Bucky Covington was a very busy guy this time last year--the promotional schedule for the release of his debut album involved coast to coast flights, red carpet appearances, lots of interviews and some national TV time. From April 19th, 2007, here's Bucky performing "Empty Handed" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Enjoy!
A very kind anonymous commenter left us an update on the new Radio & Records country singles rankings: "'It's Good to Be Us' is #11 on this week's just released R&R chart...up two places from last week and still has a bullet!" Thanks, Anon!And over at USA Today's Idol Chatter blog, Ken Barnes reports that Bucky did indeed get a bit of a boost from last week's American Idol "Nashville Idols" segment; Bucky Covington sold 1,600 copies this week (up from 1,200) for a total of 335,000 and counting.
Finally, here's a sweet look back for us sentimental folks--Idol Chatter's "Bucky Diaries" were a fun way to count down the days until his CD hit the stores last year, and in the April 9th, 2007 installment, Bucky expressed a little apprehension about what the next week might bring:
"My album comes out in a little over a week, and I've got to admit I've been a little more nervous lately. We've already seen some great reviews, from people who've written about it and sent us an email. So I'm really excited, but there's a bit of nervousness in there. I'm really interested to see what it's going to do. I hope it does well."
I think we can safely say that a #1 Billboard Top Country Albums chart debut, two Top Ten singles and a year of steady sales means it's done pretty well, indeed! There are lots of ways to celebrate as the one-year anniversary of Bucky's album date grows closer--we'll always and forever recommend the "registering at CMT and voting for Bucky in the CMT Music Awards" style of commenorating the date (I am utterly without shame, I swear), and there's the good old "call Lia, The Big Time with Whitney Allen, Danny Wright All Night and After Midnite with a request for "It's Good to Be Us'" option.(But hey, if you've done all that and you just want to hop in the car, roll those windows down, enjoy the spring wind in your hair, crank "Bible and the Belt" up to 11 and sing at the top of your lungs as you head on down the road tonight, that's cool, too...)
Have a great evening!
I'll Walk should go out being a respectable song for him, but to say it's a career song is a bit presumptuous. Ballads tend to not do well in the spring/summer because they drag on the chart as they are overrun by peppy summer songs. Showing an alternate side as a performer is fine, but between the two 'ballads' on the CD, he sings the heck out of Hometown. IW only has the sentiment going for it, and radio tends to tire of songs that aren't particularly catchy. IW should see a decent run through sentimental season, but don't be surprised if it mid-charts and they pull off and go for something else to kick but in the summertime. This undertone of the music industry is only being pointed out because BC is an incredible performer and he deserves the big hit. Coming off and excellent debut with ADW, IGTBU should have been positioned to be a #1 song. If radio can't push fun, positive, catchy, and upbeat to the top of the charts, what makes you think a ballad is going to break the career of a gravely voiced country rocker? Love ya, otherwise, BC...
ReplyDeleteVotes needed
ReplyDeletehttp://www.countryweekly.com/george_strait/vote/survey/446
IG2BU moves up two spots to #11 on today's (4/19) new Billboard chart maintaining a yellow background.
ReplyDelete(Records with the greatest airplay and sales gains this week have yellow backgrounds for current position.)
"Hometown" has really been hauntingly beautiful to me lately.
ReplyDeleteI hope it gets a chance for radio play as well. However, Bucky's fans have picked "I'll Walk" on his myspace as the next single, about 4-1 over "Hometown".
I appreciate anon 7:35pm's comments about radio and what it pushes to the top. There must be some invisible force not known to me that makes a #1 single. Or for that matter a Top 10 hit. I am getting very cynical.
Hey all!
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:35, thanks! I am so with Anon 4:16 when it comes to the dynamics of radio play and the timing and selection of singles. Combine that with the tendency of the country charts to move very slowly (especially for new artists) and I am totally unable to guess what "I'll Walk's" ultimate reception by radio will be, although I hope it's very positive.
Your comment does bring up an interesting additional question--when (and how) are new artists considered "broken", especially by radio? What are the criteria?
Thanks for the CW link, Anon 10:40! Will add it out front.
And Anon 4:04, thank you so much for the great Billboard news--I'll add it to today's post, too.
the sentimental ballad has certainly worked before. even though tim mcgraw's career isn't defined by 'don't take the girl', that song is what pushed him into the spotlight. up to that point, mcgraw was just another rugged and handsome guy doing songs like 'indian outlaw'. but 'don't take the girl' showed a sensitive side that the public hadn't yet seen. it sure seemed to work for him.
ReplyDeletethose similarities are what make me think that IW could help break bucky to a broader audience and be a big summer hit for him.
I think that Hometown is a riskier proposition for radio than I'll Walk but one that I wish they would have taken. It is different than what's playing on the radio today but not too different and sometime different can be very rewarding and good (see James Otto's latest smash hit for a prime example)
ReplyDeleteAs Anon735 pointed out, Bucky sings the living h*ll out of HT and gets to bring out that bluesy side to his voice that is so beautiful but not seen on the other singles thus far. I also think that Hometown actually *could* be Bucky's defining song - he connects to it 120% and the sentiment suits him much better than IW, IMO.
I think the push to #1 or even Top 10 depends an awful lot on the label, which is unfortunate. If you look at the Country Callout charts, which are based on listener response, IGTBU does much better there than radio play would indicate and has all along. People like the song - the radio just isn't playing him as often as the listeners would like.
All this being said, I hope that IW does wonders for him regardless.