July 18, 2005
Faith Hill dyes her roots
Posted by Larry Karnowski at July 18, 2005 7:00 AMThis article is cracking me up -- "Singer Faith Hill reclaims her country roots." Basically, the gist of it is that since Faith's last album was so "pop," the country radio stations "complained that there was nothing they could play" from it. Huh? "Too pop" for country radio? Input error, doesn't compute.
However, the most interesting part is that to get back to her "country roots", she's picking up songs by alt country and Americana songwriters like Darrell Scott and Lori McKenna. Does that make me want to buy -- or even just listen to -- her forthcoming album, "Fireflies?" Well, no, not really, but it does make me want to go and listen to some Lori McKenna. Her's is a name I hear a bit, but I've never actually heard any of her music. Any thoughts on where I should start?
I just find it delicious that to get back to their "country roots," mainstream artists are more and more digging into Americana songwriters like Darrell Scott, Tim O'Brien, Buddy & Julie Miller, and now Lori McKenna. I find this trend heartening.
This quote also left me in stitches, from the Faith herself -- "I really felt like I could interpret these [Lori McKenna] songs. I feel like I wrote them. It's hard to make that connection sometimes. That's why, as an artist, I have to be really patient and be strong in what it is I want to do. Sometimes I just have to experiment with a lot of stuff and figure out what I want to say and how I want to say it."
Have to "really be patient and be strong" and "experiment" in order to figure out songs written by other people that will be "what I want to say and how I want to say it?" You know, I'm a software developer by trade, and maybe I should just really be patient and strong and wait for someone else's code that will be just exactly what I "want to say" to fix the problem at hand. Or wait, you know what? I could just do it myself. Hmmm.
And to be clear, I don't have a problem with singers using other people's material. There are very many talented musicians out there that aren't great songwriters, and many great songwriters that really can't perform their music as well as someone else. So, interpreting others' work is okay, but don't give an interview where you say you have to "really be patient and strong" and wait for someone else to write something for you. Geez.
I'm with you Larry! Speaking of Ms. Hill, have you heard hubby Tim's most recent hit…no, not the one w/ Nelly, the other one? It's called "I miss back when" and it involves Mr. McGraw getting all nostalgic for the days when "A screw was a screw / the wind was all that blew / and when you said 'I'm down with that' / it meant you had the flu".
Well, there's a great line in the bridge where he sings "I'm readin' Street Slang for Dummies / Cause they put pop in my country / I want more for my money / The way it was back then".
Hmmm? So by "they", Tim, don't you really mean "we"? I think maybe you do.
Oh yes, Miss Faith. Like that swell experiment where you made Janis Joplin's "Take Another Piece of My Heart" into a happy little ditty. We're sooooo glad you were strong and patient enough to do that.
And James, I have not heard that Tim McGraw song. Oh. My. God. The irony! :) I bet his producers were in the booth all like, "Um, should we tell him?" And then one was like, "No dude! This song will make us rich again!" And the rest of them were all like: "Oh yeah, good point. Great job there, Timmy!"
Posted by: Stacy at July 18, 2005 9:46 PMThe real good news is that when the popsters on country radio start sensing their gravy train is reaching the end of the line it means that good country music could make its way back onto radio in about five years.
Posted by: sean at July 19, 2005 7:47 AMI like Lori McKenna's first album, "Paper Wings and Halo" best, but I read a bunch of good reviews for last year's album, "Bittertown." Haven't heard it yet myself. (Full disclosure: I don't actually own "Paper Wings," since a roommate had it. I just stole her CD constantly.)
Posted by: Sharon at July 19, 2005 11:40 AMDon't hold yer breath on Americana's radio rebirth. By the time they figure out we don't listen to them any more, our habits will have changed to the point where we just don't turn the radio on at all. Streaming sites like Folk Alley and Twang City will have snapped us all up, leaving radio looking for new friends in a big, lonely world.
Radio will go Latin - it is already headed there, they're a huge audience, they love radio, and they buy ads.
Posted by: Jim Pipkin at July 29, 2005 3:13 PMI've heard the CD and I think it's great. Her voice never sounded better.
Posted by: Kerry at August 1, 2005 2:30 AMCool, Kerry. Did you enjoy the Lori McKenna and Darrell Scott songs on it?
Posted by: larry at August 1, 2005 7:28 AMLori just signed with Warner - we'll see where that goes. Having songs picked up by Faith did not hurt.
Posted by: Jim Pipkin at August 1, 2005 1:48 PMI've been listening to Lori McKenna for years. She is an amazing artist who i've loved lyrically for a long time. Any cd by her is incredible, but my favorite is the Kitchen Tapes. Its a CD she recorded on a mini recorder in her kitchen over a few days, just her and her guitar. You can even hear her kids in the background. It's funny, i was talking with her once after a show and we were talking about an Ashlee Simpson episode on mtv, Lori was just laughing at the idea at how much money could go into one artist while she (Ashlee) sat with a friend paying no attention to a full orchestra recording her song while she talked about what she would wear later. It's great someone like Faith Hill is recognizing songwriters like Lori McKenna, but I tend to fully appreciate those who create the songs, no matter how much money may go into making them.
Posted by: Lori LaBombard at August 3, 2005 12:06 AMAs a long time Lori fan, I agree with Lori above. I like the raw-ness of The Kitchen Tapes, though Bittertown has some wonderful tunes to recommend it.
It's exciting to see all this happening for someone we in the Northeast have followed for a while and are fortunate enough to have in our midst.
Posted by: Jamie at August 5, 2005 7:53 PMI'm so pleased to see all of the attention Lori's been getting recently. She is such a talented songwriter (I'm a huge fan of the Kitchen Tapes and an even bigger fan of Bittertown). It's so great to her get some wider recognition.
I must say, though, I think those of you who aren't so keen on Faith are being a little too critical. I can understand the way that quote might sound, but I think you (Larry, especially), should chill out a little bit. Faith is an extremely talented vocalist (and consistent hit-maker). No matter how much I love Lori, I have to admit Faith sings her songs much better. Faith is one of the most talented vocalists of our era...hands down. She sings Lori's songs convincingly and, perhaps, more expressively than Lori does herself. Just my opinion.
By the way, I hardly find it constructive to criticize Faith when there are so many Britneys, Jessica's, and Ashleys out there...
Posted by: Matt at August 6, 2005 2:38 AM
