For the record dude, I never disliked you at all I was just beating baby seal for my own morbid amusement. We all grow and learn from our experience and if I ever get a chance to sit down with you and share a beer I would be honored to do so.

I think there is an echo in here. Very few songs hit you at your soul level and that is one that does it for me. She is smoking hot, great vocals, meaningful song. Just an awesone live performance. I would love to have a HD copy of that on My Ipad to play on my apple tv.

You're a legend here BD. The girlie thread alone makes you that. We've had our differences but I thank you for that olive branch. I'd much rather get along with people than fight with them.

I hope I can buy you a beer in person some day. No hard feelings over past issues.

I don't know about all that legend stuff but it's good to see you happy and in the right space now. If you ever figure out how to get me a good HD feed of that video I posted let me know, that would be cool.

When I joined CP I was a dumbass as most n00bs are and didn't get how the place ran. I'm well beyond that now.

I probably can't get you and HD feed being on a dumbass work loaner computer. But if and when I upgrade I'll let ya know.

You sir nailed that one on the head,awesome post.

Easy now don't lump all of us together,some of us still drive from St Joe to Chicago to see the greatness of a Porcupine Tree which no mainstream radio station will touch.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QCTeDAh1_Pk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LOL

It's the 2nd song about her ex.

This country could use 100 Taylor Swifts. Naysayers be damned!

Taylor Swift is talented and I generally like her music. But if her new song is crap, don't play it and stand by your decision. As a program director, you have the responsibility to program to your audience, not to whatever dreck Nashville or an artist puts out. From what you've said, your audience agress. If they want to hear it, it's available on itunes.
Too many times big music pushes talentless pretty boys/girls down our throats and that limits the amount of airtime available for those with talent. I applaud your action.
Now, play us some Ronnie Dunn or AJ.

Weren't these guys on the Man vs. Food show in Nashville?

Another thing I'll say about Taylor Swift...she has "moxie".

Here she is, on stage at an awards show, 16-years-old, singing her song called "Tim McGraw", with Tim McGraw sitting in the front row.

Skip to 1:25...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SSKFNd2gwR0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gcMn_Eu-XTE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't get the hoopla. Yes, it's got the musical construction of a Twinkie. Yes, the lyrics could've been written by a chimp on Ridalin. Yes, the chord progression makes the five notes in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" sound like Beethoven. But, yes, it's also no different from the 5,000 pop songs that have been written in the past 30 years. I can turn on the "Today's Music" channel on my local radio and hear songs as equally shallow in both music and lyrics. It's her target audience, fer crissakes. I'm not expecting her to sound like Metallica reborn, or the second coming of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, or anything but what she is: a pop-music teen-star with a bit of a country edge.

We are never ever ever ever going to listen to your station again...

That song was ****ing terrible.

As much as I hate Taylor Swift the musician, Kanye West is a douchenozzle.

Carrie Underwood has real talent. Unfortunately she has started putting out popped up garbage too. I hate that real talent gets lost in this shit.

I'm not arguing that she is getting phat paid making shit ass music. I'm arguing that she doesn't have real talent. I have been from the beginning.

In all honesty I don't think I've ever heard a Taylor Swift song,well I may recognize a song just wouldn't know it's her from Carrie Underwood.

You're not missing much. Vastly overrated.

Songs are okay. Nothing great. Not bad.

People thing she's way hotter than she really is. Looks like a blonde Olive Oil.

I don't get the appeal of Carrie Underwood at all, other than eye candy. Give me Miranda Lambert over that manufactured pop/country act any time.

I'm not really a fan of either one of those singers on the whole, but I can acknowledge that even though Underwood puts out popped up crap a lot, she does have talent.

I'm really not a fan of her style of singing, whether she's good at it or not (didn't care for Martina McBride, either, for her similar style). I much prefer a more straight-forward style of singing, without the histrionics. JMO.

I tried. Got through about a minute or so. Nice voice. I just cant get into the twangy music and have never been a big fan of tear in my beer music.

Did anyone else read the title wrong and thought it said, "I banged Taylor Swift today"? I was about to tell Fever he was full of shit. LMAO

I should probably get into the eye doc.

Sorry if repost.

Carry on.

Only that perv JD. That should probably worry you a little. :p

I just skimmed the thread and found his post. I'm a bit worried now. LMAO

Didnt read the whole thread but the latest Carrie Underwood single is just as bad. I'm on that one but doubt I'll add Taylor Swift. Hell. TS is mainly a Hot AC artist anymore anyway
Posted via Mobile Device

There was a thread in DC yesterday called "America's Aversion to Taxes" and I misread it as "America's Aversion to Texas." Seemed like a strange thread to be in DC. Perhaps I'm becoming dyslexic in my old age.

