The Southern Male Democrat

For at least five years now, Nashville Star has been my guilty pleasure. The show started on the USA Network and was everything a country fan such as myself could ever want.  The contestants were “country as a turnip green,” (bonus points to anyone who can name the reference WITHOUT googling) and actually had talent. A good many of the contestants were experienced (that’s code for “older”) country singers who had worked the honky-tonks for years just looking for their big break. Plus, the show was somewhat low budget, so the focus was entirely on the music.

So of the Nashville Star winners had success and some didn’t. Buddy Jewel had a few great hits and his recording of “Sweet Southern Comfort” has lyrics that have got to rank in the top country lyrics of the past 25 years -

From Carolina down to Georgia,
Smell the jasmine and magnolia,
Sleepy Sweet home Alabama,
Roll tide roll,
Muddy water, Misssissippi,
Blessed Graceland whispers to me,
Carry on, Carry on,
Sweet Southern Comfort carry on.

Yet by contrast, one of the best songwriters didn’t even chart a hit. Brad Cotter is an amazing talent, but never really caught on with country radio. (Of course, really that’s no surprise, seeing as how country radio sucks.)

When I saw that the show was moving to NBC as a summer feature, I was hopeful that millions of Americans would get as much enjoyment out of Nashville Star as I did. I should have known better.

The “new” Nashville Star is hosted by Hannah Montana’s Dad, who apparently can’t say anything that isn’t written on a cue card. What’s worse, the show is now desperately trying to be a country version of American Idol. They use the sweeping camera moves, the cheesy intro videos, the glam - the whole nine yards. And the contestants?? I think there is one person over 30 years old. There are more than a few teeny-boppers. How can people who have hardly lived life sing about it?

To top it all off, more than half the music isn’t even country.  One of them covered a Police song last week. Give me a break!

It’s really sad - commercialization eventually ruins everything in this country. Let this column be your warning to not waste any time on Nashville Star.

Have a good weekend!