As I've said before, I think it's interesting to read reviews of songs before I review them myself. Not because anything I read influences what I write, but because I like to see what other people think of a song. And in reading some reviews for "Carolina" I've concluded that some people just don't know what to think of Parmalee. So what usually ends up happening: they say it's not country and the review becomes more about that than the song itself. Sometimes the accusation is valid; most of the time it's an excuse to give a bad review. Now don't get me wrong - these people are free to write what they want about it and free to feel how they feel about it. I just think that a lot of times people are too quick to say a song or artist isn't country.
My thoughts on whether or not Parmalee is country? Well, the past few days I've been on what I'm going to call a Parmalee binge: watching performance videos and interviews, in an attempt to get a better feel for who they are as a band and people. And in doing so, I've noticed that they never seem to identify themselves as country directly. Lead singer Matt Thomas tends to describe them as "the country side of rock". Yeah, these guys are rockers, but they have definite country leanings. Enough to justify their place in the genre, in my opinion. A few years ago that may not have been the case, but times change. Genres grow and develop and, really, country music has always been a kind of melting pot anyway. It's always pulled from other formats. I propose that we stop trying to pigeonhole country music into being one kind of sound and one kind of sound only. That we stop trying to minimize what country music is and instead choose to celebrate its diversity.
Now that said, let's talk about the song itself. First they were putting dogs on roofs and hogs in kitchens; now they're singing about love and home. Who knows what they'll sing about next?
Let's go deeper.
My guess is that a good portion of the people reading this have only known about Parmalee since "Musta Had a Good Time" came out. Myself included. In learning more about them, I've learned that they've been together for a pretty long time and in that time have developed a very loyal following. During my "binge", I've sort of gotten a feel for their fan base and one thing that jumped out at me is that there's such a genuine love for this band. There's a strong desire to support these guys in any way possible. I think that's a beautiful thing. It's also the kind of thing that when you see it, you want to be a part of it - and that's one of the highest compliments I could give a fan base.
Anyway, "Carolina" was written by Parmalee a few years ago and has long been a fan favorite. It's a love song about missing a girl who makes them feel like "home's not so far away". A theme that's like a well worn and much loved pair of jeans. The general concept is used fairly often and I think it's because it's such a lovely sentiment. This idea that a person could feel like home to you. Could make home feel closer to you, especially when home is where your heart is. I really like how the lyrics flow in this song. I find it very sing-along-able. I don't know if that's a real term or not, but I'm going with it. The chorus in particular. I can't even tell you all how often this song has gotten stuck in my head over the past few days.
Musically, I have to say that I really enjoy the drums on here. "Carolina" is one of the songs that just feels good when you listen to it and the drums have a lot to do with it. I like how they sound and I like how they just kind of stay in the background, providing that nice pulse to the song. Like a heartbeat. The past several times I've listened to this song, I've just been focusing on the drums, I like them so much. Very nice job by Scott Thomas. If you've never tried just listening to drums, I highly recommend it. Aside from that, I like the production on this. The way the instruments support the vocals and by extension, the lyrics. It goes to show that they, the band and their producers, have a good sense of the way a song needs to feel - and then they go and create that sound.
If you took Dierks Bentley's voice and mixed it together with Mark Hall's voice and sprinkled in a heaping dose of Chris Daughtry's voice, the result would be Matt Thomas's voice. Which is a convoluted way of saying that I like Matt's voice. It has a great tone to it that suits "Carolina" well. He gives a very solid delivery, nicely accented by the background vocals of band mates Barry Knox and Josh McSwain. I really like the way the three of them sound together. Good harmonies. By the way - Mark Hall, for anyone who doesn't know, is the lead singer of Christian group Casting Crowns.
I want to say that the more that I read about and listen to Parmalee, the more I like them. I think they're a lot more versatile that people might realize. Just look at the two singles they've released to country radio. "Musta Had a Good Time" showed they can party and "Carolina" shows a softer side. I love when artists do that; it gives you a better idea of who they are as artists. That, combined with the fact that so many people have already loved "Carolina" for years, makes me think it was a great choice for a follow up single. I have a lot of faith in it and in Parmalee. So much so that I'm going to do something new. Usually, this is where I tell you to go buy it if you haven't already. This time I'm going to do you one better and offer to buy it for you.
