AI Top 11: Songs Of The Grand Ol’ Opry: Schlock (Gokey) And Awe (Allen)

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AI Top 11: Songs Of The Grand Ol’ Opry: Schlock (Gokey) And Awe (Allen)

“Songs Of The Grand Ol Opry” might confound the casual or non-converted Country Music fan, but as someone who grew up in a more diverse household (my mom was raised on it and raised my siblings and I with constant strains wafting throughout household) it’s best to note that the theme does NOT mean it’s Country Music Week; in other words - no Faith Hill for the gals or Tim McGraw for the guys. Whew! The list of Opry members is vast, but not limitless, and there are even a few more mainstream (read: modern) names on the list (i.e. Garth Brooks and Mrs. Garth Brooks - that’ll be the amazing Trisha Yearwood, for the uninformed - Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and, ugh, yes, Carrie Underwood).

Here’s my first reaction when the theme week was revealed: What a delight it would be to witness these kids remotely try to delve deeper into the Opry roots than carefree, flippant takes on the usual. It might be risky, but the results may serve the aesthete well, rather than the superficial. Do I think that Gokey could ever emote 1/1,000,000th of a George Jones? Could soul-wannabe Giraud spelunk the country soul of one of Ray Charles’ seminal “Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music” tracks, or Megan Joy bring mandatory depth to Reba McIntire? Could scream queen Adam actually display a modicum of restraint to comprehend the vocal nuance of a Randy Travis? And, while no one of Allison’s or Alexis’ age should attempt the authenticity of Loretta Lynn, I’m content in the sadness that Anoop, well, can’t sing anything. Or can he?

Continued in AI Top 11: Songs Of The Grand Ol’ Opry: Schlock (Gokey) And Awe (Allen)