Swift Show Hits High Decibel Response

page 1
Monday,
Monday, October
October 12,
12, 2009
2009
Swift Show Hits
High Decibel
Response
Oct. 9, Allstate Arena, Chicago
by David M. Ross
announcement of her first headlining
tour set to visit 50 cities and 38 states in
the U.S. and Canada would spur the kind
of ticket buying frenzy promoters dream
about. In fact, she sold out the L.A.
Staples Center in just two minutes and
Madison Square Garden tickets were
gone in an incredible one minute.
Fearless 2009 has now been extended to
Fearless 2010 which will visit Australia
and then return home for an additional
37 shows across the U.S. and Canada
with tickets reportedly starting at an
affordable $25.
Accolades aside, the question
loomed, could Swift comfortably wear
the mantle of headline
status and hold the
crowd's attention for an
almost two-hour stretch?
At Chicago's Allstate Arena
on Oct. 9, a 5-minute
standing ovation screamfest proved beyond a
doubt the shoe of fame fits
perfectly on this modernday Cinderella.
Taylor Swift's singer/
songwriter career has been nothing
short of a cultural phenomenon, having
sold over 10 million albums with singles
topping both the Country and Pop
charts. In addition, fans have paid for
downloads of over 20 million Swift
tracks. The 19-year-old's
Award tally is too
numerous to mention and
her Twitter account boasts
over 1.5 million followers.
The young beauty has also
graced magazine covers
from Rolling Stone to
Seventeen to USA
Weekend and beyond.
Just recently she earned
international headlines on
the MTV Video Awards for
her seasoned on-camera
behavior when harassed
by rapper Kanye West.
Surfing this
Swift in the round on a small
torrent of momentum, it is rotating pedestal in the back of
not surprising that the
the auditorium. Photo: DMR
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Show
When you're 15
and somebody tells you
they love you, you're
gonna believe them…
("Fifteen," Writer: Swift)
The darkened
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room filled with anticipation as a series of artists—Garth,
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Miley Cyrus and more—gave brief
Taylor testimonials on the video screens. What they said
remains a secret, because the roar of the crowd
completely drowned them out, but regardless the point
was made. Then suddenly a dance team of male and
female cheerleaders filled the stage and the band began
"You Belong With Me." The crowd knew every word. The
versatile stage set featured two winding Gone With The
Wind staircases leading to a second level. From the
second story upwards the entire back wall was filled with
a massive computerized light screen capable of showing
live and recorded video images, lighting effects and color
bursts.
In fast order Swift rolled out "Our Song," another
uptempo major hit, as she pranced across all corners of
the stage gyrating and throwing her ample blonde curls
around like tangled wheat. (Her highly original body
language may spawn a new dance—The Swifty.)
"Teardrops On My Guitar" featured two of the
dancers center stage, romantically stepping out in a
stylish series of spins, whirls and lifts as Swift sang from
the upper level. (Note: the dancers were hired in
Nashville via open
auditions.)
Swift then
introduced a video
segment called
Crimes of Passion,
built around the idea
that if a guy treated
her wrong he better
be ready to pay the
consequences,
because she would
write a song about
him. While the video
bits captured the
crowd's attention,
Earlier on 10/9 Swift taped an appearance
Swift changed
on Oprah. (L-R): Big Machine's Scott
costumes
Borchetta and CMA Board member/Exec.
(throughout the
VP Harpo, Inc. Erik Logan watching from
evening she modeled
Logan's office inside the Oprah studio.
8.5 different outfits)
and then appeared among the crowd at mezzanine level
in the back of the arena and performed a song.
Gradually she made her way down to the floor where a
small circular stage awaited. Swift climbed into a chair
and the stage elevated into the air and began to slowly
rotate while she sang songs like "Tim McGraw" and
"Fifteen." The crowd, many of whom are young teens,
was utterly enthralled. Then in complete control with her
band vamping from the stage up front, Swift came down
from her pedestal and proceeded to hug and say hello to
at least 15 fans, one at a time, slowly making her way
back toward the stage. I personally saw her shake hands
and hug a young girl, perhaps 10 years old. The girl's
face lit up so bright one can only assume it was a
moment this little one will remember forever. Finally
Swift made her way to the main stage where she was
greeted with a total uproar (making this reviewer
thankful for earplugs). The ecstatic din continued for
almost five minutes while Swift stood center stage head
bowed, with a big smile channeling the applause like a
lightning rod in a thunderstorm.
