Reasons to be cheerful...

(Our image host, Photobucket, is on the blink again--if you aren't seeing photos or images, please check back later! Thanks--W.)

As we wait for WGHP's Bucky-in-Nashville piece this evening (and for the accompanying witty blog entry at Viewfinder Blues), there's a lot to celebrate today. We were lucky enough to get a gift of sorts for Bucky and Rocky's birthday last night; and when you take a closer look at the recent (and upcoming) media coverage, it's an even more valuable gift than we first might have thought...

From the sound of the upcoming Fox 8 piece (and from the short but sweet WKRN segment), one thing is perfectly clear--Bucky Covington is making the music he wants to make. This may seem like a given, but past (and present) American Idol history has proven that this is no small advantage. Many very talented Idols and runners-up haven't had this artistic luxury. Bucky's eighth-place finish really was the blessing-in-disguise we've always thought it would be. Between the diversity of the two tiny snippets we've heard behind the Nashville coverage (one toe-tapping country tune, one intense Southern-rock song) and the clearly harmonious artist/producer match, we have even more to look forward to than we imagined.

The current media coverage also serves the purpose of letting the whole world know what Bucky's been up to--another self-evident fact, but in Bucky's case, it's especially important. There are plenty of us who check for Bucky news online every day, but Bucky's also blessed with many more casual fans who saw him on Idol or at a recent Sawyer Brown show, liked him a lot, and want to know what he's up to these days. (This blog gets frequent "what's Bucky Covington doing now" search-engine hits--an extremely good sign.) As we've discussed before, hardcore fans are essential, but casual fans--people who simply hear the music, like it and buy it--are every bit as crucial to Bucky's long-term success. News (and lots of it) is key; it keeps both the mildly curious and the passionately committed fans engaged. This WGHP story couldn't have come at a better time.

And last but not least--Bucky's in the studio, recording some singles, y'all! Whenever you spotted him first--whether it was early this year at the very beginning of the Idol season, or during the semifinal rounds (like me), or during the Idol tour, or even just last weekend with Sawyer Brown--chances are good that you've been dreaming of the day when you'd have a Bucky Covington CD to have and to hold. Seeing Bucky standing in a booth, making his first Nashville recordings, is a dream come true--for him, and for all of us. If that isn't a reason to be cheerful, check your pulse.

News post next--see you later today!