Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Rascal Flatts among Sunday’s AMA winners
Rascal Flatts accepts the award for favorite country band, duo or group title during Sunday’s American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Associated Press photos)
Michael Jackson won a record four posthumous awards at Sunday night’s American Music Awards, while country starlet Taylor Swift won five trophies, including the top award, entertainer of the year.
The 19-year-old country music star was named the year’s favorite artist, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, according to the Associated Press. She also was awarded favorite female pop/rock artist, favorite female country artists, favorite country album for “Fearless,” and favorite adult contemporary artist.
“Music has never been ultimately about competition,” she said as she accepted the top prize via satellite from London, where she is to perform today. “To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who we will miss and love forever, is an unimaginable honor.”
Jackson, who died in June at age 50, was voted favorite male artist in the pop/rock and 
soul/R&B categories. His 2003 greatest-hits album, “Number Ones,” also won favorite album in both categories, bringing his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honored artist in AMA history.
Jackson’s trophies were accepted by his brother Jermaine, who paid tribute to his late brother by wearing glittery white glove.
Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, again won the favorite country band, duo or group title.
The show featured a eye-popping performances by Lady Gaga and “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert and a special award for Whitney Houston.
The soundtrack to the first “Twilight” movie was named favorite soundtrack, capping a big weekend for the film franchise, as the sequel “New Moon” made $140.7 million in its debut over the weekend.
The American Music Awards honor the year’s top-selling artists in eight popular genres, and fans voted for the winners online.
See the full list of winners on the jump.
Friday Featured Track for Nov. 20, 2009: “New Moon” newcomer Hurricane Bells
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Monsters,” Hurricane Bells, from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack.”
When the lineup for “New Moon” soundtrack was announced, the inclusion of indie-rock stars such as The Killers, Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver and St. Vincent drew tons of attention. One of the names that few recognized: Hurricane Bells.
But Brooklyn musician Steve Schiltz, the sole member of Hurricane Bells, has contributed my absolute favorite song on the soundtrack, the rollicking, fuzzy-guitar-filled “Monsters.”
For better or worse, the “New Moon” soundtrack fits the plot of the sequel, which centers on the breakup of human heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). As a result, many of the songs are pretty downbeat. But not the blessedly bouncy “Monsters.”
According to EW.com’s Music Mix, Schiltz only got around to creating a MySpace page (www.myspace.com/hurricanebells) for Hurricane Bells about three weeks before the soundtrack listing was announced.
“Monsters” is one of several leftover songs he recorded under the Hurricane Bells name when they didn’t work for his main band, Longwave. His said his manager quietly got the song placed on the soundtrack, keeping it a secret even from the artist himself.
“I made a record myself without telling anybody. It’s a complete stroke of luck that one of the songs ended up being on the soundtrack,” he told Music Mix.
After Schiltz got an e-mail from Chris Weitz that the ”New Moon” director wanted to put the song in the film, Schiltz’s first move was to borrow a copy of the book “Twilight.”
Although Schiltz recorded his Hurricane Bells album without “Monsters,” I’m willing to bet he will be adding that song to the track listing. And I’m interested to see how far the “Twilight” phenomenon can take the obviously talented Hurricane Bells.
Check out this YouTube video of Hurricane Bells performing “Monsters” live:
-BAM
CD review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Night Castle”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Rock
Trans-Siberian Orchestra “Night Castle” (Atlantic Records)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra makes its theatrical return to new music with the double-album “Night Castle,” a rock opera about hope and hate, love and war, redemption and forgiveness.
Since the symphonic-rock holiday harbingers have continued to tour often, especially around Christmastime, it may seem that TSO never left. But “Night Castle” is the orchestra’s first new album since its 2004 best-seller “The Lost Christmas Eve” and its first non-holiday offering since 2000’s “Beethoven’s Last Night.”
For diehard fans, the long-awaited “Night…
Read more CD review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Night Castle” at BAM's Blog
CD review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Night Castle”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Rock
Trans-Siberian Orchestra “Night Castle” (Atlantic Records)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra makes its theatrical return to new music with the double-album “Night Castle,” a rock opera about hope and hate, love and war, redemption and forgiveness.
