh. Just keep hoping it comes before the end of the year.
We have to hear soon if it's gonna come by the end of the year, but then again it could be a surprise release, and maybe UMG will announce like 2 months in advance, who knows

[FinnFreak]

The spring sun seems to have seriously messed up the youngsters hormonal balance, I see by the looks of the last two pages in this thread... heh.


John - :p

[tonyme]

All we see is hugging :p

[uniquestar]

Yup! There will be Shania music at my funeral :p

:funny: me too!

[ravshania]

All we see is hugging :p

its fre...:p

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Reenee]

Ravie is the best hugger!!!:hugs:

[shaniafan339]

Free hugs for all :hugs::hugs:

[shaniafan339]

We have to hear soon if it's gonna come by the end of the year, but then again it could be a surprise release, and maybe UMG will announce like 2 months in advance, who knows

It's so unpredictable right now...

[ravshania]

Ravie is the best hugger!!!:hugs:

dis is 4 u Renzie...:hugs:...:hugs:...:hugs:...:love:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Rami]

Yeah I just hope it comes soon :(

[ravshania]

It's so unpredictable right now...

bt hp soon...:bow:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[tonyme]

It's been so long.

[Essa]

Been too long.

[Reenee]

dis is 4 u Renzie...:hugs:...:hugs:...:hugs:...:love:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

Thank you Ravie:hugs::hugs::hugs: :love:

[shaniafan339]

Gotta spread the love!!! :hugs::hugs::hugs:

[shaniafan339]

Yeah I just hope it comes soon :(

bt hp soon...:bow:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

I hope so too!!! :)

[ravshania]

Thank you Ravie:hugs::hugs::hugs: :love:

thnk u Renzie...:hugs:...:love:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[ravshania]

Gotta spread the love!!! :hugs::hugs::hugs:

spreadn dat d'seas is gud...:D

:hugs:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Yup, Very Good!!! :hugs:

[ravshania]

:hugs:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:) .. :hugs:

[dreamer]

I hope so too!!! :)

me too

[ravshania]

ys...:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[FinnFreak]

CMT - April 22nd, 2009


Producer Dann Huff:
The Man Behind the Hits

http://www.cmt.com/sitewide/assets/img/news/2009/04_09/dann_huff/dann_huff-210x280.jpg


By Alison Bonaguro


Does Dann Huff have some kind of magic fairy dust he’s sprinkling on country albums? Or is he just so good at what he does that he can hit the top spot on the Billboard’s country albums chart three weeks in a row?

There’s no dust. Maybe just a little blood, sweat and tears, though. This highly-regarded Nashville nice guy produced the all three of the last No. 1 albums: Martina McBride’s Shine, Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity and Rascal Flatts‘ Unstoppable.

This from a man who didn’t even listen to country music when he was growing up in Nashville. His circuitous career path led him out of Nashville to Los Angeles, through years as a session guitarist for rock bands to eventually playing on a Shania Twain album. It was Twain’s producer (and then husband) Mutt Lange who told Huff, “You are a producer in guitarist’s clothes.” He was flattered but didn’t know where to start until Lange recommended Huff to Faith Hill. “At that time, I had just hooked up with Megadeth, but I was able to work with Faith, too,” he says.

As for his current winning streak, Huff told me, “There was no secret methodology in doing this stuff. But I did lose a lot of sleep. I just didn’t see how I could get my head around them all and do it well.” But he does admit to one trade secret: He tries to be transparent enough so that the talent of artist comes through. That’s a trick he picked up as a session player, because it requires that you embrace the change of musical styles as opposed to resisting that change.

He doesn’t play favorites, though. When I asked him to give me his own personal No. 1 off each album, he said, “Every song was my favorite song.” And with that, our conversation had to come to an end, because Lee Ann Womack had just pulled into his driveway. Could her next album be another No. 1 debut? If Huff’s at the helm, I have no doubt.


http://blog.cmt.com/2009-04-22/producer-dann-huff-the-man-behind-the-hits/



His old band was pretty HUGE:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/Giant_last_of_the_runaways.jpg/200px-Giant_last_of_the_runaways.jpg

Last of the Runaways (1989)

An absolute gem of an album.


John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks John

[Tammy]

cool thanks for that

[tonyme]

Very cool! Finally this thread is back on topic

[FinnFreak]

TIME - Thursday, Apr. 23, 2009


10 Questions for Taylor Swift


http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2009/0904/a_br10q_0504.jpg


By TAYLOR SWIFT


How long does it take you to write a song? Stacey Klemstein JOHNSBURG, ILL.

Most of the time, songs that I write end up being finished in 30 minutes or less. "Love Story" I wrote on my bedroom floor in about 20 minutes. When I get on a roll with something, it's really hard for me to put it down unfinished.

What's the story behind "Love Story"? Madison Parker PORTLAND, ORE.

"Love Story" is actually about a guy that I almost dated. But when I introduced him to my family and my friends, they all said they didn't like him. All of them! For the first time, I could relate to that Romeo-and-Juliet situation where the only people who wanted them to be together were them. That's the most romantic song I've written, and it's not even about a person I really dated.

How do you manage to appear so genuinely happy when, according to your songs, you've suffered so much heartbreak? Amelia Walker, LONDON

I have ways of channeling the heartbreak. Also, it's been a really awesome year. I get so excited when a song I wrote that's very personal to me goes No. 1 and I look down and see people singing the words back to me. That makes me so much happier than anything could ever bring me down.

Who's your biggest musical influence? Morgan Phelps LEICESTER, ENGLAND

Shania Twain. She came out, and she was just so strong and so independent and wrote all her own songs. That meant so much to me, even as a 10-year-old. Just knowing that the stories she was telling in those songs--those were her stories.

I grew up listening to heavy metal and rock, yet I find your songs really catchy. What sort of music do you listen to? Vinaya Lal Shrestha KATHMANDU, NEPAL

I've always loved Def Leppard, ever since I was little. I got to do a TV concert called CMT Crossroads with them, where they pair up a country artist with legends in rock 'n' roll. I was singing Def Leppard songs, and they were singing my songs. It was just a complete out-of-body experience.

What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters? Milo Victor, MANILA

Write your songs not for a demographic or for getting on the radio. Write your songs for the person you're writing that song about. When I sit down, I say to myself, "O.K., who is this about? What would I say to him right now if I could?"

You have so many unrecorded covers floating around on YouTube. Do you think you'll ever make an album of just covers? Catherine Hearit KALAMAZOO, MICH.

I don't think I'd ever make an album of just covers because I love writing my own music. In concert, I love doing pop covers like Beyoncé or Rihanna--things that people wouldn't expect. But I usually try to cycle them through every couple of months, because if I didn't write it, it's easier for me to get tired singing it live.

Do you think you have influenced the younger generation to appreciate country more? Stefanie Yeung CHADDS FORD, PA.

So many girls come up and say to me, "I have never listened to country music in my life. I didn't even know my town had a country-music station. Then I got your record, and now I'm obsessed." That's the coolest compliment to me.

What other artists would you like to do a duet with? Earl S. Worthington, CHICAGO

I would like to do a duet with Taylor Hanson, because I have loved Hanson since I was 8. And Taylor Hanson has an amazing voice. And also we're both named Taylor.

Do you think it's right for people to pay so much attention to the personal lives of entertainers? Sara Makaretz YARMOUTH, MAINE

I feel like people paying attention to your personal life when you're in this position is sort of a given. There's nothing that I can say to make it stop. I don't live in L.A. I live in Nashville. The paparazzi do not know where Nashville is, so I sort of have a normal life when I'm home.


VIDEO AT TIME.COM To watch a video interview with Taylor Swift and to subscribe to the 10 Questions podcast on iTunes, go to time.com/10questions


http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1893502,00.html



John - ;)

[tonyme]

We love Taylor! :love:

[Steve F]

Do you think it's right for people to pay so much attention to the personal lives of entertainers? Sara Makaretz YARMOUTH, MAINE

I feel like people paying attention to your personal life when you're in this position is sort of a given. There's nothing that I can say to make it stop. I don't live in L.A. I live in Nashville. The paparazzi do not know where Nashville is, so I sort of have a normal life when I'm home.


Awesome!!!

Sara lives only about 30 miles south of me.;)


Steve

[shaniafan339]

YAY TAYLOR!!!! :love: She's got GREAT taste in Music :bounce:

[Troll]

Very awesome

[dreamer]

cool thanks

[ravshania]

thnx 4 d info pal...:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Yeah, thanks for that ;)

[uniquestar]

That's great! :cool:

[FinnFreak]

Business Wire (press release) - ‎April 29, 2009 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time


SanDisk Releases Four New slotRadio Cards for Fans of Rock, Country, Hip Hop/R&B and Oldies

Starting at $39.99, Genre-Specific Billboard® Cards Give Consumers Effortless Access to the Music They Love Most


MILPITAS, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards, today announced that four new 1,000-song, genre-specific slotRadio™ cards are available for sale at slotRadio.org. The new slotRadio cards (starting at $39.99 MSRP, U.S.) give consumers instant access to some of their favorite styles of music, including Rock, Country, Oldies and Hip Hop/R&B. Each card contains several hand-crafted playlists featuring songs from Billboard’s top charting artists. Designed to be paired with the Sansa® slotRadio™ player, the plug-and-play music cards deliver true music enjoyment.

“These new genre-specific slotRadio cards give consumers the music they want in an instantly accessible manner at unprecedented value,” said Noam Kedem, vice president, product management, SanDisk. “It only takes a few seconds to swap a slotRadio card with 1,000 new songs into a slotRadio player. This is the fastest, easiest and most affordable way for consumers to enjoy the music they love. It’s great music, made effortless.”


Billboard Rock

The Billboard Rock card includes Classic, Hard and Modern Rock hits from some of the biggest artists, including Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Santana, System of a Down and The Who. Songs are organized into playlists by decade, theme and mood, creating perfect soundtracks for working out, chilling out and everything in between.


Billboard Country

With music from both legends and today’s hottest stars, the Billboard Country card features love songs, Country Belles, and road trip favorites including class acts such as Johnny Cash, George Strait, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Hank Williams, Jr.


Billboard Oldies

The Billboard Oldies card is sure to stir up nostalgic memories of sock hops and jukeboxes at the five and dime with love ballads, Pop, R&B, Motor City and Rock inspired playlists that include songs from The Beach Boys, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elvis Presley, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Temptations and more.


