Comments on: The Untouchables

By: Herman

Herman — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:19:33 +0000

There are many untouched but I must say that the biggest factor with the ‘untouchables’ is how the beloved songs of people and what they sing. For example, I can not picture Trace Adkins Vince Gill sang a song but not a stretch to think that the kind of singer Blake Shelton can.

By: Partridge

Partridge — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:00:58 +0000

Some songs are so personal that it would just seem strange for someone else to be singing them, Coal Miner’s Daughter, for example. I’ve seen others sing that song and I wondered if they had ever touched a piece of coal. But for the most part, I don’t consider any song “untouchable” – there is probably even someone out there who can do Coal Miner’s Daughter.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:32:41 +0000

That’s hilarious.

By: Kevin J. Coyne

Kevin J. Coyne — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:21:09 +0000

I saw Trisha Yearwood do “Friends in Low Places” last summer during the requests portion of her show.

She told the person who called it out that she used to give a fresh answer when people brought up the Garth thing, but then she found out that somebody had requested “She’s in Love With the Boy” at his concert and he sang the whole thing.

She sang it well, but noted how difficult it was to sing.

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:28:53 +0000

Totally untouchable for me would include,
“I’m so Lonesome I could cry” by Hank Williams
“Friends in Low Places” “Unanswered Prayers” and “The Dance”
“More Than a name on a Wall” by the Statler Brothers
Several Songs by Patsy Cline
“He Stopped Loving Her Today”

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:45:48 +0000

Yes, if anyone would be able to come close to recreating the palpable humility of Jackson’s version, it would be Strait.

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:36:02 +0000

I agree, Leeann. “Where Were You” is definitely one of them; I couldn’t believe they had anyone at all perform it at the CMT Giants tribute to Jackson, although I guess George Strait was the best choice they could have made.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:32:40 +0000

Dan,
I realize I feel that way about Alan Jackson’s “Where Wer You.” The Wrights do a version that is respectable enough, but it lacks the heart that naturally came from Alan. I think when Alan recorded it, he was in the right place/space at the time. Now, if I hear anyone else singing it, it kind of sounds hollow to me.

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:09:03 +0000

The only ones I think are really uncoverable are “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and any of the iconic Patsy Cline songs (“Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “Sweet Dreams”), because those performances have become so tied to their respective songs that practically no one can cover any of them without copying the original mannerisms and sounding like a karaoke singer. There are probably a few other songs like that, but not many to that extent.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:00:01 +0000

I agree…Friend’s in Low Places should not be performed by anybody but Garth….I will never forget at a Rascal Flatt’s concert a couple of years ago, the blond guitar player sang it. I had to cover my ears and go “nananana” thru the whole song.