One Night Rodeo – “Alive and Living”
In the press material for One Night Rodeo, the first ever winners of the fan voted Next GAC Star competition, the following statement is made:
“They call their fashion style ‘contemporary and a little country,’ practically the perfect words to describe their musical influences: Eagles and Rascal Flatts.”
I have a recommendation for subsequent press materials, “If you think that nonsensical distinctions are the same as insight, enjoy the sound and feel of Christian pop music, and think that there’s no guitar solo like a soaring, soulless guitar solo, then One Night Rodeo is the band for you!”
“Alive and Living” is the kind of song that begins with a “truthy” sort of statement, adds some “hip” rhythmic lyrical phrasing, mixes in a chorus that “rocks,” and thinks that detailing events is the same thing as storytelling.
Take a look at the chorus and tell me if you think the songwriter knew what he meant and just couldn’t communicate it, didn’t know what he meant and figured he’d just channeled some sort of wisdom that was beyond his understanding, or thought it “sounded cool” and didn’t care about anything else.
Being alive and living
Stepping back and stepping off
Thinking there’s a limit, and having no doubt you can have it all
Getting lost in the dust and the rush of the ride
Holding it in and letting it fly
Just waiting to die and dying to know the difference
Between being alive and living
The first time through, it’s about train-jumping with your buddies and “somewhere in mid-air you go from being scared to knowing there’s a difference between being alive and living;” the second time it’s you proposing to your girlfriend. In both cases, substantive analysis is a hopeless endeavor. Maybe they thought they were being zen?
Look, these guys obviously desperately want a hit song. One Night Rodeo can see the trends and they’ve tried their best to adhere to them. “Alive and Living” is an exercise is pleasantly arranged, familiar noise, with lyrics that feel like they make sense. These guys aren’t expressing themselves musically with their instruments. Nothing “creative” is happening here. It’s just a bunch of guys who seem to desperately want to stand out from all the other guys in the world and it seems like they think that being able to fashion a believable facsimile of a contemporary “country” song in the style of Rascal Flatts will allow them to do so. And you know what? They’ve accomplished that goal, and it looks like they are right.
If that sounds like a good thing to you, you’ll probably like this just fine.
Listen on iTunes: One Night Rodeo – “Alive and Living”
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[...] “One Night Rodeo can see the trends and they’ve tried their best to adhere to them. “Alive and Living” is an exercise is pleasantly arranged, familiar noise, with lyrics that feel like they make sense. These guys aren’t expressing themselves musically with their instruments. Nothing “creative” is happening here. It’s just a bunch of guys who seem to desperately want to stand out from all the other guys in the world and it seems like they think that being able to fashion a believable facsimile of a contemporary “country” song in the style of Rascal Flatts will allow them to do so.” — review by Ben Cisneros “Shouldn’t their first single be titled something along the lines of “Long Gone and Forgotten”, or ‘Where Have All The Voters Gone?’” — Rick “If the music career thing doesn’t pan out, the songwriters can always get a job writing captions underneath those ridiculous motivational posters that employers favor.” — Sam G. [...]
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September 24, 2008 at 9:46 am Permalink
Here are some alternate titles to “Alive and Living”…
“Being Hungry and Having Hunger”
or
“Having to go and having to go to the bathroom”
September 24, 2008 at 10:20 am Permalink
(SIGH)
September 24, 2008 at 11:02 am Permalink
Since these jokers beat out real talent Lane Turner in the final two of “Next GAC Star”, how about putting up a flash player link to one of Lane’s songs just for comparison purposes! I think “Horses”, “Too Far Gone”, or “Halfway To Mexico” would make a nice contrast to these bland dreckmeisters! Well, its just a suggestion….
“One Night Rodeo” will join Melissa Lawson and Angela Hacker as “reality” country talent search winners that went nowhere commercially. Miranda Lambert was # 3 in the first Nashville Star, so let’s hope # 3 on CMT’s “Can You Duet” works for Joey + Rory.