Billboard Hip Hop/R&B

Artists as diverse as Akon, Snoop Dogg, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and TLC are brought together on the Billboard Hip Hop/R&B card in themed playlists that cover every mood and tempo from relaxing old school R&B classics, love jams and ballads to current beat-driven Hip Hop hits.

The Sansa slotRadio player ($99.99 MSRP) is a small, stylish, portable device that plays music directly from pre-loaded slotRadio cards, eliminating the hassle of software installations, time-consuming music selection and file-by-file downloading. The player comes bundled with a 1,000-song, multi-genre card that can quickly be popped out and replaced with a new card catering to a specific taste in music.

While songs cannot be rewound or copied from the cards, users can easily navigate between the playlists and skip forward from song-to-song at the press of a button.

These first four new slotRadio cards are available at slotRadio.org beginning today and will soon also be sold at RadioShack® stores nationwide. Additional themed and genre-specific slotRadio cards are also expected to debut on slotRadio.org in the near future. The slotRadio cards work in any slotRadio player and are now also compatible with the Sansa® Fuze™ MP3 player.

The Sansa slotRadio player is a die-cast aluminum player that also features a 1.5” OLED screen for viewing artist and song information, an FM radio and even an integrated belt clip for hands-free listening.

The Sansa slotRadio Player and slotRadio cards expand SanDisk’s Sansa audio/video product family, which includes the slotMusic™ player and album cards for avid fans, the popular Sansa Fuze™ and the small Sansa® Clip.

For more information on slotRadio, visit www.slotRadio.org.


About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory – from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk’s product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.

SanDisk’s web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com

SanDisk’s product and executive images can be downloaded from http://www.sandisk.com/corporate/mediakit

SanDisk, the SanDisk logo and Sansa are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. slotRadio is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. slotMusic is licensed by SLOTmedia Group LLC. The microSD mark and logo are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s).

slotRadio™ cards contain 1000 songs pre-programmed in music playlists for unlimited playback with slotRadio-compatible devices only. Visit slotRadio.org for slotRadio compatible devices. Much like radio, these songs are played in sequence and cannot be rewound or rearranged, yet in slotRadio™, individual songs can be skipped as often as you want. Song and playlist files cannot be copied or viewed (for example on a PC).

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for new product introductions, applications, markets, and customers that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: there may be a slower adoption rate for these products in new markets that we are targeting or market demand for these products may grow more slowly than our expectations, these products and accessories may not perform as expected, may not be available at the prices, in the regions, in the capacities or at the time expected, and the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.


Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5951677&lang=en

Contacts

Lyman PR for SanDisk
Carm Lyman, 707-256-3834
carm@lymanpr.com


Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20090429005426/en



John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[tonyme]

Oh that's great! Thanks!

[Tammy]

Cool! thanks for that!

[Rami]

Thanks for that John!

[shaniafan339]

Cool, Thanks! :)

[ravshania]

thnx Jhn...;)

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[theTWAINfan]

Not sure if this has ever been posted, but I think it's quite funny. A German radio station asked listeners to call in and talk about songs in which they understood German words in English songs. One listener called in and talked about Shania's That Don't Impress Me Much. In the line "who likes to shine his machine" he always understood "Scheißmaschin'" - "**** machine".

[dreamer]

haha

[tonyme]

OMG :funny:

[FinnFreak]

BCLocalNews - Richmond Review - May 06, 2009


Derek Edwards doesn't go far for funnyman pursuits


By Matthew Hoekstra


A good comic knows how to poke fun at the ordinary stuff.

Like the selective doughnut customer, the wife who counts her partner's beers and the poor schmuck who rear-ended Mike Tyson's car.

Derek Edwards, a 20-year comedian and 12-year veteran of Montreal's famous Just for Laughs Festival, proved his wheelhouse is delving into the oddities of everyday situations in front of a full house at Gateway Theatre Saturday, May 2.

Edwards still has it: the jokes, the delivery and a nice-guy personality that came through after giving a hard time to a woman admitting she owned wind chimes.

He said being from Shania Twain's hometown of Timmins is like being the second most popular guy from Bethlehem. That rural background didn't prepare him for high-end hotel service here that started with a knock on his door.

"I'm here to turn down your bed," the voice said.

"I just got the volume to where I like it," he replied. "I assumed she had to be kidding."

Arriving in Richmond at the tail end of his B.C. tour, Edwards noted a few B.C. road signs, like "Watch for livestock."

"That's some irresponsible farming," he said of merging cows. "I must have gotten into India somehow, and I was coming from Vernon. I don't even remember a bridge."

And the sign "Maximum 50 km/h when children on highway."

"In other areas of the world, we stop," he said. "I have much to learn about B.C."

In his hotel, he noted a brochure of B.C. encouraging him to ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon and fish in the evening.

"I'd be tired just packing the car."


http://www.bclocalnews.com/entertainment/44497952.html



John - :p

[shaniafan339]

Thanks :p

[tonyme]

LOL Thanks

[dreamer]

thanks

[Troll]

Nice one John

[malshania]

i always love this thread :D

thanks for the new articles ;)

[ravshania]

Thnx...:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Rami]

Thanks for these :)

[shaniafan339]

Can't wait to see what's found next :p

[ravshania]

ys...:funny:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

:boogie:

[ravshania]

:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Troll]

While Ms. Malciw obviously has the good looks, (she's a former Miss Northern Ontario), her video displays both a professional bearing and a charming, self-deprecating wit that make her a strong candidate for the host job.

As well, the host position is pretty well her dream job. "I love country music and this combines the music with what I went to school for."

Born in Kirkland Lake, Ms. Malciw's growing passion for country music was fuelled by Shania Twain, the girl from Timmins who went on to super stardom.

"I felt she was my neighbour," says Ms. Malciw, "a small-town northern girl who made good."

Now residing in Orangeville, where she has family and works as a server at TJ's Hangar, she sees the genre of country as the one "that can truly tell a story. No other genre hits your soul like country music."
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009/0521/local_news/024.html

[shaniafan339]

Thanks for that :D:D

[dreamer]

cool

[tonyme]

Thanks for that, and she's right!

[shaniafan339]

She sure is!!! :)

[FinnFreak]

Examiner.com - May 26, 2009


Shania Twain & German Shepherds – no coincidence!


http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/GW237H180.jpg


By T.G. Williams, Manchester Dogs Examiner


Hey everybody! It’s me, Taffy.

It’s always interesting to me to know how people – and dogs – got their names.

Take me, for instance. My name is Taffy, because when my Mom tried to think of a name for me when I first came home from the shelter, the first thing she thought of was that my colors were the color of candy – “salt water taffy.” It took me all my life to figure out what that actually meant, and I never really did – until I came to be with God and He helped me figure out the answers to my biggest questions (yea, God!)

My name, although I really didn’t get it for any “special” reason, turned out to be a very special name – one that my Mom & Dad and my best friends could turn into anything they wanted.

Like when I would run away, my Mom would softly say “TAFFY-o, where are you? Of course my Dad just had to be different, so he would call “Taffy-O, where are you?” (see the difference?) Then my best friends Hala (pronounced “HAY-la) and Jim, who took care of me when Dad had to go away, shortened my name to “Miss T” – because they always thought I was such a “princess” who had to have things exactly the way I wanted (they were kind of right about that).

But my favorite “how-did-your-dog-get-its-name” story is from my Dad’s sister – my “Aunt Lisa.” She is the biggest animal lover I ever knew, and her favorite dogs are German Shepherds.

Well – one time she brought a Shepherd home, and at the time, her husband just happened to have a “secret love” (not really, but you know what I mean, right?) It was some famous woman named Shania Twain who is famous for singing songs on all the annoying people noise boxes that I wish you didn’t have (we have sensitive hearing, people!)… Anyway – Shania Twain is very pretty. But Aunt Lisa’s husband didn’t know how to say her name. He pronounced it “Sha-NEE-ya,” NOT “Sha-NY-ya.” Aunt Lisa said, “no, no you silly boy, it’s NOT “Sha-NEE-ya” – it’s Sha-NY-ya!” But he just wouldn’t listen.

So – after thinking about it for a bit, Aunt Lisa named her new dog “Sha-NEE-ya” – which – if you think about it – is kind of a pretty sounding name! (NOT quite as good as “Taffy” – but I give it a good rating…)

And – as my Dad always says – in this world there are no coincidences. Because guess what kind of dog was Shania Twain’s absolute favorite?

German shepherds! And HER German Shepherd (see the picture) was named “Tim,” named after the town where she grew up – “Timmins.”

So wanna start an interesting conversation with someone you’d like to get to know better? Ask them if they have a dog, and if they say yes, ask them its name, and when they tell you, ask them how the dog got such a cute name!

(By the way, guys – my Dad says if you ask a pretty girl all these questions, you’ve got much, much more than just a simple “pick-up line.” I have NO idea what this means, but since it’s about pretty girls, I’m not surprised it came from my Dad!)

Write to Taffy with the story of how YOUR dog got its name @ tgwilliams@ymail.com

http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Examinerdotcom3_Taffyreduced(14).jpg

Taffy, a Border Collie Mix rescued from a Florida shelter, lived with her Dad, T. “Gary” Williams, for 9½ years, and was a miracle from God every day of her life. Now, her spirit is the inspiration for this column – “What Do Dogs Really Know?” – about the miracles that dogs do every day…


http://www.examiner.com/x-3117-Manchester-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m5d26-Shania-Twain--German-Shepherds--no-coincidence



John - ;)

[Troll]

That is interesting

[FinnFreak]

The Huffington Post - May 25, 2009


Miss Texas USA: What Really Happens at Pageants


By Krystle Russin


"Who is the most influential Texan in history?"

"Matthew McConaughey. He has funny movies and teaches us a lot about fitness."

A contestant in front of me during the preliminary interview at Miss Texas USA actually gave that response. She gained her brilliance from experience as a former Miss Teen Texas USA, the answer earning her a spot in the Top 15 on pageant night. No offense to my fellow Longhorn University of Texas alumnus -- he is a successful man with his own production company who will make any business think twice about a "no shirt, no shoes" policy -- but I doubt Fool's Gold will ever hold a candle to anything we remember throughout history about Sam Houston.

Now that the wind is dying down since the Miss California vs. Perez Hilton fiasco, I wonder when pageantry will stay where it belongs: the last century. I know you're going to ask, why then, did you enter a pageant yourself? I entered Miss Texas USA for the same reason high school guys ask girls out to the prom: to put another notch in my belt. I want to say I have done everything humanly possible we consider accomplishments, whatever that means in today's society, and having seen that a girl in Illinois earned speaking engagements before she ever even won Miss Illinois (and later Miss America), it seemed like a good idea at the time.

