CMT Blog: Rodney Atkins

Aug. 20, 2010

Hey Y'all -

We've been in Dallas and Tulsa, Okla., recently and the shows have been awesome. We rolled into Dallas on Wednesday morning and hit the ground running. Ran over and did some radio visits and met with some folks. The show that night at The Granada was awesome -- thanks everybody for coming out! Here are some pictures of the night. Had a good time hanging out with Meghan & Josh (from Steel Magnolia) in Tulsa. Josh even got up and joined us for "Long Haired Country Boy." -- Rodney

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I thought I'd outgrown songs like this. Themes of rural life, hauling hay, and God forbid, the cliché tractors. But then when I hear one, especially this new one from Rodney Atkins, "Farmer's Daughter," I'm right back where I was a couple decades ago. I buy into a classic country voice like Atkins' singing about having two strong arms, not being scared of dirt and being able to pick peaches, feed hogs and bring the cows ‘round. Sure it's a little predictable that he falls for his boss' daughter. But there are worse ways to paint a love story than one where he's on the tractor and she's on his mind. And I'm still a sucker for a good sweet iced tea delivery.

Lady Antebellum look like they took over the toy store to shoot their new video for "Our Kind of Love." Also, the CMT New Music Video Evaluation Team watched a performance from Kenny Chesney and the Steve Miller Band's CMT Crossroads episode along with new entries from Troy Olsen, Blake Shelton, Rodney Atkins and Steve Azar.

Artist: Lady Antebellum
Video: "Our Kind of Love"
Director: Chris Hicky

For their summer fun, Lady Antebellum played with giant piles of toys in what looks like a giant outdoor toy store to shoot their video for "Our Kind of Love." They co-wrote the song with Michael James Ryan Busbee.

Panelists' comments: "I bet shooting that felt like killer fun." "That is a cute video. It feels really sunny and happy."

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Last weekend on the road was really a blur. I was in seven states in seven days and flew in to meet the bus after stops in Las Vegas, Portland, Ore., and Los Angeles. We had a great first show of the weekend in Kansas (even though I had zero phone service all day). After that, the guys and I had a show in Illinois opening for Rodney Atkins. The crowd was amazing and absolutely huge. I even wore an Illinois shirt onstage that I got as a gift before the show. To close things out, I had a show with Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton in Detroit. All in all it was a really busy, really great week. Can't wait for this weekend and my first shows on the Nothing Like This tour with Kellie Pickler and Rascal Flatts in Raleigh, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta! Hopefully no hazing will happen the first weekend out -- but if it does you'll be the first to hear about it! OH ... and if you leave me questions/comments here this week, I'll do my best to answer them in next week's blog. See you out there ...

Rodney Atkins is a familiar kind of guy. You can't help but to feel comfortable when you listen to his music. His easygoing, laid-back style fits right into his new music video for "Farmer's Daughter." Watching it for the first time, you get the feeling that you've seen it before. With wide-open shots, fields of crops and country living, it's reminiscent of his videos for "Watching You" and "It's America." Even though the storyline for "Farmer's Daughter," about a young farmhand who falls in love with his boss' daughter, is different, the basic elements that make up Atkins' music videos are all there: baseball caps, beat-up old cars, acoustic guitars, family and cute, tasteful lyrics. All of these things, along with his gravelly voice, seem to have become his trademarks.

I love music downloads, but I especially love free music downloads. If you're a Rodney Atkins fan -- or a country fan, in general -- how can you resist a free download of "Get Together"? It's a brand new song that's never been on any of Atkins' albums. Aside from the new music, the Knoxville, Tenn., native has a busy tour schedule this summer, including a June 5 appearance at the BamaJam Music & Arts Festival in Enterprise, Ala. And on June 11, he'll be performing in Nashville on the CMA Music Festival's Riverfront Park stage during a day of music that also features Gretchen Wilson, the Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Craig Morgan, Patty Loveless, Sawyer Brown, Bucky Covington and The Band Perry. His tour is sponsored by VELVEETA Shells & Cheese, and at some of the stops, a "side shack" will provide a variety of family entertainment and the chance to win a VIP pass that allows winners the virtual reality experience of performing with Atkins on an interactive video screen and other prizes. In the meantime, download the song and let us know what you think of it.

If you've ever been to Walt Disney World, you know how you just can't walk in there and play things by ear. If you want to get the most out of it, you have to plan it almost down to the minute. That's why their FASTPASS is such a must-have when you're there. And now that the Country Music Association has come up with this "customize your schedule" page on their website, it seems like it would be just as helpful at the CMA Music Festival. Kind of a FASTPASS for country.

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Rodney Atkins has a new single out. It features his distinctive gravelly voice, some good banjo picking and lyrics about a little boy, a black Lab, mama in the kitchen, family traditions, Saturday shindigs, grandma's stories, grandpa's guitar and so on -- like so many of his songs about the good ol' American way of life. And then there's a chorus about how some things get better the more they get together. But let's just all breathe a huge sigh of relief that he doesn't try to rhyme anything with Velveeta shells & cheese or creamy cheese sauce & shell pasta. Because that's what this "Get Together" song is really for. I personally love the stuff about as much as I love Atkins. But sometimes these branding partnerships cross that line that separates good music from an all-out sellout. Glad that's not the case with Atkins.

I am so blessed. With my family, my health, this job. But I'm also feeling blessed with really good friendships today. I celebrated my birthday this weekend (I turned 29. Again.) and just feel so lucky to have a group of good pals to make the party such a blast. These are friends who make me laugh, but are there when you need a good cry. Friends who know all your dirty secrets but would never tell a soul. And friends who will buy you one too many Jack & Cokes, but then make sure you get home OK. So this morning I'm celebrating every song that has anything to do with friendships.

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are," Tracy Lawrence
"My Old Friend," Tim McGraw
"Friends in Low Places," Garth Brooks
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When a new song comes on the radio, do you ever get the artist wrong? Like when you thought for sure it was Tim McGraw but then you realize it's Rodney Atkins? Or when you start singing along with what you think is a Trisha Yearwood single and the DJ announces it is the latest from Martina McBride? Same with the soundalikes of Tracy Lawrence and Tracy Byrd, Craig Morgan and Billy Currington, Trace Adkins and Josh Turner and Kellie Pickler and newcomer Whitney Duncan. Not to take away from any of those voices. They are all brilliant and powerful and wonderful. But then there are those signature voices in country music that are undeniably unique.

Like Jennifer Nettles. There is just no way you'd ever not know it was her singing. You'd never hear a twangy Sugarland song and think, "Is that Faith Hill?" I am starting to feel that way about a handful of other voices, too. Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley comes to mind, with the way he can sound soulful and deep even when he's singing about a one-night stand like he does on "Lookin' for a Good Time."

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