Country Music's Lady Antebellum: Today's Fleetwood Mac?

Country music's Lady Antebellum (or Lady A as they are known) has taken the music world by storm, winning "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" for "I Run to You". Even though they also received ACM and CMA awards previously, many outside the country music world probably had never heard of this dynamic trio before this year's Grammy Ceremony.

Lady Antebellum's Rapid Success

The group is Nashville-based, showcasing the talents of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood and it's hard to believe that their debut was just a few years ago. In 2007 they were guest vocalists on a Jim Brickman single ("Never Alone") before they signed with Capitol records and released their first single, "Love Don't Live Here", which made it to # 3 on the Hot Country Chart in 2008. Traveling at warp speed, they earned the Academy of Country Music's Top New Duo or Group in 2009, and subsequent CMA awards for Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year for "I Run to You".

According to the Lady Antebellum website, "Need You Now" (their current blockbuster hit), "cracked the top 10 of Billboard's all-genre Hot 100, and the tune went to No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre singles chart", and all without a bit of Pop radio exposure! Their Grammy win is like a cherry on top for the three, and undoubtedly just the beginning!

Crossover Appeal of Lady Antebellum

Country music has something for everyone, but often gets a bad rap from non-country music listeners. Lady Antebellum delivers the minimal-twang sound that on-the-fringe country music fans love. Their music is fresh and young sounding with an all-encompassing appeal that draws in all ages and other genre fans. And in spite of that, the lyrics of their songs are filled with that universal heart-felt message that has always made country music great.

Wikipedia provides information that indicates that the crossover appeal of Lady A made it to the general listening population this year. They state, "after the trio's performance of the song at the Country Music Association Awards, it climbed to a #5 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, and experienced a surge in sales after the 52nd Grammy Awards, peaking at #3, their highest peaking single on the pop charts."

For those who doubt that a country group could win their interest, I challenge them to close their eyes, sit back and listen to the latest Lady A album. Their sound and message is so crossover that you'd have a hard time labeling it as country. When you watch their videos, you don't see rednecks in overalls or cowboys with Stetsons and boots (Not that I personally have anything against either!), but instead three attractive, talented young musicians and singers with voices that captivate.

Lady A has the Appeal of Seventies Fleetwood Mac

For me, even though their sound is up-to-date and unique, there's also something in Lady Antebellum's sound that is an updated version of Fleetwood Mac. Consider this similarity as you listen to "I Run to You" or "Love don't Live Here Anymore". Can you hear a bit of Stevie Nicks in Hillary Scott's voice? And, while their music is undoubtedly country influenced, there's an undercurrent of rock to Charles Kelley's sultry voice and look. But it's when I listen to "Need You Now" that I can totally imagine Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and the rest of Fleetwood Mac singing a version of this song during the height of their popularity in the mid-seventies.

I hear remnants of Fleetwood's "Little Lies" or "As Long as You Follow" in these three Lady Antebellum songs as well. To me, while Lady A's songs are more country-tinged, both the lilt of the music and the combination of voices in both groups create the same magical appeal. Lady Antebellum is definitely representative of today's country, but with just a touch of that appealing, nostalgic pop sound that was so popular during Fleetwood Mac's heyday.

No doubt, Lady Antebellum will be around for years and deserving of future Grammy awards, delivering songs that climb the country charts. And I predict that, in due time, their songs will transcend the label of "country" and become just great music to the rest of the universe.

Resources:
CMT.com
Lady Antebellum Website
Wikipedia

Related Reading:
"How to Get You Songs in the Movies: Production Music Libraries"
"The Seven Sexiest Male Voice in Country Music"
"Graduation Songs 2009"