The pageant was good times, all right. I learned valuable information from eavesdropping in conversations among the over 100 contestants, things like the secret to losing weight in a weekend flush is Mexican laxatives you must buy online or across the border. If you spit out a pizza slice in a trash can after each bite you won't gain weight. Who cares if it looks really gross to onlookers? You're saving 500 calories! I also learned how restrooms smell after a load of girls vomit after catering or that if anyone sees you taking allergy medicine in public (me and my Benadryl) or ordering a fruity beverage at the bar as opposed to water (me and my pineapple juice fetish), you will be accused the rest of the week of having a severe drug addiction and possibly be on your way to the Promises facility in California. Seriously. If it weren't illegal to gun down fellow contestants in the alley, these women would do it.

There was a pageant book with each contestant's photo and title inside, and each time someone asked me, "Have you met this person?" I literally had no idea. None of the girls resembled their airbrushed photos whatsoever. Even more shocking was their attitudes. I don't know about other pageants, but Miss Texas USA gives you "celebrity" treatment for a week: a police-escorted motorcade, security, catering, press coverage and so on. The girls, who in their day jobs work part-time selling makeup at department stores and attend one or two classes per semester -- hey now, giving up any aspects of a social life, career or education for a one in 125 chance of being crowned Miss Texas and doing that each year takes patience and hard work! -- all of a sudden turn into Mariah Carey. That's all good and fine for Ms. Carey, a seven-octave Grammy winner. For unknown Miss Texas contestants to act disrespectful toward maids, waiters, and anyone "below" them behind chaperones' backs is not. I recall a very nice lady who was a maid, a teacher who worked to supplement her income in the summer at the hotel in Laredo, telling me how girls would cuss her out to "hurry the **** up" and so on, and another girl left human waste in a toilet, telling her it was her job as a maid to clean it.

The attitude spread to their boyfriends, who bragged to friends back home that they were visiting Laredo in support of their girlfriends, Miss Texas Contestants. It's like holding up a trophy to the frat dudes that you bagged a pageant bimbo hottie. Never mind that all it really takes to arrive at the state pageant was either winning a city-wide contest or paying the entrance fee to bypass that right to Miss Texas USA (me). That's right, people. You can buy your way to a pageant, and suddenly, people will consider you "one of the most beautiful women in Texas." I should additionally mention that after curfew hours, boyfriends and alcohol were frequent guests at contestant hotel rooms and many girls recited historical facts about what it takes to win a pageant, knowledge learned from the pageant staple known as The Miss Universe Guide to Beauty. They could name state, local, national and international titleholders dating back to the 1970s.

Yes, the brilliance was apparent among the Miss Texas USA crowd. I remember an Asian girl from Houston asking me once when I was speaking Spanish with some restaurant staff, "Why are you like, speaking Spanish? Why are you white?" Actually, I'm part Hispanic, learned Spanish at school, and yes, I am really white looking thanks to that Irish/Eastern European side. But yeah, genetics never crossed her mind, or the fact that a lot of white people in Texas speak Spanish anyway. The fact that she was a minority herself asking that question makes all of it seem more ignorant.

When the Miss California organization created a huge buzz over reigning queen Carrie Prejean's breast implants, I wondered why anyone cared. Half of the Miss Texas contestants had breast implants with nose jobs and arched Botox brows (not kidding) to match. Girls selling jewelry at teenybopper stores like Claire's in rural towns have plastic surgery. Do you dare to tell me the current Miss Universe hailing from Venezuela is all natural, as well as the queens over the last decade, because I have seen Miss Universe 2008 Riyo Mori in person -- a "natural" Japanese woman -- and she looks like an Asian woman with Westernized facial features about to fall over forward from the weight of her chest.

I don't want to imply that all the girls in this experience were psychotic sociopaths with axes under their sparkled dresses. There was a decent amount of nice girls. They were funny and smart, beautiful, really interesting individuals proud of who they were inside out with hobbies to boot. Some were dance instructors, graduating college and NFL/basketball cheerleaders. That's why they were just left out of the "cool" cliques that have been involved in pageants since they were babies, girls who entered a pageant maybe this being their second time tops, who wow! Entered the pageant "for fun." Who does that? You're in this to ***** slap girls to the death until you earn that crown!

Having Miss Texas USA on my resume is pretty interesting. First, it causes people to remember who I am. Second, people forget and when speaking with me, ask me about what it was like to be first runner-up at the pageant or a former Miss Texas USA. If that's the case, there isn't a point to winning the pageant when people won't remember anyway, right? Third, and this is the best part, there is a notion that beauty pageant women, especially those in the world-renowned Miss Texas USA, are gorgeous creatures in the vein of Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. It's considered adequate experience for modeling and television and ask yourself, how many people on the street remember Miss Texas USA's name or who won Miss USA three years ago? I would rather rank among Miss Texas USA's famous "ugly losers," like Eva Longoria Parker and Farrah Faucett. Whoever picked on Ms. Longoria at that year's pageant is probably at home barbecuing yesterday's potroast for her 85 children while she landed on Maxim's hottest women list.

I don't know how much longer pageantry will last in this country. You would think by now with Playboy and women in bikinis everywhere that men could care less about watching girls in granny panties-sized swimwear prance across a stage to win a contest that's rigged, predetermined a week in advance, a contest the real people don't even get to vote in. What is the appeal? Miss America has already been reduced to a retirement community worth of viewers on an ever-changing cable network. Really, CMT must have given TLC a load of kickbacks to have it, saying, "Take this trash! We could get more viewers if we played ten year old Shania Twain music videos followed by Hee Haw reruns!" Worse, Miss USA and Miss Universe are "no talent required" competitions -- quite obvious if you ever meet any of the talentless, brainless contestants -- so you can't claim people watch them for the great singing.

In the future, next time there is a vague statement balling into a massive political discussion, let's not take gay rights advocacy from a formerly pink-haired celebrity blogger who became famous for drawing semen on people's photos or hear the opposing side from a bikini-clad pageant girl each seeking their extended 15 minutes of cable news fame. Yes, she's beautiful and will probably be a leading actress, his blog is a guilty pleasure even I have read every so often, but Harvey Milk would roll over in his grave if he knew the day we finally made gay rights a public matter, it would be between those two people.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/krystle-russin/miss-texas-usa-what-ireal_b_207332.html



John - :p

[tonyme]

Thanks for that :p

[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[shaniafan339]

Thanks for the articles ;)

[Robby]

Country Universe

Tradition: Chain of Strength or Chain of Restraint?
by Dan Milliken

May 27, 2009

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 2009 International Country Music Conference, conveniently held at a building on my college campus. The three-day event made for quite a mind-feast - so much so, actually, that it’s taking me longer than I had hoped to sort through all my notes and compose a post to do the thing justice. So that’ll be coming through the pipeline sometime within the next few days.

In the meantime, though, one issue raised during the event has really stuck out in my mind, and I thought I’d give it a spin and maybe throw out a taste of what’s to come in the full coverage.

Here’s what happened: in a discussion on Waylon Jennings’ career attitude during his peak Outlaw years, someone mentioned that his label disliked the way he seemed to view himself as a musical descendant of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams (see “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”), as if his only role as a recording artist was to serve as a link in those artists’ musical “chain.” The speaker speculated that this sort of “big picture” attitude toward one’s art would probably worry many labels, simply because it directs the public’s focus away from an artist’s individual “star.”

That struck me as eerily relevant to today’s scene, where it’s become much less simple to hypothesize about which artists the big stars have “descended” from - and heck, which genres, in many cases. Today, more than I’ve yet witnessed in my young life, there seems to be much greater emphasis on building up an artist’s individual importance, rather than carrying a certain “flag.” Concerts are getting bigger and more histrionic; the CMA telecast books any act who might help ratings and basically snubs Hall of Fame inductees; and of course, most shout-outs to country legends of yore by today’s artists are usually just shallow attempts to build cred. The mainstream seems to have spoken its bit loud and clear: progress must be pursued, and no need for guidance from the past, thank you very much.

Of course, is that mentality necessarily a bad thing? Some acts have used it to impressive effect. Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, for example, always seemed more interested in blazing new trails for mainstream country music than in following old ones, and they reaped huge dividends with that approach - certainly monetary ones, and perhaps artistic ones, too, depending on your opinion of them.

But was it all truly unique, or just not acknowledged as derivative of something else? And either way, what impact does that kind of approach have on country music as a whole? Is it better, worse, or just different than the traditional “I’m the next in the line of…” way of thinking? Is one really more marketable than the other?

I guess if I had to boil it all down to one question, it would be: what are your thoughts on the role and treatments of tradition in today’s country music?


Share and Enjoy:


Category: Conversations
Tags: Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Waylon Jennings

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/05/27/tradition-chain-of-strength-or-chain-of-restraint/

[tonyme]

Thanks! :up:

[Troll]

Interesting article

[dreamer]

I'm not sure if that was a complement or not ???

[shaniafan339]

Thanks ;)

[Brit_girlAmanda]

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/...ix,842215.shtml

Coty Inc. Takes Home Six Awards From The 37th Annual FiFi(R) Awards

NEW YORK, May 29 NY-CotyInc.FiFi-Award

McGraw by Tim McGraw, Harajuku Lovers and Chloe All Named Fragrance of the Year Winners

NEW YORK, May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Coty Inc., a leader in global beauty and the world's largest fragrance company, took home six prestigious fragrance industry awards, the most awarded to a single company at The Fragrance Foundation's 37th annual FiFi Awards held in New York City on May 27th. Coty's winning fragrances were:

Fragrance of the Year - Women's Luxe: Harajuku Lovers Fragrance: Love, Lil' Angel, Music, Baby, "G", Coty PrestigeFragrance of the Year - Men's Popular Appeal: McGraw by Tim McGraw, Coty BeautyFragrance of the Year - Women's Nouveau Niche: Chloe Eau de Parfum, Coty PrestigeFragrance Hall of Fame (tie) - Davidoff Cool Water, Coty Prestige Best Packaging of the Year - Women's Prestige(tie): Harajuku Lovers Fragrance: Love, Lil' Angel, Music, Baby, "G", Coty Prestige Best Packaging of the Year - Men's Popular Appeal: McGraw by Tim McGraw, Coty Beauty

"This year's FiFi Awards was a phenomenal night for Coty. It is both an honor and a privilege to receive six awards, and have nine Coty fragrances nominated by The Fragrance Foundation," said Bernd Beetz, CEO of Coty Inc. "Receiving this high honor from the Foundation validates why we are so passionate about our work and confirms Coty's position as a beauty leader and as the world's largest fragrance company."

