Marx insulted by Paisley's CRS comments
Richard Marx, 80's pop star singer turned pop/country songwriter/producer, said he was "personally insulted" by statements from country newcomer Brad Paisley made during the Country Radio Seminar.
Brad, during a panel titled "Too Country? Too Pop," said country music is about the song and pop is more about the production.
Richard, in the audience, almost jumped out of his skin, and told me Saterday that the statement
is arrogant and insulting.
"Pop songwriters don't take the craft of songwriting as serious as he does?" he said. Tell that to Paul Simon. Tell that to Bono. Tell that to Paul McCartney."
"What makes it worse is that it comes from a guy who has been famous for about 12 minutes," he said.
In conclusion, Richard said, "I hear just as many mediocre-to-bad country songs gussied up by production as I do on pop radio."
Paisley responds to the Marx tirade
Brad Paisley yesterday defended his statement at Country Radio Seminar that country music is about the song and pop music is more about the production. Brad says he stands by that still, despite singer/songwriter/producer Richard Marx attack, detailed in todays first item.
"First of all, I am a fan of Richards. I bought his first three albums when they first came out, based on his songwriting and the production," Brad said, by phone. "And heck, I'm the one who bought 'Days In Avalon'," Richards latest album.
"Of course there are exceptions to any rule when it comes the the nature of a music's genre," Brad continued.
"But you can't convince me that a song like "Baby Hit Me One More Time" for Britney Spears, a huge hit, is something you would sit there and say, what a message--What lyrics!"
"In response to the famous-for-12-minutes comment, since the day 'He Didn't Have To Be' went No.1, I have been famous for 655,238 minutes--wait, 239 mintues if that makes a difference. Can you trust a guy who can't do math?"
The design for the fourth coming Shania Twain museum to be built in her hometown of Timmins, Ontario, Canada found it's metaphoric start in the stories of the singer's diamond-in-the-rough beginnings. So designers are proposing a gem-like structure of glass to be set between two outcrops of rock and emerging from a backwoods of trees. Barry Crean, the exhibit project manager, suggests this will serve as a metaphor of her life. Ground is to be broken in the next couple of weeks with the official opening to follow on July 1, 2001--and Shania will be there! (National Post)
...Shania Twain is making sure the museum that will bare her name next year will not be short of anything to see. She has donated more than one-million dollars worth of memorabilia including: the first song she ever recorded at the local radio station, fan letters from Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and U.S. President Bill Clinton, many of her awards and some of her navel-baring costumes. (National Post)
...So what is it like to be on the road with Shania Twain? You'll have a chance to find out when you visit the Shania Museum opening in Timmins, Ontario in July 2001. Part of the 'backstage'-like tour will include a 'sim concert' where you can plan a concert and try to stay within budget. There will also be an interactive dressing room where you can experience first-hand how much make-up and primping is required before Shania even hits the stage. (National Post)
...The Shania Twain Museum will include some interesting and different features. Patrons will have a chance to plat a true- or- false quiz with questions based on Shania gossip. And, as per Shania's suggestion, there will be a map of the singer/songwriter's favorite hang-outs in Timmins including Don's Pizza where Shania likes to get Poutine (fries covered with chunks of cheese and gravy) and the Farmer's Market where she bought home-baked sticky donuts. (N.P.)
