John Rich – “Another You”
For a guy who is supposed to be a genius songwriter, John Rich sure does seem to be running out of ideas. World/Girl, Do/You, Out/Down–these are the best rhymes a three-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year can come up with? Maybe he spent all his good lines on “Raising McCain.”
Rich’s songwriting has never been accused of being especially sophisticated (actually, neither has Rich), but he has nonetheless demonstrated a high aptitude for clever turns of phrase and unique, original word choice. The first single from his upcoming solo project showcases none of that. “Another You” is a song that sounds like it was written when Rich was really, really bored. Because it’s really, really boring.
And really, really bad.
A million lyrical miles away from the interesting, edgy material that made up Horse of a Different Color (the album that resurrected Rich’s flagging career and launched him into Super Galactic stardom as one half of Big & Rich–we miss you Big Kenny), “Another You” is neither interesting nor edgy.
Rather, it is completely effortless–and I obviously don’t mean that as a compliment, but that Rich literally seems to have put zero effort into its composition, almost as if he pulled lines out of a paper bag, or spent a few minutes aimlessly rearranging those little magnets that stick on your refrigerator door. You know, the ones with words on them that can be made to say things like “Pick up milk” or “Take the trash out” or “Reviewing this song makes me want to punch myself in the face.”
Aside from the fact that this song gets its lyrical ass kicked by David Kersh’s 1997 hit “Another You” (written by Brad Paisley), Rich’s take on post-breakup regret plays as incomprehensibly unbelievable. Decidedly timid and conservative in both concept and execution, it’s just hard to take Rich, country’s drama king, seriously when he goes into sensitive crooner mode.
Part of that is because Rich is a poor singer, comparatively speaking–one with a tragically limited range (a fact underscored without Big Kenny’s vocal support to add color to an otherwise drab voice).
More than this, however, is that the whole package just seems entirely fake and designed purely for commercial effect. Cue the strings. Here comes the crescendoing chorus, followed by the emotional vocal run on the final line. The song has no heart and the recording has no teeth. John Rich doesn’t care about this song. He didn’t care about it enough to invest himself in its composition, and that comes through in his singing.
So why should we care about it, either?
Listen: John Rich – “Another You”
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Current Discussion
- Jim Malec: "Keeps her letters in a nightstand." She sent him letters, Jon!
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- Michelle: I love this song. I would love to climb up in his lap and drive his big green tractor!
54 Comments
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November 17, 2008 at 3:23 pm Permalink
This review is right on point with one glaring exception: “We miss you Big Kenny.” My goodness! John Rich, like you said, is not a great singer, but Big Kenny is even worse. These guys (as artists, not writers – which this song calls into question) were nothing more than an overhyped gimmick.
November 17, 2008 at 3:25 pm Permalink
“an overhyped gimmick”? I believe that was the goal in the first place. It worked well. For awhile.
November 17, 2008 at 3:46 pm Permalink
I, for one, agree with Jim. I miss Big Kenny and think that Rich’s voice sounds much better when harmonizing with him. As I said at Country Universe, I used to think that Rich had a good voice, but have since realized that he’s just a good harmony singer. Does Big Kenny’s voice remind anyone else of the lead singer of Cake or is it just me? Big Kenny’s solo album is what reminds me of Cake. At any rate, his album was much cooler than Rich’s solo album.
November 17, 2008 at 4:24 pm Permalink
This sounds just plain bad.
November 17, 2008 at 4:39 pm Permalink
LeAnn: I’ve never hear anything other than the single from Big Kenny’s album, I’ve been trying to find it for a while.
November 17, 2008 at 4:43 pm Permalink
We need an objective reviewer.
November 17, 2008 at 4:47 pm Permalink
This song puts me to sleep. I agree, I miss Big Kenny.
November 17, 2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
Drew,
How was Jim not objective?
November 17, 2008 at 4:57 pm Permalink
I wouldn’t be surprised is this came out of a writing session with Randy Owen. This sounds exactly like something that should have been on Owen’s latest album. Boring.
And does anyone else think of David Koresh every time they read David Kersh’s name?
November 17, 2008 at 5:01 pm Permalink
There’s no such thing as an objective reviewer.
November 17, 2008 at 5:03 pm Permalink
Yes, Brady.
November 17, 2008 at 5:26 pm Permalink
If anything, we need more subjective reviewers in the world.
November 17, 2008 at 6:32 pm Permalink
Ditto to CMW and Chris N.
November 17, 2008 at 8:00 pm Permalink
I certainly don’t miss Big Kenny. I wish that both Big and Rich would just go away permanently.
November 17, 2008 at 8:23 pm Permalink
I’ve made no bones about my distaste for John Rich and this insipid single adds a bit more fuel to the fire. Maybe John is acting smart in getting into producing those CMT reality shows so that he’ll have something to fall back on when his music career craps out. John looks, acts, and dresses like a country music pimp….
