Dancing On The Fringes

Last minute campaigns for the CMA Awards are around. The debate on Entertainer of the Year seems active. Who will it be? Probably a first-time winner. There are two big choices and three others, all five worthy.

Will the CMA voters vote with their billfolds or their politics? I don't even want to stick a toe in those waters.

National politics and local political correctness have polarized people and the workplace, even around Music Row. The left hand side of the page politically seems like the favored one these days, even on Music Row. The words "liberal" and "Country music" never seemed to be used in the same sentence. But as Ken Burns pointed out in his recent PBS documentary, there have been some times, like during the Vietnam War, when conservative-bred types spoke up.

Trump vs. (pick one) will be hard fought and messy. Will Country artists campaign with any candidates on either side? Very touchy decision. Dangerous waters!

I don't know about you, but I'm still soaking up the Burns documentary. I revisited Hank Williams' gravesite in my hometown of Montgomery, AL last weekend. The documentary has, for sure, caused a stir in catalog sales. Everyone featured on the show got a sales bump, some more than others. Emmylou Harris and Kathy Mattea were rediscovered by new fans, and some old fans were reminded how great those two ladies are.

The Burns effect on those of us who really studied the show seems to return in flashbacks. I may even re-watch the whole thing in a few months. It was a big dose to take in.

Burns did leave out some important figures, and I'm sure he realizes that and maybe even expected the flack. Don Williams is the latest omission to have been brought up, along with Boots Randolph, Vern Gosdin, David Frizzell, and on and on. Somebody really does need to do a Paul Harvey-like "Rest of the Story!"

With musical documentaries on the brain, I watched the two hour and 14 minute Clive Davis story on Netflix. Clive has Nashville history too, with the opening of Arista Nashville. It was an excellent production and what a career! A lawyer with platinum ears and gut!

Finally, listen to Tim McGraw's new song with Shy Carter, "Way Down." Listen to it once. Wait a few minutes and go back. It is an earworm. You will come back to it hours later, just like "Old Town Road." Just try it. I'm not sure if it's Country, but who is in 2019?