And So It goes:Blake Shelton

Another cold day to my beginning of the 52nd time around the planet.  I'll post more about my wonderful day afterwards but first the music news that you crave.

Blake Shelton, Country's self made man, reality music judge and husband to everybody's favorite country girl Miranda Lambert (she has yet to made a bad album and maybe some day he'll make a album somewhat as good as her' least) continues to rattle the classic country's folk with his talk that nobody wants to hear Grandpa's music anymore.  Take it away big mouth.

If I am “Male Vocalist of the Year” that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.

To which 86 year old and last of the classic country singers Ray Price took deep exception to that.

 It's a shame that I have spend 63 years in this business trying to introduce music to a larger audience and to make it easier for the younger artists who are coming behind me. Every now and then some young artist will record a rock and roll type song , have a hit first time out with kids only. This is why you see stars come with a few hits only and then just fade away believing they are God's answer to the world. This guy sounds like in his own mind that his head is so large no hat ever made will fit him. Stupidity Reigns Supreme!!!!!!! Ray Price (CHIEF "OLD FART" & JACKASS") " P.S. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AS US OLD-TIMERS. CHECK BACK IN 63 YEARS (THE YEAR 2075) AND LET US KNOW HOW YOUR NAME AND YOUR MUSIC WILL BE REMEMBERED. 

Well Ray, at least Blake didn't end that by saying he shit his pants again like he usually does on his Twitter account.  But in all fairness, BS didn't single Ray out, he just made an observation that was guaranteed to rile up the trad country people out there who still enjoy a classic country song now and then.  Let's face it, today's new country is no where near the sound of when Bob Wills was around (I'm sure Blake doesn't even listen to that dinosaur music) or when Ray came around in the 50s and then the golden age of country came with Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and George Jones  ruled the charts which begat Waylon, Willie, the outlaw movement which begat the next generation of stars like Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, Randy Travis and then on to the 90s when George Strait,  Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson took over.  

And then you have the kid's generation of stars which is a far cry from the honky tonks now replaced by trailer courts, boom boom speakers and tattooed stars with wallet chains and half baked southern rock and songs about trucks and shaking girls.  Blake Shelton is considered the stars of country music today although at age 36 the sun is beginning to set on him and I'm sure he'll be replaced by another up and coming star.  It's like that in music anymore.  Every decade has it's stars of the hour and given another decade or two I'm sure B.S. will be featured in some Classic Country format.  Again, the fact of the matter remains that good music is timeless be it any decade although in this Cumulus Corporate owned age, you don't hear Ray Price on the local country channel unless it's 99.3 in Dyersville or on Willie Nelson's Sirius Station.  But look over your shoulder Blake, and you can see the new generation taking over  (Hunter Hayes anybody?).  You may not like them but what goes around comes around and hits twice as hard later in life.

I have little use for new country anymore, most of it sucks with the exception of Miranda Lambert's albums and she continues to be that rare person that can write them and sing them, whereas Blake needs a bit more outsider songwriter help to get him through his albums.  Maybe Miranda could help him, but her songs tend to be a bit more sarcastically and darker than his tongue in cheek songs like Some Beach.  He remains controversial and funny on Twitter but this time he's in the wrong.  Grandpa's music Blake?  Um, don't know about that, George Strait and Alan Jackson has actually been doing the same type of music Ray Price continues to do and they're making a decent living over that.  

And so it goes.

Update: Blake responds.

Whoa!!! I heard I offended one of my all time favorite artists Ray Price by my statement “Nobody wants to listen to their grandpas music”..And probably some other things from that same interview on GAC Backstory.. I hate that I upset him.. The truth is my statement was and STILL Is about how we as the new generation of country artists have to keep re-inventing country music to keep it popular. Just EXACTLY…The way Mr. Price did along hid journey as a main stream country artist.. Pushing the boundaries with his records. “For The Goodtimes” is a Perfect example with the introduction of a bigger orchestrated sound in country music.. It was new and awesome!!! I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better(as always ha!) and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended..I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me. I’ll put my Lo e and respect and knowledge About it up against anybody out there… ANYBODY…


From Ray Stevens (Happy Birthday Ray!)


“I just heard Blake Shelton’s remarks about ‘old farts and jackasses’ and all I want to know is how he found out the title to my next single because it’s been a closely guarded secret here at the ‘Home.’ It will be available on vinyl or 8-Track at your nearest Tower Records store.”

Last word from Blake himself

 No.. Actually it's an apology for the wording. Nice try though.. (responding to Outlaw Magazine claim that his apology wasn't so much an apology)

And this:

What an interesting day. Turns out I have a lot of friends in this industry that refuse to jump on any band wagon and turn their back on me.   And a handful that have no problem doing it...Publicity can make people do and say anything I guess... Oh well. Good news for me is... I don't forget and won't forget.  Coolest thing about it all...? 100% of my fans have my back. And THAT makes me proud of, not me, but country music...


And finally.

  @blakeshelton Please tweet me happy birthday!?” Happy birthday!!!

Thanks Blake, you rock!  Say hello to Miranda for me please?  ;-)

PS: Farce The Music sums things up:

 "There's not a more compassionate fan of the industry" -An associate of Blake Shelton defending him. In those very words lies the problem.

FINAL THOUGHT (for real) from Ray Price

Hi Folks, I had no idea how far this would go when I made my comment about BLAKE SHELTON'S statement regarding CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC and that it had no place in the evolution of Country Music. It has made it's way to the site of the 2013 GRAMMY AWARDS TV SHOW. I am giving you the link to read yourself. I HAVE ACCEPTED BLAKE SHELTON'S APOLOGY TO ME PERSONALLY. I think Blake is a fine young man with a big future in Country Music. I AGREE that he should be given a chance to restore his credibility with the MILLIONS OF FANS who were deeply offended by those HURTFUL WORDS AND RENAMING US ALL AS.....well, you know what he said. I would regret it if the words I have spoken would in any way harm Blake personally or his career and his chances for the future. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, BLAKE. Thanks All. RAY PRICE

Blake responds:

 
Still sad that Ray thought I was talking about artists. I was only referring to people who don't like the new direction country is going.  I'm so proud of where country music is today... I'll always stand up for it. It's my world.

 

TO BE CONTINUED..... ?