Rissi Palmer – “Country Girl”

Rissi Palmer is a fine addition to the very small group of contemporary female Country vocalists who actually sound Country. That’s how any review of her debut single, “Country Girl,” should begin.

But Rissi Palmer is black, and there’s no escaping that fact in a genre identifiable as one of the most racially exclusive art forms in America today.

Rissi Palmer is black.

And we have to go back twenty years to find another black female Country artist who made any chart impact whatsoever–that was an artist named Dona Mason, who peaked at #62 with a song called, “Green Eyes (Cryin’ Those Blue Tears)”.

And that’s what people are going to talk about. Rissi Palmer is black, and we have a color barrier, and she’s socially relevant and culturally important because, when “Country Girl,” entered the Hot Country Singles chart at #58 last week, she began breaking that barrier down.

I’m not sure anyone thought Dona Mason had a chance in hell. Palmer, on the other hand, is making people take notice. And why? Because there is a simple fact that is often lost in all of the hoopla over her skin–Rissi Palmer is a pretty damn good Country singer.

That a black woman sounds great singing Country Music shouldn’t surprise anyone–isn’t Country Music, at least to some extent, the music of the south? The music of the working man? Of the poor? Of the rural? Aren’t our songs, at the foundation of the genre, the songs of farmers and of coal miner’s daughters? Aren’t they songs of addiction and violence? Of love and heartbreak?

If we think that those are issues only “white people” can relate to, or that “black people” are isolated in an exclusively urban culture, we’re either crazy, stupid, or a racist.

So yes–Rissi Palmer is black. Now that that’s out of the way…

“Country Girl,” is a little bit cheesy. The melody seems too happy, and, at times, comes off sounding gimmicky. Lyrically, I wouldn’t care if I never heard the rhyme girl/world ever again, and on the production side, there’s something oddly underwhelming about the song’s chorus–the way the production backs off and turns metallic doesn’t mesh with the warm and vibrant feel of the verses.

There’s a lot to criticize here. But there’s also a lot to love, because while the song and its production are below par by radio standards, Rissi’s voice and delivery make up a great deal of that lost ground.

Palmer’s voice is full of character and sincerity. And, although this will catch some listeners off guard, she sings with a natural, subtle twang that perfectly fits her charming vocal personality.

Is this one of the better singles released this year? No. It has too many flaws to be a serious chart contender. But it’s a strong debut from an artist who has years of history and closed-mindedness stacked against her.

Listen: Rissi Palmer – “Country Girl”