Miranda Lambert Loves Her Men
By now, the world knows that Miranda Lambert is way too badass to be considered a girly girl. She never was one, she probably never will be. And after watching her at her birthday show in Chicago, I think I know why: She is surrounded by men.
With the exception of her mom joining her onstage for one dance on one song, the rest of the night had Lambert trotting out guy after guy after guy to sing with her. First, there was her five-man band, and she encouraged them to do their own singing for a 10-minute medley of Beatles songs. Then there was boyfriend Blake Shelton, who joined her onstage a couple of times for his take on her "Famous in a Small Town" and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." Even her dad, Rick Lambert, took a turn at the microphone when he brought out his guitar and sang "Trashy Women."
But the man parade didn't end there. Lambert also brought one of her favorite country artists, Alabama-bred Adam Hood, back out after he opened the show for her. And Austin artist Matt Powell sang a little, and singer-songwriting buddy Travis Howard did "America Girl." Another one of Lambert's pals, John Eddie, did a remarkable cover of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers." The rest of the guys in Lambert's backing band (Alex Weeden, Scotty Wray and Chris Kline) had a chance to shine as frontmen for a while, too, as did her Mohawked bass player Aden Bubeck when he sang "Whiskey River."
Even Lambert's cover songs were pretty guy-heavy. She called Jack Ingram her hero before she sang his "Wherever You Are" and said she wanted to do Dierks Bentley's "Come a Little Closer" because he was one of the first ones to believe in her. So even with all her kerosene-soaked, man-bashing songs, I think that deep down, Lambert loves the men in her life.
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RedMaZ says:
Big fan of Adam Hood, Matt Powell, and John Eddie. Not too familiar with the rest, but I’ll check them out. If anyone out of todays crop of Pop singers who could make the transition to Americana it would be Lambert. She’s the closest thing Pop country has to a Roots artist.
Kevin says:
wow, I really wish I would have went to Chicago to see that show. Im sure it was awesome.
Kevin says:
Id especially liked to have heard Miranda do Come A Little Closer.
Kim says:
I am glad ‘Ran’s latest single is deeper than the others. Its really good.
For Red only:
I have got to beat you to a post sometime. she thinks she’s a roots artist. She makes herself out to be part of “texas country”. lets just forget about how she rose to fame on a reality TV show, sponsored by Nashville. A lot of people in TX (myself included) don’t like it that she sells herself like she rose from the depths of the Austin bars and blitzed the country music industry with her Texasness. She is from TX, and she is country, and her music is good, no doubt. but she left Texas roots for quick Nashville fame. No goin’ back in my opinion.
Kevin says:
Yes, she was on a tv show…but she came on that tv show and did the songs that she had already written in Texas. Also, she did not win the competition on that show, so she didnt automatically have anything handed to her. She got her record deal with her singing and songwriting talent. So she came to Nashville.. so what. She was born and raised in Texas and is very proud of that. She did play bars in Texas before coming to Nashville. She didnt know that her Nashville fame would be quick…her talent earned that for her. She left Texas but she definitely has not forgotten her roots. It just happens that her big break came in Nashville.
RedMaZ says:
Hi Kim. Yeah, I realize she went the Nashvegas Pop route, but musically she’s the closest Pop has to a Roots artist. I don’t support her by buying or listening to her music, but she’s IS a fan of some of the artists I listen to. I know how passionate people in Texas are about their music. I guess that’s why I’m so attracted to it.
Jessica says:
I was at the shows at Joe’s on both nights… Sunday night was absolutely fantastic! It’s great when you get to see your favorite artist doing a bunch of covers, instead of her own (that you see her do all the time in regular concerts). Her band totally ROCKS the house. They are wonderful all-around musicians. Adam is the freaking BOMB. Love him. Travis was fun. Blake was absolutely hysterical! John was great. He was at Ran’s birthday bash last year, and blew us all outta the water. He was amazing, but only got one song this year.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. :)
Kim says:
I never meant my previous comment to be degrading. And yes, Red, she is close to roots, but in a roundabout way.
Texas country is a music style and some think (I sure do) a culture, not just a geographical distinction. she should know it. That’s my gripe: she has this “texas country” label outside of Texas. I just object to the misrepresentation. She’s not by our definition. She played here for a while, packed up and went to Nashville. She is a Nashville country star, who is from Texas. Nothing wrong with that. But, She is not Texas roots music by a Texas definition. Close, but no.
Shotgun says:
Kim,
I think the problem here is…(as evidenced by the blog) she is exactly what the record execs are looking for. Hot young “all american” girls who are willing to throw morality and culture to the wind for a chance at the limelight.