Since the symphonic-rock holiday harbingers have continued to tour often, especially around Christmastime, it may seem that TSO never left. But “Night Castle” is the orchestra’s first new album since its 2004 best-seller “The Lost Christmas Eve” and its first non-holiday offering since 2000’s “Beethoven’s Last Night.”
For diehard fans, the long-awaited “Night Castle” seems sure to thrill, since it practically pulses with all the drama, scope and sheer musicianship of the 60-piece orchestra, full rock band and stable of big-voiced singers. By the same token, the two-disc effort seems unlikely to win over detractors, since the 26-track album is given to bombastic excess, including several songs that run nearly five minutes or longer.
“Night Castle” offers a charming and sometimes gritty fantasy about love at first sight, mysterious castles, noble drug dealers and innocent children. Set in the 1970s, the engaging narrative follows Lt. William Crozier (voiced too harshly by former Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto) as he goes off to fight the Khmer Rouge in Killing Fields of Cambodia.
The album has its musical highlights, including Dina Fanai’s angelic vocals on “Night Enchanted,” the touching “Remnants of a Lullaby” and the low-key instrumental “Embers.” Other songs, such as the powerful but nearly 11-minute “Epiphany,” have potential but lack restraint.
The record features five bonus tracks, including a souped-up cover of Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s holiday contribution “Nutrocker,” with Greg Lake on bass. Fans are sure to hear it live when TSO performs Dec. 20 at the Ford Center.
— BAM
Carrie Underwood donates sheet music to Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Carrie Underwood performs at her induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in September. Underwood has donated original sheet music of her song “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore” to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum. (Photo by Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman Archives)
A version of this story also appears in Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Carrie Underwood’s gift hits write note with museum
Checotah native donates original sheet music of a song she co-wrote
MUSKOGEE — Country music superstar Carrie Underwood has donated original sheet music to her song “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore” to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
The hall of fame unveiled the gift from the Checotah native Thursday evening at the Muskogee institution, where officials also talked about plans for a multi-million dollar expansion and statewide music trail.
Underwood, along with keyboardist Rocky Frisco and yodeler Ramona Reed, was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in September.
She said then, “This is where we all come from, this is where we all call home, so the fact that throughout all our lives and careers, the fact that we’ve had this amazing state behind us is a wonderful feeling.”
Underwood co-wrote “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore” for her 2005 debut album, released six months after she won “American Idol.” The sheet music, framed with her signed photo and dedication to the hall, will be displayed immediately at the museum’s home in the historic Frisco Depot.
“It’s astounding what Carrie Underwood has done for us,” said Andrea Chancellor, hall of fame board member. “She has remembered us by putting together a true piece of art that shows her tie to Oklahoma and her dedication to what we’re doing and her support of Oklahoma musicians.”
Board President Max Boydstun said the gift is the kind of artifact he can imagine going into a Carrie Underwood exhibit in the planned museum expansion.
Boydstun presented to the legislature in August a $16.5 million plan to build a new museum next to the depot and establish a music trail similar to the Mississippi Blues Trail. The proposed 30,000-square-foot building would give the museum, now housed in the 2,000-square-foot former railroad depot, space to pay tribute to hall of fame members, display their memorabilia, offer interactive exhibits, open a children’s area and have concerts and classes.
“We have to let the younger generation know that music doesn’t just come out of an iPod,” he said. “We want kids to have hands-on experience at how a guitar makes music.”
The planned Oklahoma Music Trail would include at least 100 historical markers to be posted around the state, from Underwood’s hometown to Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. The markers would honor important musical people, places and events in state history.
“We feel like that will become a tourist attraction in itself, but the real cool part is, it will not compete with any other attraction in the state. It will only help market the other music-related museums and events,” he said.
The hall of fame and museum will ask the legislature next session to appropriate $12.5 million over the next five years to help pay for the two projects, he said. The remaining $4 million will be sought from federal and local governments, as well as corporate and private donors. The mayor, city councilors, local legislators and other community leaders attended Thursday’s event.
