What Happens When Pop Stars "Go Country"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 พ.ค. 2024
- We talk a lot about country music artists like Taylor Swift switching over to pop, but today's video is about all the times pop stars have attempted to make the switch to country. Sometimes this is a temporary flight-of-fancy, and other times they're going for a whole second chapter of their career. But the results of these attempts are decidedly mixed.
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Playing Dress-Up, Collaborations, "Countryfishing"
03:52 - Darius Rucker, a most successful crossover
05:02 - Jessica Simpson and waning pop career switches
06:35 - Kelly Clarkson's quest to go country
08:05 - Bands past their prime
09:13 - Pop/Folk/Rock Chanteuses (Michelle Branch, Jewel, Sheryl Crow)
12:53 - Rock Stars (Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler, Aaron Lewis)
14:28 - Other Random Stuff
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Had a ton of fun making this one, and mainly, I left the editing process thinking Sheryl Crow and Jewel are kinda fascinating/underrated badasses.
you’re either extremely knowledgeable or you REALLY do your research, either way these videos have to take forever to make.
I got to meet Jewel when she was promoting her country record. Label guy was a friend of mine and he introduced her to me. She's sweet. And mind-paralyzingly beautiful in person. I also remember the push for Steven Tyler's record. Love Is Your Name was a great song. Aaron is sincere. The station I used to work for had a "private" show he played five years in a row just because he loved it so much.
Jewel did a version of Sweet Home Alabama for the credits of 'Sweet Home Alabama'. She did pretty well on it! She's no Lynyrd Skynyrd, but she did pretty well for such an iconic song.
Don't forget Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday originally!
Agree. They are badasses. I'm kind of surprised you didn't at least mention The Highwomen's Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires who are both from that same singer-songwriter/folk rock genre. Brandi has actually now won the last two Grammy Country Songs of the Year as a songwriter.
The late Avicii with his songs, Hey Brother and Wake Me Up could probably qualify as country EDM, if such things exist.
I’ve got so much respect for Kelly Clarkson. She’s got a beautiful, powerful voice. The country scene loves her! I really hope Kelly can go country.
Not to mention she’s just a beautiful person, inside and out.
Let us not forget that Kelly Clarkson joined Reba McEntire for a duet of a cover of Kelly's own hit "Because of You" - i believe it went to #2 on the country charts around 2006/2007.
I still think of this version of the song as the main one because it was so good! It's actually the go-to when I think of Kelly.
Kelly has also recorded with Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, and Dan + Shay
I mean Kelly is from Texas so she grew up around country and probably sang it growing up.
Reba also did a song with Justin timberlake as well. Justin does have a country background. He was a kid when he appeared on Star Search singing country songs wearing a cowboy hat. He sang an Alan Jackson song and won that night. There are videos on TH-cam singing those songs as a kid.
Dolly, while a great singer, was one of the first and worst offenders with pop country...
I think Darius had a lot of success because he came in ernest. His style with Hootie was already country sounding to a degree. His country music also reminds me of 90s country and I love 90s country! Please can we get a new Wreckers album!
true. I feel like if Hootie and the Blowfish came out today, they would be on country radio
@@futureprez19 I think you are right. The reason it worked in the 90's was that pop music was different, sounded different, and that was a good thing. Today's pop is.... well.... not like the 90's.
@@dm9489 true, IMHO Hootie was folk music with a touch of alternative and frat rock
Agreed and I think he has a good Balance of Modern sounding Country as well as a more Traditional sound so he can attract both sides of the Country fanbase.
@Greg Elchert Thats true. I do enjoy alot of new country tho and I think he has been able to adapt to the newer sound of country while still keeping a country roots type of sound
I know the answer! They put on boots. They go back to their roots. They get a new kind of suit.
Lollll
@@GradySmith #GoneCountry
When I saw the title of the video, the same song came into mind 😂
🤣🤣🤣
I would love Kelly to make a country album. She has respect and love for the genre and I think she would make a beautiful album. Especially after her divorce.
definitely. she has a natural Texas accent, but when she sings, it's very R&B and soulful. she would make a wonderful country singer.
Didn’t she start off country
@@raegankoncaba8209 no. Not really. She has sang it before. But she won idol as a pop singer.
