A Crowded Week: Seven New Videos, Three Open Slots
The most recent CMT Music and Talent department’s New Video evaluation meeting was treated to the dilemma of seven new submitted videos, all wanting to fit into one of only three open video slots. A delicious problem. It obviously sparked lively discussion as the videos competed for their space in the sun — or on the tube, that is. Roll ‘em.The videos:
Artist: Taylor Swift
Video: “Should’ve Said No”
Director: Rac Clark
This is a live clip of Taylor Swift’s live performance of the song at the recent ACM Awards show, including the waterfall conclusion.
Comments: “George Strait’s reaction at the close is the capper here.” “I love her reaction at the end, where she makes this expression like, ‘I can’t believe I just did that on TV.’” “Jimmie Rodgers must be rolling in his grave.” “Reminds me of how much I hate male dancers. Makes me think about Waylon — what would he think?” “I think Waylon would be proud of Taylor for being so ballsy. So would Jimmie Rodgers.”
Artist: Jewel
Video: “I Do”
Director: Peter Zavadil
“I Do” is a song about the dynamic tension in the man-woman relationship and its accompanying sexual tension. It is played out here very graphically, with a high-speed car denouement, with Jewel racing a Pontiac Firebird and her male love interest in a Dodge Charger.
Comments: “I really love that.” “The video makes me like the song more. It makes it come alive.” “I like the way they didn’t cut away to a different performance. It makes it seem fresher.” “That is a great video.” “She is very strong right now. The album just went to No. 1.”
Artist: Ashton Shepherd
Video: “Sounds So Good”
Director: Roman White
A literal and very upbeat, sunny interpretation of Shepherd’s song about the unique sound a beer cooler makes when it’s “slushin’” around in the bed of a truck, and the good times that that evokes.
Comments: “Is that her real family in the video?” “I think it is — that’s her little son.” “It looks beautiful.” “That is also a great video.” “The song is very strong. It shows off her vocal.”
Artist: Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis
Video: “Georgia on My Mind”
Director: Danny Clinch
Obviously this is from the live show that Willie Nelson performed at New York’s Lincoln Center with jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and his band.
Comments: “It sounds awesome.” “I never heard jazz harmonica before.” “It doesn’t really show off Lincoln Center.” “The shots are just odd.” “It’s from a jazz album that Willie sings on.”
Artist: Lady Antebellum
Video: “Lookin’ For a Good Time”
Director: Adam Boatman
This is a performance of the song, which is their current charting single, debuting on the charts this week.
Comments: “They are so cute.” “I love Lady A, but this is not my favorite song of theirs.” “The song does fit that kind of video. But is it the video we need right now?”
Artist: Crossin Dixon
Video: “I Love My Old Bird Dog”
Director: Wes Edwards
A performance of the song, complete with bird dogs romping in the country.
Comments: “This song was a hidden track on Kenny’s [Chesney] album.” “I love the lead vocal.” “From this, it’s hard to tell who the lead singer is.”
Artist: Lost Trailers
Video: “Holler Back”
Director: Tyson Wisbrock
This video depicts the band re-enacting a performance of the song on a wide public plaza in Grand Rapids. Mich., dominated by a large red sculpture, which enjoys a great deal of screen time.
Comments: “I didn’t get it.” “I love the song, though.” “It needs a crowd of people in it, to give it some energy.” “They watched ‘She’s a Hottie’ one too many times.” “It’s a good thing the song is good, because the editing is horrid.”
Consensus: Three of these are obvious, immediate adds. Taylor Swift’s video needs to go into Hot Shot. Jewel’s video feels like it fits Heavy Rotation right now. And Ashton Shepherd will go into Medium Rotation.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
bkb says:
the entire performance was a mess from start to finish. It might have worked if she was even a little on tune. swift needs to have more vocal instruction and less production. she shower scene was so stupid and the first of the song with the hooded sweatshirt was so overdone.
Rick says:
I’m so glad Ashton Shepherd’s video made the cut, so hopefully it will help “Sounds So Good” do well on Top 40 country radio. Thank you CMT!
porky says:
bkb,
I so agree!! Cute girl, but oh my gosh…please tell me this is not the choice.
David Nisbet, Scotland says:
I’m shocked they picked Ashton, surprised they would go with Traditional Country because you know how much they hate that. And Jewel…seriously, are there not enough Pop singers trying to sell themselves as something they’re not?
BC says:
I just caught Taylor Swift performing for the first time.She is awful!!I saw her on the new Nashville Star and EVERY contestant was better than her.John Rich commented something to the effect as to ” that’s how it’s done.”and he is one of the judges !?!? It is truly a sad day in country music when you declare someone as talentless as Taylor Swift a star.
Don says:
This performance(is that what it was) was so horrendous the tape should be burned. The child simply can not sing!!!
