Country Music Channel Australia – Website (My Requests Update) May 14, 2008

In my last blog I said how I requested a song for the Country Music Channel, even though I don’t get this channel. Well, they just emailed me and they are actually playing my song, with my name and address on the screen and everything. I am stocked, but I would probably be more impressed if I had the chance to see it. When they emailed me to tell me it was being played, they even included the exact times it was going to be on, which I think is an excellent idea. This way you don’t have to be sitting in front of the TV for hours waiting for your song to be played. The more I get into this website, the more I am impressed by its efficiency and quality, and in case I haven’t made you want to have a look…do it now! You might even get a song played too. But in case you just want to sit back and watch mine, its being played this at:

May 15 2008 2:38AM
May 15 2008 8:40AM
May 15 2008 1:06PM
May 15 2008 11:25PM

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, I thought I would request some more, so I requested Carrie Underwood “All American Girl” and Gretchen Wilson “You Don’t Have To Go Home”, and…wait for it…they are playing those for me too. Yay, can I pick them or what! So, the Carrie Underwood song is playing at:
May 15 2008 12:14AM
May 15 2008 4:21AM
May 15 2008 1:41PM
May 15 2008 4:47PM

And the Gretchen Wilson song is being played at:
May 15 2008 2:07AM
May 15 2008 7:22AM
May 15 2008 12:00PM
May 15 2008 3:00PM
May 15 2008 10:18PM

So, if you have pay TV, check them out and tell me how they were!

By Jacki Tipton

Country Music Channel Australia – Website May 14, 2008

This website is spectacular. Its everything you would expect of a country music website, even down to the background which is a sunset sort of design. So, so much better than the CMT website I previously looked at. The site has news, upcoming events, competitions, forums, links, FAQ and even has a section for requests. The site is a who’s who and what’s what of Australian and international country music. It even has a TV guide for the Country Music Channel in Australia.

As I have said before, I personally don’t get the Country Music Channel but this web site allows me to still be in the loop with what’s happening.

Some of the featured items on the main page at the moment are tour dates and information for the “Slim Dusty Family Reunion”, New up and coming songs and singers such as “Good Girls” by Amber Lawrence, “Country Life” by The Distance feat. James Reyne, “City of Immigrants” by Steve Earle, “Rattlin’ Bones” by Kasey Chambers and “Anyone Who Had A Heart” by Helby Lynne, a voting pole about which music festival is most popular, reviews for “CMC Rocks the Snowy’s“, the TV guide for tonight and a competition to win a copy of the CD “There’s More to Country Volume 2” (which I entered so wish me luck). I also found an add for a show about Pro Bull Riding that’s on Saturdays at 4pm (I really wish I had this channel now). And that’s only what’s on the home page.

Browsing around the page is easy. It is so bright and well set out. As I was sifting through the information, I stumbled across the requests page. So, what else do you do when on a requests page…well you have to request something don’t you. I know I don’t have the channel so I wont even know if they play my song, but just for the fun of it I thought I’d give it a go. I requested “Till We Aint Strangers Anymore” by Bon Jovi and Leann Rimes. I am actually surprised at the amount of bands that are becoming increasingly involved in the country genre. Until I really started searching, I wasn’t aware of how many people enjoy country music. Bon Jovi to me is a fairly mainstream, good old fashioned 80’s rock band. Never in a million years would I have seen them as country. The more I search, the more I am astonished at how much country music is growing in strength and appreciation.

The more I go through this web site, the more I find myself disappointed that I don’t get this channel (or I want to make friends with someone that does). It the “Shows” section I found that “CMC Rocks the Snowy’s” is being repeated several times. I would love to be able to watch this, not only because I could get the chance to finally see Sugarland in concert, but because it has an impressive array of Australian country music talent. If only I had know about it before it was on, then I could have made an effort to attend the actual festival.

Another great aspect of the site is the forum. Here you can read other fans criticism and highlights and they even give some information on upcoming things to look out for, as well as reviews and pictures of spectacular shows of the past. It’s a great way to touch base with people who share you similar interests or even just to get some further knowledge on country music.

Probably the most useful aspect of the site, for us average schmos without the Country Music Channel anyway, was the links page. Here it has a list of a variety of different country music artists and links to their sites, and yes it even included Keith Urban. Other names include Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Dixie Chicks, Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Toby Keith, and Troy Cassar-Daley.

It really is a great site to go and visit. It is really hard to find a site that’s not only interesting but easy to navigate, but this does both. So go and check it out, its definitely worth it, especially if you want to learn more about this relatively under appreciated but growing genre.

 

By Jacki Tipton

Country Music Television Website May 14, 2008

After reading Sophie’s post on the CMTV, I decided to have a little look at what country music channels offer. I don’t have pay TV so I decided to go and check out the Country Music Television website instead.

