CMT Blog: Archive

In new videos screened by the CMT New Music Video Evaluation Team this week, Jimmy Wayne drops by CMT's Studio 330 Sessions for some singing, Chris Young gets serious, Love and Theft go ethereal, Phil Vassar is haunted and Trailer Choir try to get in the holiday spirit.

Artist: Chris Young
Video: "The Man I Want to Be"
Director: Chris Hicky

Chris Young follows his No. 1 hit, "Gettin' You Home," with a somber and serious song about breakup and reconciliation. It all starts with a phone call from the bus station to The Man Above.

Panelists' Comments: "I love that song." "How did Trace [Adkins] miss getting that song?" "Maybe Chris wrote it." "I don't think so."

Artist: Jimmy Wayne
Video: "Sara Smile" (Live From Studio 330)
Director: Eric Welch

Jimmy Wayne has been singing this trademark Hall & Oates song for years and in fact landed his first Nashville recording contract on the basis of his performance of it. Darryl Hall and John Oates sing on his recording of "Sara Smile." Here, Wayne sings it in CMT's Studio 330.

Panelists' comments: (Note: This was screened earlier this year when the conceptual video was released. These were the comments then.) "Cool. That actually sounds like Hall & Oates." "Jimmy is one of the most underrated singers around." "That song is kind of a strange choice. But maybe his listeners will go for it."

Artist: Jimmy Wayne
Video: "Paper Angels" (Live From Studio 330)
Director: Eric Welch

Wayne also re-did his song "Paper Angels" at CMT's Studio 330 and talked about the genesis of the song, which he co-wrote.

Panelists' comments: "I like the spoken intro, where he talks about how this was part of his childhood." "Those are good lyrics." "That's a lovely message."

Artist: Trailer Choir
Video: "Rockin' the Beer Gut (Holla Day Version)"
Director: Weston Harvey

Those Trailer Choir misfits insist on getting the beer gut into the holiday spirit. This is an animated video.

Panelists' comments: "We've never had an animated video do well before." "Except for Toby Keith's 'American Ride.'" "True. Maybe this one will, too." "That video cost all of $200."

Artist: Phil Vassar
Video: "Everywhere I Go"
Director: Chris Cella

Phil Vassar takes his grand piano to the beach for his new video, "Everywhere I Go." He and his beloved are seen splashing in the surf, but she abandons him and haunts his memory. Now, he sings, "And there you are/Everywhere I go."

Panelists' comments: "You know, I really like Phil, but he shouldn't try to be a sex symbol." "Too many earrings." "Nice song, though."

Artist: Love and Theft
Video: "Dancing in Circles"
Director: Kristin Barlowe

Love and Theft do a live street scene performance for their new song, "Dancing in Circles." It's a mandolin-driven exercise in their close harmony singing.

Panelists' Comments: "That's kind of religious. It's a lovely song." "That kind of looks like they're in front of the side entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue in New York." "That's actually downtown Nashville." "It looks great."

Consensus: Chris Young's "The Man I Want to Be" will debut on CMT in heavy rotation on Monday (Dec. 14). Jimmy Wayne's "Paper Angels" and Trailer Choir's "Rockin' the Beer Gut (Holla Day Version)" will debut in holiday rotation on Tuesday (Dec. 15).