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Monday, October 12, 2009
Further into the show, "You're Not Sorry" which
features Swift on piano, provided a smooth change of
pace starting with a string trio intro and again utilizing
the dancers for added dimension.
A steady chant began to arise from the audience,
"Taylor, Taylor, Taylor." "Where are my girls?" yelled out
the artist and once again the roar of approval rose to
earsplitting levels.
As calculated, the show's first ending resulted in
an encore. But the final, final ending truly crescendoed in
hallowed show biz fashion. "You Should've Said No," a
song about a boy who's affection strayed, was
punctuated by confetti canons shooting small hearts
above the crowd. Suddenly Taylor and a female dancer
playing the role of the "other girl" had a fake dance fight
and then ran up the twin staircases where a steel drum
kit shaped like a giant horn gave each girl her own drum
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Monday, October 12, 2009
area. Of course the two started playing and answering
each other's drum licks and the energy climbed as they
tried to outdo each other. On the screen above, the girls
were shown larger than life in a grey shade that almost
made it appear they were in the heavens, perhaps
assistants of Thor, the mythological God of thunder.
Lights flashed like lightning and the roar of the drums
escalated. Swift finally vanquished the "other woman"
and then ran downstairs, stage center where she was
greeted and drenched by a giant surprise waterfall that
had song lyrics embedded as the water cascaded to the
stage. It was an ending worthy of the thunderous
reaction it received.
Post Show Thoughts
First and foremost a show should play to the
artist's strengths. The evening made clear from the start
that Taylor is a sensitive singer songwriter placing her on
firm ground. She commented on her lyrics and even
offered brief advice at various moments, being careful to
never get preachy or too specific.
Pacing and visual impact are another area that
obviously were painstakingly considered. The stage
setting allowed for numerous design changes, which for
the most part were easily accomplished with lighting or
minimal crew interaction. In true diva fashion Swift
constantly morphed her appearance to fit each song/
chapter. Her change from a wench outfit to a sparkling
white, princess dress during "Love Story," made a
significant impact.
But challenges abound for this young lady who
will soon be leaving her teens and entering a new
decade. Can she continue to be a role model, embraced
by mothers who have welcomed her into their homes
and children's hearts? Will she maintain the focus and
discipline that have helped her to climb so far so fast?
Can she continue to relate musically to her fans as she
continues to mature? One can only speculate on where
her ability to capture emotion and observation in songs
will lead, but based upon what she's already shared with
the world, it would seem only prudent to stay tuned. In
fact her CD seems to perfectly describe her—Fearless!
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Spin Zone
by Jon Freeman
You can’t make this stuff up: the three weeks
preceding this chart, one Keith (given name: Toby)
held the CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 spot. This week
there’s another Keith (Urban) to replace him with his
“Only You Can Love Me This Way.” Name similarities
aside, Keith Urban’s 15 week-old hit has quickly
ascended to the top and gets an additional 83 spins to
sweeten the deal. Urban is followed by Carolwood’s
Love and Theft at No. 2 with “Runaway” and Brad
Paisley at No. 3 with “Welcome to the Future.”
The Lady Antebellum “Need You Now” juggernaut
appears to be on a crash course for the top, evidenced
by its rise to No. 6 in a mere eight weeks. Zac Brown
Band’s “Toes” seems to be in a holding pattern of some
sort, perhaps over content-related objections, as it
maintains the No. 11 position for another week. Only 86
of our panelists are reporting it at present, so the next
couple of charts will be crucial for its continued forward
progress. Just a few spins behind trying also to break the
top 10 threshold are Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy
Casanova” and Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen.”
New singles making appearances include George
Strait’s “Twang,” which leaps to No. 50 after a big 361
spin gain. The Stroudavarious camp has a handful of new
singles steadily climbing the chart at present, including
Anthony Smith’s “Bringin’ Back the Sunshine” (No. 45),
Houston County’s “I Can’t Make It Rain” (No. 54),
John Anderson’s “Bigger Hands” (No. 64), and Matt
Kennon’s “The Call.” Keep those plates spinning, guys!
New On The Chart—Debuting This Week
Artist/song/label
chart pos.