Exactly! I adore Don’t Rush. I think she could do great things with a full country album
You can definitely tell when a pop artist that listens to and respects the genre of country crosses over. I was super skeptical when my friend told me, "Hootie (Darius Rucker) is releasing a country record," but you can tell in both the sound of his records and the way he talks about country music that he has a real affinity for the genre.
He recently bought a house here in Nashville. Must be planning to stay awhile.
How did country enthusiasts feel about Lady Gagas album Joanne?
You somehow forgot the Eagles. Desperado isn’t even a rock song; it’s pure country all the way. Some more crossover songs include Take It Easy, Take It To The Limit (been covered by many many country stars), Peaceful Eqsy Feeling, Hotel California, and a few others I’m definitely forgetting
Listening to my dad's Eagles records is actually what got me into country. I would argue that they weren't necessarily trying to cross over, but it was just sort of a natural result of Don Henley's Texas country roots and Glen Frey's Detroit rock roots coming together to form that sound. They have definitely influenced generations of country singers, as evidenced by all the heavy hitters on the "Common Thread" album.
Yeah, I would consider much of the Eagles’ early music to be country/folk music, even more than rock. Even a lot of their later stuff would fit right in with modern country. “Get Over It” could easily be a 2010s country song.
They didn’t fully become a rock band until the mid-70s, after Joe Walsh replaced Randy Meisner.
Seven Bridges Road too with those bluegrass-style harmonies
@@annaheetderks8696 In fact, this is a cover of a song written and first recorded by outlaw country pioneer Steve Young.
@@MBustos828 exactly this. if you watch their documentary it talks about how don henley and glen frey were always trying to pull the band towards rock or country (in opposing directions) and that’s how they ended up with some straight country songs and some classic rock songs under their belt.
My fav yet
Whoa my favorite Home Free member enters the chat!
Same, for this year 🙂
Lets just take a moment to appreciate the amout of time he has to spend editing these videos!!
Heyo thanks!
Things were different in the 70s, when you had people like John Denver, Linda Ronstadt & Olivia Newton-John all having successful pop & country careers. They just did the music they liked and it fit. There was no blatant attempt to market themselves into another genre.
Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock’s “Picture” was a fantastic country song.
Plus it's also kid Rock's good listenable song (Mark of spectrum Pulse says his country music material is good but I'm not going to take the chances)
@Jessica McDaniels Did you really refer to Alison Krauss as ear bleeding no talent?
@Jessica McDaniels you lost all credibility when you said Alison Krause is “ear bleeding” and “no talent”.
I agree, but because it was also a crossover hit, I just got tired of it. It played ALL THE TIME.
The thing that annoys me about 'All Summer Long' is that every time it comes on the radio, I start thinking 'Sweet Home Alabama' and then I'm just kind of, "Oh . . . This again."
@Jessica McDaniels .... Hummm How About YOU Speak For YOURSELF Jessica Kid Rock Is Very Talented Artist ... Perhaps YOU Are Just Tone Deaf My Friend And Simply Aren’t Capable Of Determining What Really Amazing Singer/Music Sounds Like !
In KR's defense I don't think he tries to be country. I think he just makes the music he wants.
Not sure why, the sample in the beginning, and most of the song even, is "Werewolves of London"
Werewolves , Sweet Home both have identical chord structure .
and werewolves of london
Sheryl Crow's Feels Like Home is such a great *underrated* album that I always come back to! Waterproof Mascara, Calling Me When I'm Lonely... that whole album is stacked
I was just relistening tonight and completely agree!
I'm so here for the Wreckers!!
Women musicians normally bore me but the wreckers were awesome.
Kelly stans will forever be waiting for that country album. I think she wants to make it, but who knows what her label is making her do...
I was literally about to comment the same thing. lol
Not sure its her label preventing a crossover, they want money and could see the potential. Its probably just her own desires and penchant for soul that takes over. Its what she likes.
This is so much fun! I love a good crossover so much.
I am really looking forward to Taylor Swift's re-record of her debut album, which is the most straight-up country record she's done. The country-pop on Fearless is still impeccable.
And Kylie Minogue only dabbled for an album, but "Dancing" was a great country-pop bop
Grady never fails to deliver. I discover or rediscover a new song every video! This time it was "Leave The Pieces" by The Wreckers.
