CMT Music Awards Nominate Rock Acts
Sure, some people will look at just-announced nominations for the 2008 CMT Music Awards and insist that the future of country music — and maybe Western civilization — is coming to an end because the list includes Robert Plant, Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis and The Eagles.
Those first three may be relative newcomers to the wide world of country music, but the Eagles have exhibited a strong country influence throughout their career. Think back to their first charted single — 1972’s “Take It Easy.” It never made it to the country chart, but it sure contained more banjo that most of the No. 1 country singles that year, including Jerry Lee Lewis‘ “Chantilly Lace,” Ray Price’s “She’s Got to Be a Saint” and Donna Fargo’s “Funny Face” and “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.”
The Eagles made the CMT nominations list for “How Long,” a song that reached No. 23 on Billboard’s country singles chart. Another nominee — Bon Jovi’s “(You Want To) Make a Memory” — didn’t do quite as well at radio, but it also received substantial airplay. Bon Jovi also picked up another nomination for “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore,” a song and video with LeAnn Rimes.
And then there’s Huey Lewis, who’s nominated simply because Garth Brooks recorded one of his songs, “Workin’ for a Livin’,” and later invited him to appear in the video. And what about Robert Plant? The Led Zeppelin vocalist is nominated for his video with Alison Krauss, “Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On).”
Substantial promotional effort was involved in marketing the Eagles and Bon Jovi to the country audience, but that’s simply part of the music industry machinery. I can’t imagine that either group sat down and said, “Let’s see what we can do to pander to the country audience.” I’m not a huge fan of either band, but both acts have too much artistic integrity — and money — to resort to that. While it’s impossible to predict what Robert Plant will do in the future, he still seems to be guided by a true artistic muse. He may do another acoustic-oriented album, such as the one he recorded with Krauss, or maybe he’ll do something else. Rest assured, he’s not trying to take over country music.
I might suggest that these occasional rock elements help widen the scope of country music without posing any serious danger to the genre’s future. The real danger, I think, has more to do with record labels signing too many generic-sounding mainstream artists who are devoid of any genuine artistic vision. That’s a trend that should scare the hell out of any true country fan.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Bri’anna Joy says:
Excellent points. All of these are bands that my parents listened to, but if they contribute to country music today in some way, why not recognize that? Actually, I say Huey Lewis and the News in concert a few years ago. Their 80’s music wasn’t so country, but the way they play now sure had that influence. It was almost honky tonk, if I remember correctly. Also, I’m a big Alison Krauss fan so her duets with Robert Plant have helped me learn he’s not just the “Stairway to Heaven” guy.
Expanding our musical horizons is all good to me.
Great post!
Bri’anna Joy
http://BitzofBrin.com
pat linsday says:
Isn’t about time to put Jerry Lee Lewis in the Country Music Hall of Fame.His work in Country music is unreal.It’s Time now. Before something happens.
Concerned Plant fan says:
WOW.
The Plant Krauss “album” (and that god awful video) STINK.
And the person who knew him as the “Stairway guy” before this joke of a “country” slash “bluegrass” (it’s neither) album came out is just SAD.
There you have it.
CMT Blog Thinks CMT Music Award Nominations Are Just Dandy [House Organs] | weeklyexaminer.com says:
[...] include rockers (or “rockers”) Robert Plant, Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis, and the Eagles, the CMT blog says this is nothing to get worked up about. Really, Huey Lewis is just nominated for songwriting [...]
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rainsongwoman says:
Congrats to Robert and Alison…
Robert is (still) great in any music venue..
Rockin Robin says:
I think country music should stay country with true country performers singing the songs, and rock should stay just what it is ROCK!. Rock and country especially cannot be mixed, and enjoyed in my opinion. Why can’t we appreciate each one for the great music it is.