“We as a state, I think, have a great opportunity at increasing the tourism business in Oklahoma … and I see the museum and trail as a part of that,” Boydstun said. “And strictly from a pride standpoint, we want kids in Oklahoma growing up to be able to look at a Carrie Underwood or a Gene Autry or a Charlie Christian and not only enjoy their music and what they’ve done but also have that sense … that ‘I can take my talents to world like these people did.’”
-BAM
Nickleback returning to Tulsa’s BOK Center
Nickelback
TULSA – Nickelback, along with special guests Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown, will return April 24 to the BOK Center, the venue announced today.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 5. Price are to be determined. They will be available online at www.bokcenter.com, www.livenation.com, Arby’s Box Office, all Tickets.com outlets, or by phone at (866) 7BOKCTR.
Nickelback also played an April show this year at the Tulsa arena.
The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum rock band has announced the 2010 North American leg of their “Dark Horse World Tour,” a Live Nation-produced event. The tour will feature special guests Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown with the opening act and additional dates to be announced.
The newly confirmed dates are hot off the heels of summer and fall dates in which the band played to sold-out crowds around the world.
Nickelback fan club members will have access to presale tickets beginning Nov. 27 in select markets. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass Program. For complete presale details, tgo to www.citiprivatepass.com. For more information on the tour, ticket on sales, fan club membership and VIP packages, go to www.Nickelback.com or www.LiveNation.com.
Find tour dates and more info after the break.
NICKELBACK DARK HORSE 2010 TOUR DATES:
April 6 London, ON John Labatt Centre
April 8 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
April 9 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
April 11 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
April13 Washington, DC Verizon Center
April 14 Hampton VA Hampton Coliseum*
April16 Greenville, SC BI-LO Center*
April 17 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex*
April19 Orlando, FL Amway Arena*
April 21 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
April 24 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
* Shinedown not included.
“Never Gonna Be Alone,” the newest single from Nickelback’s latest album, “Dark Horse,” is already top 15 at Hot A/C and heating up quickly at Top 40. Last week also saw the premiere of the video for “Never Gonna Be Alone.” Added out of the box at VH1 and Fuse, both channels will start airing it Nov. 23. The video can currently be seen via Nickelback.com, RoadrunnerRecords.com and YouTube. The video was shot by veteran director and longtime Nickelback friend Nigel Dick.
Nickelback is one of the biggest rock bands in the world, with more than 35 million albums sold. The band’s latest album, “Dark Horse,” produced by the legendary Mutt Lange, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and has remained on the Top 200 for 50 weeks, selling more than 2.4 million albums in the United States alone. Nickelback is currently nominated for a 2009 American Music Award in the Pop/Rock category for Favorite Band, Duo or Group.
Nickelback has enjoyed unprecedented success with their last album, “All The Right Reasons,” which has been RIAA certified eight-times platinum. The six singles from the album totaled 12 million downloads and 6 million ringtones. All proceeds of digital single and video sales for “If Everyone Cared” between Feb. 1 and July 31, 2007 were donated to charity, equally distributed between Amnesty International and International Childrens’ Awareness Canada. Each of the five videos from “All The Right Reasons” has reached No. 1 on VH1’s playlist, “Photograph,” “Savin’ Me,” “Far Away,” “If Everyone Cared” and “Rockstar.”
In 2006, Nickelback was awarded a World Music Award for World’s Best Rock Group, a Billboard Touring Award for Breakthrough Artist, an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and a People’s Choice Award for Best Rock Group.
-BAM
Jack White talks working with Wanda Jackson on “wild record”
Jack White (Associated Press photo)
Rocker Jack White talked this week to MTV.com about producing a recent recording session for Oklahoma’s own Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. He said the sessions have already been completed.
“I just finished recording with Wanda Jackson in Nashville. It was just supposed to be a seven-inch (single), but we did a lot more songs, so maybe it will be something bigger,” White told MTV.com. “There was a lot of good stuff. It’s a wild record.”