However, Texas does suck. Not quite as bad as taxes, but it's close.

I'm sorry to disagree, but she does have talent. Her music, mostly written by her (which is a rarity in Nashville) is well written, well compsosed, and well performed. I saw her mesmerize an audience of well over 10,000 at age 17. However, if she's going to put out crap, don't pay her. Send a message with your buck. She's much better than that. Artisits tend to get a little lazy at times, so this could just be a reality check for her.
Oh, and Carrie Underwood is a hack. She's just pretty.

I don't get into the "My favorite blonde chick's better than yours" squawking that takes place in some country circles. They all have something, or they wouldn't be where they are. Having said that, I agree that Miranda's pretty damn awesome, because she's authentic IMO. I am definitely a fan.

Somebody needs attention.

I really didn't mean it that way, though I can see how it would be taken that way. I am way past the "if people don't like what I like, they know nothing about music" high school bullshit. If Carrie Underwood speaks to your soul, more power to you. I was just saying I don't get it personally. Other than looks, she isn't my cup of tea.

I respect Taylor Swift because she can play and writes her own songs, but I don't like her music.

Well, there's no accounting for some people's taste. :evil:

Exactly.

I have to admit that her voice doesn't always fit her slow songs. I also am having to get used to newest CD. I hope her marriage to Blake Shelton doesn't change her style too much.

Nah man, I wasn't referring to you. All good. :thumb:

EDIT: As to the rest of your post- Yeah, about the album: I'm pretty sure Fever's never, ever gonna play "Fine Tune" on country radio. I keep forgetting to joke with him about that. And Shelton's kind of an asshole sometimes, so she'll get some song ideas from dealing with that dude...

Yes

Exactly. The sad thing is this is what country is becoming. This particular song struck me as the one that finally went too far I guess. I was uncomfortable with adding it to our playlist before the first chorus. I could just see the hate e-mails and phone calls coming in because by and large... whether Nashville recognizes it or not... most country fans are getting real tired of pop being called country.

So I tested it and I was glad to have my faith in the listening audience restored and damn glad to carry out their wishes.

Do you follow mediabase? As of yesterday TS was debuting at #11 on the building chart. I'll be real interested to see what overall fan reaction is now that most stations have added it and see if the high debut translates to being an actual hit or stations find people don't want it and it drops as fast as it rose.

Another case of "Feel Like A Rock Star" by Kenny and Tim. All we heard was it may debut at #1 and it topped at 11 and only spend about a month on the charts. The pre-hype died quickly once people discovered it sucked and two of the big names in the business didn't matter more than the quality of the song.

That kind of stuff doesn't happen a lot but when it does it helps renew my faith that the audience isn't always ready to just lap up anything because it's what they're given.

So you don't think I could pull Tswizzle?

Why do you hate me?

Yeah. I can't get onboard with any of this. Her music is simplistic, so it isn't technically performed poorly, but that doesn't mean it is a benefit.

Well written? What is this? I can't even...Have you listened to the words she sings?

Well composed? Well, I guess. For over simplified 5 chords. Whatever.

Just because she wrote it does NOT mean that it is good.

So what? There are loads of 10,000 person audiences that like bullshitass music. See Justin Bieber. Don't tell me you think he puts out good music.

Oh I'm not not for this or any other song she pukes out.

Like I said before, she puts out a load of shit too, but she actually has talent.

:hmmm: Perhaps.

"Tswizzle"? What up, homie?! LMAO

I'm jealous of your "New Kids On The Block" collection.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CngyYoRkdHo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ghey.

Oh lighten up Francis, it's funny.

It was the opening of an awards show a few years ago.

Truth be told... I didn't even click, "play". I just figured it was gonna be ghey. LMAO

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v8e6-IeQ0aw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Natalie portman FTW

:facepalm:

Yep, you really do hate me. It''s actually pretty funny and well done imo. But just like I banned Taylors song YOU ARE NOW BANNED FROM WATCHING THAT VIDEO!

If you're the person responsible for content you should be the one responsible for content.

If you take a risk and it works you should be praised. Hell, I'm just amazed there's a station out there that still has live DJ's and any input into the programming...

Damn. I really wanted to watch that video, too. Life just isn't fair. :sulk:

LMAO

I am... x2?

We have 8 live jocks actually... even on weekends. We're the exception the the rule anymore and pretty proud of that. Even have a live afternoon team as well as morning team. Go us!

The only thing more gay than liking Taylor Swift's music is being willing to admit that you like Taylor Swift's music.

That is pretty impressive actually. Hell with today's technology most everything can be outsourced in the radio world and sound local.

