Nashville Star, Episode 6: American Me

Last episode, the burgeoning Nashville stars got what they wanted. They got to perform the songs they wrote themselves in front of the world. The part they could have done without was doing it front of judges and saying goodbye to Jamey Garner, who looked like a lock for Top 3!

After the show, the performers share the experience with each other over dinner. John Arthur confides the he blew the lines to his own song. Amy says it was the most nervous she has ever been before a performance. Miranda says it was honestly the first time she has been nervous onstage. Buddy says he thinks country needs a great female country singer like Miranda (why is everyone so afraid she’ll go pop?). Miranda jokes she’ll be doing a 2Pac song!

Nancy welcomes us to the show, and another shout out for the military families of Fort Campbell, KY. A USA chant breaks out. We welcome Clint Black, tonight’s super guest.

All six remaining contestants perform George Strait’s “Heartland.” (The nerves of someone’s imminent dismissal are apparent, as Miranda and Amy start off decidedly flat!) It’s appropriate because the theme of this week is America’s Songs.

Nancy announces something of a twist. Ordinarily, the show begins with the lowest vote garnerer from last week’s performances being dismissed. Instead, going forward, the contestants will be called out one by one to perform. The performer who is not called has been dismissed. (It seems slimy, sure. But, it makes sense. If folks know they can see who’s gone in the first five minutes, they may not stick around for the whole show!) As Nancy announces this change, a shocked ‘ooh’ rumbles through the crowd.

Time to announce the first performer. Nancy says it is:

Brandon Silveira, “Country Boy Can Survive”

Charlie - “you sang better this week... if I could go to a bar to see you, I’d go three times a week... not sure how that translates to a record contract.”

Robert - “you have the best sense of choosing the right... best sense of who you are and that shined tonight”

Tracy- “the biggest disservice I can do to you is give you a contract too soon... I’d watch you for a year or two, but you’re not ready to record”

Sting7- I got on Robert for suddenly realizing Brandon can’t sing last week, and I should get on Charlie for hitching on this week after being complimentary last week. But, I can’t argue with the wisdom. Brandon is full of charm and charisma when you can see him on stage, but will that work on a record? I have to agree with the judges that he must get that voice to a more consistent level.

Miranda Lambert, “The Fighting Side of Me”

Charlie - “smile is so pretty... this may not have been the best song choice, but you won me over”

Robert - “this is an angry song, you should not be smiling when you perform it” (Tracy asks what he wants her to do?)

Tracy - “thanks to my friend Ryan Seacrest for the free advertising (the audience didn’t get it - Seacrest took an uncalled for jab at Nashville Star on last Wednesday’s American Idol. Pay attention, Josh Gracin, the country fans have no idea who you are)... you want to bring country back to country and I want you to... the fact that you know a Merle Haggard song, you’re wonderful)

Sting7 - It may have taken me this long to “get” Miranda. She does have a beautiful smile, and she has a wonderful pure quality to her voice. Maybe that’s why everybody is begging her to stay country. She performed better tonight than I’ve ever seen her. Do not ask me what is eating Robert Oermann.

Nancy asks Clint for his thoughts. Clint says that he thinks it’s absolutely right to smile when you’re singing, “when you’re running down my country/you’re walking on the fighting side of me.” (I don’t know if I like the guests openly contradicting the resident judges. Clint is producing the winner’s album, so maybe he feels a special entitlement, but it is... unseemly to me. Or, maybe because it was Robert that Clint felt there needed to be clarification.) Clint adds that Minnie Pearl told him to just ‘love what you do,’ and it helps.

The Nashville stars are asked to sing the national anthem at a NASCAR race. The six are excited about the chance to sing live in front of about 100,000 people. The arranger (name irrelevant) makes it a point to say about three times that he wants a respectful group performance. No big solos. Brandi grumbles. They try it his way. Brandi has to speak up, “I don’t feel like we’re doing anything spectacular!” Brandi adds she used to the usual ballast of the anthem (laaand of the FREEEE) versus the almost mournful tone the arranger is aiming for. Arranger repeats that he does not want big solos. Well, that’s not what she said. How’s this gonna end up?

Time to announce the next performer, meaning they weren’t cut. Nancy says it’s:

Buddy Jewell, “Forty Hour Week”

Charlie - “you pick good songs to show your skills, up-tempo, slow-tempo... you know how to work a crowd... you’ve been doing it awhile!”

Robert - “you rule, Buddy... the best singer we got here... no contest”

Tracy- “you will face a lot of pressure cooker situations when you’re a recording artist... you always handle it... I would put you on any award show because I know you’ll come through!”

Sting7- Buddy scores again. I’m out of adjectives. Consistently, week after week, he brings it, and he has the ability to pull at the heart strings with a simple bend of a note. Robert may be crazy, but he’s right when he says Buddy is the best singer there.