April 12, 2003 was the date of episode 6 for Nashville Star. This week the contestants performed patriotic songs. They also performed a group song for the first time, George Strait's "Heartland." I think it's hard to arrange a song in a way that is fair to both male and female voices. This one seemed made for the guys, cuz the girls had to sing real low, and the guys sounded great. It was cool to see them all sing together. I wish they would have done this before, but then, I guess they didn't have time to do that with so many to perform.
Back at the house, the contestants all talked about how sad it was to see Jamey go. Then, they all admitted to being nervous last week on the show.
The families of the military were welcomed again, and Clint Black was introduced as the special guest.
This week the elimination was handled differently. Nancy would read off names in no certain order during the show and that person would come sing. The last person would be the person eliminated.
First performance was from Brandon, who sang "Country Boy Can Survive."
Charlie: "Hey Brandon. I thought you sang a lot better this week. I tell you what... If you played in a bar close to my house three times a week, I'd go see ya all three times a week. I'll tell ya what, though, I'm not sure how that translates into a record deal. Ya know, I'm a great person to ask about that, because I'm not sure how I translate into that. But there's a big difference between going out and having a great career live..."
Tracy: "Charlie, I agree. Look, one of the biggest disservices I can do to you and you and do to yourself is to make a record too early, before you're ready. Brandon, I'll watch you for a year, in a year from now, but I think you're too.. you're not ready to make a record yet... sorry."
Robert: "You know Brandon, I'll tell you one thing. Out of all six of the remaining contestants, you have one of the best senses of what songs are right for you. You have a real clear sense of who you are, and that cam across really loud tonight."
Second performance was from Miranda, who sang "Fightin' Side Of Me."
Tracy: "Hey, before I forget, I need to say something... I need to say hi to my friend Ryan Seacrest, and thank him for watching the show and for all this great presence. Miranda, I love, I wanna bring country back into country music and you are too, and the fact that you even know a Merle Haggard song, I love that. And you just did a great job!"
Robert: "Miranda, one thing is, you don't smile when you're singing "The Fightin' Side of Me." It's not that kind of a song. Great performance, but you don't smile." (Tracy replies: "Well, what do you want her to do, hit you or something?") Robert replies: "It's a mad song." (Tracy replies: "Kick his ass.")
Charlie: "I'm kind of right in the middle. I think that your smile is just so pretty, how can you not smile whenever you do that. I didn't think this might have been the best choice for you, but like you do every week, you won me over tonight."
They check in with Clint Black, asking him if he has any advice for performing under pressure. He says "As a patriotic American, you DO smile when you say "If you don't love it leave it." That was the right thing to do, sorry Bob. Then he says "Love them, and they'll love you back," (referring tot he audience) "I learned that from Minnie Pearl, and it's great advice."
Next we see the contestants on a football field meeting with two gentlemen, one who is a Sony rep and the other who is producer David Malloy. The contestants are told they'll be singing the National Anthem in Martinsville, Virginia at the Nascaar Virginia 500. The contestants are all real excited to hear this news. David then tells them how he wants to have them sing, so that no one has an edge over anyone else. They sing it through one time and Brandi says that it didn't seem like they really had it. She wanted to give it more excitement, and David reminds her that it's a group performance, and they should shine as a group, not as individuals.
Third performance was from Buddy, who sang "Forty Hour Week For a Living."
Robert: "Buddy, you rule, Buddy! You know it says a great deal about a person, about the songs they choose to sing on this show, and that was one of the greatest workin' man anthems written and you're the best singer we've got up there."
Tracy: "I gotta tell ya, when you become a recording artist, you're gonna be in a lot of nerve-wracking situations. More so than this, consistantly. And, you will be able to do it, because you sing consistantly. You sing better than anyone I've heard, and I would put you up on any award show, in front of any radio station programmer, because I know you'd come through for me."
Charlie: "Well, Tracy's taken all my time, but you pick good songs for yourself. You've gone up tempo, you've gone slow tempo, and you know how to play to the crowd, which you can tell you've been out there doin' it for a while. (Tracy replies: "And your hair cut looks great!")
Fourth performance was from Brandi, who sang "Home"
Charlie: "Hi Brandi. Over the last few weeks, I've seen you kind of change a little bit, like right at first, I could see more of you, and like lately it seems a lot more showbizzy to me. And I know the crowd is all here for you, and that's great, but you gotta realize when you get out there, you're gonna be playin' for people all over the place, and they're not gonna be necessarily in your corner, and you've gotta find a way to get them in your corner."
Robert: "Brandi, I think you did great. The things I don't know how you guys do this every week, frankly. It must be so nervewracking. But, what I keep hearing in your performance is that fear inside of you, and I don't want to hear that. I want you to push past that fear, and get to that zone where you're really taking charge. (Brandi replies jokingly, "Take me to Kentucky.")
Tracy: "Yeah, I have to agree with Charlie again,a nd I never agree with Charlie. But, there's a little bit of a cockiness that's coming through, and I love the innocence bit that you had in the beginning. (Bob replies: "I don't hear that at all.") Tracy then replies to the audience: "Stop booing me." (Brandi says: "I think that people take cockiness as confidence wrong, and I've got confidence.") Tracy again replies: "I love it when you talk back to us."
Back to Clint, they ask him since only one person can win, what advice do you have for the others. Clint comments on Brandi's song, instead saying "As the contest goes along, you might not want to pick a song about going home. As she was singing, she was probably relieved that she got to sing about going home, instead of going there."
There are only two contestants left, Amy and John Arthur. John Arthur is called to sing and Amy goes over to Nancy, and says she really appreciated the opportunity to be on the show. Then, she hugged her fellow contestants and left. It was kind of quick, actually.
As stated, the final performance was from John Arthur, who sang "City of New Orleans."
Tracy: "Hey John, don't let that mean Mr. Oermann say anything about smiling, because that's what I love about you. I would like to see a little more dynamics in your vocal performances, though."
Robert: "John Arthur, I loved that song when Steve Goodman sang it. I loved it when Arlo Guthrie sang it. I loved it when Willie Nelson sang it. I'm gonna love it 'til the day I die, and you did it great."
Charlie: "Not taking anything away from anything else, but just every week you love what you do. and sometimes that's just all it takes, and it's infectous, and it's just like you're having fiun, and I'm having fun."
They show Clint backstage talking to the 5 remaining contestants, saying "Every one of you, including Amy, who's heading out the back door, has the ability to make a good record. Just remember that."
Is there some dischord in the house regarding singing the anthem? They show the contestants at home practicing for the upcoming singing of the "National Anthem," and Buddy and John Arthur mention that they should practice 'til they get it right. Then, Buddy mentions that he thinks that they should practice, and if that means you don't get to go out and party all night with your friends every night, then that's what you have to do. Brandi took exception to this, saying that she doesn't go out and get drunk every night, and that doesn't mean she doesn't leave the house. Then, she said she didn't think they needed to practice every night. She didn't think they needed to practice for hours. Buddy remarked that he has been doing this for 10 years now and he doesn't want anyone to screw it up. Brandi then walked out of the room, and John Arthur followed her to the front porch where she was crying. Miranda commented after they left the room that they said nothing wrong, and Brandi shouldn't have taken it personally. When John Arthur brought Brandi back in the room, they all reminded her that it was a group performance, and that it wasn't a comment made to single out anyone, and they loved her and she shouldn't take it personally. She apologized and said "Let's sing."
My comments?