At the awards ceremony, The Fragrance Foundation also honored Coty partner Marc Jacobs with the prestigious Hall of Fame Award. Coty and Marc Jacobs have premiered several must-have fragrances including Daisy Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs Splash. Moreover, Daisy Marc Jacobs was named the 2008 Fragrance of the Year Women's Luxe.

"Marc Jacobs is incredibly deserving of his induction into The Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Hall of Fame," said Beetz. "An icon in the fashion and beauty industry, Marc is an inspiration and we look forward to continuing and growing our prosperous partnership."

In the technological breakthrough category, Mane USA took home the 2009 award for their Aquafine technology. This water-based fragrance technology played a large role in Coty's Nautica Oceans fragrance, which is water-based and eco-friendly.

"I am extremely proud to be CEO of Coty and extend my endless gratitude to the hard work and dedication of the Coty family" added Beetz.

For complete information on the FiFi award winning fragrances and all Coty product lines, please visit www.coty.com

About Coty Inc.
Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry.

Today, Coty Inc. is the world's largest fragrance company and a recognized leader in global beauty with annual net sales of $4 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation, and creativity, Coty Inc., has developed an unrivaled portfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products to consumers in 90 markets worldwide.

The Coty Prestige brand portfolio is distributed in prestige and ultra-prestige stores, and includes Baby Phat, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Chopard, Davidoff, Home Skin Lab, Jennifer Lopez, Jette Joop, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, L.A.M.B. fragrance by Gwen Stefani, La Voce by Renee Fleming, Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Nautica, Nikos, Phat Farm, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Wolfgang Joop.

The Coty Beauty brand portfolio is more widely distributed and includes adidas, Astor, Celine Dion, Chupa Chups, David and Victoria Beckham, Esprit, Exclamation, Faith Hill, Halle Berry, Jovan, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, La Cross, Miss Sixty, Miss Sporty, N.Y.C. New York Color, Pierre Cardin(1), Playboy, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, Shania Twain, Stetson, Tim McGraw and Tonino Lamborghini.

Coty and Puig Fashion and Beauty S.A. have a strategic partnership for the distribution of the perfume lines of Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera, Prada, Paco Rabanne, and Antonio Banderas in the United States and Canada.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

[shaniafan339]

Cool, Thanks!! :)

[Robby]

Country Standard Time


Artist of the Decade: Who's Next?

Mike Sudhalter | June 3, 2009



The year is 2019. And everyone's here tonight for the Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade presentation in Nashville. Even President Sarah Palin came out to watch the show.

They had to push the event back one night because the Nashville Predators had just defeated the New York Rangers to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup. Can you believe it? Hockey trumping the ACMs in Music City?

So, anyone who's anyone in country music has come out to the Gaylord Arena to celebrate seeing 29-year-old Taylor Swift accept her Artist of The Decade award from George Strait, who's still performing at age 67.

Swift and her husband, Joe Jonas, smile as Strait and his wife, Norma, congratulate them on the accomplishment.

Then, Strait performs an excellent cover version of Swift's "Picture To Burn" as part of the tribute concert.

OK, all of that could happen except for the very last part.

But the question begs to be asked - Who will be the Artist of the Decade in 2019?

Few could have predicted Strait would have won it for the 2000s; towards the late 80's, he was probably a strong candidate for the 90's until Garth Brooks blew into Nashville with a sound that combined country, pop and rock.

With artists like Shania Twain and Faith Hill dominating the charts in 1999, country was veering towards pop. Although fiddles and steel guitar are hardly the norm on today's country airwaves, I'd venture to see the genre is in a better place today - than 10 years ago.

Brooks debuted in 1989 and dominated the 1990's.

Strait probably could have won the award in the 1980's, but it was given to country supergroup, Alabama. The 'Bama Boys had been playing clubs throughout the late 60's and early 70's, but they hadn't really hit the charts until 1980.

Loretta Lynn debuted in 1960 and won the 1970's, and Marty Robbins debuted in the 1948 and won the 1960's; the ACM was founded in 1964.

I wonder if the ACM has made the Artist of the Decade more of a lifetime achievement award. Strait didn't win Entertainer of the Year or Male Vocalist of the Year at any point during the 2000 decade. He's won Entertainer just once (1989), but claimed Male Vocalist awards in 1984, 1985, 1988, 1996 and 1997.

Brooks, by contrast, won Entertainer of the Year six times in the 90's and male vocalist, twice. Alabama won Entertainer five times in the 80's, and Lynn had one Entertainer and three female vocalists, in the 70's. Robbins was the only artist not to win a vocalist of the year award and still win artist of the decade; the ACM didn't start an Entertainer of the Year award until 1970 when Merle Haggard won it.

You'd think - based on the award winners of the decade - that four-time Entertainer winner Kenny Chesney should win the award going away. But this was a good opportunity for Nashville to honor Strait. And I'm glad they did. I don't think an hour special of hearing Ronnie Dunn covering "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem" or Taylor Swift singing, "Young", would quite draw the ratings CBS is looking for.

But looking towards next decade, who will the winner be, let me know what you think?

Will it be an artist that's established right now or someone who hasn't hit the scene yet?

I'd say the smart money is on Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts or possibly, Swift.

But it would be nice if Jamey Johnson or even the consistently amazing, Mr. Strait, could pull off the upset in '19.

:: Posted at 1:06 AM by Mike Sudhalter ::

http://www.countrystandardtime.com/blog/countrymike/entry.asp?xid=360

[tonyme]

Thanks very much! :great:

[Troll]

Thanks for that

[shaniafan339]

What an honour it would be if they choose Shania to be the next Artist of the Decade!!! :bounce:

[shania megafan]

Thanks so much :great:

[Tammy]

Thanks a lot! :D

[FinnFreak]

The Movementz - Tuesday, 02 June 2009


Interview:


Sootara


http://content.bandzoogle.com/users/Sootara/images/content/IMG4886-600.jpg?0
Sootara, Joe Puerta and Vinny Millevolte


Written by Lia Karidas


An interview with one of the more unique artists I've come across in a while, Sootara. Enjoy!


How did you first get involved with music? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

I've always loved to sing. Singing in choirs gave me chills up my spine with the wonderful feelings I was experiencing, and from the beauty of the music. I always knew I wanted to do it, and yet allowed myself to become caught up in what you might call 'the box' - going to University, trying out the careers and jobs. Doing 'the shoulds'. It took me a while to finally own that this was something I was really going to do! I started by fronting a band a number of years back while I was living in Muskoka. At that time I met a very successful producer and recorded a song on a dance album that was released in Europe. My performance was well received by BMG music in Germany, who he was associated with, and he offered me a contract to produce me. I could feel restrictions on my artistic freedom, and I decided instead to write my own music and go my own way. You may find it of interest that Shania Twain also appeared on that dance album, just before she broke into the big time.


http://www.themovementz.com/images/stories/articles/Lia%20karidas/2009/sootara_cover_72dpi.jpg


Your latest album "Allies of the Heart": what are you hoping for audiences to gain from listening to this album?Are you working on anything new at the moment?

Thank you for mentioning "Allies of the Heart"! This is my newly released debut album, and I am very excited to be promoting it at this time. My single "Miracle" is currently being played on nine commercial AC radio stations coast to coast in Canada, and has been being played by Zipdjs with great feedback! May 25 we began promoting my single"River Song" to commercial radio as well. The CD itself is being played on over 15 Canadian campus and community stations, and has charted on CFBX (Kamloops, BC). Also, CBC has just added it to their library, and "Allies of the Heart" is now accessible to all CBC Radio music producers and programmers. So in answer to your question, I am busy promoting the album to radio. I am following what Picasso was quoted to have said, which is simply "Promote, promote, promote!" So that's what I'm focused on at the moment. To answer the other part of your question authentically, I would need to mention a point of philosophy. And that is, that an artist must do their art for self and then share their art with others. If the artist gets into doing their art for others, they lose the joy of their art. So having said this, I really don't have an investment in what I hope others will gain from listening. At the same time, I can tell you that I feel my music could be a guidepost for others on their journey through these changing times we're in and coming into.

If you had to describe your sound to someone who had never heard it before, what would you say?

This is a tough one to answer because of the variety in what I write and how each song was individually produced in its own unique style. "Allies of the Heart" is a very eclectic album, varying from folk to rock with some whimsy, you might say. Sometimes when I sing people tell me I remind them of Karen Carpenter. Or I could perhaps be grouped with Sarah McLaughlin, Kate Bush or Sarah Brightman, just as an idea. From the feedback I have had, my sound is soothing and uplifting.

Where does your song writing inspiration usually come from?

For the most part, my inspiration comes out of silence, and I find that being in nature or in a meditative state helps bring the songs through. You see, I feel that songs are given to me and that my job is to be open to receive them, and not to interfere in the process. So I always have my recorder within reach, even when I sleep. Sometimes I dream a song and have to roll over out of a deep sleep, grab my recorder and try to sing the song as it is disappearing within the dream. Once awake, I take what I was given and simply be with it and allow it to finish itself, rather than mentally forcing something upon it. When I am being receptive and intending for songs to come through, in other words in writing mode, they can come to me at any time, even washing the dishes!, and I will finish them by singing the parts I already have, often walking in nature. Where those songs come from, would perhaps be a huge philosophical conversation. Let's just call it the muse.

Are any of your songs based on an interesting story that you'd be willing to share?

Yes. I knew years ago that one day I would make an album called 'Allies of the Heart', but I didn't know exactly what it meant. Who exactly are the allies...? It was one week before we were leaving to have the great Joe Puerta produce my album at his studio in Milwaukee, and I still didn't have the title track for the album. In other words I had written every song except a song called 'Allies of the Heart'. I used the method I just described and a lot of trust, and the song came through just in time. And now I have learned who those 'Allies of the Heart' are. They're everyone of us! Also the first time I listened to the rough track of 'River Song', I put it into my CD player, and looked out my back window at the small lawn surrounded by forest while I listened. The moment the song started, a Red Fox entered the far right side of the yard, and proceeded to move, step, stop, listen, lift a paw, tilt its head, in exact rhythm to the song and proceeded this way across the grassy area. What a dance! It took the whole song for him to cross the yard this way. Exactly as the song finished he was at the far left side, stopped, listened, pounced on some small prey, shook it, then walked off into the woods as the song faded, still in complete rhythm to the song. I kid you not! I stood there watching with my mouth agape. I had been living here for five years and had never even seen a fox.

