Faith &. Shania -- new music, no new ground broken

Faith Hill and Shania Twain are back! Back in the 90's, that is -- with brand new songs that reek of their old heyday sound.

Aren't any of the superstars of country music going to break any new ground, or are they all abandoning the fight to upcoming scrappers like Gretchen Wilson?

First, Mrs. McGraw... "Mississippi Girl"

After Faith Hill pretty much sold out on her last album to become even more adult contemporary than she already was thanks to Breathe, it seems like with this new single she's trying to buy her way back to into country music's good graces. Her new song details how, despite being a superstar, she is, in fact, just a regular downhome type of person from Star, Mississippi.

Clearly, someone at the record company thought this blatent manifesto would be a step in the right direction if Faith wants to reclaim her spot as the reigning queen of country music.

However, two things are terribly wrong.

One, the song feels almost like a kissing cousin' of her 1993 hit "Wild One." Hasn't country music progressed at all in 12 years?

Two, in the video Faith is almost unrecognizable as a hard rocking curly haired brunette.

After the Cry debacle, doesn't Faith Hill just seems like an artist whose time has come and gone?

But perhaps we're judging too quickly. Certainly the publicity machine will constantly shove her in our faces, and the single will probably do quite well. They're already playing in heavy rotation on our LA country radio station.

Mrs. Lange..."I Ain't No Quitter"

Haven't heard this one on the radio yet, but Shania Twain's new video is all over CMT and VH1 Country.

This is the last (right?) newest Greatest Hit off her Greatest Hits CD -- and it's straight-up old school Shania.

Could any other artist do a song like this? Nope, only Shania, who works hokey country trademark words like "ain't" without shame and happily dons a cowboy hat (in fact, several cowboy hats) in the video. There's even line dancing in the video (albeit combined with hip hop moves). This one won't be a crossover hit for her. The song and the video are branded country with a capital "C" -- for Commerical.

Like all Shania's uptempo ditties, it is hard to resist this single's taffy-like pull.

And major kudos to Shania (age 39) for continuing to successfully pass herself off as a wholesome sex kitten. Love the quick shot of her playfully boosting up her boobs in the video!

Nevertheless, like Ms. Hill's effort, Ms. Twain's latest song sounds like last century's country -- it fits right in with her decades worth of greatest hits.

Newcomer Gretchen Wilson is on the frontline, kicking ass and taking names, while established megastars Shania and Faith are frantically retrenching in the past. What does this say about the future of country music?

Garth & Tricia -- engaged just in time to promote her new single!

Everyone suspects Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes's relationship is a publicity tool to promote their new movies coming out this summer.

Well, how about Tricia Yearwood conveniently being the subject of headline news stories when she was proposed to by Garth Brooks -- just when she's launching her first single in three years?

Although there have been false tabloid stories previously reporting that Garth and Tricia were marrying, you have to figure that after all this time the only reason they'd make their relationship more offiical would be if it would help their careers.

Since Garth has no career to speak of at this time, the pressure was certainly on Tricia's career to trigger either an announcement of an engagement or a sneaky fait accompli marriage (e.g., Kenny Chesney or John Kennedy Jr).

So surprise, surprise, along comes a press release announcing that Garth popped the question. See pictures here. P.S. Who knew Tricia Yearwood had a tattoo on her ankle?

Can the actual ceremony be far behind, especially since Ms. Yearwood has gotten herself back into fighting shape to promote her new record? Perfect time to swath yourself in confining bridal lace... And let's face it, based on her recent appearance singing at the CMT Awards and her music video, she's looking better than she ever has before. Quick, preserve that look in wedding photos! And Garth, judging by his appearance at the ACM's, still has to squeeze himself into his wranglers, but he probably will look just fine in a tux. Wanna bet he (unlike another recently married country hunk) will actually wear shoes to the ceremony?

Still, you'd think even though this will be marriage #3 for the Georgia girl, she probably would have prefered that Mr. Brooks didn't pop the question in such a public venue -- and even worse, in Bakersfield! There have been amazing country music stars who have come from Bakersfield, but no one in their right mind would call it a particularly romantic city. Come on, Garth, surely you've seen Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "Let's Make Love" video shot in Paris -- that's where to take your sweetie and surprise her by getting down on bended knee.

In any event, here's the AP report:

Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood To Tie The Knot

POSTED: 5:21 am CDT May 26, 2005

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Country star Garth Brooks popped the question Wednesday night to his longtime girlfriend Trisha Yearwood during a statue unveiling outside Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield.

The 43-year-old Brooks dropped to one knee and proposed to Yearwood before some 7,000 fans, who had gathered for the "Legends in Bronze" event. Yearwood said yes as the fans cheered.

Bigger-than-life statues of Brooks, Owens, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Junior, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley and four other country artists were dedicated in a ceremony.

Brooks' statue was the last to be unveiled at the ceremony, which honored country music legends.

Brooks has been married once before and has three children.

Yearwood has been married two times before and has no children of her own.

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