Caribbean and Music Provided Chesney With Therapy During Divorce

From the CMT interview w/ Chesney:

“You talk about how you went through a dark period. How bad would you say it got?

Very.

Yeah?

Uh huh.

Most people, if they get that down, they’ve got to do something about it. How did you pull yourself out of it?

I’m still doing it.

Yeah?

Yeah. I’m good, though.”

MAN!! That is deep stuff!!

That cracked me up, but I liked this one the best:

You seem good. Music has got to be good therapy.

Of course it is. It’s great. Music is therapy. … Really.

On a related note, ten bucks says Jamey Johnson’s divorce album blows Kenny Chesney’s divorce album out of the shark-infested waters of the Caribbean.

In all fairness, Chesney doesn’t have to open up about his dark period or his divorce just because an interviewer asks him to do so. His comments don’t have to be read as lacking depth; he could be stone-walling because he doesn’t want to open up about his personal life for publication on an internet website, even one owned by a company he hopes to keep on his side. He opens himself up for questions by saying the album reflects his mood after his divorce, but he doesn’t have to go into it anymore than that if he doesn’t want to.

Past that, I know big Nashville stars aren’t favorites around here, but it’s always a little tricky to start criticizing an album you haven’t heard yet, even if you haven’t liked the guy in the past. Chesney’s album won’t sound like Johnson’s because, when he wrote and recorded it, he wasn’t a down-and-out songwriter and knocked-around performer known for all-night binges.

I have to say, I like his new album’s first single, “Everybody’s Got to Go to Heaven,” and I think bringing in the Wailers was a smart choice that gives his island-rhythm thing a fresh update. The video, which features the Wailers, is a kick, too.

I was definitely at the music fest yesterday and Taylor did an excellent job. Who cares if her target market is 10 year olds!

Kelly,

So you think Chesney approved the questions and then planned “very” and “Uh huh” as his answers? Reading the interview, he clammed up right at the point Katie Cook pushed him to talk more about the dark period. I don’t see why it would be shallow of him to say the divorce inspired his new songs, but then not have to explain exactly what he went through that made the period dark for him. It was a good follow-up question to his previous comment, but he wasn’t obligated to go into it. I didn’t think it suggested a lack of depth on his part, that’s all.

Chesney does more promotional interviews than some big stars, but I’ve never found him to be open about discussing personal issues in depth. Is he required to do so when he cites personal issues as inspiring an album? That’s an age-old journalism question. I think a reporter should ask, but I don’t think he’s obligated to make the answer interesting or revealing. If he wants to say, “This is where the song came from, and it was therapeutic, and that’s all I’m going to say,” is that wrong? You’re right that it’s pat, and it doesn’t make for good copy or good TV, but that’s between him and the producers, editors and writers–and those who read or watch.

It gets at a common journalistic problem: People who agree to interviews to promote something, but don’t want to say anything too interesting or personally revealing. It’s not limited to country music stars. You don’t have to like it, and shouldn’t but again, it doesn’t make him shallow.

I consider the words “Kenny Chesney” and “emotional depth” to be mutually exclusive based upon most of his music of the last few years. Kenny was smart enough to become the Jimmy Buffet of the mainstream country music scene and his tailgating “Cheeseyhead” concertgoers just want a drunken and mindless good time. And by the way who did Kenny think he was marrying, Bridgett Jones? Crikey, mate…

I’d vote fo Trace Adkins based upon his book and interviews I’ve read. Trace could add Toby Keith as his VP pick to broaden their appeal…….

Taylor Swift is not out to please critics but rather her sizeable and ever growing fan base of shrieking little girls. Taylor has set her goals on a successful career, not being an unheralded critic’s darling. Now whether her fan base will stick with her after they reach puberty is another matter……

4-5 songs are about Renee. That’s what, one for every day they were married?

My dad told me today that he thought Chesney was a “great artist” and a little part of me died.

It was similar to the time he told me he didn’t like LAW’s album There’s More Where That Came From because it was too twangy. I think I was crying on the inside at that point.

See? There’s hope for the next generation!

Geez, and I thought a year was a long time getting over my last girlfriend. Grow up Kenny.

Hey Kenny –

It’s like I always say, “to get over a divorce, just get married again as quick as possible. It’s like when you keep drinking beer on a morning when you have a bad hangover…”

you’re welcome….