A little "On Broadway"...if you please

            I’m not sure what age I was at the time, but lets just say I was in the stage of my life where the thought of choosing a “broadway” tune for my jazz dance was, well….  inconceivable!!  When my cousin Joyce, who also happened to be my dance instructor, suggested “On Broadway” by ten time Grammy Award winning jazz musician, George Benson, rest assured my duet partner, Carrie, and I weren’t enthused.  With so many rockin songs out there, what could she be thinking?  We wanted something mainstream…cool….etc, etc.  If it wasn’t playing on the local rock station every third song, we weren’t interested.  Now keep in mind, we hadn’t even listened to it yet!  Were we in for a surprise!

Once Joyce composed herself from laughing at the looks on our faces, she played it.  I’m not sure what I was expecting exactly.  For whatever reason, in my little teenage mind, Broadway equaled opera.  Not exactly what I pictured myself dancing to for the next 10 months, at least not for my beloved jazz number.  But from the first beats of the intro, I was hooked.  It had a funky fun beat and was different than anything I had danced to before…..in a good way!  I was intrigued at the possibilities of this routine.  Just proves you shouldn’t decide what music you’re gonna listen to just by seeing what genre it’s listed under.

            Take a listen to this fabulous tune.  Just see if your toe ain’t tappin.  Perfect choice….score one for Joyce!  

http://youtu.be/tGHGTH5lWEY

George Benson


Copyright ©2012 Alicia's View On All Things Music All rights reserved
Copyright ©2012 Music Central All rights reserved

George once asked..."Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?"

George once asked..Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

            I was raised with country music playing in my house.  My dad was and is a huge fan of traditional country and bluegrass music.  You can count me in as a huge fan, too….along with rock, heavy metal, big band, blues…bring it all on.

            The other night, though, I found myself listening to some of those traditional songs that were so much a part of my childhood.  The memories flooded in when I ran on some classics by George Jones.  He has always been one of my dad’s favorites.  George released a song in 1980 that asked a poignant question, and led me to ponder the answer both back then and now.  “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” speaks to the artists who were the cornerstones of country music and asks who might be out there to follow in their footsteps.

I’m not sure anyone will or would even attempt to fill the shoes of legendary country artists George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson….the list could go on and on.  But, country music does appear to be in good hands that’s for certain!

            While there is an impressive roster of current day superstars like Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, and Lady Antebellum, there is an equally impressive list of artists paving a path all their own.

Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Jake Owen, Little Big Town, Thompson Square, Jerrod Niemann, Katie Armiger, and Pistol Annies are making their marks with a dash of his/her own style, a bit of tradition and a little rockabilly for good measure.  The future of country music you ask?  Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with it.

Cool factor…..each of these artists pay homage to the stars of yesterday, while staying true to their own current day sound.  Each is as respectful of the past as they are dedicated to build the future of country music.  Perhaps they push the genre boundaries a bit, but the result is great music none-the-less.  I personally have never been one to pigeonhole songs by saying they’re not “country enough”.  If it’s good, I’ll listen.  If not, I’ll turn it off.  Pretty simple philosophy. 

Bottom line…today’s sound is different, not traditional, but does it have to be?  Isn’t there room for both?  This new crop of artists follow the groundwork laid by their predecessors….and run with it.  They show a respect for the tradition of the genre, a drive to make their idols proud and an appreciation for the fans who buy the records.  I see a bright future indeed.

            It seems only fitting that I wrap this up with some tunes.  You listen and decide for yourself.  Do ya hear a little George, Waylon, Johnny or Loretta in there?  A little story-tellin, kickin it fun, sass and sayin it like it is?  Yep…it’s all there. 

Chris Young’s “Neon”  http://youtu.be/il3a7iM8NHM

Brantley Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide” http://youtu.be/8peBUdlUNmM

The Band Perry’s “All Your Life” http://youtu.be/mpdh4pPl0Ck   

Thompson Square’s “You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” http://youtu.be/FDUOcHg5ijg

Pistol Annie’s “Hell on Heels” http://youtu.be/fOKtbJfNLFk

Katie Armiger’s “Scream” http://youtu.be/dKb2z1e49Zs   

Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” http://youtu.be/V0O0nzkESTI

Justin Moore’s “How I Got To Be This Way” http://youtu.be/uYdlUP91ohQ

Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” http://youtu.be/aRh-vBOS-dU 

And of course, this blog wouldn’t be complete without “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes”…..  http://youtu.be/xi3GgoLtlWk

Perhaps we do have our answer. 

Copyright ©2012 Alicia's View On All Things Music All rights reserved

Copyright ©2012 Music Central All rights reserved