That's right, I am offering to gift this song via iTunes to anyone who wants it. iTunes because I think that's the easiest site to use for this kind of thing. Though it is available on Amazon for $1.19. The only thing about this is you have to live in the United States because I'm pretty positive that you can't gift songs to people in other countries. This offer is good through February 7th and on that day I'll decide if I want to extend it until Valentine's Day. For me, it's a good way to help support the band. For you, this make might you a fan if you aren't already. And hey, if you don't like the song, at least you didn't have to pay for it. If interested, send me an email at countrymusicatk@hotmail.com or DM me on twitter @countrymusicatk with your email address. If you follow me, but I don't follow you let me know so I can.
Thanks for reading!
My thoughts on whether or not Parmalee is country? Well, the past few days I've been on what I'm going to call a Parmalee binge: watching performance videos and interviews, in an attempt to get a better feel for who they are as a band and people. And in doing so, I've noticed that they never seem to identify themselves as country directly. Lead singer Matt Thomas tends to describe them as "the country side of rock". Yeah, these guys are rockers, but they have definite country leanings. Enough to justify their place in the genre, in my opinion. A few years ago that may not have been the case, but times change. Genres grow and develop and, really, country music has always been a kind of melting pot anyway. It's always pulled from other formats. I propose that we stop trying to pigeonhole country music into being one kind of sound and one kind of sound only. That we stop trying to minimize what country music is and instead choose to celebrate its diversity.
Now that said, let's talk about the song itself. First they were putting dogs on roofs and hogs in kitchens; now they're singing about love and home. Who knows what they'll sing about next?
Let's go deeper.
My guess is that a good portion of the people reading this have only known about Parmalee since "Musta Had a Good Time" came out. Myself included. In learning more about them, I've learned that they've been together for a pretty long time and in that time have developed a very loyal following. During my "binge", I've sort of gotten a feel for their fan base and one thing that jumped out at me is that there's such a genuine love for this band. There's a strong desire to support these guys in any way possible. I think that's a beautiful thing. It's also the kind of thing that when you see it, you want to be a part of it - and that's one of the highest compliments I could give a fan base.
Anyway, "Carolina" was written by Parmalee a few years ago and has long been a fan favorite. It's a love song about missing a girl who makes them feel like "home's not so far away". A theme that's like a well worn and much loved pair of jeans. The general concept is used fairly often and I think it's because it's such a lovely sentiment. This idea that a person could feel like home to you. Could make home feel closer to you, especially when home is where your heart is. I really like how the lyrics flow in this song. I find it very sing-along-able. I don't know if that's a real term or not, but I'm going with it. The chorus in particular. I can't even tell you all how often this song has gotten stuck in my head over the past few days.
Musically, I have to say that I really enjoy the drums on here. "Carolina" is one of the songs that just feels good when you listen to it and the drums have a lot to do with it. I like how they sound and I like how they just kind of stay in the background, providing that nice pulse to the song. Like a heartbeat. The past several times I've listened to this song, I've just been focusing on the drums, I like them so much. Very nice job by Scott Thomas. If you've never tried just listening to drums, I highly recommend it. Aside from that, I like the production on this. The way the instruments support the vocals and by extension, the lyrics. It goes to show that they, the band and their producers, have a good sense of the way a song needs to feel - and then they go and create that sound.
If you took Dierks Bentley's voice and mixed it together with Mark Hall's voice and sprinkled in a heaping dose of Chris Daughtry's voice, the result would be Matt Thomas's voice. Which is a convoluted way of saying that I like Matt's voice. It has a great tone to it that suits "Carolina" well. He gives a very solid delivery, nicely accented by the background vocals of band mates Barry Knox and Josh McSwain. I really like the way the three of them sound together. Good harmonies. By the way - Mark Hall, for anyone who doesn't know, is the lead singer of Christian group Casting Crowns.
