CMT Blog: Archive

Seven new music videos hit the screening room for the CMT New Video Evaluation Team this week. We see some different sides of Joey & Rory, Billy Currington as barroom philosopher, Darryl Worley as counselor for a troubled marriage, Heidi Newfield kicking up her heels, Love and Theft debuting their talent, the Lost Trailers in the desert and Matt Gary tracing adolescence. One discovery: Most music videos these days feature solar flares. You know, where the camera is turned toward the sun or a very bright light and a flare obscures everything. Watch for them.

Artist: Billy Currington
Video: "People Are Crazy"
Director: The Brads

So, Billy meets an old man in a bar, and they start talking over beers and have a wonderful time. Warning: There is a shaggy dog surprise ending.

Panelists' comments: "That's a good song and a fun video." "Good story." "I love it because there are absolutely no solar flares." "This is set in Ohio. So, how did the ocean get to Ohio?"

Artist: Darryl Worley
Video: "Sounds Like Life to Me"
Director: The Erwin Bros.

Darryl gets a call from a buddy's wife: His friend is turning into a lush. So Darryl tracks him down at their favorite bar and they have a heart-to-heart. Darryl preaches some common sense. They celebrate the ordinariness of everyday life.

Panelists' comments: "Darryl is my life, for real." "That's [Tennessee Titans quarterback] Kerry Collins and Jamey Johnson in there." "What's that mike stand doing out there in the desert?" "They grow there."

Artist: Heidi Newfield
Video: "Cry, Cry (‘Til the Sun Shines)"
Director: Eric Welch

Newfield's follow-up to her single of "Johnny and June" is a lively and very live video of a very upbeat song.

Panelists' comments: "This shows Heidi's personality far better that ‘Johnny and June' did." "Unfortunately, the label quit working this single after the ACM Awards." "Solar flare alert." "She is very feisty."

Artist: Joey & Rory
Video: "Play the Song"
Director: Peter Zavadil

A clever song. "Play the Song" means just that: C'mon radio, quit researching and doing focus groups and just play the music! J&R experiment with some funny makeovers to show how country radio might prefer them to look.

Panelists' comments: "I like them, and I like this." "That's a fun song." "They are so cute. I want to snuggle them." "Solar flare alert."

Artist: Love and Theft
Video: "Don't Wake Me"
Director: Devin Pense

New group performs a catchy, power-popish song. The members of this trio met each other after individually moving to Nashville. They've already caught Taylor Swift's eye to be a tour opener for some dates. Debut album comes later this year.

Panelists' comments: "Good song." "A lot of energy." "It shows each one off as a lead singer." "Kind of a bare-bones video, I'd say." "Solar flare alert!"

Artist: Matt Gary
Video: "The Days You Live For"
Director: Glenn Sweitzer

The story: a kid delivers newspapers on his bike and starts growing into young adulthood. We see highlights of his growing-up stages. The video celebrates the ordinariness of everyday life. About how much we should treasure that.

Panelists' comments: "Interesting." "Very nice song and video." "Why would you use an ordinary mixing bowl as a display bowl?"

Artist: The Lost Trailers
Video: "How ‘Bout You Don't"
Director: Devin Pense

Let's see: a convertible driving in the desert. The Lost Trailers are standing around in the desert singing. There are several solar flares. There is a shaggy dog ending about which member of a couple actually gets an extended deployment to Iraq.

Panelists' comments: "The song is doing well at radio." "I like the song." "There was a lot of skin in there." "I am so tired of tank tops on men."

Consensus: Joey & Rory's "Play the Song" has its world premiere on Monday (April 27) on CMT and goes into heavy rotation. Love and Theft's "Don't Wake Me" has its world debut on Monday in medium rotation. Billy Currington's "People Are Crazy" debuts in medium rotation on Monday.