Thoughts On The ACM Awards - The Cultute of Pop, DVD, Movie, TV, Pop Culture Review

Thoughts On The ACM Awards

Posted: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 1:05:06 PDT

Lambert, Antebellum Win Big at ACM's

Near the end of tonight's 46^th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, presenter and American Idol ringmaster Ryan Seacrest remarked, “Not only has this been a great night for country music, it has been a great night for American music”.

Although the renowned pretty boy personality was right in both regards, the evening restored my faith in a genre I thought had surrendered to pop-country demographics in recent years and left the mandolins, steel guitars and fiddles at home.

Judging from the majority of the performances last night, that's happily not the case. Now, that's country.

Although it wasn't a perfect evening (54 minutes before the first award was handed out (?); a way out-of-place Robert Pattison who has to be one of the whitest people I've ever seen) with some say whaaaaa (?) moments (Celine Dion exclaiming her love of country music with that funky mixture of an American/French/Canadian accent; Brad Garrett chauffeuring hosts Reba and Blake Shelton across town), stellar performances from the latest and greatest of country's current crop ruled the evening.

My Top Five Performances Of The Night: (in no particular order)

Brad Paisley-Old Alabama: A delightful homage to one of country music's greatest bands with song titles, lyrical quotes, and a cameo by none other than 75 percent of the band itself (Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook). Instant classic; from Paisley's forthcoming album This Is Country Music which drops next month.

Sugarland-Tonight: Featuring the luminous Jennifer Nettles at her absolute best, this performance showed why this group's currently one of the country's biggest draws.

Taylor Swift-Mean: Is there anything musically this young lady can't do that isn't instantly infectious? Lovely to hear her in a strictly country vein for a change; could be one of her biggest singles to date.

Carrie Underwood w/Steven Tyler-Medley (Undo It/Walk This Way): What could have been a potential train wreck turned out to be one of the most fun award show performances of the year with the newly invigorated Aerosmith legend/new Idol judge displaying his command of the stage with an equally seasoned Underwood keeping up just fine. Amazing (musical song title pun unintended) how well Tyler's voice has held up throughout the years; thank God the numerous equivalents of cars, boats and planes he snorted didn't kill the screamin of this demon..

Zac Brown Band/James Taylor-:Oh My Sweet Carolina:Following up on their superb coupling with Alan Jackson (As She's Walking Away), legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor brought his slightly weathered, but no less affecting tenor which got a beautiful showcase at the end when he added a brief coda of the still magical pop lullaby Sweet Baby James...

Honorable Mentions:

Sara Evans-A Little Bit Stronger: One of country music's most undervalued performers (in my opinion) put the audience on its feet with her powerful rendition of her current top 10 single..and just HOW does she fit into those leather pants?

Martina McBride-Teenage Daughters: Speaking of leather, this country dynamo's lungs excelled on this wonderfully penned slice of parental reflection that wouldn't seem out of place on a Loretta Lynn album.

Darius Rucker (and Friends)-Music Of The Heart: Very sweet pairing of the former Blowfish front man and a choir of developmentally challenged adults from the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp in Nashville backing him up perfectly. For those wishing to donate to this worthy cause, call 1-800-9-LIFTING or you can text a 5$ donation (DREAM) to 27722.

Although Taylor Swift nabbed the coveted/fan voted Entertainer Of The Year (incredibly, the first time she's ever won this honor), Miranda Lambert was the night's biggest winner with four awards: Record and Single Of The Year for The House That Built Me along with Best Female Artist and Best Video (The House That Built Me). Picking up two trophies a piece: Lady Antebellum for Best Vocal Group and Album Of The Year (Need You Now); newcomers The Band Perry with two very appropriate awards (Best New Artist and Best New Group), and Vocal Event Of The Year went to Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson (As She's Walking Away).

In addition to Swift, other winners walking away with one honor a piece: Eric Church (Best New Solo Artist), and a very surprised Brad Paisley for Best Male Vocalist. In fact, the talented singer-guitarist was so shocked, he even thanked his dog.

Now, that's country.

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