George Strait/Twang/MCA ............................................ 50
Justin Moore/Backwoods/Valory Music ........................... 62
Matt Kennon/The Call/BamaJam .................................... 66
Buddy Jewel/Someone Who Would Die For You/
New Revolution ..................................................... 72
Richie Fields/Losing You/Joint Journey ........................... 73
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
#1
Keith Urban
"Only You Can Love
Me This Way"
Capitol Nashville
After 15 weeks on the CountryBreakout™
Chart, Keith Urban’s “Only You Can Love
Me This Way” takes the No. 1 position
with 3865 total spins. Tomorrow (10/13)
Urban and pals like Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, Little
Big Town, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift will take over the Sommet
Center to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame. Attendees will
be treated to a one-of-a-kind evening of music with Urban’s band
and an all-star band backing up the special guests. Urban was also
recently announced as one of the performers for the 43rd Annual
CMA Awards on Nov. 11, where he is nominated in five categories:
Entertainer of the Year (which he won in 2005); Male Vocalist (which
he won 2004-2006); Album for Defying Gravity;and Musical Event
and Music Video for "Start a Band" with Paisley.
Terri Clark/Gypsy Boots ............................................... 74
Jeff Griffith/Dip Me In Beer/Arrowhead ........................... 75
Lucky Seven Greatest Spin Increase
Artist/song/label
spin+
Rascal Flatts/Why/Lyric Street ..................................... 393
George Strait/Twang/MCA .......................................... 361
Darius Rucker/History In The Making/Capitol .................336
Taylor Swift/Fifteen/Big Machine .................................. 277
Carrie Underwood/Cowboy Casanova/Arista .................. 257
Miranda Lambert/White Liar/Columbia .......................... 255
Tim McGraw/Southern Voice/Curb ............................... 246
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
Artist/song/label
spins
Bomshel/19 & Crazy/Curb .......................................... 263
Hannah McNeil/What Am I Getting Up For/
Red/Jerry Duncan Promo/Spinville ......................... 259
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RCA Nashville’s Chris Young (R) performed for
the Grand Ole Opry’s recent Opry Country
Classics celebration of “The Perfect Country &
Western Song Show.” Hall of Fame legend Ray
Price (L) was the spotlight artist.
Monday, October 12, 2009
BRMG’s Emma Jacob recently visited WIVK/
Knoxville to promote her current single
"Julianna." (L-R): Jacob and WIVK's Mike
Hammond.
Jack Ingram feat. Patty Griffin/Seeing Stars/
Big Machine ........................................................ 248
Eric Church/Hell On The Heart/Capitol .......................... 238
Big Kenny/Long After I'm Gone/Bigger Picture/
Love Everybody ...................................................222
Bucky Covington/Gotta Be Somebody/Lyric Street......... 206
Ronica Coldiron/First Day of the Rest of My Love Life/
Sweetsong .......................................................... 205
Billy Dean/The Greatest Man I Never Knew/BDMG ......... 199
Lee Greenwood/Why Lie?/Country Crossing...................189
Lee Brice/Love Like Crazy/Curb ................................... 188
While on a tour stop on Toby Keith’s America’s
Toughest Tour in Phoenix, Show Dog Nashville's
Mica Roberts (R) hung out and played her new
single, “Days You Live For” for KMLE MD Gwen
Foster (L).
Two Week Most Added*
artist/song/label
new adds
George Strait/Twang/MCA ............................................ 44
Rascal Flatts/Why/Lyric Street ...................................... 44
Jimmy Wayne feat. Daryl Hall & John Oates/
Sara Smile/Valory ................................................. 34
Justin Moore/Backwoods/Valory .................................... 29
Jason Aldean/The Truth/Broken Bow.............................. 28
Gloriana/How Far Do You Wanna Go?/Emblem/WB........... 28
Eric Church/Hell On The Heart/Capitol ............................ 24
Billy Currington/That's How Country Boys Roll/Mercury .... 24
Jack Ingram feat. Patty Griffin/Seeing Stars/Big Machine .. 20
*Total Adds rec’d over two weeks
Power Chart Debut
Momentum Mover
George Strait
"Twang"
MCA Nashville
Who else can do what George Strait
does? Many have attempted, and yet
very few actually even come close, or
make it look as easy as Strait has over
the course of his long career. This week
the title track from his current album
Twang zooms onto the chart at No. 50 with plenty of momentum
behind it. The Country Music Hall of Famer was among the first
wave of performers just announced for the Nov. 11 CMA Awards,
where he’s nominated in four categories: Entertainer of the Year;
Male Vocalist; Music Video for "Troubadour" and Musical Event for
"Everything But Quits" with Lee Ann Womack. With 79 career
nominations, Strait is now tied with Alan Jackson as the most
nominated artist in CMA Awards history. Earlier in 2009, the Academy
of Country Music honored Strait as its ACM Artist of the Decade
where performers for the sold-out event included Garth Brooks,
Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Miranda
Lambert, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lee
Ann Womack and more. Ticket sales from the evening made it
possible for a $750,000 endowment to ACM Lifting Lives.
