CMT Blog: Archive

Four new music videos took the CMT New Video Evaluation Team through the emotional gamut from A to B in the latest screening session. Gary Allan suffers, Collin Raye agonizes. Matt Kennon mans the telephone help line, but Colt Ford says the hell with it -- let's party!

Artist: Gary Allan
Video: "Today"
Director: Stephen Shepherd

Gary Allan brings another emotional song about a relationship gone very wrong, gone all wrong. And, as usual, he draws the listener in and makes you want to listen to him.

Panelists' comments: "I can see that one doing very well for him." "I love Gary, but I just don't know about this one." "Depends on if you're happy or sad going into it."

Artist: Colt Ford
Video: "Mr. Goodtime"
Director: Colt Ford

Colt Ford continues his hillbilly rapping with a fairly predictable honky-tonk call to have a good time. That message will always resound in the beer joints and dance halls.

Panelists' comments: "He has a huge following." "That was different -- really different." "We just don't have any good drinking songs anymore. What happened?"

Artist: Collin Raye
Video: "She's With Me"
Director: Matthew McLelland

Collin Raye returns with another sensitive song about young children in peril. He is very persuasive with these.

Panelists' comments: "That's a very moving video." "It's very emotional." "Collin has always been a very good singer. And still is."

Artist: Matt Kennon
Video: "The Call"
Director: Trey Fanjoy

Matt Kennon, a country new face, co-wrote Randy Travis' "Turn It Around." With this debut single, he delivers a message song about suicide and abortion. Just one meaningful phone call, he sings, can turn a life around.

Panelists' comments: "That song has a good message." "And he's got a distinctive voice." "I guess we get no more happy videos till next summer?"

Consensus: These four videos enter the CMT hold file. Joe Nichols' video of "Gimmie That Girl" moved from the hold file into medium rotation on CMT on Monday (Dec. 7).