Its nice to see David Kersh get a mention. His most recent notoriety was when his off and on again girlfriend Kerry Harvick was sorta cheating on him on the horrible “Bad Girls Club” cable reality show a couple seasons back. Kerry is the blonde cutie that graced the FHM “Women of Country” issue’s cover along with Jennifer Hanson and was signed to Lyric Street for awhile. Kerry’s “Cowgirls” music video is definitely worth watching! Kerry is going the indie root these and selling her music through her website. I think the romance is over as David’s MySpace friends do not include Kerry, but he does have Ashley Monroe in the first row! (lol)
November 17, 2008 at 10:02 pm Permalink
I’ve grown to the point where I can’t stand John Rich anymore. He’s more tolerable when he keeps his mouth shut and sings with Big Kenny (sometimes).
And yeah, David Kersh was one of a kind.
November 17, 2008 at 11:32 pm Permalink
He’s a poor singer and inconsistent songwriter/producer, but he’s a cool guy… how can you hate him? Unless you’re Jim the socialist of course.
November 17, 2008 at 11:45 pm Permalink
Ahh…
Now I get Drew’s previous comment…
November 18, 2008 at 12:08 am Permalink
Rich hasn’t been good since Lonestar, but we know how that ended up!
November 18, 2008 at 1:00 am Permalink
Jim’s such a socialist that he probably buys songs from iTunes.
November 18, 2008 at 6:10 am Permalink
Drew, I mean, can you believe that socialists like Jim and I actually care more about the music than the guy himself? To think how stupid we’ve been all these years…
November 18, 2008 at 7:00 am Permalink
Ha, Matt, I already knew what he was getting at with his previous comment.
Drew,
Just because it’s impossible for you to like artists who disagree with your politics (let alone people in general), those of us who aren’t so conservative aren’t afforded such a luxury, since most mainstream country artists lean right. Therefore, we must be open minded enough to judge artists based on their artistry rather than their political views. Imagine such a crazy concept, if you can.
November 18, 2008 at 7:06 am Permalink
Oh yeah, you admit that he’s a poor singer and inconsistent songwriter/producer, but you suggest that Jim’s not being objective with his review? He’s supposed to give this worse than crappy song an “objective” review based on the fact that Rich is a “cool guy”? And that would be objective. How?
There’s a credibility gap here and it’s not with Jim.
November 18, 2008 at 9:15 am Permalink
I don’t think Jim’s political views come into play in this review at all. Jim and I are about as far apart politically as two people can be, but I wholeheartedly agree with what he wrote in this review.
November 18, 2008 at 10:29 am Permalink
“The song has no heart”
Bingo!
November 18, 2008 at 7:40 pm Permalink
Well i cant stand this song. Big and Rich were horrible to country music in my opinion.
November 18, 2008 at 9:02 pm Permalink
Clearly it did conflict with his review… he couldn’t go more than 3 sentences without bringing up Rich’s support of McCain.
November 18, 2008 at 9:35 pm Permalink
John Rich really gets a lot more respect for his songwriting than he deserves. He is a good songwriter but has marketed himself where people think he is one of the elite with being on TV shows, etc. I don’t see John doing real well solo.
November 19, 2008 at 10:09 am Permalink
I didn’t cite “Raising McCain” because I’m a socialist. I did so because it’s a terrible song. That Haggard song about Hillary is also a terrible song.
But seriously–all hail the great American socialist uprising!
November 19, 2008 at 10:30 am Permalink
Yeah, when is all that wealth gonna be redistributed? I need to pay off my credit card debt already.
November 19, 2008 at 12:51 pm Permalink
Okay, first of all, I’m so out of the political loop I don’t even know what socialism *is*.
Second of all, yeah, this is just like what came off John’s solo album for BNA. Bland and uninspired, and much softer than his voice ever was in Lonestar. He’s got a narrow range, but he uses it better than, say, Phil Stacey (that’s two Stacey bashes in one day!). His voice on “Heartbroke Everyday” sounds waaaaay different, and even now, hearing him without Big Kenny just sounds weird. (I wonder if Big Kenny’s next solo release will be the bizarre synthpop-ish stuff that his debut was?)
Personally, I thought that Big & Rich had a stellar debut album with excellent lyrics and production. I didn’t think that one second of it was over-the-top or contrived; every song sounded to me like they were just having a blast recording some damn fine songs. Album 2 had a bit of contrivance sneak in, but some tracks (“8th of November” for one) really stood out. I haven’t heard their third album besides the singles, but judging from “Lost in This Moment”, the old Big & Rich seems to be mostly gone. I think they’ve worn themselves out.
One thing I’ve noticed is that John Rich seems to be inconsistent in his songwriting. He came up with some excellent lyrics on B&R’s first two albums (again, “8th of November”, “Holy Water”, etc.), but even early on, he and Big Kenny were using name-drops and product-placement on “Redneck Woman” and “Hicktown”, and retreading the redneck pride theme in Shannon Brown’s “Corn Fed”, and then all of the uninspired-ness that is “Another You”. In fact, when I first saw this title, I honestly *was* expecting a cover of the David Kersh song.