Beyonce dipped her toes in with 'Daddy Issues' off lemonade a couple of years ago, which is a great song!!
Post Malone will definitely make a country album at some point and I’m excited for it.
I am so waiting for him and Sturg to drop an album together
Autotune country.
@@kalemorrow2243 nah he actually has serious country talent
Have you seen the video of him singing Brad Paisley? I really liked it.
Jonah Menikoff That would be amazing!
Can’t forget Kelly Clarkson’s early work with Reba on “Because of You”, CMT Crossroads, and touring!
Dallas Smith - mentioned in your Canadian Country video - did that. The guest mentioned that he had success in the band Default, then went full country.
Aaron Lewis is a more authentic country singer than 95% of nashville. His latest unnamed song "Am i the only one" is Pure country.
Dude I love Aaron Lewis. His song Northern Redneck really hits home for me because I love country and I'm from Pennsylvania
I didn’t even know he was a pop/rock singer previously. He’s legit and other than Darius Rucker the only real successful transition to Country. Good for him, have even more respect for him doing it on his own terms.
True
I found it sad it took an alternative rock singer to restore my faith in country music.
he is a sellout making pander trash 'make murica great again' music. He is about as authentic as a set of fake tits.
In Canada Dallas Smith is a huge example of a Popstar that went country and is killing it!
Your analysis of these topics is so insightful, informative and important.
Cassadee Pope who had her own pop band 'Hey Monday' and they released two albums. Then she went on 'The Voice' and won, and Blake Shelton groomed her into a country singer, and she released a country album called 'Frame By Frame' which i think did moderately well. Personally, i liked her better when she was pop.
Loved the video as always. I think at the end when you mentioned wanting to see people truly commit is the thing I want the most too. It feels so often pop stars (and some modern country stars) just want to make a pop song that includes some "country words"
Grady, you are far and away creating the best music journalism anywhere, not just TH-cam. Thoughtful, analytical and with a self-evident passion for the genre. Keep it up and regards from small town Canada.
So many good points, incredible delivery. Your takes on country resonate and make people think. You nailed this content
This was a great analysis of the emotions that I personally get when crossovers happen. I frequently listen to country, rock, and pop, and think this was spot on. Thank you!
Awesome video. Great rundown of the subject and the people involved.
Loved this overview Grady!! Awesome video
I love your videos like this. They always put together a playlist for the rest of my night.
Thatttttsss right my boy Grady be postin 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽!!!!!
Your best video yet. Production and content top notch! Your hours of research shows!
I absolutely love this video. I love the depth in which dive into specific examples that everyone knows about without ever truly thinking about. I hate to say that you “overthink” things because it always makes for great videos, but you kind of do lol. Don’t change Grady. Keep up the great work.
Literally just talked about this is my pop music seminar class yesterday... crazy how much it is the sound that impacts how people are either going to fit in or be criticized
You have done a great job on this one!
You have helped me add so many great songs to my country playlist! Thanks!
These videos are so high quality. Keep up the good work!
I miss the wreckers!!! You’re awesome 👏🏼 thanks so much for making these
I just love your channel so very much! This is a great video. Thank you so much for what you do. 😀
🤯WOW! @Grady Smith, u are absolutely my soul👫sibling!! I couldn't have agreed more with literally every single point u made in this vid, nor could I have chosen to reference any better artists & songs than u did! I swear it felt like u were reading my thoughts, WORD FOR EVERY SINGLE WORD! It was totally weird, but in a good way...a "glitch in the matrix" as I've heard it put in recent years, Lol.😜 I'm newly subscribed to ur channel(one of my greater "quarantine decisions"🙆🏼♀️) & I most def look forward to seeing lots more of ur content! 💯Keep up the good work, bro!💯
It's like you read my mind with this video. Great stuff!
I've wanted a video like this for sooo long
"When Nashville stars stop being relevant, they go to Branson" 😂😂😂 Spoken like a true southerner... I love it!
I am so glad Aaron Lewis finally got mentioned on this channel. He has been one of my favorites for years now and I'm finally getting to see him in concert in May
Love it! This is a great music educational video, and not just for country music. I'd love for you to do a part 2 & part 3 &...
