Hunter Hayes- New Artist of the Year

At just 21 years old, Hunter Hayes was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards last week.  He has is an American country music singer, songwriter, and mulch-instrumentalist.  Hunter says he can actually play 30 different instruments.  On his latest album some instruments that he includes are; guitar, mandolin, bass, piano, and drums.  And that's just naming a few.  Hunter's career first started when he signed to Atlantic Records in Nashville and released his self-titled debut album in October 2011.  That album included the top 20 hit single, Storm Warning.  The album also includes his first No. 1 hit, Wanted.  Wanted actually hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard Country Charts.  By doing this Hunter actually broke a record and became the youngest solo male artist to top the Hot Country Songs charts which was originally set in 1973. He beat the record by a whole month 3 months.  

When Wanted was first released, I actually bought the song right away on iTunes, and it was actually on repeat at times on my iPod because it is such a good song. Hunter is truly an awesome artist, and you should check out his latest album. 

46th Annual CMA Awards

As most country music followers knew, the 46th annual CMA Awards were live yesterday, November the 1st.  Hundreds of country stars gathered under one roof for an extravagant show with live perforances from the most famous and admired country singers, writers, and musicians.  For three decades, the awards were held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville until 2004.  In 2005 the ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden, but now the event is held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.  Once again, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley hosted to awards.  Together they have hosted the CMA's for the fifth straight year.  Many say that they thoroughly enjoy the duo, saying that they are absolutely hilarious. 


Some passed winners and history of the awards:

• The awards first started in 1967, and were regularly held at various locations across the US
• There are 12 categories:
• Entertainer of the Year
• New Artist of the Year
• Vocal Due of the Year
• Vocal Group of the Year
• Musical Event of the Year
• Song of the Year
• Album of the Year
• Single of the Year
• Musician of the Year
• Music Video of the Year
• Female Vocalist of the Year
• Male Vocalist of the Year
• Along with these 12 categories are 9 other awards for National personality of the Year and radio presenters of channels for Station of the Year.
• Both Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks have won Entertainer of the Year four times each.
• Reba McEntire has won the most Female Vocalist of the Year followed by Carrie Underwood who has won it 3 times. 
• Vince Gail and George Strait both have won Male Vocalist of the Year 3 times.
• Vince Gail also holds the unique record of being the host of the CMA Awards continuosly for 12 years.

Winners this year:

• Entertainer of the Year:  Blake Shelton
• Female Vocalist of the Year:  Miranda Lambert
• Male Vocalist of the Year:  Blake Shelton
• New Artist of the Year:  Hunter Hayes
• Vocal Group of the Year:  Little Big Town
• Vocal Duo of the Year:  Thompson Square
• Single of the Year:  "Pontoon"  - Little Big Town
• Album of the Year:  "Chief" - Eric Church
• Song of the Year:  "Over You" - Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton
• Musical Event of the Year:  Feel Like a Rockstar" - Kenny Chesney  (Duet with Tim McGraw)
• Music Video of the Year-  "Red Solo Cup" - Toby Keith
• Musician of the Year- Mac McAnally

Taylor Swift

This week, along with country hit star Jason Aldean's album, Taylor Swift also released her new album, Red.  Taylor has actually released most of her songs, week by week.  Starting last month, she released a new hit single each week, and continued to until most of her brand new songs were constantly playing on the radio, and released the whole album together Monday at midnight.   Red marched Taylor's fourth album.  She personally wrote nine of the album's sixteen songs.  She has described her whole writing process to have taught her to "paint with different colors."  Red examines Swift's attraction to drama-filled relationships; she believes that, since writing the record, such relationships no longer appeal to her.   Musically, while there is some experimentation with "slick, electronic beats", "the pop sheen is limited to a handful of tracks sprinkled among more recognisably Swiftian fare."  I believe that this is her album that shows her transition from a teenager, mid-twenties self moving into a young woman. 

On the album, the lead single became, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which was released in August 2012.  That single broke the recored for the best single week sales by a female artist.  In just one week, she sold 623,000 copies, and became her first number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

I belive that anyone can relate to her album, and I personally love her work, and have every Taylor Swift song on my iTunes library.

You should take a listen to her new album, and I gaurentee you will find a song you like! Enjoy!

Other songs on the new album include:

1. "State of Grace"
2. "Red"
3. "Treacherous"
4. "I Knew You Were Trouble"
5. "All Too Well"
6. "22"
7. "I Almost Do"
8. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
9. "Stay Stay Stay"
10. "The Last Time" (with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol)
11. "Holy Ground"
12. "Sad Beautiful Tragic"
13. "The Lucky One"
14. "Everything Has Changed"
15. "Starlight"
16. "Begin Again"

Jason Aldean

This week, hit country singer Jason Aldean released his newest album.  The album is "Night Train," and it was released this passed Tuesday, October 16, 2012.  Jason has been recording with Broken Bow Records since 2005.  He has released four albums and sixteen singles with Broken Bow Records.  Of his sixteen singles, eight of them have have reached the number one position on the Hot Country Songs chart. 
His newest album, "Night Train," features 15 brand new songs.  The album is number one on iTunes, and has 4.5 stars.  The hit song on the album, that I especially love it "Take a Little Ride."  This was Aldean's first single from the album.  "Take a Little Ride," was released July 16, 2012. 
Following Jason's last album, "My Kinda Party," he had to outdo that album.  "My Kinda Party," was a very successful album, but already I think Aldean has outdone himself.  "Night Train," is currently the number one album on iTunes. 

