Billy Ray Cyrus Covers "Nineteen" on Latest CD

[Mac]

"I'm American" was released 6/28/11

Uh no.

http://www.billyraycyrus.com/music

[TMW]

I listened to it. Tried to be objective. BRC does not even come close to the emotion and passion that Taylor reaches with this song. Just plain yuck!

[sallyannlady]

Noop.... me no likey.... but I'll admit I DID like the idea of the 3-part harmony in the chorus.... but his version is

[dg90001]

I am 40 seconds in and I don't like Billy's version. His version is too twangy (sp) for me.

[toffee]

Ugh! I just listened to BRC version of Nineteen. He tried a song that was not meant for his style of delivery-too much twang. It lacked the emotion and deep feeling the Taylor presents. Taylor's voice is so special that it makes me want to cry for the lost soldier. He has soul! At least that's my opinion.

[keb]

I think it is just two different styles. While I prefer Taylor's version 200%, I can see where BRC is coming from with his country roots. But to me I think the song needs the soul that Taylor brings to his delevery.

[Mac]

For me it has nothing to do with the twang. It's more about the flat delivery, the seeming lack of connection to the lyrics. He doesn't seem the least bit moved about what he's singing. While "Nineteen" is far from my favorite song in Taylor's repertoire, when he sings it live I am always moved. I think that says something.

[Mac]

Review of the album

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2011...um_the.php

Quote:Only "Nineteen" -- which has nothing to do with the bitter Paul Hardcastle hit of 1985 -- makes explicit mention of September 11. First recorded by Taylor Hicks, it is state-of-the-art Nashville songwriting: a detailed narrative about an extraordinary (but totally relatable!) American. In this case, that hero is a high school football captain whose life is changed you-know-when:

On the day those Twin Towers came down
His whole world turned around
He told 'em, "All y'all, I can't play ball."


So, the kid enlists. Marrying heroic decisiveness to shrugging, colloquial language, the songwriters (Gary Nicholson, Jeffrey Steele, and Tom Hambridge) are either honoring or pandering to the country-music audience's idea of itself as the get-it-done spine of American life. Two verses later, that kid is paraded, Purple Hearted, down Main Street in a flag-draped coffin.

The song -- and Cyrus -- acknowledge that these wars have taken many sons and daughters of that rural and heartland audience. The song -- and Cyrus -- are good enough to thank those sons, daughters, and families for their sacrifice. But neither the song -- nor Cyrus -- dare to consider whether or not this country should have demanded that sacrifice of them.

Worse, the song plods along like a broke-legged dog, and Cyrus throws in a couple of shouts, which always come out of nowhere like maybe he's trying to scare you out of the hiccups.

[dg90001]

Wow you can really tell that this Alan Scherstuhl is Anti War huh? I am not a fan of Billy's but that review was really harsh.

I wonder if Alan ever listened to Taylor's version of Nineteen?

[blueeyes4tay]

(07-19-2011 04:26 PM)Mac Wrote:  For me it has nothing to do with the twang. It's more about the flat delivery, the seeming lack of connection to the lyrics. He doesn't seem the least bit moved about what he's singing. While "Nineteen" is far from my favorite song in Taylor's repertoire, when he sings it live I am always moved. I think that says something.

Beautifully said...my thoughts completely...When Taylor sings 19 you can hear and feel the emotion behind the words.