2012 CMA Nominations

They’re out!  What are your thoughts on this year’s CMA nominations?  Discuss in the comments section.

Entertainer of the Year 

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year

The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square

New Artist of the Year

Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

Album of the Year (Awarded to artist and producer)

Luke Bryan, Tailgates and Tanlines – Produced by Jeff Stevens and Mark Bright

Eric Church, Chief – Produced by Jay Joyce

Miranda Lambert, Four the Record – Produced by Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, and Glenn Worf

Dierks Bentley, Home – Produced by Brett Beavers, Luke Wooten, and Jon Randall Stewart

Lady Antebellum, Own the Night  – Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum

Song of the Year (Awarded to songwriters)

Eli Young Band, “Even if It Breaks Your Heart” – Will Hoge and Eric Paslay

Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You” – Dave Barnes

Dierks Bentley, “Home” – Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson and Brett Beavers

Miranda Lambert, “Over You” – Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton

Eric Church, “Springsteen” – Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell

Single of the Year (Awarded to artist and producer)

Jason Aldean, “Dirt Road Anthem” – Produced by Michael Knox

Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You” – Produced by Scott Hendricks

Dierks Bentley, “Home” – Produced by Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten

Little Big Town, “Pontoon” – Produced by Jay Joyce

Eric Church, “Springsteen” – Produced by Jay Joyce

Musical Event of the Year

“Dixie Highway,” Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band

“Feel Like a Rock Star,” Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw

“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” Willie Nelson featuring Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson

“Safe and Sound,” Taylor Swift featuring the Civil Wars

“Stuck on You,” Lionel Richie and Darius Rucker

Music Video of the Year (Awarded to artist and director)

Eric Church, “Springsteen” – Directed by Peter Zavadil

Kenny Chesney, “Come Over” – Directed by Shaun Silva

Miranda Lambert, “Over You” – Directed by Trey Fanjoy

Little Big Town, “Pontoon” – Directed by Declan Whitebloom

Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup” – Directed by Michael Salomon

Musician of the Year

Sam Bush
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally

 

Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”

Songwriters:  Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Jaren Johnston

Keith Urban has rarely been one to offer surprises these days.  But what he has been able to do with recent single releases (excluding the disposable “Without You”) is to offer vintage Urban material that just barely avoids carrying a retreaded feel.

“You Gonna Fly” retains many familiar features of a Keith Urban hit – an uplifting melody, guitar shredding, along with a slick pop-centric arrangement with flourishes of country instrumentation – yet it also brings infectious instrumental hooks that ring fresh and original, showcasing Urban’s formidable prowess with just about any instrument his hand finds.

Opening verses about driving in a truck with “windows rolled down and the radio loud” aren’t particularly interesting, but the chorus is where the song begins picking up steam.  His significant other is metaphorically compared to “a black bird on a country street, hidin’ from the world with a broken wing,” and to “a songbird from New Orleans, scared of the rain ‘case you’re scared to sing.”  In each case, Urban assures her “You gonna fly with me.”  Such lyrics might seem rudimentary if not for the spirited performance, but Keith’s energetic delivery brings the song fully to life.  “Fly” doesn’t reach quite the same level of coy catchiness as predecessor “Long Home Summer,” but fortunately, it also avoids the mushy-mushy cheese factor in puppy love ditties like “Sweet Thing” and “Kiss a Girl.”  But mainly, Urban pulls it off through the way he flat-out owns the song and style, making it sound perfectly natural.  He sounds like he’s in his element, and having the time of his life, but it still comes across as an effort that’s focused instead of merely frivolous.

“You Gonna Fly” is unlikely to win over country genre purists dismissive of Urban’s polished contemporary sound.  But what it does do is follow a tried-and-true template while offering just enough variation to continually hold our interest.  Better yet, it avoids sounding too deliberately contrived, flowing naturally enough to impart a breath of personality into the stale radio atmosphere.

KEITH’S SCORE:  7
(Scores are given on a scale of 1 to 10)

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