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Greatest Spin Gain
Rascal Flatts
"Why"
Lyric Street Records
Rascal Flatts’ emotionally-charged “Why”
is the CountryBreakout™ Chart’s Greatest
Spin Gain for a second consecutive week,
as it picks up an additional 393 spins to
land at No. 28. Tonight (10/12) the Flatts
guys will be guest performers at the
Musicians Hall of Fame Award Show at the Schermerhorn Symphony
Center, along with Steve Wariner, Beach Boy Al Jardine, the Union
Gap’s Gary Puckett, the Allman Brothers’ Dickey Betts and Stevie
Ray Vaughan/Double Trouble’s Chris Layton. Last week Lyric Street
put out a special limited edition of the group’s Greatest Hits:
Volume 1, with special unreleased recordings, and their newest
album Unstoppable was just certified Platinum. They are currently
nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year.
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Programmer Playlist
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***
Added Today: Gwen Sebastian
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Weeks
On Chart
Last Wk
Position
This Wk
Position
15
2
1
Spins/
Repts
% Spin
Power
Spins
+-
Last Wk
# Spins
Keith Urban/Only You Can Love Me This Way/Capitol
3865/107
2
83
3782
Artist/Song/Label
31
4
2
Love And Theft/Runaway/Carolwood
3475/105
2
81
3394
15
3
3
Brad Paisley/Welcome To The Future/Arista
3463/97
-1
-52
3515
14
1
4
Toby Keith/American Ride/Show Dog Nashville
3387/96
-14
-539
3926
24
5
5
Luke Bryan/Do I/Capitol
3377/104
2
59
3318
8
8
6
Lady Antebellum/Need You Now/Capitol
3259/107
7
207
3052
22
6
7
Trace Adkins/All I Ask For Anymore/Capitol
3211/105
0
-13
3224
10
7
8
Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews/I'm Alive/BNA
3113/98
1
34
3079
12
10
9
Dierks Bentley/I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes/Capitol
3106/107
4
118
2988
25
9
10
Chris Young/Getting You Home/RCA
3022/84
-1
-26
3048
13
11
11
Zac Brown Band/Toes/Atlantic
2958/86
2
48
2910
5
12
12
Carrie Underwood/Cowboy Casanova/Arista
2947/96
10
257
2690
7
13
13
Taylor Swift/Fifteen/Big Machine
2912/106
11
277
2635
10
16
14
Reba/Consider Me Gone/Starstruck/Valory
2757/105
11
266
2491
9
15
15
Brooks & Dunn/Honky Tonk Stomp/Arista
2633/96
2
47
2586
19
14
16
Craig Morgan/Bonfire/BNA
2626/92
1
37
2589
6
18
17
Darius Rucker/History In The Making/Capitol
2375/105
16
336
2039
16
19
18
Eli Young Band/Radio Waves/Universal South
2024/88
2
44
1980
18
20
19
Montgomery Gentry/Long Line Of Losers/Columbia
1938/87
0
5
1933
16
22
20
Sarah Buxton/Outside My Window/Lyric Street
1931/96
4
72
1859
15
23
21
David Nail/Red Light/MCA
1925/81
6
109
1816
4
25
22
Tim McGraw/Southern Voice/Curb
1857/93
15
246
1611
18
24
23
Jake Owen/Eight Second Ride/RCA
1748/87
5
91
1657
18
26
24
Whitney Duncan/Skinny Dippin'/Warner Bros.
1685/78
5
85
1600
8
30
25
Miranda Lambert/White Liar/Columbia
1642/84
18
255
1387
20
27
26
Martina McBride/I Just Call You Mine/RCA
1611/77
1
14
1597
9
29
27
Michelle Branch/Sooner Or Later/Warner Bros.
1543/88
5
69
1474
3
36
28
Rascal Flatts/Why/Lyric Street
1529/94
35
393
1136
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Weeks
On Chart
Last Wk
Position
This Wk
Position
13
32
29
Gary Allan/Today/MCA
16
31
30
Steve Azar/Moo La Moo/Ride Records
4
37
31
Billy Currington/That's How Country Boys Roll/Mercury
1311/82
10
34
32
Lance Miller/Time To Go Crazy/Big 7
1307/66
14
33
33
Bellamy Bros./Bacon Bros./Guilty Of The Crime/Bellamy/Spinville
1306/66
6
35
34
Josh Turner/Why Don't We Just Dance/MCA
1299/72
4
43
35
Gloriana/How Far Do You Wanna Go?/Emblem/Warner Bros.
