Country California

Click the bullet after each quote to visit the original source.

[Dancing] was more of a pop thing that I felt was the only way to be entertaining. But then, you go back and realize, ‘Wait a minute-I was signed because I’m a singer. Let’s just keep it at that.’ ●
- – Yes, Jessica Simpson, let’s just keep it at that.

Probably the first good one I wrote was “Wave On Wave.” That one, when we got finished, I knew it was going to be something big. ●
- – Pat Green says he wrote his first good song at the point of his mainstream breakthrough, effectively disowning most of his Texas output.

I really like his look here. Randy is getting better looking every time he sings this. ●
- – Curious comment on Randy Houser from the CMT video screening room. Maybe the magical powers of “Anything Goes” only work on Houser, but I’m going to start singing the song daily just in case.

I want to make sure I’m singing songs that are worthwhile, that touch people’s lives, not just blah, blah songs, ear candy. ●
- – Oh, sure, Rodney Atkins. You’re doing just fine. Blah blah blah America.

[Patty Loveless] sang songs off her Sleepless Nights album, mostly country classics from the ‘50s and ‘60s. And it sounds like [blah blah blah]. It sounds like [blah blah blah]. Wish I’d been there to hear what the Times called Loveless’ “well-made, honest, no-frills songs.” ●
- – And it sounds like Alison Bonaguro’s only knowledge of Sleepless Nights is coming secondhand from a NYT concert review. Good news: those “well-made, honest, no-frills songs” are also available on CD, so you could theoretically listen to them in the comfort of your own home. If you were so inclined. [Kudos to tipster J.R. Journey for bringing this one to my attention.]

It looks like [Chicken Fried] is like the little slut of country music. First Zac Brown co-wrote her, recorded her in 2003, relinquished her to the Lost Trailers in 2006 and then took her back again. And now she and the Zac Brown Band are happy together, having spent some quality time at the very top of the charts. ●
- – Wow, Alison. A song recorded by two artists is a little slut? What does that make “Ring of Fire”?

Clever is his middle name, and his songs delight with humorous turns of phrase – like Merle Haggard on Comedy Central. ●
- – I’m guessing this concert reviewer is secretly trying to imply that Brad Paisley’s show was extremely awkward… because I can’t imagine Comedy Central Presents Merle Haggard being very funny. “Hey folks, hear the one about how this country’s rolling downhill like a snowball headed for hell? Well, it is.”

You sing about Johnny Cash
The man in black would have whipped your ass! ●
- – Eric Church has apparently taken to calling himself out in song.

New orchestrations of songs from [Chris] Young’s self-titled debut on RCA Records, which opened at No. 3 on the Billboard County Music charts in October 2006, and even a few new songs from his upcoming release, will be performed at this unique concert. Symphony director Jeffrey Reed is known for these types of unorthodox concerts, where orchestral music is mixed with popular music. ●
- – Good idea. Take one of the most dreadfully boring debut albums in recent memory and add orchestral accompaniment. I don’t see how anything could go wrong there.

Lefty was recording, “If You’ve Got the Money, Honey,” and he ran in there to me and said, ‘You got a song? I need a fourth song.’ I said, no, and he said, ‘Go write one.’ I said, ‘You’ve got to be crazy. I don’t write songs.’ I don’t know how, but 10 minutes later I came back with a song. ●
- – Ray Price tells the story of “Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses),” a 1951 chart-topper for Frizzell.

So when teenagers land in front of him for blasting their car stereos or otherwise disturbing the peace in this small northern Colorado city, Sacco informs them that they will spend a Friday evening in his courtroom listening to music — of his choosing. ●
- – The judge’s playlist for this unusual form of punishment includes Barry Manilow, the Barney song, and Willie Nelson. Funny idea, even though I do find the inclusion of Willie objectionable.

The world of country music gets skewered this weekend in “Three Chords From the Truth,” a new comedy series about a fictional music station overrun by vapid fame junkies, shameless marketers and cutthroat record execs. ●
- – What’s so fictional about that? And why don’t I get CMT Canada? Canadians, please fill us in.

We kind of thought it would end in an album or a divorce. ●
- – Kasey Chambers on collaborating with husband Shane Nicholson for Rattlin’ Bones.