Comments on: Single Review: Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”

By: Katy

Katy — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:28:45 +0000

Hunter’s one of my favorite new artists! Personally, I think he’s struck a good blend of country and pop. Recently found out he’s also judging the http://www.unsignedonly.com music competition. It’s so cool that in addition to all this, he would take time to hear up and coming musicians. The $10,000 prize doesn’t sound so bad either :)

By: Cory DeStein

Cory DeStein — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:19:11 +0000

I don’t know…this is nothing spectacular, but at the same time, it’s refreshing. He dosen’t really remind me of anyone else and it’s a breath of fresh air on the radio.

By: Sweetcheeks

Sweetcheeks — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:35:17 +0000

I don’t think the problem is that radio and awards shows are “actively taking away any incentive the artists might have for making improvements.” Quite the contrary. Rather, I think the problem is that music critics, bloggers, and die hard country fans have different ideas of what count as an “improvement” than does the more casual listener, who makes up a large percentage of the audience. I’m not saying one group is right or wrong, just saying they are different standards entirely.

Many country fans listen to songs on a completely different level than music bloggers and internet commenters. To the extent that country singers are more interested in selling music to these fans than selling to the small community of bloggers and similarly minded fans, I don’t foresee that these singers will pay much attention to blog recommendations.

In part, thats why I sometimes get frustrated by other websites that consistently review songs exclusively from the perspective of a die-hard country fan who prefers traditional styles and subjects the lyrics to close scrutiny. The problem with these reviews is that virtually every mainstream country song will fail by these standards, and so reading these reviews gets tedious. You’ve read one, you’ve read them all. These reviews mock all the Peach Picker type cliches, but the reviews are as cliched and predictable as a Peach Picker song.These sorts of reviews
refuse to engage the songs on their own terms and thus tend to say little that is helpful.

Thankfully, countrycalifornia doesn’t have this problem. I like this site a lot in part for that reason.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:07:33 +0000

I think he is AWESOME!!!!! I’m from Lake Charles, Louisiana. 😍

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:57:30 +0000

If only… =)

Unfortunately, it seems country radio and awards shows are actively taking away any incentive the artists might have for making improvements.

By: Rachael Sarah Williams

Rachael Sarah Williams — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:40:21 +0000

Definitely a C, or maybe a C-. Due to the pop-ness and enunciation issues others posters mentioned, I give it a low C. It’s a little below the average (run of the mill) stuff a lot of other young/popular artists are doing these days, but it’s not completely awful. Could be better, though.

Ben, is there a song review rubric? A sheet we could hand back to artists with our red marks on it, indicating where they could improve? Inquiring English teacher minds want to know. :-)

By: White Cleats

White Cleats — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:46:37 +0000

Hayes’ and past. Clearly I need to start checking my work.

By: White Cleats

White Cleats — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:45:30 +0000

I can’t judge Hunter Haye’ music because I can’t get passed the fact that he looks exactly like Joffrey Baratheon.

By: Kent

Kent — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:03:54 +0000

I like it, but you’re right, it certainly doesn’t break any lyrical ground.

And you’re right, the beauty and makeup line is decent, but it too is cliche. One Direction has been there and done that, as have countless others.

By: Susan K.

Susan K. — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:13:29 +0000

Hmmmm. It’s not very country (with all the “runs” and all) but I kind of like it, nonetheless. He’s got a beautiful and believable voice. I just wish he’d tone down the pop elements and enunciate a little more.