Please do not air this piece of junk.
D says:
Nashville Star lost its cred after the way the judges carried on about Taylor Swift. How did this girl get so popular?
Hayden says:
Hello, I think the song is awesome. I lopve you
porky says:
It is called marketing, which unfortunately has little to do with talent.
abc says:
everyones better in th studio, and everyone has there faults on stage but its not like all the singers walk up to a desk and say” iwould like to be a country music singer.” and they give you a form and let u go it takes some talent and most of u on this blog caint even sing in the shower so shut up
Jennifer says:
Chet, I love these behind-the-scenes posts. Keep em coming!
OutlawSteph says:
Why not have Willie and Wynton do a Crossroads episode. It’s the intersection of blues, country and jazz. “The city meets the country” like Wynton says. Kudos to whoever liked the video.
The rest of those videos are for teenagers. You’re not reaching the adult market (over 22 years) if you air them. I think we have more money than teens to spend on whatever is being sold.
-Stephanie
Always Right says:
OutlawSteph,
And the adult market (over 22) are less likely to illegally download songs off the internet than the teens. Why is Music Row catering to the demographic that does this? If they want to target that audience, then they should quit moaning about people stealing songs.
ANG says:
I love this video. I think it took balls to get up there in front of all her peers and idols to perform like that. I have heard people bigger than she is sound much worse live. I think she did a great job. Really to all the ones who say she shouldn’t be up there, Do you have what it takes to be where she is now? She is really going to be something one day, wait and you will see.
BKB IS MEAN says:
Hello i am here to say that bkb is really baggin on taylor
Angel McMane says:
Hey Taylor I am Angel. I want to say that you really rock
Josh says:
I think that all of you are way to hard on Taylor, just because she doesn’t do her performances by sitting on a chair in cowboy boots like all of the older country singers doesn’t me she sucks. By far Taylor’s performance was the best at the ACM awards, don’t be surprised if Taylor’s around a lot longer than other new female singers like Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Pickler
Josh says:
Another thing you guys spend way to much time baggin on someone who can sing country music maybe you should concentrate on the ones who can’t for example SNOOP DOGG
Always Right says:
BKB Is Mean,
BKB is telling it like it is. You just can’t handle the truth.
Always Right says:
Josh,
Actually, Snoop Dogg is a better singer than Taylor Swift, and that’s sad.
Always Right says:
If “Should’ve Said No” goes into rotation on CMT, it will only be because of payola.
audi16 says:
Snoop dogg is a horrible, horrible,horrible country singer!!! Honestly what is happening to country music Kid Rock’s video can run on Cmt, next it will be Snoop Dogg’s video,but ya’ll see a problem putting Taylor Swift’s ACM performance video on cmt.I love this video it is one of my favorite.
Always Right says:
Audi16,
You ask the question, “What is happening to country music?”
I ask that same question when Nashville signs someone like Taylor Swift.
CH says:
your crazy taylor did a good job so shes off key its live shes got balls to do that on stage and say yeah i did that. snoop isnt a country singer and shouldn even be considered one for any of you thinkin he is so wonderfull i thought taylor was just havin fun and thats all its supposed to be!!!
babydoll says:
I’m a big fan of CMT but I’m starting to watch more GAC as they are showing the new Jeff Bates video. I have always wondered why CMT doesn’t show more of this talented artist.
You’d have more room for other artists if you didn’t show the same videos upteen times a day.
sue k says:
Taylor, Sweetheart your sweetness and carring about others is wonder! In your ACM special was purfect, except the dress was a little too low cut wet :) I just love you, You can pull this off, Kelly Pickler couldn’t, Sorry I know you love her, but your the real deal darling. Also conserning Kelly–Don’t wright her songs for her, she is older that you, you have a unique blessing for wright song, I was watching the Grand Ol Op. she was on singing a song, it sounded just like your words, but not you singing it. I Care about you this is why I’m saying this Honny. God bless you. and Congradulations ! ! ! !
Kim Eldridge says:
I’m a HUGE Kenny Chesney fan and attend his concert every year in Atlanta….we love the song “Old Bird Dog” that was a Bonus Track on his Road and the Radio CD….just wondering why he never put that song out on the air and why he does not perform it live in concert? I hear Crossin Dixon has released this song….it does not compare to Kenny’s version!!! We love Kenny!!!!!! He has a HUGE group of “Bird Dog” junkies in Georgia!!!!
Joey says:
I have been waiting for the Crossin Dixon to release a cd for some time now. I am a huge fan!! I really would like to know when you plan to release their cd. and by the way I know I am not the only one. I really think they are a talented bunch of guy and I really enjoyed listening to them live at Ned Devines. Please let me know something.
Thanks,
Joey
Marko says:
Hollerback is actually doing very well now. It’s too bad CMT didn’t get it out the door first.