The format of this show is very similar to FOX's other music awards show, The Billboard Music Awards, although the voting process is different. The Billboard show is based on the magazine's charts. The winners in this show are supposedly selected by the fans, which is something I highly doubt, but whatever.
Trace Adkins served as the host of the show with Nancy O'dell and comedian Jeff Dunham contributing at various parts. Adkins' approach was a no-holes-barred "Whatever!". He opened with a pre-taped skit set to his dreadful "Honky Tonk Ba Donk A Donk" song. His intro's were short and to the point. A mixture of cool style, bad attitude and redneck humor. The packed MGM Grand Garden Arena seemed to enjoy it. I guess it was refreshing after the Brad and Carrie show a few weeks back.
Notable performances from the show came from Blake Shelton who sang "Kiss My Country Ass". Now that's a song I can relate to. Others included Reba (Turn On Your Radio), Easton Corbin (A Little More Country Than That), Toby Keith (Bullets In The Gun), and Alan Jackson who sang a medley of his hits.
Of course there was plenty of country-pop garbage, led by the winners of the "Decade Award", Rascal Flatts. They treated us to a miserable medley of their "hits" which proved once again that Gary LaVox can't sing live. Of course the fans in the arena gobbled up every off-key screech and scream the way the country industry has programmed them to. Keith Urban mailed in a performance from a concert in Dallas, TX. Two newcomers, The Band Perry and "Can You Duet" winners Steel Magnolia also gave forgettable performances.
In a corporate-controlled industry where the legends are avoided like The Plague, it was nice to see Alan and Toby. These artists have been so ignored and disrespected by the CMA and the ACM, it's become a bit of a joke. Even seeing another re-invented Reba was a bit of a breath of fresh air.
Country's biggest award winners of 2010 Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were all on-hand for this show, but none of them performed. Underwood was the big winner of the night, taking home "Artist of the Year" and several other awards. Lady A. also won a few awards. Personally, I would like to present them with the "Rascal Flatts Award", honoring the most hyped-up, overplayed act of the year. But I digress.
While big hitmakers like Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley were not at this show, the most notable absentee was (thankfully) Taylor Swift. Perhaps it was because she's been out of the spotlight for most of the year, or perhaps it's because Carrie Underwood is the darling of FOX thanks to American Idol. Either way, a show without Taylor Swift is a win for me.
All-in-all, I'd give the American Country Awards show an o.k. rating. Nothing special, nothing surprising, but the legends and the notable performances stand out for me. This is probably NOT an event that will last for long. But I think it's lasting effect will be the continued over-saturation of the Country Music market that I believe (and hope) will lead to the end of "today's country" and the return of real Country Music.
No comments:
Post a Comment