2011 Academy of Country Music Awards

It was cool.  After 3 hours of watching performance after performance (that was the cool part), with a few breaks mixed in to hand out awards, my only question was why didn't Zac Brown win anything?  That was the obvious omission, however I am sure it will change.  Remember that 5 years ago Brooks and Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich only needed to remain breathing to receive more than a fair share of awards.  You don't even see them in the crowd anymore.  The tide has turned, beginning 3 years ago when Sugarland, Miranda (whom I practically discovered), Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood, and Lady Antebellum started taking turns cleaning up.  Zac's turn is coming.

Last night it was The Band Perry who won the most awards with 3.  That was a surprise considering they have only released one record.  They also won the ACM Redundancy Award for sweeping Best Song, and Best Single with "If I Die Young".  What is the difference?  I did enjoy The Band Perry's performance.  It did make me consider purchasing their music.  The Girl Perry is easy to look at and has a great voice.  The Boys Perry look a couple of chromosomes short of a full package.  Word is that during an off camera presentation they won the award for County Performers Most Likely to Become Serial Killers, so that made 4 awards for the night.  At least they write their own stuff which is big in my book, so I can live with their selection.

Taylor Swift had a good night winning Entertainer of the Year.  Her performance of new material was also a highlight of the show.  Taylor doesn't have the skills of many performers, but makes the most of what she has. She is not a great guitarist.  She can barely sing.  But there she was, all by herself, sitting on a couch playing her guitar and singing a song she wrote.  I give her a lot of credit for that.   The song had a pretty good hook line.  Something about people throwing rocks at shiney things.  If that were true, they would have been throwing rocks at Erin Andrews legs.  Erin presented an award and must have shined 'em up for the occasion based on the camera glare cause by her walking on stage. 

I must confess that I also have an innocent fantasy about Taylor.  In my fantasy, she is my daughter.  I see us on the beach outside of the home she purchased for her daddy.  After every album release, she buys her daddy a new beach house, each a little bigger and closer to the water than the last.  We never lock the doors or turn off the iron because if it burns down, she will just release a new album.

The Glen Campbell tribute was sort of sad.  He didn't look bad - had the slobber wiped off of his face and everything.  But it was pretty obvious there weren't going to let him embarrass himself by singing.  After taking the stage, he donned his guitar, strummed once, and they broke for commercial.

Other observations from the show were:  Jason Aldean needs to learn to articulate.  He is sort of going Bob Dylan on us.  Miranda sounded pretty good.  A huge change from her "mailed in" performance on Austin City Limits.  Footloose is not a country song, but Blake Shelton made it seem like it might be possible.  There isn't that much difference between Little Jimmy Dickens and Justin Bieber.  Rascal Flatts isn't country.  Not even a little.  Lady Antebellum is seriously overrated.  You don't need to release a record during the year to be anointed Best Female Vocalist.  They should change that.  Sissy Boy Kenny and Grace Potter performing "You and Tequila" was really good.  Its the song that is still bouncing around my skull today.