Urban Cowboy

So, I fast-forwarded through the CMA Awards show on Saturday night, so as to avoid the cringeworthy Brooks and Dunn (what the freakin' hell was wrong with Vince Gill as Presenter for Life?) and all the embarrassing speeches and inductions into the hall of fame ("You're a black man, and although you were part of the Grand Ol' Opry from the very beginning and died as long ago as 1982, it's only now that we've decided to patronise you and your family by inducting you..."), and quite enjoyed some of what I saw.

Faith Hill looked weird though. Like the whole shape of her face has changed. Plastic surgery? For why? But how else to explain her totally bizarre appearance? Bad hair, too. She and Tim McGraw performed the worst track from her recent album. When I reviewed the record, I said it sounded like Tim sneaked into the studio late at night, drunk, and overdubbed his vocal without her consent. On the CMA show, he shuffled down the steps on the stage - like, y'know, a drunk - and they murdered the song all over again. The song which, by the way, has a melody that totally rips off Bob Dylan's "I Believe In You". I wonder if anybody realises that?

Anyway, Sara Evans sang off-key, as did a couple of others. I've said before that nerves often get the better of artists on these occasions. An audience of your peers, and the biggest TV audience you'll ever get must prey on the mind. It seems the less-well-known people don't seem to suffer as much, because there's more pressure at the top.

One act I enjoyed was Sugarland, who were up for the horizon award. I especially liked the way the singer, Jennifer Nettles, was just wearing boots and jeans, as opposed to the absolute fashion disasters worn by many other women. I mean, did Allison Krauss know that everyone could see her legs through her dress? Because she sure weren't standing like she knew it.

Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance, singing a tribute to Chris Le Doux in Times Square. He's supposed to be retired, but you could tell he was buzzed to be back on a stage. Watch that space.

Apart from Sugarland, act of the night for me was Keith Urban. Last year, he was clearly nervous, which marred his performance, but although nerves were still evident, he rode them out, and performed a blistering version of "Better Life" from his recent release Be Here. So I was straight on Amazon this morning buying his live DVD: Livin Right Now.

He was playing a Strat with posh pickups, and made it look effortless. Deserved winner of Entertainer of the Year; not so sure about his male vocal award, because his voice isn't his strongest suit.