Single Review: Jessica Andrews, “Everything”

This is not a country single.  Not by any stretch of the imagination.  It’s one of those pop songs with enough of a rock flavor to make it palatable to adult top 40 radio stations.   The only reason this is being marketed to country is because Jessica Andrews has had some country hits. It would fit in better on the radio in between Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, the latter of which had a country hit by recording one of her own songs again as a duet with Reba McEntire.

See, that’s where we are now.   Artists can send songs to country radio that are indistinguishable from what’s being played on top 40 radio, and quite frankly, it’ll fit in just as well at country as it does at top 40.   If they’re lucky, it’ll get played on both, like “All Summer Long” and “Teardrops on My Guitar.”

Anyway, the grade below isn’t because it’s a pop song trying to pass itself off as country.  It’s because it’s not a very good pop song.   Derivative melody, flavorless vocal, busy production with everything going on and nothing going on at all.   Not even fiddle and steel could make it interesting.

Grade: D

Listen: Everything

10 Comments

  1. Even though this isn’t a great song, I hope it does well on the charts because Jessica’s been gone from the radio for far too long. She’s in my opinion better than the other teen stars of the 90’s (LeAnn Rimes, Lila McCann). The good thing about this single is that it should get Jessica a hit, especially with Carolwood behind her 100% right now it should do okay. Now let’s just hope that there’s going to be more material like on “Now”.

  2. I didn’t actually see a review in there. While I doubt many people will argue your point, it did say review in the topic.. shouldn’t you at least mention some parts of the song rather than another rant against Pop Country radio? :P

    Just sayin…

  3. Marc,

    Here’s the review of the song:

    Anyway, the grade below isn’t because it’s a pop song trying to pass itself off as country. It’s because it’s not a very good pop song. Derivative melody, flavorless vocal, busy production with everything going on and nothing going on at all. Not even fiddle and steel could make it interesting.

    If it was a good pop song, I’d give it a good grade. There just wasn’t much to say about a song lacking such distinction.

  4. How can she does the same thing everytime?
    Always the same subject on the songs, the same bla bla bla… I like her, her voice is amazing, but gosh! I’m tired of listening the same thing on a entire album. But just like Jordan, I hope she does well.

    Just saying, Avril Lavigne started as a country/gospel singer. Some of her first songs has a “country vibe”, as we can see on her debut album Let Go and in the b-sides of the same album. Earlier, she had recorded a couple of country/gospel songs, and used to perform covers of Shania, Dixie Chicks, The Wilkinsons, and in my opinion she was really good doing this… It’s a pity she turned to do what she’s doing today.

  5. I actually think Rimes is a much better vocalist and I prefer songs to Andrews. Then again, I prefer Andrews boyfriend, Marcel to her as well. She’s just never really appealed to or interested me.

  6. Sounds like anything else on Po Country radio. This is most definately a country song. With that steel and mandolin buried in the mix…it has to be Pop Country!

  7. This makes me really sad. I’ve been waiting for new Jessica Andrews stuff forever…I just don’t understand why she can’t get more effective procuders and promoters behind her.

  8. This song is really disappointing. I loved her previous work. The Now album was terribly underrated and her potential as a killer song interpreter were just blossoming then. Not sure what happened, but this doesn’t instill much faith in the upcoming album.

  9. Just saying, Avril Lavigne started as a country/gospel singer. Some of her first songs has a “country vibe”, as we can see on her debut album Let Go and in the b-sides of the same album. Earlier, she had recorded a couple of country/gospel songs, and used to perform covers of Shania, Dixie Chicks, The Wilkinsons, and in my opinion she was really good doing this… It’s a pity she turned to do what she’s doing today.

    I heard one of these covers (I think it was of Cowboy Take Me Away). It was one of the worst things that has ever assaulted my ears.

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