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Posts Tagged ‘Shania Twain’

Apparently being the runner up in Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star Competition” in May of 2008 is just the springboard that Country Music’s next star needed, as Laura Roppe’s debut CD can attest to. The CD “Girl Like This” will soon take the country music scene by storm, as this engaging singer/songwriter is more than just country music ear candy.

For many years, her career in music had taken a back seat to a legal career, marriage and being a mother, but when the ‘music itch’ became too strong, she resumed her career in music. In 2006, Laura was the lead singer of the popular Southern California cover band CoolBandLuke, belting out cover tunes from artists such as Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Blondie, Lucinda Williams, and Kelly Clarkson. Combining an eclectic mix of influences (such as the Indigo Girls, Carly Simon, Shania Twain among many others) and Laura’s unique voice and fresh style, the debut CD is a compelling array of edgy country girl sounds and rare, intoxicating country flavors. Let’s explore the music:

The single, “Mama Needs A Girls Night Out,” is certain to top mainstream Country Radio and is full of fun country music, memorable lyrics (“babies on the brain” and “put your skinny jeans on”) and a “Mom’s Gone Wild” chorus that every mother who hears the cut can identify with. And when you add inventive guitar work, titillating fiddle work and stellar musicianship-you have a recipe for success. The title cut, “Girl Like This,” combines a Shania Twain-like sassiness with an infectious melody and will be right at home on the Country Music Charts.

“Fly Fly Fly,” with Edie Brickel-like vocals, is a fun, country ditty and just makes you tap your foot with anticipation and sing along. “Float Away” may remind some of Jodie Messina, but others may hear vintage Carly Simon and the song is sung with angelic precision and passion. The cut “Little Daughter” may be her signature ballad, with poignant, emotional lyrics that is sung and played with tenderness and warmth that shows you that it is sincere.

Other songs include the sashaying cut “Ooh La La,” with great guitar licks adeptly mixed with her unique country growl and spicy solos. “Come To Me” is another fantastic country number, with dreamy lyrics and achingly tender acoustics. “Sing A Love Song” is full of inventive harmonies and an irresistible chorus. And the cut, “Crazy About You And Me,” just may be a new look at love gone wrong and has a delicious catchiness to it.

All in all, there is not a weak cut on Laura Roppe’s debut CD, “Girl Like This.” The music transcends typical country music boundaries and is full of expressive vocals, polished country pop and well-crafted instrumental sections and will certainly take the country music scene by storm. This stunning debut is just what country music has been looking for and I, for one, can’t wait to hear more!

Laura Roppé Band:

Laura Roppé- vocals

Albert Margolis- hammond organ

Jann Hoff- bass

Jennifer Argenti- violin/fiddle

Crystal Keith- vocalist

Ricky Lewis- lead guitar

Alex Fuller- drums

Brian Rogers- lap steel guitar

Visit Laura and hear the music:

http://www.ilike2rock.net/members/193/

www.lauraroppe.com

http://www.myspace.com/lauraroppe

Ask someone what kind of music they’re into and nine times out of ten, the response will be: “I like all kinds… except country…”. Most people think country means songs in which women moan about their husbands walking out on them and their forty children, or songs in which fully grown men cry about having their horse stolen.

To the younger generations, country means that weird old music that only parents (or grandparents) listen to, and it’s not hard to see where they’re coming from; as children, we rummage through our parent’s album collections only to discover bizarre record covers with cheesy, old fashioned pictures of men dressed in rhinestone suits with leather cowboy boots; country music was lurking.

The country genre became associated with Billy Ray Cyrus’ awful novelty record “Achy Breaky Heart” and the resultant line-dancing craze, and it also spawned the over-played radio-friendly MOR of Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow. All are great reasons to be put off country music for life.

But in this sea of country music crass, a king was born; Johnny Cash, a man with a deep, disturbing voice, who dresses all in black like a real rock star and tells the most wonderful stories through his songs.

Take a listen to songs like “A Boy Named Sue” and “One Piece At A Time” and you’ll realise that the ridiculous tales country artists come up with are more often than not told with tongue very firmly in cheek. He did serious stuff too, of course. “Ring Of Fire” is one of the greatest love songs ever written, “Folsom Prison Blues” tackles the themes of redemption and regret perfectly and signature tune “The Man In Black” is an inspiring manifesto, pleading for an end to social injustice.

A little bit of research into Cash’s contemporaries leads to such names as Wilson Nelson, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. Nelson, who it seems hasn’t aged in around thirty years, and Haggard came to prominence during the rise in popularity of outlaw country in the 1970s, a movement that saw a trend towards songs about jail, drinking, drugs and hard working men. Williams meanwhile left a legacy in country music when he died aged 29 after overdosing on Morphine. During the 1950s, Williams was a pioneer of the honky-tonk style, which Elvis Presley later adopted and became a global superstar in the process.

All of the above, including Elvis, are inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1962. Located in Nashville – ‘music city USA’, the Country Music Hall of Fame doubles as a museum of all things country, including hand-written lyrics sheets and instruments used by legendary artists including Cash; and there’s plenty of rustic country hotels in Nashville available for anyone wishing to pay the Hall of Fame and its many inductees a visit.