Has iCarly's Sam Gone Country?
Rookie artists, enthusiastic publicists and weird guys living in their parents' basements send me country songs all the time. And I always listen. But a song has to be really, really good to keep me listening past, say, the first 30 seconds. That rarely happens with new artists.
This time, though, I was moved to listen to this song not once or twice, but about 10 times. It's like someone took half of Taylor Swift, half of Miley Cyrus, poured some fiddle all over that and voila: Jennette McCurdy. The fusing of young vocals and traditional instruments gets me every time.
But when I went to do a little research on her, I realized why she had such a familiar voice. If you've ever seen Nickelodeon's crazy popular teen comedy, iCarly, you'd know McCurdy, 16, as Sam. She's the sassy, greedy, bratty, self-centered best friend of Carly. But on this song, she sounds as sweet as any other new country artist. I know, I know. You can't judge a potential career after just three and a-half minutes. But I have a gut feeling this girl may stick around. The hook's about, "Am I outta my mind, I think that I might be goin' crazy, ‘cause my heart is yours to have and hold to break. How'd you get to be so close, and yet so far away?" So she's not breaking any new ground there. But if you listen, I think you'll hear what I hear: a refreshing country sound from the otherwise all-pop-music factory known as Nickelodeon.
I don't know much about how McCurdy got into country music. Although she did play the little girl in the back seat of the car in Faith Hill's "The Way You Love Me" video. So maybe the sound has just stuck with her all these years.
Photo credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Melissa says:
Interesting….I will give this a listen. Thanks Alison!
classiccountryfan says:
Oh no not another one.
emily says:
cool.
im gonna listen to it
Bobbie From New York says:
I think her song is great. Honest, real, a little pop, but still, country to the core. More power to you Jennette!
Twangtown7 says:
Half of Swift and half of Cyrus?
Um, thats all I needed to read. I will not be giving it a listen.
shawna says:
i think it id really weird :)
jasmine says:
it looks like sam bent her teeth no afense but wheres carly? and when u guys put icarlys sam did u mean did CARLY and SAM go country? or did u mean did spancer,carly,fredie and sam go country? i think dat wonder wheres carly????????????????????????lol lmao
fatboy says:
watz up im fatboy i wach ur show all the time i think u sexy!!!!!!!!!!
Miranda says:
Jennette McCurdy is my best friend!
MiaT says:
LOVED it. :)
tiana says:
dear icarly i watched all your shows i am a big fan of you sincerely tiana ps search me on myspace
classiccountryfan says:
Alison,
Since you like to blog about young artists
Here are some for you to check out.
Sierra Hull 16 year old mandolin player who writes and arranges her songs.
The Cats and the fiddler a trio of 14 year olds twin boys and their cousin. They play multiple instruments also write and arrange their songs.
Elizabeth says:
i am jennettes hugest fan!i learned her song by the next day!
benito rodriguez says:
I love her song and her voice. Really she can go up on his musical career.
sorry for my bad english.
Jara says:
Jennette isn’t Miley and Taylor combined. It sounds NOTHING like Miley, cuz Miley is utter crap, and Jennette is incredible
Josie says:
Jennettes song is fantastic. Her voice is amazing.
DolanMoses says:
I love her voice its great…… I can see her in the music carreer for a long time!
DolanMoses says:
by the way Jannette Keep on going on into music its your strong dont let anyone’s opinion get to you!
jeanette says:
love jenette <3 :) =) she has a great voice , im happy my name is jeanette !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=) :)
Carrie says:
Thats really cool that Jeanette is going country. Thats awsome! I am really excited about it!
Josey says:
YAY! I wouldn’t compare her to miley and Taylor though. Miley is the next Brit and Taylor is full of herself. I think she sounds like shania. I luv her song So close, and it really surprised me when i heard it’s country sound! I would have never expected that from someone of Nick. Lol
Luv her!
goldie says:
if anyone is into their self it would be carrie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy says:
I have to disagree in the statement that she is half Taylor Swift and half Miley Cyrus. I think she’s more half Taylor Swift and half Shania Twain. She is a waaay better singer than Miley Cyrus.
keN says:
…. Wildly talented, much like “The Flying Bensons”,
but with a crank’n set of pipes, yo! Who knew?
Check out her first album this June. Go Jmac..!
. . . . . . keepitoniCarly.com . . . . . . .
Sammy says:
well 1st I herd it on Fred from youtube, and I thought I’d check it out. And MAN I loved it! It’s like one of the BEST country songs I EVER herd! :)
Lemme just say to the people who NEVER herd it to CHECK IT OUT! It’s totaly awesome!
RESPECT THE HILLBILLYS!!!!!!! (and hoboes)
:)
Katelyn says:
Ok I heard it from Fred to. I love it Its called so close by jenette mccurdy. Thank you so much Fred for letting us here that cool song!
Molly says:
She sounds nothing like Miley and Taylor. She sounds like Shania. When I hear it on Fred, I was like that’s Shania. But it was the chick off Icarly so that was really suprising.
McKenna says:
I have heard that song and have it on my iPod. On Fred when he says her looks are ” just as good as Judy’s” that’s an understatement! That girl is gorgeous! nd she is nothing like Sam on iCarly! Oh, and to all you Fred fans, he’s thinking of killing off Fred! Just to warn ya’ll. Bye!
—–Long live Fred!
McKenna says:
Jenette, you’re song rocks! I swear, you could be the next Shania. : )
Kirsty says:
I have this song on my phone, when I first heard it I was shocked, I was like WOAH she’s fantastic…and I just love listening to So Close
Kayla says:
I love Jennette’s song! It is the best song i have ever heard!!!! She is my favorite actress and singer! This song is a MUST! Go to http://www.jennettemccurdy.com for more info on this AMAZING,TALENTED,CARING artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara says:
Agreed, AND she’s a good role-model
Sam says:
SAM SOS HERMOSA !
agdagsm says:
I love her music and acting i want to meet her in nickolodeon choise kids awards 2010 it will too amazing i think…
emocmpunk says:
jeenethe maccurdy te amo un xindo y te dejo mi correo para xatear cuando kieras emo_cm_punk_xd@hotmail.com
Dierdra says:
I just listened to it. Yuck. This girl has no chance to make it as a country artist. If she wasn’t on a hit tv show (which icarly apparently is), the music industry would have NO interest in her. I’m sure they will pretend she’s a singer for a while and try to sell a few albums while her tv show is still successful, then byebye. also it doesn’t help jenette that taylor swift is around, because taylor is far better and much much prettier. jenette looks a bit trollish by comparison.
P.S. I can’t STAND country artists that don’t come FROM THE COUNTRY. Poser. Wannabee.
Glen says:
I have over 25 years in the music biz, former keyboardist/MD of Kendricks/Ruffin among others. Jennette has one of the most amazing voices for her age I have ever heard. Most of what the public hears is compressed and processed through effects like the TC Helicon Voiceworks which can make a friggin Rotweiler sound like Mariah Carey. Jennette has done live videos of her singing with no effects, very gutsy and impressive. She will be a major talent.
Matthew Degroff says:
Rock On Jennette, You Have One Hell Of A Voice , I’m Also A Big I!Carly Fan , I Am Looking Forward To The Release of Your First Country Album , I Hope That It Goes Straight To Number 1
colton says:
go jennette mCcurdy gone country heeha
samanta says:
ı loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Will says:
Sam is so hot! I love her so much!