The Return of Garth
If you look back at 2007, you can say that it was a less than stellar year sales wise, but I personally think there was a lot of great music to be enjoyed. One of the best things to come from 2007 was Garth Brooks string of nine concerts in Kansas City. These were initially to be one date as a thank you to Walmart for all the work they did for him on the releases he sold their exclusively in previous years, but as each show sold out, more were added, until he had to stop adding more shows due to his own prior commitments. The final show was simulcast to over 200 movie theaters across the country, and I, for one attended one of the showings, and it was amazing. It was almost like you were right there, but you had a better view, with the various camera angles. One of the definite high points of the year, if not a live-in-person event.And before you ask, Garth is NOT coming out of retirement until his youngest daughter turns 18. I probably get 3-4 mails a week asking me when Garth will be playing in their city.
In more Garth news, he released Ultimate Hits, which contained his biggest hits along with four new tracks, and a DVD of all of his videos, plus interviews, all at a super low price. One of the four new tracks was "More Than a Memory," which became his latest No. 1 song. In fact, the song did something no other country song has ever done before. It debuted at No. 1. In the weeks that followed, the song remained in the Top 10, but never made it all the way back to No. 1 for a second time.
2007 Was the Year of Carrie Underwood
There were quite a few artists that had stellar years, but none so much as Carrie Underwood. It seemed that pretty much any award she was nominated for, she won in 2007, from Grammy's to ACM's, to CMT Music Awards, CMA Awards, American Music Awards, you name it. But it didn't stop there. She also had two No. 1 songs, and her sophomore album, Carnival Ride sold 2 million copies by the end of the year. Add that to her 7 million copies she's sold of her debut album, Some Hearts.
Yes, Carrie showed everyone that it wasn't a fluke that she won American Idol. It wasn't just luck that she sold so many copies of her debut album. Her sophomore release is doing quite well, thank you very much. This is one talented, and beautiful young lady. She even made it to Forbes' Top 20 Under 25 list, quoted as earning $7,000,000 between June 2006 and June 2007. That's no chump change. And, she's on People's Most Beautiful People list for 2007, as well.
First Number Ones
The following artists counted 2007 as the year they saw their first No. 1 album, or song.
Songs:
- Emerson Drive - "Moments" from their Countrified album.
- Big & Rich - "Lost in This Moment" from their Between Raising Hell & Amazing Grace album.
- Taylor Swift - "Our Song" from her Taylor Swift Limited Deluxe Album.
Albums:
- Jason Michael Carroll - Waitin' in the Country
- Bucky Covington - Bucky Covington
- Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift (Taylor's album debuted on the 11/11/06 chart at No. 3. It took 39 weeks to make it to No. 1. This is very rarely seen. Most artists will never peak higher than their opening week.