Jackson (pictured left), a 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, told The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett last week that she was working with the rocker on a project that she likened to his Loretta Lynn’s 2004 album “Van Lear Rose,” which White produced.
“They had a super album, but he didn’t have her do anything different, you know,” Jackson told Gene. “She just did her little Loretta Lynn songs. But he told me he’s gonna stretch me some, so we’ll see.”
White fronts three alternative rock bands – the White Stripes, the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs – so he remains perpetually busy, even if you don’t count the producing tasks. White told MTV.com that new Dead Weather and White Stripes albums are in progress.
“It’s gonna take as long as it takes … if it takes three months to do a Dead Weather record, we’ll take that long,” White told MTV.com. “The White Stripes record is going to be these two guys (Dead Weather bassist Jack Lawrence and guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita) dressed as me and Meg (White, his duo partner and ex-wife), so we’ll see if something interesting comes out of that.”
But the busy White won’t be doing one project – performing on guitarist Slash’s solo album.
“I don’t even remember that request, but I love Slash — ‘Appetite (for Destruction)’ is one of the best rock albums of the past 20-30 years,” White told MTV.com. “I don’t remember exactly what that request was, but, you know, I don’t really like those albums where every song is a different person — that Santana thing, that’s not interesting to me. But I think he’s a really interesting guitar player.”
Catching up with White is always interesting, but I’m most intrigued by the idea of him working with Oklahoma City’s “sweet lady with the nasty voice,” Wanda Jackson.
-BAM
Lady Antebellum notches biggest week of sales ever
Lady Antebellum won single of the year for “I Run to You” and vocal group of year at last week’s CMA Awards. (Associated Press photos)
Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum are enjoying their biggest sales week ever – even after an astounding 83 weeks on the Billboard country albums chart.
The group sold 45,228 albums this week (a 130 percent increase from last week) beating their self-titled platinum-selling debut album street week number of 43,384 albums sold.
After the group’s passionate CMA Awards performance of “Need You Now,” their current smash and title track of their forthcoming album, the single shot straight to the top of the all-genre digital charts at iTunes and Amazon Mp3 and is Verizon’s No. 1-selling country ringback and ringtone (No. 3 ringtone and No. 2 ringback overall).
The good news kept rolling in for the country music trio when the RIAA certified their debut single “Love Don’t Live Here” and their current smash “Need You Now” gold this week. In addition, “Need You Now” is sitting at the top of both the Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts and is spending its sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Canada chart.
Lady Antebellum is gearing up for the release of their sophomore album “Need You Now” on Jan. 26. They will finish up a few remaining tour dates through the end of the year and then join megastar Tim McGraw on his “Southern Voice” tour at the beginning of next year.
For more information, go to www.ladyantebellum.com.
-BAM
Lee Ann Womack added to George Strait-Reba McEntire tour, coming to Tulsa in February
Lee Ann Womack
The “King of Country Music” George Strait has added award-wining and platinum-selling country artist Lee Ann Womack to his previously announced arena tour with Oklahoma superstar Reba McEntire. The tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late spring.
“’Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’? ‘Whoever’s In New England’? ‘The Fireman’? ‘Little Rock’? ‘Wrapped’? ‘The Last To Know’? We’re talking classic country from the source,” says Womack in a news release. “I can’t imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire – and now I’m not imagining!”
Womack added jokingly, “I’m trying to figure out what to wear … ’cause you can’t out-starch George and you sure can’t out-spangle Reba!”
The tour, which is shaping up to be a huge one for country fans, is coming to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Feb. 20. No word yet from the venue on when tickets might go on sale. (Actually no word yet from the venue about this show at all.)
Womack has sold more than 6 million albums, won two Grammy’s, numerous other milestone awards, and received notoriety for her album “There’s More Where That Came From.” Released February of 2005 on CD and classic vinyl, the album swept CMA Award trophies fall of the same year for Album of the Year and Single of the Year (“I May Hate Myself In The Morning”). She is also recognized for No. 1 singles “The Fool,” “A Little Past Little Rock,” “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” and the mega-smash “I Hope You Dance”.
