Eric Church is my man. I love his attitude, his music and most of all I like his songwriting. However, I can't back my man on his recent comments in a Rolling Stone interview where he blasts Blake Shelton and some other very talented artists. Here's what he said, and I'll let you fill in the blanks because he used some colorful language. First he said that if you try out for a reality show like American Idol or The Voice, you are not a "real" artist. About country music, Eric said, "It’s become American Idol gone mad. Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green _______ turn around in a red chair, you get a [record] deal? That’s crazy. I don’t know what would make an artist do that. You’re not an artist”. And then came his dig at Blake: “If I was concerned about my legacy, there’s no _______ way I would ever sit there [and be a reality-show judge]. Once your career becomes something other than the music, then that’s what it is. I’ll never make that mistake. I don’t care if I _______ starve”.
First of all, Eric is NOT the first singer to speak out against reality show singers who end up with record deals, and here's the beef they have. Use your imagination for a second. Pretend that you're on summer vacation between your Jr & Sr year in high school and you see this awesome truck that you want, and you decide to go out and earn it. All you can think about is how cool you'll look pulling in the parking lot on the first day of school in your new jacked up truck, so you work every possible second of your summer vacation and sacrifice & save every penny so you can earn enough money to buy your dream truck and impress everyone. Then, you roll in on the first day of school and see that the kid with the rich daddy went out and bought him a brand new truck that is even better than yours and he didn't earn it.....daddy just went out and bought it for him and now he's getting the attention that you though you were gonna get. There's a certain amount of pride in earning something in life. Most country stars, like Eric, move to Nashville with a dream and they grind it out in clubs & bars and they compete for (literally) years & years with other very talented people just for the opportunity to get a record deal. Then there are these reality contestants who just show up to an audition, impress some judges to get on a TV show and they're an instant star with a record deal within a matter of weeks. They didn't grind it out in Nashville or work two jobs AND play the clubs & bars 7 nights a week for five years. They had it handed to them. I believe that's the issue. The problem with that logic is that there's no wrong way to accomplish your dreams. The other problem I have with what Eric said is that I just don't think anyone cares. Maybe it's an unspoken grudge that certain artists hold against reality show singers, but at the end of they day, personally, I don't care how someone got a record deal. I care about good music, and I find it hard to believe that there's an abundance of singers in Nashville who are losing out on record deals because of reality show singers.
It's no secret that Eric is verrry opinionated. Just a few weeks ago I wrote that I believe he is a modern day "outlaw" in country music, and his Rolling Stone interview is proof of that. He doesn't care what people think about him or what he has to say. Eric is concerned about one thing: music. That's all. Even though I think he could have picked better words for that interview, I believe that Eric really is a true artist. By that I mean if he had never received a record deal, or moved to Nashville, he would still be writing and playing music somewhere because that's what he loves to do. Whether it's in front of 20,000 people or in front of 20 people. Eric comes off looking petty and a little insecure with his comments. If I were a Public Relations rep for Eric or any other celebrity, I'd steal a line from my old man and tell them "Just because you have an opinion, doesn't mean that anyone wants to hear it". Nobody cares about your little grudges or your politics. Sing your songs, earn your paycheck and keep your mouth shut.
Hmmmm ok so he went on a show and because he made a good showing he got a record contract. That alone did not put him where he is. It may have given him an oportunity but that alone is not what has made Blake or any of the others what they are. Great songs and Great singing are what made blake and other reality show people what they are. The show only gave him the possibility. It's what he has done since then that has made him great. Some cry baby thats mad because he isn't as famous or well known or whatever reason he has can keep his opinions to himself. I grew up listening to the true outlaws of country and while I may have missed something here or there I never heard any of them bad mouthing other artist because of how they got started. This guy isn't an outlaw he is a jealous punk.
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