Jessica Andrews – “Everything”

The problem with Jessica Andrews is that she’s a diva. It comes across in interviews, when she’s on stage, when she has to do the ‘terrible’ task of being with fans…. this is a girl who most likely knew she could sing from a young age and was treated special because of it. She’s not a very likable girl so that makes it hard to lose yourself in her music. I think she’s talented but it takes more than a good voice to be a success. Look at Taylor Swift- mediocre voice but she seems like she could be your best friend. BOOM- success. Jess should be taking notes.

Regardless of whether or not she is a diva…at the end of the day that doesn’t effect my choice to pop the cd into the stereo of my car. Taylor Swift may be nice but she can barely hold a tune. I have worn out my copy of Jessica’s album “Now”, I think it is one of the best overall albums I have ever heard and I will be first in line to buy the next one.

While Jessica Andrews certainly is more pop than substance, do we know that’s her fault? What if she was provided a solid set of “country nerd acceptable music” and sang her heart out? My guess is we’ll never know.. and that’s sad. I can see Jessica in a slightly poppier version of Kasey Chambers’ early stuff. But I’ll never get to.

I am a fan of Miss Andrews, and I know this will be too pop, but I’ll still grab it.

That said, the two versions of “There’s More to Me Than You” from “Now” were the highlights of her discography.

I’d normally disagree with being a diva playing a part in the success of a musician (the music should stand on it’s own), but after having met her and seeing her interact with her fans, I can partially understand why she hasn’t faired as well as say Taylor Swift (who has serious vocal deficiencies compared to Andrews, but is undeniably likable). Sometimes it does make it hard for me to get lost in her music, though I am a fan.

That said, this song is terrible anyway. It practically makes Come On Over sound like a country masterpiece.

I enjoyed your take here on why Andrews has been unsuccessful in getting her Nashville-Pop career off the ground in a significant way over the last decade, especially the look back on the trends of this decade, but I think your generalizations may be a little too broad.

After all, weren’t Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Leann Rimes all finding success with compressed, layered, Nashville-Pop in the first half of the decade?

There are a lot of factors that contribute, or limit, an artists success, and without any knowledge of the behind the scenes goings on, I think it’d be tough to say that it was solely a wrong place, wrong time situation with Andrews.

After all, weren’t Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Leann Rimes all finding success with compressed, layered, Nashville-Pop in the first half of the decade?

I would say the answer to that question is no. The music of those artists leaned pop, but in a very different way than Andrews’, which reflects the current format.

In 2000 LeAnn Rimes made a full pop crossover with songs from Coyote Ugly and Twisted Angel. She really didn’t even make a play at country radio until 2004’s “Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense.”

Martina McBride’s 2000-05 music featured “When God Fearin’ Women Get The Blues” and “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.” Outside of those hits, a lot of her music was pop leaning, but in more the AC sense–her music was typically softer and more focused on the family. Songs like “In My Daughters Eyes” and “This One’s For The Girls” are very different in both style and substance than the hyperactive pop country of Andrews/Today.

As for Faith, she’s an interesting case. Because she really did try to make a strong play to pop radio, but it didn’t work particularly well.

Yeah, compliments are hard to come by, except for last week when I gave positive reviews to Toby and Kenny.

call me what you want, but i really like the song Everything :)
why does everything in music have to be qualified, and quantified all the time?.. just enjoy it if you like it , and switch off if you don’t…

I agree with Ron in that I, too, really like this song (and I don’t much care why). I even agree with his gripes in re: (over)analysis; but they beg the question: why even bother to post that opinion, then?

Great review, Jim — original, well-reasoned and free from party-line pandering. You take a historical tack and run with it, and you write very well. Obviously, I don’t share your distaste for this particular song. And I would also argue your assertion that “Pop music has to be edgy to be good”. I would counter that, “Good, bad, or indifferent … if it’s edgy, it’s not pop music!”

As a fan of music, period, I am happy that the lines between genres are getting blurrier. Pigeonholing should be left to the birds!

I don’t know her well enough to comment on her (prickly?) demeanor, but I wish Jessica much success with this single, and upcoming album. Thumbs up!

When it comes to music, I care more about the song than whether or not someone thinks highly of themselves. And I’d MUCH rather listen to Jessica than Taylor. In fact, I won’t listen to Taylor and other “musicians” who can’t sing.

This song is beautiful, as are several of Jessica’s others. I just wish I could find a place to buy it online.