Comments on: The Malec Minute: Why Miranda Lambert is Overrated

By: The Critic

The Critic — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:21:38 +0000

I just want to say a few words about the review and those people posting comments.
First, Miranda is a talented singer and song writer. I think she deserves praise, but, like most other current artists are, she is hyped as being better than she is. It is simply the way of advertising; like when Muhammad Ali started calling himself the greatest and every reporter picked up the phrase and ran with it. People are always working on providing the best possible image and reputation possible, even if, at times, it means an exaggeration of the person’s actual ability. The ‘review’ could have been shortened to a few lines and have effectively made such a point without such harsh criticisms disparaging any particular artist.

Second, is it so hard to accept that Carrie and Miranda are both talented in their own right? Why does one have to be so wrong for the other to be right? I have seen both Carrie and Miranda and I can say that both put on great performances, although Carrie does tend to put slightly more ‘pop’ influence into her show. It is highly unlikely that Carrie cares any less about her albums than Miranda does because she (Carrie) doesn’t have any particularly notable ability when it comes to writing songs.

Third, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, and the rest were never mentioned in the piece. Let’s leave them out of this fight and stick to the topic at hand: are Miranda and/or Carrie overrated?

Finally: George Strait. I read in one of the comments here from I think Todd that ‘George Strait comes to mind as someone who had to put out mainstream music before becoming recognized for his style’ (this isn’t an exact quote). I would like to know exactly what was intended by the comment, with regards to George Strait. It could be argued that every song George sings is his style, but that aside I don’t recall many early songs of his catering to a specific group of mainstream listeners; most GS songs were just good songs in his typical Texas style.

P.S. An artist does not have to hop around like his/her pants are on fire to be energetic. I am not trying to infer that this is what Miranda does (as I said, I liked her show when I saw her, and I don’t recall the MCA performance mentioned in the above piece), I simply wish to clarify there is something of a style when an artist can subtly convey energy through limited motion and the way in which they sing their songs (i.e. George Strait, who was mentioned above for just standing there and singing).

By: Antony Whitney

Antony Whitney — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:28:33 +0000

I just think Taylor is a relationship freak, I don\’t give a shit on how much money she\’s stealing from people.

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:07:30 +0000

OMG!

By: 9513 review on ITYS - Page 6 - Carrie Underwood Fans

9513 review on ITYS - Page 6 - Carrie Underwood Fans — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:05:08 +0000

[...] plainly dislikes her. He wrote a column 2 years ago explaining why Miranda Lambert is overrated: The Malec Minute: Why Miranda Lambert is Overrated | The 9513 He referred to himself as a voice of reason. And in pointing out Miranda’s faults or [...]

By: Courtney Elise

Courtney Elise — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:08:36 +0000

well, i like miranda so i think i’ll go get my gunpowder & lead out, and play her absolutely amazing debut and sophmore cds.

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:00:39 +0000

The hits are still upcoming because in reality she has only released ONE single. As Mirandas2cool said Crazy Ex wasn’t released technically it got airplay from the fallout from the CMA’s.Gunpowder & Lead has only been out for a couple of weeks so it’s tough to tell what it’s gonna do, and hardly counts as a released single. Famous In a Small Town did go top 20 and stayed on the charts for around six months. In the process it became Miranda’s BIGGEST CHART SUCCESS(if that’s a dissapointment I need to learn that words definition). That proves my point that this cd has singles that have a better chance at being hits.To your point about if this song goes it will be only one number one , the first one is the hardest one to get because after that you have all the exposure. It’s a whole lot esier to go number one when people know who you are!

By: Mirandas2cool

Mirandas2cool — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:40:38 +0000

Jim, i have the answer to your question- SONY SUCKS! The first “single” was Crazy ex-girlfriend had more publicity than any other single that year i think, it was up to top 50 from requests, popularity from performance on CMA’s, when the record company pulled it two weeks before it went up for adds nationally as they deemed the lyrics “controversial”. That pretty much got the whole cd off to a bad start, then came along Famous in a small town, which station managers feared adding as they thought it may get “Crazy ex-girlfriend-ed”. Anyway, with little help from the so called “record company” the Miranda fans got it to chart where it sat in 30th for a number of weeks. After this the fans, and i think maybe even that sorry excuse of a label got it going. It ended up at 14th on mediabase (i believe her highest song) having stayed on the charts for many months. Yes ms. Underwood was getting number ones like crazy while we creeped slowly up, but i might mention that stations are pretty much paid a play for Carrie, where as Miranda gets very little promotion. I pick up about 8 country stations where i live, and almost EVERY time i hear Miranda on the radio someone called and requested it!! Plus the kicker -its hard for a radio station to play a song Sony NEVER sent to them!! Not many stations get her singles quickly and they usually do finally get/ add them to playlists after the Ran fans have driven the insane!! I personally think Miranda would get 2x as many plays as Carrie if her Record company spend a few $$. Now Gunpowder and Lead is charting on top 40 the weekish it was released, i dont know how many other women’s songs do that besides about 6-8 very “pop”-ular ones. If you get my drift- ex. Leann Rimes (had a pop cd) Carrie (songs cross over daily) Faith/Shania (also have pop cds/singles) and even Taylor Swift (who has the pop version of Teardrops). Now when i hear Miranda on a pop/ light rock station i’ll stop arguing that point, but until then…
Now Jim, if you still wonder why Miranda hasnt had great radio success, you should ask the radio stations themselves. -Wade (Mirandas2cool)

By: Jim Malec

Jim Malec — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:52:00 +0000

OK Todd, I’ll bite–

I agree in point, but my question would be this: if the current record has so many great singles, where are they? ‘Cause we’re three singles in and nothing seems to be catching traction. “Famous” has a slow and disappointing run. “Gunpowder” is off to an OK start, and might do pretty well, but even if it goes to #1, that’s ONE #1 song.

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:34:34 +0000

Jim I will agree that the Kerosene cd was better as a whole than Crazy Ex.However the songs you cited as the ones you love from Kerosene were never going to be single material,and like it or not artists (especially new ones) need to have successfull radio singles or the cd’s won’t be a sucess and they won’t have a record deal. The new cd has many songs that would be perfect singles and should enjoy chart sucess. While these may not be as those great songs from Kerosene there still damn good and shouldn’t be dissmissed.Once Miranda has has chart sucess and job security from her record label I suspect she will be able to make those great ballads and have them go to the top of the charts.After all many of the greats had to produce marketable singles before they could enjoy success with “Their kind of music”, George Strait comes to mind.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:32:08 +0000

I couldn’t disagree more with the statement that Miranda is overrated. In my opinion you have to have been overexposed to be overrated which Miranda hasn’t been.She has just managed to make TWO number one cds and a number of chart singles without the critical acclaim and marketing campaigns of some TRULY OVERATED ARTISTS!!As for your complaint that she is over the top I’ll take a little over the top over Cardboard Carrie any day