Awesome video Grady!!!
Great video. Very solid analysis.
Good point on the mid-90's singer song writers going country. When you think about it, the biggest mid-90's "pop" music was counting crows and almost soft acoustic. So it's easy to switch over to country. I do wonder if you have thoughts on the late 2000's folk revival with Bon Iver, Mumford and Songs and Fleetfox, and if they would shift to an indie type country, ala Isbell or Childers type sound.
Excellent video
Never been this early for a Grady video. Maybe there's a better chance you'll see it, but thanks for reviving my love for country music! Videos keep getting better. Keep it up, brother man!
Good job, dude. You just gained a subscriber
Great job man
You actually brought up a few of my favourite artists in this video! Kid Rocks "Born Free" and Laura Bell Bundy's "Achin' and Shakin'" are great albums (Both released in 2010 I think so maybe that was the year for it! Thought Lionel Ritchie's "Tuskeegee" album John Fogarty's "Wrote A Song For Everyone" albums may have got a mention but maybe these Country Collaboration albums need a video of their own! (The Doobie Brothers "Southbound" comes to mind band I'm sure there are many more!).
Thanks for the upload
I like the shirt pull down at 9:03 Grady
Amazing video
Ahhhhhhhh I forgot about so many of these absolute classics. I haven't heard The Wreckers in forever.
"looked like your crazy aunt in a wind machine it's just ... lots of scarves" hahaha
Love ur videos will u do Taylor Swift Fearless (Taylor's Version) review?
a rapper named RMR did a coverish version of a rascall flatts "these days" and then uses the tune of "bless the broken road" to tell his own story in the song. i love it! it's a great little cover/ crossover/ tribute combo. also RFs record label tried to be like oh no you better pay us but rascall flatts liked it so much they didnt go after him for copyright bs
Great video! Can you do an album roundup later this month with the Luke Bryan deluxe album and Thomas Rhett and even Eric Church? Did you only watch the Super Bowl because of him? Also happy late birthday!
Excited to hear The Wreckers might be back!
This just algorithmed me. First time one hour channel. Disappointed you didn't mention john mayer and Born and Raised/Paradise Valley. Either way, subbed. Great content
Love you energy in this video! Are you sitting a little farther from the camera? I never thought you were too close but today I feel like I can see more your hand movements and it’s great.
Ty for this!!
Back porch bottle service gives me Vietnam flashbacks
I don't even listen to country music, but for some reason I find these videos about it very interesting and really enjoy this channel.
Charlie Puth on I Hope was the only pop country mashup that didn't feel weird to me in recent memory.
Anyways, keep doing your thing man! Recently discovered the channel and I've been checking out the backlog! Great content!! 🤘🙏
I thought Charlie's voice sounded really autotuned
Cyndi Lauper also went country. Her country album reached #4 on the billboard country charts
Unlike many Pop artists Cindy can sing. She has more talent in little finger than most Pop artists.
Enjoy listening to your videos as I always find new artists to listen to. Never heard of Aaron Lewis, his version of Grandaddy's Gun is great.
I loved The Wreckers especially My Oh My. I have that one in my Bluegrass playlist. I hope they come back!
I am still convinced that you can add a steel guitar to a handful of Staind songs and they would still be amazing.
Your videos are so informative and make Country music seem accessible to me as an African immigrant raised in England! Thank you.
Cody Jinks started out playing in a thrash metal band before he moved into country music. Sure am glad he went country
Hmmmm Imma gonna have to try and find that! One of my favorite Alt Country acts is Drag the River, which is made up of members of 2 less successful punk rocker bands!
I love when artists want to venture into country if they do it with respect and truly embrace the heart of country music. Too many stick to the stereotype of country people and country music, and just end up mocking it. Sorry country music does not need to be disrupted, we’ve already had all this pop and bro country do that. I’m ready for people to bring it back to the 90s and 80s and before, no matter who the artist is.
Totally
Well said
This video is gold
Hi Grady, love your channel... Could you do a video exploring the West Coast / Bakersfield / California country rock scene from late 1950s through 1970s soon? Eagles, Ronstadt, Merle, Buck, Gram Parsons & The Byrds to name a few. Claimed by others as too country for rock and too rock for country.