September 24, 2008 at 11:05 am Permalink
I haven’t even heard anything from One Night Rodeo, but immediately wrote them off upon hearing that Rascal Flatts are among their musical influences.
September 24, 2008 at 4:27 pm Permalink
Drivel.
I got an email with a “media” preview for this song because my blog has “country music” in the title. (It’s a personal blog, not at all industry related except that I happen to like country music). I didn’t even bother listening to the song until right now. I didn’t watch the show and this song does nothing for me. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear it on the radio. I do think they’ve nailed what radio will play :(
September 24, 2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
if this band likes Rascal Flatts. i will sure give them a try.
September 24, 2008 at 5:11 pm Permalink
i just went on youtube to check out Randy Rogers band they are good.the video was called one last goodbye or something like that. iam geting their album. good suff
September 24, 2008 at 6:27 pm Permalink
Shouldn’t their first single be titled something along the lines of “Long Gone and Forgotten”, or “Where Have All The Voters Gone….”
September 24, 2008 at 9:01 pm Permalink
If the music career thing doesn’t pan out, the songwriters can always get a job writing captions underneath those ridiculous motivational posters that employers favor.
September 25, 2008 at 7:57 pm Permalink
The “Hero” song that was chosen FOR them is the same song that Lane Turner or JC Andersen would have had if they had won…whoever this writer of this article is needs to get the whole story before he writes bad reviews about people because One Night Rodeo happens to be a great band and just because you don’t like the song doesn’t mean they aren’t good musicians…You other people are entitled to your opinions but you obviously don’t have good taste in music!!!
September 26, 2008 at 11:45 pm Permalink
DUDE! You have got NO taste in music!Get A Life!Lane Turner would have had the same song!You should get the whole story before you go putting people down! Come on people!God! You really need some good taste in music!Lane Turner is nothing compared to One Night Rodeo!!!THUMBS DOWN TO LANE TURNER!!!NOT ONE NIGHT RODEO!!!!GET A LIFE!!!!!BOO!!!GO ONE NIGHT RODEO!!!!!!!!hahaha!!!!
O.N.R (One Night Rodeo) had thousands of votes on the voting thing while everybody else had 10-50 votes & I know this cuz my dad is in O.N.R 7 the Music Nation guy told him & I AM NOT LYING!!!!so obviously Lane,JC,& Mehgan don’t have a big fan bas!!
SO go listen to good music dude that wrote this thing!TEAM O.N.R!!!YAY!!BOO LANE!!!GO O.N.R!!!
September 26, 2008 at 11:48 pm Permalink
GET A LIFE LOSER!!!!
September 26, 2008 at 11:48 pm Permalink
YOU SUCK TO THE DUDE THAT WROTE THIS!!!BOO!!!!!
September 26, 2008 at 11:51 pm Permalink
Everyone out there who think one night rodeo suck u are sooooooooo WRONG.lane turner has no talent!!!I’m Telling u he sucks!!!!one night rodeo deserves it !!!!!!!!! and JC is sooooo wrong about win he thinks it about winning but it really isn”T about win, take my word on it because i know about winning i am a dancer and we go through it alot we don:t talk bad about people so there u have it! and DONT ware out one night rodeos name! or do i mean o.n.r
September 26, 2008 at 11:53 pm Permalink
Everyone go buy one night rodeo CD in Jan. loser
September 27, 2008 at 6:14 am Permalink
Wow. Look, it’s the super fans!
September 27, 2008 at 6:25 am Permalink
>>Wow. Look, it’s the super fans!<<
No, it’s the insane children fans.
September 28, 2008 at 5:19 pm Permalink
They are not so bad there are better bands song was not the right choice
October 6, 2008 at 9:43 pm Permalink
THE SONG “ALIVE AND LIVING” WAS CHOSEN FOR THEM BY
GAC/MUSIC NATION PRODUCERS. THE BAND HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT THEN BLAME THE SONG WRITERS OR PRODUCERS.