On iTunes, the review of the album says that, "Aldean's fifth album shows off the Georgia native's confidence after the hard-earned success of his preious My Kinda Party.  Despite his arena status, he still finds the greatness in small towns and front porches.  Night Train burns with a mixture of classic country tones and rock theatrics on tracks like "When She Says Baby," and "Take a Little Ride."  Luke Bryan and Eric Church stop by on the rollicking "The Only Way I Know."" I really enjoy every song on the album, and I think you should check it out too!

Song of the Week- Cruise

Cruise is recorded by Florida Georgia Line.  FGL is made up of singers; Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Georgia and Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida.  The duo has been singing together since graduating from college at Belmont University.  They originally met through mutual friends in Nashville.  Personally, the song reminds me of the summer.  It is mainly a song about a summer love story.  The song is featured on their second album, "It'z Just What We Do."  Other songs on the album include, "Get Your Shine On," "Tip it Back," "Tell me How You Like It," and "It'z Just What We Do." 

Some say that singer and guitarist Tyler Hubbard has a special voice.  His voice is like nothing heard in country music.  He has a grainy, southern drawl.  The song begins with a hook which usually helps it become a huge hit on the radio, and then tells it's story.  Some also say the summer love story it typical, and not always something new but it never gets old, and FGL does a great job of telling the story.  This can be considered as a summer song, but I still think that it is a great song and definitely worth mentioning. Please enjoy this rock-influenced country party song!

Here are some lyrics:
Baby you a song
You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise

Hey baby

Yeah, when I first saw that bikini top on her
She’s poppin’ right out of the South Georgia water
Thought, "Oh, good lord, she had them long tanned legs"
Couldn’t help myself so I walked up and said

Baby you a song
You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise
Down a back road blowin’ stop signs through the middle
Every little farm town with you
In this brand new Chevy with a lift kit
It’d look a hell lot better with you up in it
So baby you a song
You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise

She was sippin’ on southern and singin’ Marshall Tucker
We were falling in love in the sweet heart of summer
She hopped right up into the cab of my truck and said
"Fire it up, let’s go get this thing stuck"

Baby you a song
You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise
Down a back road blowin’ stop signs through the middle
Every little farm town with you
In this brand new Chevy with a lift kit
It’d look a hell lot better with you up in it
So baby you a song
You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise

To see the rest of the lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/floridageorgialine/cruise.html
To see the official music video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto

Song of the Week 2: Angel Eyes

"Angel Eyes" - sung by Love and Theft is a song that I am constantly singing.  The song was released last November, but it is just now making a breakthrough, and has become a top country song.  It actually hit #1 in August 2012.  

The group- Love and Theft, is made up of the duo, Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson.  They both sing lead vocals and guitar in all their songs.  There were originally a trio but another member signed with someone else.  But the duo is going strong, and first made their debut in 2009 with their single "Runaway," which reached the top 10 Billboard hot country songs.  

 The song itself has country roots, but along with new musical influences.  Critics say that this year is a come back year for the group after losing their former trio member.  They were impressed with their past songs, and not the least bit disappointed with "Angel Eyes. "Taken from roughstock.com "There's a little bit of Restless Heart's country-pop, a little bit of the Warren Brothers' grit and some of Blue County's coolness. No, it's not a long song, and no, it doesn't have anything new to say lyrically (it's the umpteenth song about a rebellious preacher's daughter whom the narrator likes). On the other hand, it never feels cliché or tedious. Gunderson and Liles both harmonize and trade off the lead vocal, making everything — particularly the hook "There's a little bit of devil in her angel eyes- sound fresh and interesting."

Here is a link for the lyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/loveandtheft/angeleyes.html
Here is a link for the music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOvyymFaFs4              <---Enjoy!!!

Song of the Week- How Country Feels

Hey Everyone I hope you are really enjoying my blog!

You  might have been wondering why I titled my blog the way I did, and I will now tell you.  There is a song by country singer Randy Houser.  Randy is not a well known artist, but this new top single is all I have been singing this week.  Randy has not a had a top hit since 2008 with "They Call Me Cadillac."  But his time finally came and now it has a top radio hit.  He co-wrote How Country Feels with three other writers.  And he claims that the song "is very relate-able, too, because everybody who listens to country music is not in the country. One thing we have to remember as songwriters is that we have to consider that country music is the country's music. That doesn't mean that everybody's rural."   Critics say that there are parts in the song that seem a little too "country song stereotypical," but there then are also very exciting parts in the song, with guitar solos, and voice breaks with plenty of musical background.  I personally love the song and hope that the 35- year old country artist can keep the songs coming because this is a great song to listen to.  He does not have an official video for the song so please enjoy a video with the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4DqyZ5EgvE