We have all the tchnology to do it and do run "voice-tracked" some but we're fortunate enough to have a great team, great GM who believes in real radio, a great owner who isn't a tight ass and of course we make money by selling plenty of advertising... otherwise it wouldn't happen. I wish MY pay was more but I realize I'm pretty blessed.

Good to hear! :thumb:

So I heard some new song from her today…not sure if it was this one or not, but whatever…..this stuff is not country. Its just not. Props to you for taking a stand and refusing to play it. Shes not a country artist anymore.

Well thanks... and not defending her but most country artists aren't "country" these days... at least not in the way tradition means. It's kind of a mixed bag of southern rock styled artists with pop artists with a few actual country sounding artists mixed in.

Before you give me too much credit though I added her new song "Begin Again" two weeks ago. It's poppy but actually does have steel guitar in it and not nearly the annoyance factor of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." Don't know which you might have heard. Slowish or fast? Might have been the title track to her new album "Red" which is at pop radio now and featured on a tv commercial.

I understand that Nashville is trying to broaden their audience by going more "Pop" over the past decade or so....i get it. But at what point do they risk alienating their traditional country listeners? Or maybe they dont care, because they dont buy as much music?

A great summation of today's Taylor Swift on Grantland today:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...-new-album-red

They've alienated a great deal of them already and no they don't seem to care because money rolls in from young people and digital downloads and yadda yadda. There does seem to be an uprising taking place though among fans of more tradition and I'll all for it.

And country music still is demo of choice for the money demographic (25-54).

In the '70's, Country was extremely poppy (think Kenny and Dolly's "Islands In the Stream") and the backlash to that created the New Traditionalist movement in the '80's that went back to Country's roots. I expect something similar will happen again.

I'm already there. There are 2 country stations and I just flat don't listen to one of them except when a Chiefs game is on. The other one, I only listen to one show, and even them, he plays half crap, but he will put some good stuff on.

I had quit on country alltogether for the most part, until DJF started the country music thread, and prompted me to start a few different pandora stations and get back into decent country music.

Yes. And since pop has also alienated core people of the 80's and 90's who would still listen today because they aren't "country" fans.... by becoming too rap/hip hop for those tastes... country is now the new pop for them because it's more like what they listened to in "their" decades.

That's an excellent point and I hope to see that movement really take hold. There are a lot of grumblings going on already... have been for a while. This certainly isn't the first time country has gone pop, not even close. Your Kenny & Dolly is a great example of that. It'll be interesting to see where the genre goes from here. Watch any country awards show these days... it looks and acts like the MTV video music awards.

My wife won a trip to Vegas to go to the CMA Awards show a few years back. We weren't that interested in the show but kind of had to go. It was pretty eye-opening. The only act that performed that I actually liked was Miranda Lambert, though she did a slow song from her second album. Mylie Cyrus performed and was absolutely awful.

We watched the actual show when we got back to compare and it's pretty amazing what they can do with trick camera angles. It isn't nearly as glitzy as it is portrayed on TV.

Later that night, we got to go to a concert that was basically a string of artists doing a couple of songs each. The high point for my wife was seeing The Oak Ridge Boys, since she grew up listening to them (her dad is a big fan). The low point was John Rich (from Big and Rich) emceeing the show. He was obviously wasted and got more and more embarrassing to listen to as the night went on.

You said Oak Ridge Boys. My all time favorite act... Gods to me. I wanted to be an ORB when I was a kid. Hell I think I still do lol. I have almost everything they've ever done. Card carrying member of the fan club and yes..... I know that's dorky and I don't care one bit haha.

They did all of three songs (one of them being "Elvira", of course) but it was still cool.

Elvira is probably my least favorite song of there's too heh. If I never heard it again it would be just fine, but yes of course they're going to do that one.

yea, thats exactly what has happened.

Interesting article... thanks.

Swift is definitely following the path Shania Twain took - start in country, transition to pop diva, rake in millions.

going to see George Strait and Martina McBride in OKC in Jan or Feb.... Ordering tickets when they go on sale.

Also going to Tulsa to see Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry in Feb as well.

King George's Farewell tour. I'd love to see that. Enjoy.

You'd have to pay my ass a tidy sum to go see Rascal Flatts.

That, I would love to see. George is the man.

Thankfully he's going to keep recording but no more touring after this final one. Of course it'll last like 2 years heh.

I'm with you on Rascal Flatts too heh (again).

Whats up with Garth Brooks? Hes officially retired?

He's had a show in Vegas for the last couple years staying in one place to make it easier to be a "family man." Funny you ask because there's a rumour today that another tour could be coming. Personally I can't stand the guy other than a handful of early songs. He can stay in Vegas imo.

Thats what I thought until my wife dragged me the first time to see them...

Looking forward to it... Should be a great show.

Almost everyone is better live, I'll give you that.