People are going to learn, one way or another, that Country culture (in all of its various forms and sects) cannot be manipulated from on high. Give me George Straight…and leave the cussing, drinking, and “rockin’ out” to the “biz.”
RedMaZ says:
George “Strait” is part of the “biz”.
Shotgun says:
Interestingly enough, I just finished watching “Pure Country” again.
Being a part of the “biz” in RedMan sense, and being a part of the “biz” in an ambiguous Shotgun sense, are two different things.
Whatever George may or may not be…his songs and their style organically reflect a culture.
Kevin says:
I dont think Miranda has thrown anything to the wind for a chance at the limelight. I think she is being herself and thats it. I dont think she has changed for anything or anybody.
Shotgun says:
That may be Kevin…but, does she represent country culture?
Her actions on stage, content of her songs, and “influences” don’t “jive” with being country…despite the attempts of the country “powers that be” to convince us all otherwise.
Why was she chosen for a record deal? It’s because who she is as a person, and the image that the “powers that be” want to portray.
That’s all my opinion though. What do I know?
Kevin says:
In my opinion she does represent country culture. Im not exactly sure what you mean by that though. Not all of her influences are country, but many of them are. You mentioned George Strait, and Im pretty sure that he is one of her influences. I think she was chosen for a record deal because of her good pure voice and fantastic songwriting ability. Im sure her good looks didnt hurt her chances any but that is not why she got a record deal. If Im not mistaken she wrote or co-wrote every song on her first two major albums. So I dont think the powers that be are the ones deciding how she is goint to be percieved. Some people might not like cussing and drinking in their country music… and thats fine, but those things are part of country culture. Im not a big fan of alot of cussing in music or music over glamourizing drinking, but music that has involves cussing and drinking can still be country.
SJ says:
Shotgun–
Miranda has said countless times, and will still tell you to this day, that her number one influence and hero is Merle Haggard. Also, she has mentioned David Allan Coe and Emmylou Harris…now “if that ain’t country, then I’ll kiss your ass.” ;)
And as far as “content of her songs don’t jive to being country”…nobody can get airplay on country radio with REAL country anymore, unless you’re a legend. So when it comes to Miranda Lambert, she’s as damn close to real country you can get.
Don’t kill the girl for having looks and a personality. :)
RedMaZ says:
“nobody can get airplay on country radio with REAL country anymore unless you’re a legend” You can’t be serious SJ! Apparently you are talking about Pop Country, but then again legends don’t get played there so you are a very confused person.
Kevin says:
Miranda Lambert is real country
SJ says:
I am not confused at all. When somebody says country radio, people think of Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney…”pop country” I guess you would call it. And on those stations, you get the occasional legend–Reba, George Strait, Dolly Parton. (Don’t tell me they’re not country, because they are) That’s what I meant.
Anyway, to hear Hank Williams, Conway Twitty, or Loretta Lynn, you have to tune into the Country Gold or the Oldies station.
Point is, as time goes on, things evolve. I, myself, can’t stand to hear poppy crap on country radio. A lot of it is, some of it isn’t. And Miranda Lambert’s is more on the traditional side than the pop side. Actually, I wouldn’t consider her pop at all…country with a rock flare.
Don’t believe me? Check out her Kerosene album.
RedMaZ says:
When somebody says Country radio, I don’t think of those people. When somebody says Pop country radio I do (that includes McEntire Strait and Parton too). Tell me who are some of todays Roots country artists you listen to? Do you listen to Roots Country radio?
SJ says:
Dude, just face it, country radio today IS pop country. Plain and simple.
Roots stations are totally different–they’re not near as popular (although they may deserve to be), and so when people say “country radio” that is Carrie, Brad, Kenny, etc.
Do me a favor and listen to “I Can’t Be Bothered” by Miranda. It’s on Youtube…you can’t tell me, that in this day and age, that’s NOT considered country. Real.
RedMaZ says:
Dude? okay Dude. Country radio today is not Pop Country if you are listening to Roots radio, so your comment makes no sense. Yes Roots stations are totally different. They’re not meant to be popular that’s wht Pop music is for. When Roots country fans say country radio, that is Band of Heathens, James Intveld, Patty Loveless, Waylon Jennings, Derailers, Hot Club of Cowtown. All who are currently on the charts. I’ve listened to Lambert, and like I said she’s the closest thing musically Pop country has to Roots music.