I’ll say, I was not raised on country music. I started performing out around 12 and by high school was accompanying myself with my guitar. I would sing some indie songs, some pop songs, and then a song like “leave the pieces.” I would always get the most reaction to the country songs. People would come up to me and say, “you’re meant to be singing country” after hearing this for years, the country fans being so loyal, and living in a southern florida town I switched to just performing country. And I had a pretty good run. I was on American Idol, made a full living as a musician, opened for artist like Brantley Gilbert and Easton Corbin. I stopped playing a year ago for health reasons. It was a very sad decision and although I’ll always love country, I don’t listen to it much anymore. I always love watching your videos though because I remember why I fell in love with it.
What a beautiful, bittersweet comment. Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on your success. I truly wish you good health, peace, and hope that you can find your love for music again. All the best.
@@BrittsBites402 Aw! Thank you so much!
OMG when you tugged on your shirt collar and we got to see your chest hair. Thanks for making my day better.
2:51 love that reaction 🤣
Mark Knopfler, from the Dire Straits, has been also been putting out a lot of country stuff. I think he deserves much more credit, I think his music is brilliant.
Isn't that more Folk though..
Mark Knopfler is pretty underrated in general.
Two big hits in the '90s were "When It Comes To You" by John Anderson and "The Bug" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Both songs were on the Dire Straits album On Every Street.
I would love to hear a country version of Sultans of Swing. It's already pretty acoustic, but maybe a little fiddle, mandolin, or steel could really make it hit in Nashville. Knopfler is such a guitar legend!
I like that this had a lot of songs from my peak country music listening years ❤️
Love it man I've always thought no one can do it like Darius the 🐐😂. Btw I think I'd say that Because of you by Kelly Clarkson was country?
This video was hilarious! I tried to like it about 5 different times
As a dude from LA your stagecoach analogy was perfect.
I love that you hit hard with the Gretchen Wilson song love that about died laughing 🤣🤣🤣
That kelly Clarkson and Vince gill song is GREAT!Thanks for featuring it along with he wreckers!
Baha, I've actually performed in Branson, so it cracked me up when you mentioned it. Sad but true, sometimes
“Wanted Dead Or Alive” is still a jam. Still a big fan of their first four albums, but still haven’t checked out their Lost Highway album yet.
Lost Highway was a great album. Especially "I Love This Town." Did a killer music video to promote the 2008 MLB Playoffs. Just a bunch of players singing along into baseball bats.
@@dtfrancis8888 I’ve honestly meant to listen to it for quite a while but never did. I’ll check it out!
@Jessica McDaniels Put “Wanted Dead Or Alive” up against a lot of what’s on the radio and it probably will feel a lot more country. But it’s a great song, and I really like Bon Jovi for what they were in the 80’s.
Colbie Caillat was one of the most successful pop stars back in the day who had some Billboard hits like Realize and Bubbly, then never heard from her for a few years starting from 2014, then in 2019 she formed a country band called Gone West whose songs are really good, but broke up quickly last November 2020 and I don't know why, but Gone West could have been a hit country group.
The Michelle Branch & Dwight Yoakam song The Long Goodbye is really good too!
Good video!!! Had some of my faves like Darrius and Aaron Lewis!!!
Good job
Cassadee Pope has had some success coming to country after her time with Hey Monday (and the voice)
Yep, and for my money, I really liked Hey Monday WAY better. Her voice on a country album was just not.... good. imo
I've literally never heard a Cassadee Pope song on the radio.
@@lwilliams7448 Wasting All These Tears was a minor hit on country radio at the time.
@@lwilliams7448 She dueted with Chris Young on “Think of You” which went #1 on US Country Airplay
I miss watching CMT Crossroads ... Kid and Hank, Bon Jovi and Sugarland, etc.
Taylor & Def Leppard was awesome as well!
I miss the Wreckers! Stand Still, Look Pretty was such a great album! Really hope they make a comeback.
the country-jazz fusion that Norah Jones does in songs like “How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart”, “Creepin’ in” w Dolly, and “Help Me Make it Through the Night” are really amazing. She’s my favourite pop-crossover artist albeit she sits more in the jazz pop category.
She has even done adult alternative pop-rock as well.