Jamie O’Neal- “Like A Woman”

After storming onto the scene with back-to-back #1 singles (“There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels”), Jamie O’Neal has only had one Top 5 since (“Somebody’s Hero”).  Jamie is back with the lead single from her yet to be titled album, which will be her first for independent label 1720 Entertainment. 

“Like A Woman” is a plea from a woman to her man to make her feel like a woman so they can be back to way it was.  As I’ve been blogging about lately, this is another song that doesn’t cover new ground, but Jamie’s unique voice gives it a flavor that I think will be accepted by radio.

Jamie’s songs have, for the most part, not been accepted well since the first two.  She can surely sing a song very well, as is evidenced throughout the entire song.  I think that her record labels have been part of the reason for her lack of success.  She’s 40 and is not a Martina McBride or a Reba McEntire as far as status, so she’d take the back burner to younger female acts or male acts in general.  Hopefully, being on an independent label will help her get some established success.  This should be her 5th album upcoming, but two have gone unreleased, one never even made it to getting a proposed title.

I wish Jamie well with this single and this if it gets any lower than my prediction that the song was given proper airplay.

Chart Prediction- Top 10

To listen, visit Jamie’s MySpace page.

Sarah Buxton- “Space”

Sarah Buxton is on the radio again with “Space,” the lead single from her upcoming 2nd album that has yet to be titled.  Sarah had limited radio success with two singles back in 2006-2007 (“Innocence” and “That Kind of Day”) and was a guest vocal on Dierks Bentley’s “Sweet & Wild” which charted from unsolicited airplay recently.

I think Sarah probably could have a decent career with the right songs.  “Space” is a little weak in areas, but Sarah’s unique voice might be enough to get this song to the same places that her two previous singles reached.  As far as the material, it’s about giving guy space, which is not new ground that she is covering.  She adds her unique flavor to the song, but the production is too weak to carry it to big hit level.

Chart Prediction- Top 30

To listen to part of the song, visit Sarah’s MySpace page.

CML Chart: 10/26-11/1/08

Number One:
Toby Keith takes over the #1 spot this week with “She Never Cried In Front of Me”

Highest Debut:
Sarah Buxton is back on the chart with her latest “Space” which debuts at #57

Other Debut:
Jamie O’Neal- “Like A Woman” at #58

Returning Song:
Melissa Lawson returns from two months without receiving points on the charts to make it at #55 this week.  This could be a sign that her debut single “What If It All Goes Right” was a “sneak peek” back in August, or it could just be dumb luck that it actually got played enough to return to the charts.

The Top 60

Dean Brody- “Brothers”

Dean’s debut single, “Brothers” sings about the relationship between two brothers.  The first verse and chorus talks about how the singer, the younger brother, doesn’t want his older brother to go off to war.  The second verse talks about how he misses his brother while he’s away at war, while the second chorus continues on with the writing back and forth in the second verse.  The bridge is an admission by the younger brother that he’ll never know what his brother went through because he loves him so much.  The last verse brings the brothers back together and gives the younger brother the chance to show “what brothers are for” as he pushed his wheel-chaired brother home.

The song is definitely a current-events themed song and portrays the anger and pain of families being temporarily (sometimes permanently) torn apart by war.  This time, it’s from a younger brother’s view, which is ground not covered much in music.

I think Dean has a decent voice, but I don’t know if it’s good enough and distinct enough for him to establish long term success on the radio.  However, in the short term, Dean should definitely get a Top 40 out of this song, but I’m not sure if it’ll latch on enough to go much further.

Welcome to country radio, Dean Brody. 

Chart Prediction- Top 40

To listen, visit Dean’s MySpace page.

James Otto- “These Are The Good Ole Days”

Let’s just say that I’m disappointed.  No, not at this song.  At the fact that we are getting this song on the radio at this time.  James’ previous single “For You” crashed after only climbing into the Top 40.  “…Good Ole Days” is a decent single that sings about how today is the “good ole days.”  It doesn’t cover any new ground as there seems to be one or two singles a year that uses the “good ole days” theme.  It’s only problem is that people are still playing “I Just Got Started Lovin’ You” a little too much.  “For You” was definitely hampered by being the follow up single to a huge hit, and I think “These Are The Good Ole Days” is going to have a hard time equaling the limited success of “For You.”

Chart Prediction- Top 40

To listen, visit James’ MySpace page.

Darius Rucker- “It Won’t Be Like This For Long”

After a “smashing” debut on the country charts, Darius Rucker changes the tempo and the mood on his next single, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.”  His big #1 “Don’t Think I Think About It” was uptempo and heavy-hearted, and “…For Long” slows it down and is introspective. 