Shotgun says:
SJ,
I wont kill Miranda, if you don’t kill me for pointing out the systematic attempt to derail my culture by the music industry. (For any FBI agents trolling here…neither of us really mean to harm anyone physically…so grab another cup of coffee and go browse a different blog.)
You and I agree that there is certainly a difference in the “popular” country of today, and the music of yesteryear.
While you attribute it to a form of sociological evolution, I look at the stated goals of the companies involved (like VIACOM) and see a concerted effort to gradually influence country culture by promoting artists who have views that are counter to, and in many cases hostile to, the very culture they are supposed to be representing.
SJ says:
RedMaZ, you’re obviously not getting what I’m trying to say, so I’ll end it there.
Shotgun,
You are right about the biz churning out artists who represent what the company wants them to represent. However, this article is about Miranda Lambert, and to say that her actions on stage and songs don’t represent what real country is all about is wrong to me. The more rockin songs (which is what you’ve probably seen) are of course further from ‘Country’. But if you watch her stripped down set, it is very heartfelt and has a message, which is what country music is all about.
Her music wears a “commercial mask”, if you will–but underneath it has meaning, reason, and passion in every song.
Shotgun says:
SJ
To be fair…I haven’t listened through her entire Kerosine album (and I do really like that song) so maybe I’ll give her a chance.
While her music is certainly asthetically pleasing, I cannot help but see her as a pre-packaged attempt by “wiser” individuals to “mold” country folks into a more pleasing cultural direction.
I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do about it though…so I may as well just enjoy the music…right?
MiaT says:
I see nothing wrong with Miranda’s line up…She having the time of her life! and then she goes home with Blake…Its good to be her! Happy Birthday Ran! Enjoy!!!
RedMaZ says:
SJ, I know exactly what you’re trying to say. Do you think you are the first person I’ve come across with this outlook and attitude? You said in order to hear Loretta Lynn you have to tune into the country gold or oldies station. Not true. Loretta’s CD Van Lear Rose has been on the Roots Country Music chart for 105 weeks. This chart is based on radio airplay. Roots Country radio plays very little old(er) music. The majority of it is new music.
SJ says:
Shotgun–
I respect your opinion. You should listen to a few more of her tracks. I could recommend some if you’d like. I think another thing that helps is personal experience. Seeing her live, or actually meeting her, would probably change your mind. She’s amazingly down to earth and hasn’t forgotten where she came from. I can 100% guarantee you that. With other popular country stars of today, (Underwood inparticular) their memories seem to be drawing a blank.
Red–
I didn’t mean Loretta and music like hers is LIMITED to oldies or gold stations. You’re talking about Roots, I’m talking Traditional. So really you didn’t.
RedMaZ says:
Roots Music is based on Traditional. Wouldn’t you agree?
WS says:
How do I sign up for getting in that line-up next year for her birthday?
CJ says:
I like Miranda she brings a whole new sound. I like her cute little voice and she is really a intertainer. To me she is country rock.
Shotgun says:
SJ,
I doubt my opinion that Miranda is just a record label lackey will be changed by listening to her music. While I might like many of her songs…what she is, and why she “is” is clear to me.
Kevin says:
Shotgun, I think you are mistaken about Miranda. The record label has not made her who she is. She is herself, and has been since the beginning. The record label didnt write any of her songs, she already had them when she showed up. The record label didnt make her blonde and beautiful….she was born that way. The record label didnt make her a little bit rock n roll…her musical influences and environment that she grew up in did that. There are alot of young artists that have their image manipulated by the record labels, but I dont think Miranda Lambert is one of them.
Shotgun says:
Kevin, by way of a distasteful example, (at least in my opinion)…consider Rush Limbaugh. On Fridays, he has this special episode called “open line Fridays.”
On open line Fridays, “you the listener” supposedly get to choose the topics to discuss.
But, the thing is…only those callers wishing to discuss what Rush wants to discuss get any airtime.
While Miranda may be “true to herself” that doesn’t mean that she is not just a record label lackey.
This is a common tactic. Consider the Country DJ’s who “take requests.” Sometimes, when requests are undesirable, they wait until a person requests a song that is currently in the top 20…
I could continue with more examples, but I think these are enough to make my point.
Kevin says:
Well, I see your point. But for as long as there has been such thing as record labels, they have been picking and choosing who they want to sign and work with. Yes, they choose the people who they feel give them the best chance to make alot of money in today’s society. In the case of Miranda Lambert, she came to them already posessing everything they were looking for. So really, the record label is working for her moreso than she is working for them. She uses them for what she needs and in turn they get what they want as well.