Furthermore, if David Kersh really was one of a kind, how come he looked and sounded exactly like every other hat act?
November 19, 2008 at 1:10 pm Permalink
Socialism used to mean “advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods,” but during the presidential campaign the right wing redefined it as “advocating a 3% increase in the top tax rate.”
November 19, 2008 at 1:24 pm Permalink
I completely agree with LeeAnn’s comment. Right on the money, girl. Now, let’s spread that money around …
November 19, 2008 at 2:19 pm Permalink
It’s funny and sad if that’s all you were able to gather from the recent campaigns Chris.
November 19, 2008 at 2:24 pm Permalink
“Furthermore, if David Kersh really was one of a kind, how come he looked and sounded exactly like every other hat act?”
Good, I am glad I am not the only one that was scratching my head at the fascination with Kersh….
November 19, 2008 at 3:00 pm Permalink
Oh, I gathered a little more than that. Don’t you worry about it.
November 26, 2008 at 6:10 pm Permalink
I love how Billy Bobby up there claims that Kersh sounds like every other hat acts, but says that John Rich has talent in writing or singing. lol. Anyone that actually believes that David Kersh sounded like every other hat-act is somehow getting him mixed up with Garth Brooks. You know, the talentless, vibradoless, screamer that thinks he’s entertaining people; yet all he’s really doing is paying off fans to come to his pathetic shows. I’m wondering if most of you would really know good music if it sat on your face, but I’m guessing no.
November 26, 2008 at 6:30 pm Permalink
Where, pray tell, did he say that?
November 27, 2008 at 9:31 am Permalink
At first I didnot like Big&Rich but some how they grew on me.They are ok and some day I hope to see them in concert.
Do we have any of their music? No but now when they come on our radio station we dont turn it off like before.
November 27, 2008 at 1:32 pm Permalink
At first I didnot like Big&Rich but some how they grew on me
I think there is an anti-fungal cream that treats that.
December 5, 2008 at 8:53 pm Permalink
i think this song was dedicated to big kenny from john.
January 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm Permalink
okay so I just heard “another you”, I love john, I think he’s exciting but what happened? The song lacks depth. C’mon John, you could do better than that. What happened to the spark, the snap, the crackle, the pop? What’s wrong brother? Where is the Cowboy Stevie Wonder? ( have no idea what that means really?) Maybe now that he’s married and will no doubt be miserable, as all married couples are, he will get a little more creative. Drama, man, you need more drama in your life. Put the bottle down, back away slowly, its killing your talent man!! OR something is.
January 6, 2009 at 11:18 pm Permalink
Anyone who thinks John isnt on of the most talented writers EVER needs to crawl back under the rock you came from under! I am not sure what I think about him as a solo act, yet. But as for a song writer he is second to none!
January 7, 2009 at 1:23 am Permalink
Umm…as far as contemporary writers go, what about Jeffrey Steele? Who’s the ‘better’ writer and ‘more successful.’
January 7, 2009 at 3:01 am Permalink
I’ll be glad when John’s “Reign of Terror” over Nashville has ended and he crawls back under the Muzik Mafia rock he came out from under. Of course because of his ego these days that rock will have to be as big as Gibraltar to keep him covered and buried. I almost wish CMT didn’t exist so John wouldn’t have a place to air is “reality” shows…
January 24, 2009 at 9:57 pm Permalink
Idont are what you poeple think l love jr and his new song dont you think that other artist have written boring songs if you wach the utube video for the man he singing from the heart
January 24, 2009 at 10:29 pm Permalink
“I almost wish CMT didn’t exist so John wouldn’t have a place to air is “reality” shows… ”
Rick, what do you mean “almost”? John Rich aside, what use is CMT?
January 26, 2009 at 7:46 pm Permalink
Razor x then there wouldn’t be this sites favorite duo Joey + Rory if not for CMT
February 3, 2009 at 5:02 pm Permalink
You guys are being watched…and quoted.
February 6, 2009 at 1:52 pm Permalink
I LOVED this song!!! I thought he done an amazing job on it. Way better than the Big & Rich music.
February 14, 2009 at 10:30 am Permalink
why are people talking so much crap about john…
i’m not even that much of a country music fan; and yet this song is still amazing. i love it.
March 2, 2009 at 11:45 am Permalink
I can’t believe how many people are hating on John Rich for his solo song and his song writing. His song is good and all of the other songs he wrote are good. And those who say that he lost his old touch…well you’re wrong. He never lost it..he just gained a new touch…his soft side. Now he can use both sides of him to make, produce, and sing good music.
March 3, 2009 at 10:27 am Permalink
john rich might seem like a good song writer too most country fans. but with out big and midget he would still be nothing.becouse as a singer he sure sucks.all the singers on that nashville star out sing him in thier sleep.he should go back too being the backup singer for the midget
March 3, 2009 at 1:32 pm Permalink
Actually Brady – I was mis-quoted. I made a comment on the other site to point that out, but it hasnt shown up yet.
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