Posts Tagged ‘Country’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is seriously beautiful.

That is all.

Suck it, Taylor Swift haters!

[Related Post: The Civil Wars Cover 'Disarm' By The Smashing Pumpkins]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

It’s been almost a year since I last talked Tim McGraw. And although BTB doesn’t spit out country-related material on the daily, when I heard this song I instantly knew I wanted to write about it.

The fifth song from Tim McGraw‘s upcoming Emotional Traffic album (due out January 24th) is pure poetry. Written by Jedd Hughes and Luke Laird, the modern country track is rough around the edges yet full of smooth-skin soul.

The darker ballad revolves around a man who’s tired of fighting with his lover.

“Let’s just cut it down the middle / Let it bleed and bleed out / I’ll clean up the mess / Baby you stand there and shout / Cry, cry, baby I can’t hold us together,” McGraw pours out the words with a bittersweet center.

“Baby I’ll let you go when you say so / Try to let your heart fly free / I’ll crawl outta my cradle, down into my black hole / You just lay low / Under your halo,” he continues to sing, during the chorus.

If this song is any indication to how the rest of the Emotional Traffic album will sound, I’d say we’re in for a beautifully wild ride.

[Related Post: Tim McGraw Joins The Sober Club]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I throw on my cowboy hat, lace bodysuit, and kick it Shania Twain style. (That’s a joke, people. I don’t own a cowboy hat.)

Speaking of, I’m gonna need a new Shania album STAT!

Someone get on that.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Seriously, Jay-Z? SMDH!

“Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet.”

-GRIM / Occupy Wall Street Leader

[On Jay-Z profiting from Rocawear's OWS t-shirts, in which the rapper donated zero percent of the proceeds to the cause]

BTW, the video below is jawesome.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

“I have not known anyone personally that has committed suicide because of their sexuality. But the stories from fans always make me appreciate and love what I do even more and drive me at the end of the day, because I feel like to touch someone through my music is the ultimate thing for me, especially if I’ve written it. I’ve had many people say, “I was thinking about committing suicide and your song came on the radio and I just decided not to do it, that life was worth living.” It’s unfathomable to, I guess, really understand the impact I’ve had on some people’s lives. It does affect me. It deeply, deeply affects me. Obviously you can tell by that performance.”

–LeAnn Rimes
[In the new Pridesource]

[Related Post: LeAnn Rimes Beautifully Covers Adele]

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

We all know I’m not one for country. Yet something about this trio makes me not want to shut the station off. Not instantly, at least.

They have a good, slow tone, and plus, they’re all superbly pretty. I’m not saying they’re going to have V.I.P. seats in my iPod, but their single was just what I needed to calm the heck down.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

So this past weekend I saw Footloose. Yeah yeah, judge me all you want, you pretentious boneheads. For the record, I actually liked it! I thought it was a cute movie. That’s saying something considering the fact that I went into the show very skeptical. Anywhoosie, during the film I was captivated by the remake of Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero. Except unlike the original fast-paced dance version of the song that appeared in the original film, this version was stripped down beautifully in an acoustic manner that felt painfully heartfelt.

Upon further research (AKA when the movie ended I googled that shit), I discovered this version was performed by South Carolina country singer-songwriter and rising star Ella Mae Bowen. But wait, there’s more. The shocker was finding out that she’s only 15! Yup. Crazy!

The good news for Ella (and for us new fans) is that she’s signed to Taylor Swift’s record label (Big Machine). So hopefully that means they throw some dough in her direction with regards to production and promotion and we hear much more music from her soon.

Her voice is incredible!

Find out for yourself…

Get More: Ella Mae Bowen, Music, More Music Videos

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Ya know how the pasty chick in Mean Girls talks about having ESPN? Well, I have this when it comes to recording artists and the release of new records. Seriously. It’s a gift, what can I say.

For instance, lately I rediscovered my all time favorite Faith Hill track, the haunting You’re Still Here , and I’ve been playing it on repeat in the subway on my way round the NYC.

This is one of those incredible songs that always makes me tear up. I know, I know, you’re probably wondering why I want to listen to songs that make me cry. To be honest, it’s because I think depressing music is the best and certainly the most beautiful. Plus, I’m a Cancer. We’re feely people! And of course, I could go into personal territory with relation to this song but I don’t think I should broadcast that shiz across the www.

Anyways, back to the ESPN bit…

Yeah, so I’ve been playing this song over and over and being all feely and hoping for a new Faith Hill album and sure enough, here it is!

According to CMT:

“Faith Hill hasn’t officially released a new single since 2007′s “Red Umbrella,” which went to No. 28 on Billboard’s Country Songs chart. But EW has learned exclusively that the country superstar is planning to make her long-awaited comeback by performing a new single, “Come Home,” at this year’s 45th Annual CMA Awards, which will air Nov. 9 on ABC at 8 p.m.”

Cannot wait!

Watch the stunning video for my favorite Faith track below.

Faith Hill – You're Still Here by Warner-Music

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Voice like butter! Message worth spreading! (See what I did there?)

For her new music video, Give, LeAnn partnered with Stand Up For Kids, an organization whose main focus is supporting homeless youth. Several homeless kids from the streets of Chicago are featured throughout the clip.

To coincide with the theme of the song, LeAnn wanted to create a video with a message of giving back.

LeAnn wrote on her website: “My life is forever changed from this experience. One thing they all said to me is no one looks them in the eye when they see them on the streets, so there’s a deep loneliness there and a feeling of almost not existing. I will now always look anyone who’s homeless in the eye and smile. That smile could make their whole day.”

LeAnn’s new album Lady & Gentleman is due out September 27th.

Watch the video for Give below.