Womack’s current album, “Call Me Crazy,” has garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard and The New York Times, to name a few. She was nominated for Top Female Vocalist at this year’s ACM Awards and the debut single “Last Call” was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category. Womack was nominated for Musical Event of the Year with Strait for “Everything But Quits” at this year’s CMA Awards. Current single “There Is A God” is currently No. 43 on the charts.
George Strait
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Strait has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in history, including Elvis Presley, with 57 to date. He has sold more than 67 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis .
Strait’s recent release, “Twang,” debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The current single and title track sits at No. 17 on Mediabase charts and No. 19 on Billboard charts.
His platinum-selling “Troubadour” was named Best Country Album at the 51st Grammy Awards and in April, Strait was the fifth artist ever to receive the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade honor. Strait has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the top title, Entertainer of the Year.
Strait, who holds the record for the most CMA wins and a record 17 CMA Entertainer of the Year nominations, is known for giving fans exactly what they want and expect at countless sold out shows across the country. This year will be no exception.
Reba McEntire
One of the most successful female recording artists in music history, McEntire has sold more 55 million albums worldwide, earned 33 No. 1 singles and was recently recognized as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history by Billboard, Mediabase and Country Aircheck. The Chockie native is the winner of 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 7 Country Music Awards and 2 Grammy Awards. Once again she is nominated for the American Music Awards’ Favorite Country Female and will appear on the AMAs, which will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
McEntire’s new album, “Keep On Loving You,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart – her first solo studio album to do so. With 11 No. 1 albums, Reba holds the record as the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in the history of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The superstar also recently scored her third consecutive top 10 single of 2009, as her new song “Consider Me Gone” jumped into the top 10. It currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and No. 5 on the Mediabase charts.
In November 2008, McEntire signed with The Valory Music Co. reuniting her with multimedia entertainer and industry leader Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records and sister label The Valory Music Co.
It’s interesting to note that Strait, McEntire and Womack all were performers at the first event in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium back in June. Womack replaced Julianne Hough at the last minute after Hough became ill with strep throat. The other performer at that big stadium opening event was Oklahoma singer Blake Shelton. Wouldn’t it be great if Blake was added to this huge tour as well?
See the list of 2010 tour dates after the break.
Danish band The William Blakes paying tribute to Wayne Coyne with debut album
The William Blakes
Pop-rockers The William Blakes, who hail from Copenhagen, Denmark, are releasing today their debut album, “Wayne Coyne.”
Yes, the album is named for the frontman of Oklahoma City-based psychedelic rock band The Flaming Lips. Coyne is featured on the cover art and is apparently the subject of the title track.
In a news release, The William Blakes frontman Kristian Leth explains why the band decided to pay such a tribute to Coyne:
“The reason we chose the title ‘Wayne Coyne’ for our debut album, is that he embodies so much of that positive but potent energy that we are tapping into with this music. I always get a little awestruck when this giant in my musical pantheon does his own soundchecks immediately before the concerts, with absolutely no bravado or drama, only to absolutely blow everything up as soon as he and the band rip into ‘Race for the Prize’ or whatever. I first met Mr. Coyne at Roskilde, having my picture taken with him, and his totally down to earth openness and respect for me – a fan – was extremely inspiring. I thought, ‘I want to be like that’ and that’s something we’ve taken to heart with this band. Our music is serious business with grand aspirations and ambitions, but that doesn’t mean that we’re any kind of grand special characters. So we have more fun and put all the energy into the art. And in that regard, Mr. Coyne is a major guru, so the featuring of him on the cover is an exclamation of love and respect.”
The band’s MySpace page lists the Lips as among its influences, along with Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads, Phil Spector, Brian Eno, Iggy And The Stooges, NEU!, Tears For Fears, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Informations, Arcade Fire, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Philip K. Dick and Prince. However, the three or four songs I listened to there sound more like ’80s synth-pop than the Lips’ psychedelic rock, avant-garde pop or space-jazz noisemaking.
The album “Wayne Coyne” is available digitally in North America through Speed Of Sound/Last Gang Labels.
-BAM