Who are your favourite artists and how have they influenced your music (if they have)?

I love artists like Kate Bush and Sara Brightman and Joni Mitchel because they model beautiful vocals and boldly use their high range. And of course Joni's writing is legendary and Kate's is excitingly experimental. I also admire Josh Groban for his wonderful vocal development and feeling and delivery when singing. Also, my older brother came across a scratchy old recording called 'Ambrosia' and they became my favourite band! They are totally outside the box with great heart and passion and amazing songs, lyrics, melodies and production. Through wonderful synchronicity and serendipity, Joe Puerta, singer and bass player for Ambrosia has produced my album, 'Allies of the Heart'. This is a dream come true!

How do you feel about the Canadian indie scene? Good or not so good place to be in?

I tend not to consider myself 'an indie' or not, and I don't think in terms of the 'indie scene'. Perhaps because I find that using labels on myself or others can be limiting. Rather, I see myself as an artist who is finding their own unique way that is compatible with myself and my music.

What's the best thing about making music?

For me, the best thing about making music is writing the song. The process from when the inspiration starts to come through all the way to the moment you know the song is finished, is awesome. It's like a co-creation with some higher part of yourself, or as it's called, the muse, as if you're on a mysterious journey, trusting what is around each corner. But then there's also the times when you're performing and it's completely clicking into place with the audience, and it's flowing. Wow!

Any upcoming news/events we should know about?

As I mentioned, right now my complete focus is on promoting my new album, 'Allies of the Heart'. I'm very excited that my single 'River Song' is getting out to commercial radio, and I'm loving the process, one step at a time.

Where would people go to purchase your music and/or learn more about you?

The best place is my website www.sootaramusic.com See you there!


http://www.themovementz.com/content/view/356/29/



John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

The Marshfield Mariner, MA - Wed Jun 03, 2009


MARSHFIELD FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:


A little bit of tortured logic


By Bill Fonda


MARSHFIELD - As our nation’s leaders begin the debate over the best way to provide health care to all Americans, I would like to make a suggestion that anyone who supports a particular solution — a single-payer, universal system, for example — can use.

Torture.

Yup, you read that right. Torture. Good old-fashioned waterboarding, making people stand in the cold for hours on end, loud barking dogs, electrodes attached where electrodes were never meant to be attached, to-heck-with-the-Geneva-Conventions-or-any-other-treaties torture.

No, it’s not my nature to believe in torture, but if health care reform is important enough, the ends justify the means, right?

OK, so follow me a bit here. A little ways north of here is … New Hampshire, no wait, go a little bit further … Canada, where they have universal health care. The father of that system was a man named Tommy Douglas, who according to the CBC Web site, introduced “universal Medicare” during his five terms as premier of Saskatchewan, a system that was eventually adopted by the country as a whole. He had been inspired as a young man by a doctor who saved his leg from amputation by agreeing to operate on it for free.

For that and other achievements — although, be warned, the Web profile also refers to him as a socialist — Canadians chose Douglas as The Greatest Canadian in November of 2004. In case you were wondering, former Bruins coach and “Hockey Night in Canada” god Don Cherry was No. 7, Alexander Graham Bell was No. 9 and Wayne Gretzky was No. 10. Shania Twain, Bobby Orr and Mike Myers were No. 18 to 20, respectively.

Douglas is also the grandfather of Kiefer Sutherland, gainfully employed, of course, as Jack Bauer on “24.” In March, Alex Beam wrote in the Boston Globe, “When asked about the burden of being Donald Sutherland’s son, he answers, no, the burden is living up to the legacy of Tommy Douglas, his maternal grandfather. He is a man who changed the world.”

As for Jack Bauer, his job is not to change the world but to save it in a succession of really bad days, and he’s apparently willing to torture people to do it. I say “apparently” because I’ve never watched “24,” relying instead on articles like the Newsweek one by Dahlia Lithwick that says Bauer was an inspiration for American interrogation policy under former President George W. Bush.

“It’s no wonder high-ranking lawyers in the Bush administration erected an entire torture policy around the fictional edifice of Jack Bauer. He's a hero. Men want to be him, and women want to be there to hand him the electrical cord,” Lithwick wrote. “(Former Justice Department lawyer John) Yoo wanted to change American torture law to accommodate him, and Justice (Antonin) Scalia wants to immunize him from prosecution.”

So clearly, if single-payer health care or some other system is the answer — which is a subject for another day — clearly the solution is to have Jack Bauer torture the CEOs of health insurance companies or anyone else who might stand in the way.

If that happens, we could be Canada in no time, eh?


http://www.wickedlocal.com/marshfield/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1175998360/MARSHFIELD-FROM-THE-EDITORS-DESK-A-little-bit-of-tortured-logic



John - :p

[tonyme]

Thanks for those

[Troll]

Thanks John

[shaniafan339]

Cool, Thanks! ;)

[Steve F]

From FORBES Magazine's Top 100 [2005]:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/53/Musicians_Rank_1.html

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g210/steve35terry/Forbes100_2005.jpg


Not bad for 2005, but she has not shown up since.:(

Steve

[tonyme]

Forbes only show artists who made big money in THAT year. When she'll be back, she'll be on that list

[Troll]

Thanks Steve

[shaniafan339]

Interesting.. Thanks ;)

[Robby]

CMT News


HOT DISH: Fans Make the Country Music World Go Around

CMA Music Festival Has Changed Since Its Simpler Days as Fan Fair
June 8, 2009; Written by Hazel Smith

Hot Dish(Editor's note: Hazel Smith has been vacationing in Florida and will return next week tanned and rested -- and with a new CMT Hot Dish column. With the CMA Music Festival taking place this week, we're revisiting an excerpt of a column she wrote in 2008 about how the event has changed through the years.)

I do believe money is a lousy way of keeping score. But then, I've never had a lot, so what do I know? Read on.

About the maddest I've ever been in my life was when a star said, "Nashville's crawling with gherms."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

"Fan Fair. Downtown's mobbed with gherms."

"What's a gherm?" I asked. "How do you spell it?"

The person I was talking to was a former sideman who drove to Nashville in a used vehicle and with an alimony payment but somehow lucked up on a record deal and some hits. The fans thought he was one of them -- and he called them gherms.

He spelled it for me. "G-H-E-R-M-S. Like germs, they're all over the place. The 'H' is for hell," he snickered.

"I am one of them," I proudly told him. "I am a country music fan. Country music fans are the best people in the world."

I walked away knowing I had won that round. He responded with a lot of throat clearing and utterances of "er" and "uh."

But that was years ago when Fan Fair was held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds -- when nearly all of the superstars were proud to sign autographs for hours, no matter how hot it was. It's where Garth Brooks stood outside and signed autographs for 23 hours straight without a potty break. It's where pop star Bryan Adams stood beside the stage with songwriter-producer Robert "Mutt" Lange in the blinding hot June sun. Mutt was no doubt already head-over-heels in love with the lovely Shania Twain. He'd seen her video -- and came to Fan Fair to check her out. He must have liked what he saw. They married, and he made a superstar out of her.

You know, when Fan Fair moved from the fairgrounds to its downtown location, I thought it was a good thing. Stars would enjoy signing autographs in air conditioning at the Nashville Convention Center. But I was wrong. Fans came by the thousands, but very few of the big stars came with pen in hand. Instead, the powers that be kept bringing in stuff that has zilch to do with country music -- like TV soap stars.

Most people who come to what's been turned into the CMA Music Festival are blue-collar working people. They work in mills and factories and offices and farms and ranches during the daylight hours. They don't watch soaps. They're too busy working to make a living. They save money to vacation in Nashville every June to see the stars and hear the music.

The fans can no longer easily get autographs from many of the big stars. They can't get photos made with the stars, either. During the CMA Music Festival, they are allowed to line up and march around in front of the stage to take photos of the acts performing. And they do so over and over with no complaints whatsoever.

Someone suggested to me that the fans can get autographs on the road after a concert. Hey, try it, and you will see it almost takes an act of Congress to get into a major star's meet-and-greet on the road. Once the fan gets in, many artists sit and have the fans ask questions. No pictures. No autographs. Not even a handshake. One artist I know autographs her photos before the fans arrive and uses hired help to hand them out to her admirers. This particular artist once refused to autograph my 6-year-old niece's hat.

When Bill Anderson suggested the idea of Fan Fair in the beginning, he and those who agreed with him wanted to create an event to honor the fans of country music. It was their intention to show the fans they appreciated their support. Figuring that turn about is fair play, they wanted to say thanks to those who attended shows, bought records and merchandise, requested songs on the radio and joined the fan clubs. Times were simpler, money was scarcer, but the music was just as good. Joy was spread all around. And nobody dreamed that anybody would ever ask for a round red cent for performing at this wonderful event they called Fan Fair.

But, on the other hand, who'd ever thought back then that a hillbilly could fill an NFL stadium, take home a million bucks in one night and own a Lear jet, a fleet of buses and a parking lot filled with semis to haul band equipment? Keep in mind, the fans made it possible for singers to have all these perks. And they are proud of it.

Right now, I wish Fan Fair was still at the fairgrounds. Those in travel trailers and motor homes could park nearby like they used to, and fans could park their cars for free without a hassle. Sweet people from Ohio and other places could still build booths for fan clubs -- like the girls who ran Eddie Rabbitt's fan club. Those girls still take flowers to Eddie's grave. That shows you the devotion of country music's most faithful fans.

Yes, yes, yes. I know we cannot be successful by looking only to the past or present. We must look to the future. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.

http://www.cmt.com/news/hot-dish/1613375/hot-dish-fans-make-the-country-music-world-go-around.jhtml

[tonyme]

Thanks

[Troll]

Thanks

[dreamer]

she was already a superstar

[Tammy]

;) thanks for that

[Brit_girlAmanda]

she was already a superstar

And don't we know it

[Reenee]

I love the way this writer says that Mutt made a superstar out of Shania, like she had absolutely nothing to do with her own success.:funny:

[shaniafan339]

Thanks for that!!! ;)

[Reenee]

Thanks for that!!! ;)
You are most welcome Kristin!:love:

[Myyde]

Finishing schools master the art of surviving
by Marianne Burkhardt
Montreux - 06 February 2009 | 10:16

A multitude of finishing schools in the Lake Geneva region shaped and polished daughters of the world’s social elite for decades. Since the 1970s, there has been a drastic decline in these purveyors of poise whose alumni include Carla Bruni and Princess Diana. The remaining establishments tell Swisster about survival and Nadine de Rothschild talks about self-improvement in Geneva.