5
40
36
Phil Vassar/Everywhere I Go/Universal South
9
42
37
Jason Michael Carroll/Hurry Home/Arista
1076/63
Artist/Song/Label
Spins/
Repts
% Spin
Power
Spins
+-
Last Wk
# Spins
1338/70
1
19
1319
1329/70
0
0
1329
18
202
1109
4
45
1262
2
25
1281
11
133
1166
1158/84
24
227
931
1096/75
9
88
1008
10
98
978
9
41
38
Cody McCarver/White Trash With Money/E1/PLC
1076/61
7
68
1008
18
39
39
Greg Hanna/It's A Man's Job/Pheromone Records
1067/61
3
33
1034
13
45
40
Jonalee White/Perfect Angel/Lick Records
939/53
4
39
900
11
44
41
Katie Armiger/Gone/Cold River
907/58
1
7
900
11
46
42
Keni Thomas/Gunslinger/RBM/Tenacity
863/55
3
24
839
3
51
43
Jason Aldean/The Truth/Broken Bow
829/60
28
179
650
8
47
44
Bekka Bramlett/What's On My Mind/Shongaloo Records
801/47
5
41
760
7
48
45
Anthony Smith/Bringin' Back The Sunshine/Stroudavarious
713/47
0
2
711
2
55
46
Jimmy Wayne feat. Daryl Hall & John Oates/Sara Smile/Valory Music
705/56
27
151
554
4
52
47
Steel Magnolia/Keep On Loving You/Big Machine
687/53
17
98
589
4
53
48
Kellie Pickler/Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You/RCA
631/45
10
59
572
5
54
49
Mica Roberts/Days You Live For/Show Dog Nashville
606/49
8
43
563
1
80
50
George Strait/Twang/MCA
603/45
149
361
242
3
56
51
Williams Riley/Country Livin'/Golden Music
580/48
12
61
519
6
61
52
Josh Thompson/Beer On The Table/Columbia
574/47
14
71
503
7
59
53
Clay Underwood/New Beginnings and Old Honky Tonks/PCL Music
529/38
4
18
511
3
63
54
Houston County/I Can't Make It Rain/Stroudavarious
527/43
9
45
482
6
58
55
Joey & Rory/To Say Goodbye/Vangaurd
502/32
-6
-30
532
12
57
56
Christopher M. Johnson/The Day We Changed.../Lofton Creek/Big Dog
493/33
-9
-46
539
8
60
57
The Lost Trailers/Country Folks (Livin' Loud)/BNA
483/32
2
10
473
25
17
58
Due West/I Get That All The Time/Bigger Than Me / Nine North
474/26
-77
-1610
2084
3
64
59
Easton Corbin/A Little More Country Than That/Mercury
473/35
19
74
399
20
49
60
Jason Aldean/Big Green Tractor/Broken Bow
473/14
-28
-183
656
3
66
61
Jeff Sable/Rainy Days at the Beach/American Eagle Recordings
422/30
7
28
394
1
85
62
Justin Moore/Backwoods/Valory Music
393/32
103
199
194
7
67
63
Steve Richard/Stomp/
378/24
1
2
376
2
69
64
John Anderson/Bigger Hands/Country Crossing
376/30
7
24
352
22
21
65
Burns & Poe/It's Always A Woman/Evergreen
368/17
-81
-1541
1909
1
81
66
Matt Kennon/The Call/BamaJam
347/32
52
119
228
6
68
67
Lewis Copeland/Honkytonk Princess/Wing 2 Fly
340/23
-4
-14
354
6
70
68
The Springs/I Didn't Find Jesus/CFC
336/27
-3
-9
345
2
73
69
Chris Hanners/It's My Lie (Let Me Live It)/Little House Records
333/23
17
49
284
5
71
70
Hoyt Hughes/Ain't My Day to Save the World/Lofton Creek
316/22
-4
-12
328
2
72
71
Dion Pride/We All Gotta Live Here/WeBlast Records
295/21
-2
-6
301
1
82
72
Buddy Jewel/Someone Who Would Die For You/New Revolution
290/24
28
64
226
1
78
73
Richie Fields/Losing You/Joint Journey
281/25
12
30
251
1
76
74
Terri Clark/Gypsy Boots/
269/14
6
16
253
1
77
75
Jeff Griffith/Dip Me In Beer/Arrowhead
265/19
2
4
261
©2009, MusicRow Communications, LLC—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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