Eight New Music Videos From Big Kenny, Gloriana, Phil Vassar and More
Eight new videos crowded into the screening room all wanting to be viewed by the CMT New Music Video Evaluation Team this week. Big Kenny goes farming, Gloriana go live, Phil Vassar explores cross-dressing, and Steve Azar is chasing a dollar. The Abrams Brothers hit the asphalt, Bleu Edmondson walks the edge, the Bellamy Brothers are visited by Kevin Bacon, and Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers revisit country music's past.
Artist: Big Kenny
Video: "Long After I'm Gone"
Director: Christian Holiday
Big Kenny steps out here as a solo artist with a bucolic ramble around an idyllic, sun-dappled farm. The video's story line is of the failed musical dreams but ultimately happy life of a farm boy.
Panelists' comments: "Beautifully shot." "That is one very good-looking video." "Very sweet. I love the song."
Artist: Gloriana
Video: "The Way It Goes"
Director: Chad Denning
Gloriana's latest venture is a glimpse of them singing on the road with Taylor Swift on her current tour. In fact, Swift gets into the act here. This song is on the group's digital EP, which is available at tour stops.
Panelists' comments: "I like this. You still get a sense of them as a band, but you know who the lead singer is here." "That hasn't always been clear." "I like the harmonies."
Artist: Phil Vassar
Video: "Bobbi With an I"
Director: Eric Welch
"Bobbi With an I" is Phil Vassar's much-talked about song about a guy who dresses up as a girl to get free drinks at ladies' night at the neighborhood joint. Actor James Denton makes an appearance here -- although not in drag.
Panelists' comments: "Good try, but that video is basically just one joke stretched over several minutes." "I do like the song." "It's doing great at radio."
Artist: The Abrams Brothers
Video: "Viva La Vida"
Director: Derek Horn
The Abrams Brothers, a young Canadian roots-bluegrass group, walk their version of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" through downtowns and visit musical landmarks such as Detroit's Hitsville USA, Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Nashville's Lower Broadway.
Panelists' comments: "I love seeing a bluegrass group adding an electric guitar." "That's pretty cool." "I really like seeing bluegrass played in the middle of skyscrapers."
Artist: The Bellamy Brothers featuring the Bacon Brothers
Video: "Guilty as Charged"
Director: Laura Lyness
Veteran country artists the Bellamy Brothers are joined here by actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael on a serious jailhouse lament, also featuring actress Shannen Doherty.
Panelists' comments: "That sounded really good." "So the Bacons can actually sing." "Nice song, good singing."
Artist: Steve Azar
Video: "Moo La Moo"
Director: Eric Welch
Steve Azar tackles a song about budget woes, with the kicker line being, "Too much month at the end of the money." The video takes place in a bar, with a lot of dancing.
Panelists' comments: "That song's a big hit on the club circuit already." "Yeah, I can imagine it doing well in dance clubs." "Not much story, but nice action."
Artist: Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
Video: "Johnny Cash Is Dead and His House Burned Down"
Director: Eric Welch
Over a reworked rockabilly version of Johnny Cash's "Big River," the Gatlins present a bittersweet farewell to all that has passed in country music. The song is compelling, but the visuals will stop you dead with the black and white and red show posters, likely from Hatch Show Print in Nashville.
Panelists' comments: "That's one of the most striking videos I've ever seen." "And I like the song." "This is their first in 17 years? Incredible."
Artist: Bleu Edmondson
Video: "Finger on the Trigger"
Director: Chad Denning
Raspy-voiced Texas honky-tonker Bleu Edmondson makes a very dramatic video from his song about being down and out to the point of actually picking up a gun. The ending is easy to figure out, but it's still effective.
Panelists' comments: "Wow. That's some reality." "Sounds like Steve Earle could have written it." "No one will understand the line about the DHS." "Are you kidding? Everyone knows about the DHS taking kids."
Consensus: Three videos will begin airing Monday (June 29) on CMT. Gloriana's "The Way It Goes" has its world premiere in hot shot rotation. Big Kenny's "Long After I'm Gone" hits the channel in heavy rotation. The Abrams Brothers "Viva La Vida" has its debut in heavy rotation.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Sis says:
The Abrams brothers can play bluegrass good.
Vicki says:
But that Abrams song is too well known and just doesn’t sound right in the bluegrass format. That’s Coldplay’s song and is one of their best known song. It was also on a commercial as well wasn’t it? They should have chosen a lesser known song.
Big Kenny: So-so
Gloriana: Is this Country? Way too Pop
Bobbi with an “i”: Love it! C’mon CMT play it
Gatlin Brothers: Pretty catchy…good Johnny Cash sound
Bleu Edmondson: Best of the bunch..now that’s honesty.
Atara says:
Glory Anna - Are they like 15?
Geez. More Sugarland please!
Aaron says:
Bobbi with and I is a hilarious video. CMT better be playing it very soon. Maybe Phil will get some recognition that he deserves. Go Phil.
Syd says:
I am so happy that Big kenny is doing his solo thing. He is the better half of Big N Rich. I like his voice much better, and he’s not a staunch, ignorant Republican like John Rich. He’s just a nice guy! Oh and Gloriana sucks! they are just a bad, wannabe rip-off of Little Big Town.
countryiscool says:
I like Big Kenny, John Rich is ok, love Gloriana. I pay no heed to ANY celeb’s political leanings/endorsements- only like them for their music.
Darlene says:
Love the sound of GLORIANA, they will go to LEAPS!! They are truly Blessed with there HARMONY!!
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dan says:
Like gloriana’s but it is not as good as wild at heart.
Redmaz says:
Kenny, Azar, Gloriana, Vassar…Pop fluff not worth wasting my time on.
I’ve heard of Coldplay, but never heard their music, so I have nothing to compare what the Abrams did with the song. My first impression of their cover is not to my liking though.
Gatlin Brothers…I’m not sure what you mean by a reworked Rockabilly version of Big River, but I like the song and video, but not with the Country Opera crew of the Gatlin Brothers. Never did care for their sound.
Bleu Edmondson. Yes! This is the music I like and support. Great song, and okay video. Bleu Edmondson has a lot of great music. I challenge any mainstreamer to step out of your radio box and explore it.
Sue says:
Love the new Big Kenny! just got the song free on his site! he is a good guy!
W Thomas says:
“Finger on the trigger”,,,doubt that it will get much air time because the song is not PC. Great Video!
Big Kenny’s video was pretty good,,,that boy just likes to have fun, nothing wrong with that.
Marie says:
Big Kenny Video! ..Finally Thank you!! I am sure this is why i bought big n rich.Love the song and the images..awesome video! beautifully done! (..did I say Thank you!) ..So happy to hear that voice again, greatly needed. When will it be on the radio? just went to bigkenny.tv ( thx for the tip from Sue?) it rocks. He really has it together, always reaching out to help and make the world a little better..kinda like Bono..regardless great song and video
NeedMoreRascalFlatts says:
Gloriana sucks!!! I think all their songs sound like 4 year old music. I don’t think they will get very far.
Jessica says:
Viva la vida bluegrass sucks. This is a horrible remake. Playing not horrible, but the singing sure is. They butchered the song. It should have been left to Coldplay much, much better.