In the 1950s, around 50 finishing schools in the Lake Geneva region taught French and social graces to the daughters of the rich and famous. Only two remain.

Surval Mont-Fleuri and Villa Institut Pierrefeu, are located above Montreux. Their directors partly attribute the disappearance of their counterparts to the 1960s’ social revolution. According to Fritz Sidler, director of Surval Mont-Fleuri: “Rules of etiquette and protocol were seen as constraints and swept aside.”

From the late 19th century, finishing schools offered a curriculum of French, housekeeping, protocol and etiquette. When English superseded French as the most important language in Europe, parents stopped sending their daughters away to learn French.

Viviane Néri, director of Villa Institut Pierrefeu, explained that many schools were family run. The next generation either didn’t exist or wasn’t willing to make the necessary personal commitment.

Manor houses that had served as elegant settings for practising etiquette, cookery, table-service and flower-arranging were sold. Some became home to wealthy individuals (Canadian singer Shania Twain’s home is a former finishing school), others were demolished by property developers.

Sidler said the creation of four personalised programmes, with options such as PR, graphic design and art, has enabled Surval Mont-Fleuri to survive.

In 1999, the school set up a Business Administration programme in collaboration with the European University of Montreux. It also took over the US High School Diploma syllabus of a neighbouring establishment that closed.

Surval Mont-Fleuri still provides two finishing school curricula.

Institut Villa Pierrefeu has continued to specialise in teaching etiquette and protocol but its focus is now international. Students learn the social and business customs of 14 countries, as well as home management, cooking, table service and hostessing.

Néri believes her students benefit from acquiring skills that “others don’t have." She gave the example of a former student who wrote to say she had been recruited by the French Embassy because she was the only applicant who had studied diplomatic protocol.

Since closing its boarding facilities four years ago, the school runs a joint three-term curriculum with Surval Mont-Fleuri, awarding certificates and diplomas in international protocol and etiquette. Surval provides the English and French classes, accommodation, optional activities and excursions. A school year at either establishment costs between 60,000 and 70,000 francs.

Institut Villa Pierrefeu now offers summer courses and attracts a clientele aged from 18 to 40 and sometimes older: “I had a 62-year-old student who had always dreamed of attending a finishing school,” said Néri.

Many summer students are wives of prominent businessmen in countries where travel was complicated until recently. Knowledge of customs and etiquette enables them to entertain their husbands’ international clients with confidence.

Néri said that Institut Villa Pierrefeu does not train snobs. “We teach students to adapt to the people they’re with, to understand them and not think that their manners are the best in the world - each culture has the right to do things their way.” Néri believes that “good manners become bad manners when you show them off.”

Short etiquette courses have sprung up in several countries. Nadine de Rothschild adopted this formula when she opened her self-named Académie in Geneva three years ago. She did no market research beforehand but “observed a real need.”

For 700 francs, men and women of all ages and nationalities spend two days learning the rudiments of savoir-vivre. Shorter programmes covering aspects such as business receptions and table manners start at 200 francs. Youngsters aged from 10 to 16 have their own course.

Lady de Rothschild told Swisster: “I sell a product that enables you to move up in the world and be at ease in any situation. It is an enormous asset.”

Institut Villa Pierrefeu : www.swissfinishingschool.com/en/default.asp
Surval Mont-Fleuri : www.surval.ch
Académie Nadine de Rothschild: www.academienadinederothschild.ch

http://www.swisster.ch/en/news/society/finshing-schools-master-the-art-of-surviving_158-1073348

[FinnFreak]

(Canadian singer Shania Twain’s home is a former finishing school)

Opin sauna on autuas aina.


John - :p

[tonyme]

Wow I so didn't know that, thanks

[Troll]

Thanks for the article

[shaniafan339]

Interesting, Thanks!!! ;)

[Troll]

25 country albums you need to hear

Here's an instant library of country essentials, each of which will catch the ears of skeptics who think the genre's all cornpone

SHANIA TWAIN
"Come On Over"
Touting Twain as a great country artist tends to result in a lot of eye-rolling and cuckoo finger-spinning responses. Never mind that “Come On Over” is the biggest-selling album of the SoundScan era, with 15 million certified scans, or that the RIAA also rates it as one of the half-dozen biggest sellers of all time, certified as 20-time platinum; in some purists' minds, those stats are just further strikes against her. But nobody does bubblegum like Shania and her producer-husband, Robert “Mutt” Lange — whether you're buying the original country mix of the album or the pop remix. And it's not just ear candy: There's a real, underlying feminism in these exclamation point-riddled anthems that's squarely in the tradition of Loretta Lynn.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31415430/ns/entertainment/?pg=17#EW_25_countryalbums

[aweedram]

Bubblegum ??:confused:
Yep! With a flavour that's lasted over ten years.:)

[shaniafan339]

Thanks! ;)

[tonyme]

Thanks for that, no one can deny COO's groundbreaking crossover success

[Tammy]

I agree! thanks for this

[Troll]

Thanks for that, no one can deny COO's groundbreaking crossover success

Yep.

[shaniafan339]

I agree ;)

[FinnFreak]

TheCelebrityCafe.com - 12-Jul-2009


Shania Twain - Up!


http://www.countrymusicmood.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/shaniaup.jpg


- Down? Depressed? Need something to get you in a better mood? If so, Shania Twain’s stellar album, “Up!,” may be just the right remedy to lift your spirits. The 19 tracks on the album, all co-written by Twain, touch not only on the title, but on other aspects of life with the same energy and style.

The title track talks about some of life’s miserable situations and when everything is going wrong, stating throughout the song that “It’s ‘bout as bad as it could be.” Using bursts of energy, complete with drums, guitars and fiddles, Twain reminds you that the only way to go from that point is “Up!”

Besides feeling better, other songs on the album deal with other subjects, like female empowerment. The songs, “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face,” “Juanita” and “Ain’t Goin’ Down,” one upbeat and happy, one serious, and one slow and honest, are strong efforts. Even though all three deal with different topics, they all explain how women have inner strength and how they can succeed in life, even in the face of naysayers.

Another topic a bit more typical to Twain’s genre, giving it to guys, appears in strong force on this album. No better does she do this than in the song, “Nah!” The song’s lyrics and upbeat and carefree attitude are perfect tools to empower you if you ever do run into that guy who dumped you. “Well, I hope you learned a lesson / ‘Cause you’ll never be messin’ / With my head again the way that you did / It was never gonna work: you were / too much of a jerk / I’m finally fed up with it.” After reminding the guy how much they had together, she closes the chorus with “I miss you now and then / But would I do it all again? / Nah!”

Though the album has many strong points, with nineteen songs, the compilation does have some material that doesn’t quite have you feeling your greatest, empowered, or satisfied. “C’est La Vie” tries by offering comforting verses to get you out of the same, old every day life. The chorus, however, doesn’t really provide the rescue that the other lyrics promise and lead up to. The melody also sounds dry. Another song, “Ka-Ching!” has an important message, telling you that money can’t buy happiness, but the serious tone of the song makes it sound laughable. And the classical violin doesn’t help amidst fiddles, steel guitars, drums and—the cash register.

Overall, this album is some of the Canadian songwriter’s best work, despite a few minor mishaps. But in the end, I don’t think you’ll be singing the blues after listening to this country star.


Reviewer: Katelyn Latawiec


Reviewer's Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0



http://thecelebritycafe.com/cd/full_review/14366.html



John - ;):up:

[Tammy]

Amazing article :love: thanks John!

[tonyme]

Great score! :) I agree, it's a masterpiece album! :great:

[Troll]

Thanks John.

[Megan789]

cool! Thanks for posting another brill article!

[dreamer]

thanks John I loved that

[shaniafan339]

Awesome!!! Thanks for that :D:D:D

[ravshania]

dats gr8...thnk u so mch 4 pstn it...;)...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[FinnFreak]

Canada.com - July 14, 2009


Poet versus pop artist

Why mainstream songs have weak or confusing lyrics


By Roger Collier, Canwest News Service


The question has plagued mankind for more than a decade -- what the heck is a "wonderwall"? And while we're on the topic of confusing lyrics, what in Queen's name is a "fandango," and why did Freddie Mercury care if we could do it?

Lyrics play an ambiguous role in popular music. A song is unlikely to get much radio play without them (hear many instrumentals in the Top 40 lately?), but do what the lyrics say matter? Or are they just a collection of syllables riding a catchy melody?

Bad lyrics, after all, don't prevent songs from becoming popular.

Lyrics can be nonsensical ("Slowly walking down the hall/Faster than a canonball" Oasis, Champagne Supernova). They can be factually incorrect ("Coast to coast/L.A. to Chicago" Sade, Smooth Operator). They can be trite ("My hair went flat/Man, I hate that" Shania Twain, Honey, I'm home). In Why Can't This Be Love, Van Halen managed to squeeze two cliches and a redundancy into 11 words ("Only time will tell if we stand the test of time").

Sure, some popular artists are hailed as good lyricists. The website Spinner noted that Beck can pen an original line ("In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey" Loser), and that Weezer is rather funny ("What's with these homies dissin' my girl?" Buddy Holly).

But for every wordsmith that sneaks into the charts, it seems there are a dozen artists spouting lyrics ranging from the inane ("I'm a get, get, get, get, you drunk/Get you love drunk off my hump" Black Eyed Peas, My Humps) to the profane ("To the window/To the wall/To the sweat drip down my balls" Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Get Low).

Many musicians say the importance of lyrics to a song's success depends heavily on genre.

"I can be turned off from a song because of its lyrics, even if the melody is good," says Jonathan Chandler of Amos the Transparent. "Of course, when you write music, you listen to music in a different way."

Peter Voith of the Peter Voith Trio, says in some genres, like folk, songwriters do strive to be profound. Audiences expect certain types of musicians to tell a story or to convey a message. But in other genres, Voith says, the musical flow of the lyrics may be just as important as what they mean.

"I have fans of my music in Slovakia and family members who are constantly nagging me for translations of my lyrics so they can understand what I'm saying so that it can enhance their listening experience, but they enjoy it without the lyrics nonetheless," Voith writes in an email from Croatia, where he is travelling.

"I can enjoy Italian and Spanish singers without understanding anything they say while changing the channel quickly as soon as I hear a song in German."

Some argue that the essence of music is sound, not semantics, so it shouldn't be surprising that many songs have weak lyrics. Menno Versteeg of Hollerado, says that songs on mainstream radio are usually musically solid, though rarely lyrically brilliant. Of course, writing brilliant lyrics is no easy task.