I want to say that the more that I read about and listen to Parmalee, the more I like them. I think they're a lot more versatile that people might realize. Just look at the two singles they've released to country radio. "Musta Had a Good Time" showed they can party and "Carolina" shows a softer side. I love when artists do that; it gives you a better idea of who they are as artists. That, combined with the fact that so many people have already loved "Carolina" for years, makes me think it was a great choice for a follow up single. I have a lot of faith in it and in Parmalee. So much so that I'm going to do something new. Usually, this is where I tell you to go buy it if you haven't already. This time I'm going to do you one better and offer to buy it for you.
That's right, I am offering to gift this song via iTunes to anyone who wants it. iTunes because I think that's the easiest site to use for this kind of thing. Though it is available on Amazon for $1.19. The only thing about this is you have to live in the United States because I'm pretty positive that you can't gift songs to people in other countries. This offer is good through February 7th and on that day I'll decide if I want to extend it until Valentine's Day. For me, it's a good way to help support the band. For you, this make might you a fan if you aren't already. And hey, if you don't like the song, at least you didn't have to pay for it. If interested, send me an email at countrymusicatk@hotmail.com or DM me on twitter @countrymusicatk with your email address. If you follow me, but I don't follow you let me know so I can.
Thanks for reading!
While they were still a rock band, they had country artist Benton Blount cut Carolina for country radio! His label sent it nationwide to radio but the label folded one week prior to add date! Seeing the possible success of the single, they packed up and moved the rock show to country and signed with stoney creek! After signing they stopped all contact with Blount who had been friends with them for years and even had their attorney send Blount letters trying to scare him into not releasing a new version of the song! If you google the band, you can clearly tell where they came from and what their path was! The possible fame and quick cash obviously was worth trading in their friendship with a great artist and jumping to a genre without knowing much about it! Benton's version may get the same critique as Parmalee's version but I will let you be the judge! http://youtu.be/rSX4KAQ0QT0
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that people want to comment negatively about people and situations that they have very few details on- or maybe only the details that are given to them....and I mean that for all commenting. That being said, your above reference regarding the attorney makes it clear to me that you have no info other than the one side you have been fed or what you have read on social media. Regardless, this song has ALWAYS been a big part of Parmalee and their show and BB knew that when he recorded it- which by the way was more than 3 years ago. What is Parmalee supposed to do, let him sit on it in hopes that he gets signed again? I hope he does but we all have to keep moving forward. And what are you going to do- tell 'em to write their own song? Well......
DeleteAnd of course, he did not plan for the label to close and his version to not be pushed more- but, unfortunately, it did- and Parmalee had nothing to do with that. As a matter of fact, I believe they supported him while they themselves were still UNSIGNED. Maybe now it is just their turn- with their song. It is not personal so please- let's move on musicians and fans. There is plenty of good music to be made and we are wasting time.
Haha....wrong
ReplyDeleteParmalee has best version of their own song by far. It's sad n artist feels he needs someone else's original song to define him. And Blount is not who took this song Nationwide.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #1, Benton needs to move on with his life. He has a very nice voice and he's wasting precious time and energy focusing on the past. He didn't write Carolina. Parmalee wrote it and recorded it and then it was picked up by BB who had the misfortune of being with a label that failed. Parmalee moved to Nashville hoping the song would be a hit for him and they'd be the in-demand writers of a hit song. But it didn't work out that way. So now the song has a second chance at life. It's their song, they should certainly be allowed to record and release it! As for your assertion that they're somehow taking a quick path to fame, they'll be the first to mention they've been at this for over ten years. No quick path here! And, like Aaron Lewis and Darius Rucker, they were rockers for most of their younger years. But they were influenced by a whole variety of musical influences including southern rock, country and bluegrass. The music they're making today fits in with what is playing on country music radio today and the timing couldn't be more perfect.
ReplyDeleteAll right, so I chose to not get involved with the drama that began to unfold on here but now I feel like I have to make a statement. I encourage people to share their opinions, whether they agree with me or not. Just as long as they are presented in a respectful way. Which means, among other things, no profanity. Any comments including profanity will be deleted. Period. I've already deleted one.
ReplyDeleteThough I will say that while some may prefer Benton's version, the fact remains that he didn't write the song. Parmalee did. It's their song; not his. I suggest that Benton, or maybe more specifically, his fans need to get over it and move on.