The site is rather plain but very simple and easy to navigate. On the main page it has some general information about some of the featured artists such as Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and Emily West. It also has some information on what’s on this weekend on Country Music Television, The Academy of Country Music Awards and even some information of what you can watch on Country Music Television on your mobile.

One of the best sections on the site is the 20 questions section. These are short 20 question interviews with various country music artists. Its short and sweet and straight to the point. They are really informative too. They answer the real questions. The ones we actually want to hear answered from a band. None of the dribble that takes up space on a full page magazine spread, just the real info like how the band met and how they got started etc.

Another great area is the ‘Community’ page. With message boards, blog’s, photos, auctions, sweepstakes, FAQ, music and newsletters it has all the information you ever need about your favourite artists and CMT. There is even a chance for you to get on TV, where you can make over your home or have your very own redneck wedding.

The site isn’t spectacular but it does give you sufficient information on CMT. It has a variety of information but I would not say that it goes above and beyond what you would expect. Over all, I was a little disappointed with the site. It was a little banal and plain. I hope the actual Country Music Television station has more interesting coverage.

By Jacki Tipton

Sugarland – Twice The Speed Of Light/Enjoy The Ride May 14, 2008

The first time I heard of sugarland was because of Jennifer Nettles (Sugarlands front singer) duet with one of my favourite bands, Bon Jovi. After hearing the song, I went out and downloaded the music video and loved it. The song was “Who Says You Cant Go Home”, and I personally love the duet much more than Bon Jovi’s original version. Apart from that though, I knew very little about Sugarland. That was until I listened to the “So Country” Complimation. “So Country” had a song called “Stay” by Sugarland, and was actually one of the songs on the DVD. As soon as I saw the video I recognised Jennifer Nettles, and after listening to the song I felt compelled to research them further. The song was terribly sad, but rather than just a sad song, you could actually hear the sadness in Jennifer’s voice. It was incredibly moving and compelling. So, after a short internet search I found they had two CD’s out, which are not easy to get so I had to order them.

The most recent CD from Sugarland is “Enjoy the Ride”, however personally I enjoyed their first CD “Twice the Speed of Life” more. I struggled to buy both of these CD’s even though they are fairly recent, and once again I must be onto an up and coming band because just weeks after I bought “Enjoy the Ride” it got re-released with the bonus track “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” with Bon Jovi, and its now in every country and new release shelf in every music store.

Sugarlands sound it typically country, and that nasal sound that I have mentioned before is Jennifer’s signature sound, and she pulls it off better than I have ever heard before. Their first CD “Twice the Speed of Life” is upbeat and has that sunny emotional quality that I have previously mentioned was my favourite aspect of the country genre. The trio are well harmonised and balanced and sing songs that you can really relate to. Songs about hard times with no money and big dreams. Something everyone feels but rarely articulates well. Each song has an intense sing-a-long vibe too. There are some songs that you just listen to and some that you belt out, and these are definitely the latter, which helps to further reinforce the playful feeling that they seem to give out.

Their second CD is quite a bit different. By the second CD, the groups founder Kristen Hall had departed, and I don’t know if this was the cause of the change but one would assume that It would have to have something to do with it. “Enjoy the Ride” still starts off with the upbeat and sunshine songs of the previous CD but then it goes into a much slower tempo of music with more sensitive melodies and a more methodical approach.

I find the differing tempos of each of the CDs quite ironic. The first CD with its happy and sunshine appeal has a very dark and cloudy blue cover, where as the second CD with the dark methodical sound has a bright and colourful cover. Generally I think the covers should imitate the sound of the CD’s and I find it quite weird that in this case it’s the opposite. However, they do say not to judge a book by its cover, or a CD by its case in this instance, so we cant really be expected to judge the music based on this shallow concept.

After listening to both CD’s, Sugarland has succeeded in recruiting a new fan. I absolutely love their music and would love to see them live. I have seen a few of their live performances on the internet, mainly from Country Music Television and mostly accompanying Bon Jovi, but I have to say they put on a great show. They are so lively and energetic on stage. But, unfortunately for me, they have just finished a live show in Australia, so there goes that idea for now. They recently played at Thredbo’s concert “CMC Rocks the Snowys” on Friday the 14^th of March, so apparently it’s not just me that knows and loves them. They played alongside other bands such as the John Butler Trio (which I don’t really consider a country band, but that’s OK), Adam Harvey, Shannon Noll and Steve Ford.

After reading more about Sugarland I have found that they are one of Americas up and coming bands. “Twice the Speed of Life” went double platinum, and “Enjoy the Ride” debuted at #4 on the US Billboard 200 and #2 on the US Country Charts. They also received an award recently for breakthrough favourite new artist in the American music awards. Personally, I totally agree. Its not very often that I instantly fall in love with a band or a sound but in this case, I made an exception. And what drew me in the most? Well, weirdly enough, it was the nasal sound that I once hated. Jennifer’s voice along with the sunny and rocky tones of the music makes for a winning combination.

By Jacki Tipton