[Related Post: LeAnn Rimes Beautifully Covers Adele]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Open up the latest US Weekly (or any gossip rag for that matter) and chances are you’ll see a picture of LeAnn Rimes with a neon caption discussing her current relationship or arrows pointing to her “disappearing” bikini frame.

But, what you won’t see as often is praise for her voice — a voice that’s always been golden, a voice that lately has somehow gotten lost in the mix of tabloid fodder.

Let’s flip the switch, shall we?

LeAnn recently performed a cover of Adele’s Someone Like You, and as you can imagine, it’s a stunning rendition.

Also note that Rimes has released a new heartfelt single entitled Give.

In her own words: “‘Give’ is a powerful song with a message that I believe needs to be shared with the world, especially in these times of today. I’m so honored to sing this song and help spread that message.”

LeAnn Rimes new album, Lady and Gentlemen, is due out September 27.

Watch the Adele cover + listen to the new single following.

[Related Post: Defending L. Rimes & 'Crazy Women']

[LeAnn's Give Campaign.]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I’ve decided Dolly P is Dolly’s new rapper name.

So recently (for the 4th of July), I took a little vacay back home to the South and spent a few days in the Smoky Mountains visiting family slash friends slash Dollywood and the surrounding area. It was a beautiful, fun experience and it left me craving more. The roller coasters at Dollywood are no joke!

Also, in a little over a week or so, I’ll be seeing Dolly front and center in Connecticut on her new Better Day Tour. It’s not a secret that Dolly has been one of my heroes since I was a youngin (yup, youngin — Southern slang people, get into it!), so I’m beyond excited.

It’s the summer of Dolly and I couldn’t be more stoked!

Also, I’d like to point out that Mr. Denim is a cutie pie.

(Yes, I realize his name is Denham, but Denim felt more fitting.)

Check out a recent Dolly interview to see what I’m talking about + listen to one of my favorite tracks from the wonderful new album following.

Dolly may be married but as she put it, she’s not dead. She’s a young scoundrel! Oops, I mean flirt!

Love ya, Dolly.

[Better Day, the new album, is in stores + available digitally now.]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Stunning songbirds, Joy Williams and John Paul White of indie folk duo The Civil Wars, will be performing live July 8th and here’s your chance to catch the show!

For $5.99 advance & $7.99 day of show (yup, about the cost of a happy hour cocktail), the concert will be streamed online via Liveset starting at 10:45PM EST. The best part? The experience is interactive, so The Civil Wars will be able to respond and comment on the ongoing conversation from fans who will be logged on watching the concert.

Rayland Baxter joins The Civil Wars as the opening act.

To purchase your digital ticket, please go HERE.

This pair is effing amazing, so you don’t wanna miss out! Ya heard?

[Related Post: The Civil Wars Cover 'Disarm' By The Smashing Pumpkins]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This past weekend, amidst a deeply personal conversation with a friend, Disarm by The Smashing Pumpkins poured through the radio in the background. Immediately it transported me back to a place of fragile emotion, when I first listened to the song years ago.

“The reason I wrote Disarm was because, I didn’t have the guts to kill my parents, so I thought I’d get back at them through song. And rather then have an angry, angry, angry violent song I’d thought I’d write something beautiful and make them realize what tender feelings I have in my heart, and make them feel really bad for treating me like shit. Disarm is hard to talk about because people will say to me ‘I listen to that song and I can’t figure out what it’s about.’ It’s like about things that are beyond words. I think you can conjure up images and put together phrases, but it’s a feeling beyond words and for me it has a lot to do with like a sense of loss. Being an adult and looking back and romanticizing a childhood that never happened or went by so quickly in a naive state that you miss it.”

–Billy Corgan

The Civil Wars (a new favorite!) recently covered the classic track via Paste Magazine. Watch the cover reel below.

Yay for music music!

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This woman’s my hero!

With the just-announced news that Dolly would be touring this summer I found myself listening to old records and watching clips of her online. And I stumbled upon this gem of a photograph, as well as some touching points made when Dolly was interviewed last year by Larry King. Can’t wait to see you on the road this summer, Dolly!

When asked about her loyal gay fans:

“I have a lot of gay fans, female and male. A lot of people feel like they’ve grown up with me. As you know I’ve always been outspoken, I’ve always been pretty outrageous. I’ve always believed that a person should be who they are and you should be comfortable being who you are and people should leave you alone to be who you are and how you are. So I think I’ve always been accepted in the gay community because I accept them. I have so many fans who’ve always loved to come to the shows and they know that I’m not judging them. I think people are who they are. We’re supposed to love each other for what and who we are.”

When asked about anti-gay bullying:

“I don’t know the reasons why people act the way they do about other people. I just think we need to dig down a little deeper and try and be a little kinder to one another and accept each other for who we are. You can’t tell me that people are any way other than how they’re supposed to be. I don’t think gay people are trying to be different just to make other people miserable. I think people are being who they are. I think we should be a little more tolerant and a little more accepting and understanding.”

[Dolly, in an interview w/ Larry King]

Check out a recent interview below + Dolly’s version of Shine following. (The lyrics felt appropriately matched to the message of this post.)

PS: I’ve gotta get back to Dollywood! That place rules my face!

[Related Post: Dolly Returning To The Big Screen w/ Queen Latifah]

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

[Photo Credit: Wendy Lynch Redfern]

Fleet Foxes are back with a new single, Helplessness Blues. Can I just say this may be the best song I have heard in months? It’s authentic, and open-hearted. These dudes are constantly laying it all out there, with spiraling melodies and soft harmonies.

When you hear this single, envision your late teenage years in some shitty situation, writing melodies that are a straight channel to what you heard growing up; no disengage between the past and now, just music you yearn for, music that is simply heartrending and untainted.

This is one for the books, kids. Fleet Foxes are back.

Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes (Audio)