"If I could tell you how to do that, I'd be sitting in a way nicer van right now," says Versteeg, reached by phone on a road somewhere between Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

Versteeg cites John Prine and Billy Bragg as two of his favourite lyricists. The song with the worst lyrics, he says, changes every time Nickelback puts out a new single. (The Village Voice crowned the Nickelback line "You look so much cuter with something in your mouth" as the worst lyric of 2008.)

Nickelback might be an easy target, but some music critics claim the catalogues of almost all songwriters contain more cliches than a paperback with Fabio on the cover. Even Elvis Costello, renowned for his lyrics, sang "There's so many fish in the sea" on his song Accidents Will Happen.

But perhaps it's unfair to compare music lyrics to prose, which must stand on the merit of words alone. Unlike writers, musicians can use other tools to communicate to an audience. "I think it's important that everything goes together, the feel and the lyrics and the melody all have to be congruent," says Versteeg. "That's how you get a point across, and that's why music is not poetry."

The musical performers whose lyrics come closest to poetry tend to sing in loose, expandable forms that depend less on repetition. Each section of Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, for instance, is a long sentence with many clauses, each containing a unique image.

Writing lyrics that stick in people's heads, however, might not always be a good thing. Just as a good sauce can hide a thousand sins in the kitchen, a great tune can get people singing along without even realizing that the lyrics are offensive.

Norma Coates, who teaches media studies and music history at the University of Western Ontario, is a fan of the Rolling Stones, even though she detests the lyrics to such songs as the infamously misogynistic Under My Thumb ("It's down to me, yes it is/The way she does just what she's told/Down to me, the change has come/She's under my thumb"). She even thought of calling her master's thesis "How Could a Smart Chick Like Me Love the Rolling Stones and Not Throw up."

"We all negotiate with the meaning of songs," she says. "You take what you want and leave the rest."


http://www.canada.com/Poet+versus+artist/1788677/story.html



John - ;)

[Robby]

Country Universe


Traditional Country is a Link in a Long Chain
by Guest Contributor

June 30, 2009

The following is a guest contribution from Scott O’Brien.

“But someone killed tradition. And for that someone should hang.” –Larry Cordle & Larry Shell, “Murder on Music Row”

Dan Milliken’s recent post got me thinking: The country music I grew up with is nothing like the music on country radio today. If I turned on today’s country radio in 1988, I might not realize it was a country station and keep right on flipping. Back then, Randy Travis and Keith Whitley’s traditional twang ruled the airwaves. Today, they are dominated by the giggly teeny-bopper ditties of Taylor Swift and the boy band sounds of Rascal Flatts. Did they get away with murder on music row? Well, let’s start by briefly uncovering country’s traditional roots.

What is traditional country music? Is it simply anything from the past? That seems too broad; Shania Twain wasn’t traditional. Anything that isn’t pop? Maybe, but that is still a rather wide and subjective net. To me, traditional country music is honky tonk music. It heavily employs steel guitars, fiddles, and forlorn vocals. It moves at a slow pace. There are no drums or electric guitars. The songs typically deal with heavy topics such as heartbreak, cheating, or drinking, with a ballad here and there. In most cases, the goal is to induce pain. Not bad pain, but the therapeutic empathy that tugs your heart and helps you through your personal struggles. The patron saint of traditional country is Hank Williams. Hank’s first disciple is George Jones. Jones’ first disciple is Alan Jackson. The traditional template is supposed to help us decipher what is country and what is not. After all, what makes country music country if not fiddles and cheatin’ songs?

These days, traditionalists have a legitimate beef. When you turn on the radio, you don’t hear much steel guitar. Instead, you hear what might pass for 1990s pop, replete with fluffy repetitive lyrics, catchy drum beats, guitar riffs, and sex appeal. We aren’t preserving country music when the CMT Music Awards feature the B-52s and Def Leppard in lieu of John Anderson and Charley Pride. Was there a tribute to recently deceased traditionalist Vern Gosdin? No way. Do today’s artists “tear your heart out when they sing”? Not a chance. Is Keith Urban going to fill Conway Twitty’s shoes? Not a prayer. You know we are in trouble when pop-infused zipwire-flier Garth Brooks sounds more like Merle Haggard than today’s stars. Heck, just listen to Taylor Swift’s latest album. If that is country, I’ll kiss your ***. Nashville, we have a problem.

But let’s not go off the deep end just yet. Maybe traditionalists are thinking about things too narrowly. Country music is much more than Webb Pierce’s raw steel guitar-laden crooning. It always has been. Going back before Hank to the First Family of Country Music, the Carter family sound was an amalgam of several different sub-genres including Appalachian old-time, folk, and gospel. Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, blended elements of jazz, gospel, old-time and blues to create some of the first country sounds. Marty Robbins played just about every musical style conceivable. Traditionalist hero Elvis Presley sang rockabilly. Johnny Cash had similar beginnings and even years later there was nothing “traditional” about his trademark up-tempo bass beat. Waylon Jennings’ music incorporated Buddy Holly’s rock-n-roll rhythm; he even wrote a song about how un-Hank-like his music was. Merle Haggard’s Bob Wills-inspired Bakersfield sound used amps and electric guitars. Even 1980s ACM Artist of the Decade Alabama shunned the steel guitar altogether and typically sang up-tempo, feel-good music. Yet these names are among the most venerated by traditionalists. What gives?

The problem is that traditionalists aren’t even sure what traditional country is. If it includes all artists who sold country records without crossing over to pop, the label is not very helpful. If it is strictly honky tonk, do we really want a bunch of Hank Williams clones? As great as he was, we surely do not. There has to be some updating – just ask Alan Jackson, who has innovated the traditionalist motif without sacrificing his authenticity. The genre has to evolve or it risks becoming boring and repetitive. Waylon Jennings understood this well (“It’s the same old tune, fiddle and guitar/Where do we take it from here?”). Hank Williams’ own son realized it too after trying for years to replicate his father’s sound. His song “Young Country” directly attacked the tradition-or-else mentality: “We like some of the old stuff/We like some of the new/But we do our own choosing/We pick our own music/If you don’t mind, thank you.” He is right. Why draw lines? Strict uniformity is not desirable in any genre, particularly country, whose trademark is its diversity of influences, instruments, rhythms, voices, song topics, and stories.

So what should define today’s country music? It should pay tribute to the past by incorporating and updating its unique fusion of diverse influences. It doesn’t have to be strictly “traditional.” But country music needs to capture the sentiments of rural and working class America. It needs to cover painful topics like drinking and cheating. It needs to tell colorful stories. It needs to tear your heart out sometimes. It also needs to make you feel good sometimes. What it shouldn’t do is become pop music. When country is indistinguishable from Top 40, it loses its soul. Unfortunately, this has happened with the Keith Urbans, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swifts – all talented artists to be sure. But country artists? Not so much. Still, there are old warhorses like George Strait who carry the torch and newcomers like Jamey Johnson who give us hope that country’s soul will stay alive and well.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/06/30/traditional-country-is-a-link-in-a-long-chain/

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[Tammy]

Thanks for those.

[shaniafan339]

Thanks

[Megan789]

thanks for posting!!

[ravshania]

thnx 4 dat...:up:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[Robby]

CMT News

Willie Nelson's Lost Highway Will Include Three New Songs

July 14, 2009

A compilation of Willie Nelson's music during his time at Lost Highway Records will be released on Aug. 11 with three previously unreleased songs. The 17-track album, also titled Lost Highway, features Grammy-winning duets with Ray Price ("Lost Highway") and Lee Ann Womack ("Mendocino County Line"), as well as "Beer for My Horses," his No. 1 hit with Toby Keith. Other guests on the album include Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Shania Twain and Lucinda Williams. Kenny Chesney co-produced one of the previously unreleased tracks, "Ain't Going Down on Brokeback Mountain," which Nelson recorded during the sessions for his 2008 album, Moment of Forever. The other two previously unreleased tracks -- "Superman" and "Both Sides of Goodbye" -- come from Nelson's recording sessions in 2005 with songwriter-producer Chips Moman.

http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1616259/willie-nelsons-lost-highway-will-include-three-new-songs.jhtml



List of tracks

1.) "Maria (Shut Up And Kiss Me)" w/Rob Thomas Written by Rob Thomas, produced by Matt Serletic. From the album The Great Divide
2.) "Mendocino County Line" featuring Lee Ann Womack Written by Bernie Taupin and Matt Serletic, produced by Matt Serletic. From the album The Great Divide
3.) "Back To Earth" Written by Willie Nelson, produced by Ryan Adams. From the album Songbird

4.) "The Harder They Come" Written by Jimmy Cliff, produced by Don Was, additional produced by Richard Feldman From the album Countryman

5.) "Over You Again" featuring Ray Price Written by Willie Nelson, Micah Nelson and Lukas Nelson, produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney. From the album Moment Of Forever

6.) "You Don't Know Me" Written by Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold, produced by Fred Foster From the album You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker

7.) "Lost Highway" featuring Ray Price Written by Leon Payne, produced by Fred Foster From the Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price album Last Of The Breed

8.) "Beer For My Horses" featuring Toby Keith Written by Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick

9.) "Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain" featuring Shania Twain Written by Fred Rose, produced by James Stroud From the album Willie Nelson & Friends: Live And Kickin'

10.) "Overtime" featuring Lucinda Williams Written by Lucinda Williams, produced by James Stroud From the album It Always Will Be

11.) "I'm Still Not Over You" featuring Ray Price Written by Willie Nelson, produced by Willie Nelson and Ray Price From the Willie Nelson and Ray Price album Run That By Me One More Time

12.) "Superman" (previously unreleased version) Written by Willie Nelson, produced by Chips Moman

13.) "Bubbles In My Beer" Written by Bob Wills, Cindy Walker and Tommy Duncan, produced by Fred Foster From the album You Don't Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker

14. "Crazy" featuring Diana Krall and Elvis Costello Written by Willie Nelson, produced by James Stroud From the album Willie Nelson & Friends: Live And Kickin'

15.) "Both Sides Of Goodbye" (previously unreleased) Written by Jackson Leap and Kim Williams, produced by Chips Moman

16.) "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other" Written by Ned Sublette, produced by Willie Nelson. From ITunes Sessions

17.) "Ain't Going Down On Brokeback Mountain" (previously unreleased) Written by Wynn Varble, Ben Hayslip and Brandon Kinney, produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney from the Moment Of Forever sessions.

http://www.countrynews.de/

[Troll]

Thanks.

