Where Do You Start?

Jimmy Carter ... on assignment in Los Angeles

I actually thought the CMT show was entertaining ... not boring and thank God, UNPREDICTABLE!

Check out what the LA Times or Entertainment Weekly said ... and they were not impressed. Anytime you start mixing genres with folks like Snoop and Paula Abdul, the purists go nuts. Let them go nuts!

At least it wasn't a boring awards show. It was fun. Congrats to those who hooked it all together. Big from the purple carpet to the whole show ... they are always too long and have their boring, stupid moments. It needed at least one big emotional one ... didn't have it ... overall, though, better than most .

We are awash in Idols aren't we? Plus, another's on the way, but staying with the CMT show for a bit: Billy Ray and Miley are charming, at times obnoxious. That's their shtick. One of my Belmont Music business students thought the show was written by a third-grader. It was, at times, silly but with a 15-year-old host and a younger audience watching for her ... lighten up!

Taylor Swift and her pal Kellie Picker winning a lot of awards was surreal at times ... very! As the normal headliners just sat there, uncomfortably staring and looking with sort of a fixed, good-natured look of seasoned politicians.

The Snoop stuff was a non-event, really, but it did get people talking. The real story was the power of the Internet and how some have underestimated the influence within Country music. Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and, for sure, Taylor Swift know it and use it.

Anyone see where Grand Theft Auto 4 grossed like $400 million in opening-week sales. Music Row missed the video games like it missed ring tones. I guess country music people don't play video games. Geez...

Jimmy Bowen was a visionary and so was Garth Brooks. Two of the most hated, feared, honored and amazing men to ever grace 16th and 17th Avenues. The city could use a few more visionaries and a few less accountants and lawyers. (I am a lawye'rs son and married to a bean counter ... so NO offense intended or desired.)

Idol fallen star Kristy Lee Cook. What does Nashville do with her? You have to take a chance. She's already done half or more of the work getting her name established. You would think he will be given a chance by radio. She's no Carrie in singing or Kellie with personality, but she did a good job on that Martina song a few weeks back. She needs confidence and some folks who believe in her. If she is sweet and not demanding, go for it, Capitol ... she might fit best there. Too many idols at Sony BMG and Lyric Street ... MCA is busy with dancers, and Warner is a maybe if they really liked her. The indies might be able to put together a good offer.

I'm not going to say much about Ms. Rime's déjà vu prisoners salute moment. If it was for anything other than this year, maybe it would have been an envelope pushing moment.

It did make a difference that you had a 15-year-old host and many pre-teens all over the audience watching at home. I'm not a prude, but three minutes of bumping and grinding while watching with your family is not fun or cool. The kids get enough oversexed society messages outside the land of Miley. Amazingly insensitive people to audience needs and concerns. I was disappointed in Ms Rimes, and I think a lot of moms and Dads were too ... CMT should know better, but they have an excuse -- MTV is their owner.

James Otto's breakout song is the best #1 in a long time. It will be around for a long time and this guy is the best "20-year" overnight success story in a long time.

From the mail bag ... a common question ... Note: I like Carrie Underwood; go back and read old columns. I was rooting for her much like I am Kellie Pickler. Here's a common theme e-mail:

Hey, Jimmy!

I always enjoy listening to you in the mornings while I'm on my way to work. I just take issue with one thing -- every time you mention Carrie Underwood, you always point out that she has a great voice, but she's not exciting. I understand that she doesn't have a Kellie Pickler or Dolly Parton personality but that's OK. Not everybody has to be the same. George Strait has one of the best voices around, but there's nothing else exciting about his performances ... but that hasn't stopped him from becoming a legend. I've never seen anything exciting about Martina McBride, but she has a great voice and has made millions. What about Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Carly Simon, LeeAnn Rimes and countless others? I'm not mad at you; I think you're great but I also think you're being a little unfair.

A listener in GA

JC'S REPLY:

I totally agree with you ... I do! It is just that much harder to make it to the top when you are dull. If you are looking for exciting shows, Strait is dull as dishwater ... so is Randy ... BUT -- and read CLEARLY -- those examples are two people I have PAID to see and would again! Two of my favorites ... BUT times change and I am not sure contemporary tastes in this decade will allow it ... or if they do, it will be the great exceptions....

There have ALWAYS been dull people in the entertainment business. It's a mix; not all dull, not all bouncing off the wall. The great ones have BOTH! True entertainers: Barbara Mandrell, Wayne Newton, Tom Jones, Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, the Oak Ridge Boys, Cher,James Brown, etc....

If you are just coming along, being dull is NOT an asset. You have to overcome it with something else...like a great voice!

Carrie has done just that! You would be hard-pressed to find a better vocalist in any popular music genre! Carrie Underwood makes fantastic records. She a work in progress on stage, but getting better. Taylor Swift has grown on stage like a wild weed. She has a strong writing talent and huge charisma -- the "X" factor, if you will. Carrie gets there on raw vocal power ... she can wail.

Both have their place and I hope the fans will see them as two excellent ice cream flavors. Not competing. OK?

Thanks for talking to me

JC

So ... been on a YouTube tear lately ... search you tube for askjimmycarter. I have 194 videos and growing. A little bit of everything.