LIKE ONE JUDGE SAID HE HOPES TO HEAR LANE’S SONG ON HIS RADIO.
BUT TO BE FAIR IN MAKING A DECISION… LISTEN TO ALL THE BAND MEMBERS ORIGINAL SONGS IN THEIR CD “SO CLOSE” WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND RECORDED BY THE MEMBERS OF “ONE NIGHT RODEO”
PLEASE WATCH THEIR VIDEO “TOUCH ME” AND THEN RESPOND WITH YOUR REMARKS …GOOD OR BAD…WHATEVER!
CHECK OUT ..MUSIC NATIONS.. “DIGITAL RODEO.COM”
A VENUE OF INTERNET BASED COUNTRY MUSIC FANS, FOLLOWING THEIR FAVORITE TOP #1 SIGNED ARTIST’S CHARTS STANDINGS.
AND CHART STANDINGS FOR #1 TOP UNSIGNED ARTISTS’
“ONE NIGHT RODEO” IS IN 1ST PLACE AND THEY HAVE HELD THAT POSITION MORE THAN A YEAR NOW.
OH! THEY ARE SIGNED NOW…UMMM…GOTTA CHANGE THAT
HUH?
EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE AT STARDOM AND WHO DETERMINES THAT ? WE THE VOTER, THE PURCHASER OF ALBUMS ETC.
AMERICA CREATED THE “POPULAR VOTE” SO WE ARE NOT A DICTATORSHIP AND “EVERYBODY CAN HAVE A PIECE OF THAT PIE” (IF THEY WORK HARD, PROMOTE THEMSELVES AND GIVE “SOME PEOPLE” WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR)
IN THIS CASE…. ONE NIGHT RODEO MUSIC …. THAT A FEW PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR ANYWAY!
ALL THE FINALISTS IN “THE NEXT GAC STAR” WERE THE BEST OF THE BEST (THAT ENTERED THE CONTEST)
YOU THE VOTERS CROWNED THE FINALIST…IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU ! ! ! IF YOU DO NOTHING YOU GET NOTHING!
DON’T JUDGE UNTIL YOU HAVE HEARD “ALL” THE MUSIC BY “ONR”.
EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT TASTES IN THINGS “THANK GOD”
WOULDN’T IT BE TERRIBLE IF EVERYONE LOVED OPERA AND THAT WAS ALL WE HAD TO LISTEN TO????
I PERSONALLY LOVE TECHNO AND MY YOUNGEST SON IS THE BASS PLAYER FOR ONR…WOW BET YOU COULDN’T HAVE SEEN THAT COMING.
MY OLDEST SON PLAYS SOUTHERN ROCK AND I LOVE IT TOO.
DIFFERENT TASTES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS.
AMERICA THE LAND OF FREEDOM TO VOTE AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION… OR ARE WE ?
CONSIDER ALL THE FACTS BEFORE… YOU MAKE …YOUR JUDGMENT !
THANK GOD… HE DOES !
October 10, 2008 at 9:04 pm Permalink
People that don’t like this band called One Night Rodeo need to shut up! I am not a little kid just saying this!I happen to be 27! One Night Rodeo is a great band and just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you can go around posting blogs about how bad you think they are! And how do you know if these people are children?They might be adults saying their opinion!So people need to shut up!
Thank you to:
Dallas
Shannon
LC
Taylor
Diane
To these people, you need to shut your mouth stupid!
Kelly
Rick
Agent713
RazorX
Sam .G.
JR Journey
Ranbw
all of yuo people need to shut up & to the person who wrote this, GET A LIFE!
LOSER!
October 10, 2008 at 9:05 pm Permalink
oh by the way, Country music, you were sort of dissing them & giving them a compliment at the same time so…..
October 10, 2008 at 10:38 pm Permalink
Perhaps the One Night Rodeo posters are not children, but use of phrases like “GET A LIFE!LOSER!” and “YOU SUCK TO THE DUDE THAT WROTE THIS” seems pretty childish to me.