[FinnFreak]

rockstarweekly.com - Wednesday, 15 July 2009



Adam Lambert's New CD, Concert Photos and Song Samples


http://www.rockstarweekly.com/images/stories/adamlambertconcert(1).jpg


Although the music style is vastly different from the Adam Lambert we heard on American Idol, Adam's early recordings will be released sometime this summer whether he likes it or not.

Before auditioning for the hit Fox show American Idol, Lambert spent three years recording songs for Los Angeles-based Wilshire Records. Lambert was angry when he learned that the label teamed up with Hi Fi Recordings to release an 11-track album, On With the Show, featuring his early works.

"The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on," Idol producer 19 Entertainment said in a statement on behalf of Lambert. "I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else ... I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks."

Several reports are showing that Adam co-wrote most of the material on the album, but since going on Idol and moving in a different direction, he had no interest in releasing any of it.

Several bands and singers have been in uproars with their early material being released - most notably Shania Twain, who's rock album surfaced during her peak years as America's top country singer and Metallica, who launched their famous lawsuit against Napster when three different versions of their single Until It Sleeps were leaked on the music sharing site.

Demo recordings or early versions of songs are sometime better left alone. In Adam's case, judging from the first single Want, his voice is on the money and the song isn't half bad - it's just not the rockin' Adam the world fell in love with on America Idol.

Chek out some Exclusive Photos of the Vancouver American Idols Concert and listen to the singles Want from the new CD and No Boundaries. Check back on Thursday for more unreleased Adam Lambert Concert Shots.


http://www.rockstarweekly.com/content/view/514/149/



Shania's demos were quite good - better than some artists' actual album releases.


John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

"Who the heck is Sara Evans? No self-respecting Northerner should know the names of more than three country artists at a time. Should she be one of them? Judging from her performance during the stretch I'm going to say no. You're safe for now Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain." - Jay Trucker, Baltimore Orioles Examiner


http://www.examiner.com/x-436-Baltimore-Orioles-Examiner~y2009m7d15-Obamas-overexposure-Dominos-pizza-and-Derek-Jeters-tears-Random-thoughts-on-the-AllStar-Game



John - :p

[Tammy]

thanks for those.

[shaniafan339]

Cool ;) Thanks!!!

[tonyme]

Great articles! :)

[dreamer]

thank you all

[Troll]

Thanks John.

[shaniafan339]

:]..

[FinnFreak]

Jackson Clarion Ledger - July 16, 2009


Sweden's country girl

Beatrice brings unique sound to U.S.

http://www.beatricemusic.com/bilder/album/duvan_cup/beatrice.jpg
Beatrice Eriksson


By Kyle Doherty


Country singer Beatrice Eriksson hails from the frozen, mountainous climes of northern Sweden, a place she says is similar to Mississippi in that it's a rural, quiet locale separate from the hustle and bustle of Stockholm.

Beatrice (like Dante or Ichiro, she needs only one name) has a new CD titled Starting All Over and is getting ready to perform at The Auditorium in Jackson, then at the National Governors Association meeting in Biloxi. Right off the heels of a red-eye flight to the U.S., Beatrice took the time to discuss her brand of Swedish country.

Q: Could you explain your first exposure to country music and what appealed to you about it?

A: You know, in Sweden, not a lot of people listen to country music. It's more like pop or Swedish music. But my dad liked to listen to country, he had these old cassette tapes and when I was a child I listened to them all the time.

And then I sang in the choir in church and I was supposed to sing the Dolly Parton song High and Mighty. I don't know, there was something there, I said, "I like this style." And then I started listening to all this country music and I looked it up on the Internet.

Q: Besides Dolly Parton, who were your main influences?

A: I think it started with Shania Twain when she was getting big with ... what was the song... That Don't Impress Me Much. And then Faith Hill and also LeAnn Rimes - they're all from here.

Q: Is there a bit of an adjustment to performing in America?

A: It's not that similar. It's coming to another culture and country. And there's another language, so it's difficult to explain to a musician how you want it or how to express yourself.

I think the people here are more open and express themselves more while people in Sweden are more like, "Hmmm. Good."

Everybody's open and friendly and, "Hey, how're you doing?"

"Woah, I'm good, I don't know you, but thanks for asking!"

Q: Sweden is known for a lot of pop groups and rock bands, but not so much for country. Do you imagine that will change?

A: I think so. It has changed already, actually. Some girl bands, country bands, started and are really successful and we get all those bands (in Sweden), Rascal Flatts and the Dixie Chicks. They come more and more.

Q: The country music sound is associated with a specific regional accent. Do you try to fit into that mold when you're singing?

A: I don't really think about that, I think I do my own Swedish-American country style. I guess maybe it sounds a little bit different.

Q: Do you have any advice for young performers working their way up in the music industry?

A: Just believe in yourself and whatever you have in your heart, it's there for a reason. Dare to contact people and make that phone call.


www.beatricemusic.com


Details

Who: Beatrice.

When: 9:18 p.m. today.

Where: The Auditorium, 622 Duling St., Jackson.

Cost: $25.

Contact: (601) 982-0002


http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090716/FEAT05/907160305/1021/FEAT03/Sweden+s+country+girl



John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks

[shaniafan339]

Cool Thanks!!!
Another artist with GREAT TASTE in Music :D:D:D

[Tammy]

:D:D:D well said Kristin!!

thanks!

[ravshania]

i cn c Shania nam...:boogie:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

Good eye Ravs :p :funny:

[ravshania]

i dnt knw if i cn c n e thn els...:p...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

I know I can't :p

[ravshania]

my lif strts wit dat nam $ ends wit dat nam...:faint:...

:) luvshania :) ravshania :)

[shaniafan339]

I know what you mean :love:

[FinnFreak]

News Guardian, UK - 28 July 2009


UK's top wedding first dance songs revealed

LONESTAR'S 'Amazed' tops the list of songs that couples choose to tie the knot to.


PRS for Music today unveiled the UK's most popular first dance songs, with Lonestar coming top of the pops.

While Amazed has not only proved to be Lonestar's biggest hit to date, the 1999 song has proved an even bigger hit among UK couples selecting an accompanying track for that unforgettable first dance.

The top five also included Aerosmith's Don't Want To Miss A Thing, Shania Twain's From This Moment On, Bryan Adams' Everything I do (I Do It For You), and Take That's Rule the World.

The results are based on a survey conducted by PRS for Music, among 2000 wedding videographers, asking for the most requested first dance songs.

Commenting on the results, Ellis Rich, chairman of PRS for Music, said:

"The song at the first dance tends to make weddings more memorable and extra special."

"It is a testament to the power and universality of music that it always accompanies the big events in our lives and gives them extra meaning."


http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/latest-news/Lonestar-tops-newly-weds-song.5499128.jp



John - ;):up:

[tonyme]

FMTO all the way! :great:

[FinnFreak]

FTMO was played at our wedding. Not first dance, though.

Here, it's the traditional waltz (Suvivalssi - played live by The Eino Luostari Band) that comes first.


John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks.

[Tammy]

Thanks for that :D

[shaniafan339]

Cool, Thanks! :)

[FinnFreak]

St. John's Telegram - 30/07/09


Hare Bay's Tara Oram delighted with three CCMA nominations



http://www.thetelegram.com/photos/Telegram/stories/Tara-Oram1.jpg
Tara Oram


By DANETTE DOOLEY
Special to The Telegram


The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced its 2009 nominees and Hare Bay native Tara Oram could walk off the stage with three awards, including Female Artist of the Year.

Oram, who was in at the news conference in downtown Toronto Wednesday, when the nominees were announced, says she was shocked at the news.

"To be standing in the room with my peers and hear my name being announced was really surreal," Oram says.

In addition to Female Artist of the Year, Oram has also been nominated for CMT Video of the Year for "Go to Bed Angry" as well as for the Rising Star Award.

The 25-year-old says it's the Rising Star Award that she'd really like to win.

"Being so new and being a rookie ... I'd love to have a gradual climb and a healthy career; nothing too big off the top. I've never been a fan of that, because what do you have to aim for later?"

Oram grew up watching the CCMA Awards and attended the show as a fan. To be invited as a nominated artist has been her dream for many years, she says.

"And to be nominated with people like George Canyon, Johnny Reid and Crystal Shawanda - I've seen them doing their thing, but to step back and realize that I'm in the same category with them is pretty amazing," Oram says.

Reid, who will perform at this year's show, leads the nominations with a total of six, including Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and the CCMA Fans' Choice Award.

Oram says she was delighted when it was announced that Jason Priestley will host the awards show, to be held Sept. 13 in Toronto.

"The first thing I said was, 'Brandon!'" Oram laughs, referring to Priestley's role as Brandon Walsh on the television series "Beverly Hills 90210."

Priestley's latest role has been directing episodes of ABC's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and a new online series for the CW called "The Lake."

Oram is also looking forward to rubbing shoulders with many stars at the show, including Reba McIntyre, who will be performing and presenting.

"I've met some of her band members and it would be surreal to meet her," she says.

While she doesn't know if Shania Twain will be at the awards, Oram says she'd love to meet the singer.

"I grew up on her music and she was a huge influence on my career. I'd love to sit down with her and say, 'Thank you for everything. Thanks for inspiring young girls and for opening doors for us,'" Oram says.

Oram placed sixth on Canadian Idol in 2007. The experience, she says, was "a huge launching pad" for her career.

"I wanted to sing and I wanted to write songs, but I had no idea what the business side of music was like. It was a great way to learn the ropes," she says.

Earlier this year, Oram's debut album "Chasing the Sun" (Open Road Recordings) won her an East Coast Music Award as well as a Juno nomination.

The album was recorded while she was busy shooting the CMT television series "The Tara Diaries."

Her fourth single from the record "Living the Dream" will be released within the next few weeks, she says.

Oram co-wrote the song - which is a tribute to her mom - with Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

Oram says her mother , who was 17 when she was born, once dreamed of becoming a singer, but her mom didn't steer her in that direction, she says.

"Music is something I found myself. Both my parents were always there to support me, but they were far from stage parents. They let me do whatever I wanted to do and let me learn my own lessons."

Oram says her CCMA nominations are a plus not only for her, but for her record label, booking agency, management people and others who have helped her get to where she is today.

"It's not just a nomination for my work, it's a nomination for their work as well. And, of course, it's for the fans," she says.


http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=273769&sc=84



John - :)

[Tammy]

Wow, thanks for that!

It would be nice if shania could attend the CCMA's :bow:

[tonyme]

Great, thanks! :D Yes it would be amazing indeed!

[Megan789]

coolies! thanks!

[dreamer]

I love that last one

[Troll]

Thanks