Gone Country

Ok. I've watched two episodes of this ridiculous travesty now, and... I hate that I love it. First of all, Maureen McCormack is a mess. I think no one told her that this is not legitimate. I mean, it's "legitimate", but it's certainly not legitimate. She seems like she's constantly on the verge of tears, and... is she moved, like, emotionally, to be friends with Bobby Brown? There's just several layers of oddness going on here. I was excited to see Loveless Cafe featured in the first episode. (If you're ever in Nashville, eat at Loveless Cafe. But you probably already know that.)

Other isolated thoughts:

I think that I should get $1 for every time John Rich starts a sentence with, "If these guys are serious about going country...."

I love how he wants them to do down and dirty country livin' stuff from his "log cabin", which, as understatement, is palatial. He has them ride up to said palace on ATV's. Meanwhile, he arrives wearing some sort of monstrous fur coat.

He has them perform their "[former] hit songs" in front of a live audience, to apply the pressure. Meanwhile, he solos "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)," barely hitting any of the notes.

Wow. It must seem like I really don't like John Rich. Which is not true. The more I learn how many songs he's written, the more I want to marry him. Figuratively speaking. Maybe just his goatee.

Chart detail Feb. 9 issue

Unsurprisingly, Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts hold down numbers 1 and 2 (respectively). My guess here is that Paisley might stay here for awhile -- probably becoming his first song to spend four or more weeks at #1; just a guess -- and that the Flatts will have to settle for #2.

Meanwhile, there are some surprisingly large moves in the top 10. Gary Allan flies up from #7 to #3, giving him his highest charting hit since his last #1, "Nothing On But The Radio," about three years ago. Billy Ray Cyrus and his spawn also jump up four notches to #4. Rodney Atkins's "Cleaning This Gun" (which I sang passably well at karaoke last weekend) gets the "GREATEST GAINER" label and moves up from #10 to #7. Maybe this means four consecutive #1's for Atkins. I'm a little surprised that Kenny Chesney's "Shiftwork" stays put at #9.

The rest of the top 25 is unremarkable, with most records staying put, or switching places with the song above or below it. Even the older records are still bulleted. My guess is that next week's chart will show more stagnancy in #1-5, and lots of movement in #6-#25.