October 11, 2008 at 11:07 am Permalink
hairandtoenails:yeah but still there are some childish adults out there!!!so think before you say before you say it!!
October 11, 2008 at 11:08 am Permalink
oops sorry i mean think before you say what your going to say!!!
October 11, 2008 at 11:16 am Permalink
now, it’s all clear.
October 11, 2008 at 9:38 pm Permalink
Thomas:what is that supposed to mean?!??
October 12, 2008 at 4:29 am Permalink
sara: “what was i thinking” or “when you say nothing at all” sprang to mind, reading those two posts. priceless language slap-stick – lol.
October 16, 2008 at 6:11 pm Permalink
One Night Rodeo is great!!my daddy listens to them!!btw, ima mile cyrus fan not really her
November 8, 2008 at 10:53 pm Permalink
It’s really sad that all you judgemental people cant just be happy for a band that has been working to make it big for over 15 years. They have played every weekend of their lives to accomplish this and their families finally get to reel in the glory. Must you ruin all good things. We got engaged at the bar they played at in Bradenton Florida and got to know all the members of the band. What a shame that people actually think they are better than someone who has something to show for their hard work. By the way you judgemental people, what are your acomplishments??? Congrats Cory, Jack and the boys. We’re proud of you! Charlie & Lizsa
November 9, 2008 at 1:47 pm Permalink
Eek! Another Super Fan!
November 9, 2008 at 3:41 pm Permalink
Aren’t superfans fun?
November 9, 2008 at 9:13 pm Permalink
I’m waiting for the super-fans to start accusing Mr Cisneros of palling around with terrorists or running all-negative reviews…
November 10, 2008 at 7:33 am Permalink
I am cool with superfans, i just get irritated with the ones that decide if someone else doesnt share their fanatacism, then that person must be filled with hate, jealousy or worse. of course, also, to not like the same band a as a superfan, one must also present their resume of “hits” or accomplishments to seemingly validate their stance against the beloved band in question, which I continue to say, is hilarious, cuz I am certain that the superfan isnt a superfan of every artist he/she has ever heard….
November 10, 2008 at 7:34 am Permalink
…oh, also, I dont give a crap if an artist is nice, works hard, or works with friggin’ meals on wheels. if the music sucks, it sucks. I can say that even though i have not one musical bone in my body, and therefore have never written or performed a top 10 hit (btw, 1 night rodeo hasnt either)
November 13, 2008 at 8:38 pm Permalink
Everybody needs to stop making these stupid websites that just down artists. I’m not saying that I’m a fan of ‘One Night Rodeo’ i haven’t even heard of them or their music so I don’t give a crap what they sound like! At least we have another band that are actually down-to-earth people! and all you super fans need to stop even going to these websites because it’s not for you. it’s obviously for haters.and also, haters, you don’t have to post a new blog downing something you don’t like or talking trash about them.everyone just needs to shut up!
Don’t fight with me either!
February 25, 2009 at 12:14 am Permalink
First of all they aren”t desperate for anything. They won a Fan voted reality show competition and had no choice in what song they played, released, or how it was recorded. They’ve got plenty of originals if the label gives them a chance and put them out there, then you can play critic on they’re stuff.
April 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm Permalink
Yeah, that’s right… I am a super fan, but my cousin is the bass player… deal with it.
Second, yeah, you guys are entitled to your own opinion, but have you even bothered to hear any of their other songs???
Alive and Living is not one of my favorites, but I do think it is a good song
Try listening to “a kiss is worth a 1000 words” or my favorite, “I will if you wont”, and tell me they don’t mean something.
and no shit they haven’t wrote a #1 song, DUH! they are a newly signed country band! HOWEVER, They have managed to stay on the GAC Top 20 list now for 2 weeks, and were on it a few weeks ago as well….that says something….
Not trying to start anything here, Just throwing my 2 Yen out there….. (Yes, I said Yen, I am stationed in Japan, where hopefuly soon they will be playing, I keep asking Duane (My Cousin) to get the band to want to come out here…lol)
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