The lyric follows the phases of a father’s experience with his daughter.  Verse 1 covers the early days of “up all nights,” while verse 2 covers the first days of school.  Each chorus talks about how “it won’t be like this for long” and how things will change.  The bridge takes a fast peek at the teenage years and the daughter’s wedding then comes back to the current time where his daughter is hurting from the normal hurts of life.  The Bridge ends with the admission that he doesn’t mind consoling his daughter and proceeds to the final verse and run through the chorus where he hurts knowing that it won’t be like this for long.

What can I say?  The song doesn’t cover new ground because there’s been songs like this before, but as I mentioned in a recent single review, you can add your own flavor to the song.  This song is absolutely awesome.  I loved “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” from the first listen, but was unsure as to whether country radio would be receptive to “Hootie.”  After getting a #1 on his debut country single, I think he’s in line for yet another #1.  Darius’ “flavor” on this song, plus his incredibly in-touch lyrics just make this a song for the fathers, fathers-to-be, and wanna-be-someday fathers (like me) want to cry.  Great job Darius!

Chart Prediction- #1

To listen, visit Darius’ MySpace page.

Sara Evans- “Low”

Sara Evans is back with a new single off the Billy: The Early Years Soundtrack.  The movie is based on the early years of the life of Billy Graham and “Low” was picked as the lead single to the soundtrack.  Since it’s based off a religious icon, the soundtrack is probably filled with religious-themed songs, which suits me just fine.

“Low” is an inspirational song that talks about not being kept down and drops references to stories from The Bible.  Musically, the song has the Sara Evans sound and is bound to be well received by the majority of country music listeners. 

Chart Prediction- Top 20

To listen to the song, visit Sara’s MySpace page.

Brooks & Dunn- “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”

Brooks & Dunn’s latest single, their fourth off of their Cowboy Town CD, definitely does not cover any new ground.  “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” gives three different instances where a cowgirl doesn’t cry–falling off of their first pony, marital struggles, and lastly the death of her father.  While it does have a “been there, done that” feel at times, the arrangement and Ronnie Dunn’s vocals make it a pleasant listen.  You can sing about the same old thing, but if you do it right, you add a new “flavor” to the “theme.”

The third verse compares to the third verse of Crystal Shawanda’s “You Can Let Go,” so you could see a natural comparison between the two songs.  What happened of the charts with these two songs this week I think it is not a coincidence.  With the two songs basically being the same thing, just with different “flavors,” the old got discarded for the new.  “You Can Let Go” was barely making a dent on the charts and just couldn’t get over the hump.  It never lost airplay, but it slowly drifted away from the Top 20.  After hitting #21, it eventually slid back to #25.  Then, “Brooks & Dunn’s” song comes out and “You Can Let Go” disappears from the chart.  What happened is the following: “Descending Country titles move to recurrent after 20 weeks if they rank below No. 10 in either audience and plays.” (from http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/Country_Chart.asp).  Since the song had been out for so long, it hit the requirements for becoming a recurrent.  It had a drastic drop in audience, which I think was related to the fact that more people liked the “flavor” B&D were offering on this song, so the stations started playing it instead.  That, and B&D have the “superstar” thing working for them.

To be honest, I am not too crazy about this song because it’s got the “btdt” feel.  However, I also wasn’t too fond of “Put A Girl In It” at first, but it grew on me.  I think this song will grow on me and a lot of the early skeptics and make a significant impact on the charts.

Prediction- Top 5

To listen to the entire song, visit Brooks & Dunn’s MySpace page.

CML Chart: 10/19-10/25/08

Number One:
Kenny Chesney spends his 2nd week at #1 with “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven”

Highest Debut:
The latest from Brooks & Dunn, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” comes in at #38 this week.

Other Debuts:
Sara Evans- “Low” at #49
Darius Rucker- “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” at #54
Dean Brody- “Brothers” at #55
James Otto- “These Are The Good Ole Days” at #56

The Top 60

Dolly Parton- “Shinola”

Excuse me?  What did you just say?  Shinola?

Okay, I get the point of the song, but this is just not the kind of song I’d expect from Dolly, especially following “Jesus and Gravity.”  Maybe early in her career she’d KO the radio with the angry woman song.  However, I just don’t get this.  First, there’s the nonsense word in the title which is an obvious euphamism.  Second, there’s a beep at one point in the song that either covers up her actually singing what shinola means or is a creative choice to give the song a little more attitude.  I just don’t think this works.

The sad thing is, there’ll be enough people interested in this song that it’ll probably chart.  Fortunately, she’s not the artist she used to be, so it won’t get the national attention she used to get.

Chart Prediction- Top 60

To listen to the song, visit Dolly’s MySpace page.