NashvilleHype!

This is a rare release of a practice session for Ashlee Hewitt’s original song, “Mike’s Hard Lemonade“, on tomorrow nights Nashville Star.

Several things strike me about this clip.

First, the way John sits emotionless in the background.  I understand what he’s doing - which is most likely EXACTLY what you’ll see if you ever get a chance to play a song for someone in the industry.  He’s analyzing - and I can almost see the wheels turn in his head thinking about being in the studio with Ashlee and that song and how he would go about producing it.  Which instruments he’d use, how he’d coach the vocals, and all that.   He’s making a game plan should Ashlee win - and of course, we believe she’s going to.

Second, this song is familiar in melody to another recent hit.  You’ll probably think the same thing as it does have similarities to “Good Directions” by Billy Currington.  It was pointed out to me that she actually wrote this song many years ago, pre-dating that one - But something else was pointed out to me - someone thought it couldn’t be a ‘hit’ because of the similar melody.  I couldn’t disagree more!

The truth is, radio doesn’t take chances.  And sometimes labels don’t either.  In the case of “Good Directions“, Luke Lewis, president of Universal Records didn’t want to release the song as a single believing it wouldn’t do much with radio.  Billy had to fight to get it released and had a strong feeling it would do well based on the reaction he was getting from fans at live shows.  Ultimately Luke bowed and allowed the single to be shipped.  The calls to the radio from fans began to pour in and radio was forced to play it.  It went to #1 and stayed.

How does this help Ashlee’s song?  Simple.  Radio doesn’t take chances.  And this song, this melody, is proven.  It’s already been a hit on radio - and familiarity to already hit songs plays well.  So, should “Mike’s Hard Lemonade” become a single, look for it to impact really big at radio — they can’t go wrong and they know it!  And that goes for Warner Bros. as well - they can’t go wrong.

Third, what a great song!  Lyrically it’s strong and well written.  The story is one that people can enjoy - and yes, it actually has a story.

Last, the other contestants are in trouble!  No, I haven’t heard their songs, and they may very well be good, but I still maintain that no matter how good they are, they won’t compare.  I expect strong competition from Gabe again, but even still, he’s more right for Texas than Nashville.  There’s no question. 

UPDATE: There’s a place in this song, near the end, where Ashlee says, “she’s still blam-e-ning it on…” … you know, that’s what seperates good writing from great. I know several people in town, mostly other songwriters, who would argue with her choice to use that word instead of simply saying, “blames” … but how boring would that be if she used that word? This is a great use of an unusual word - and a real lesson to songwriters out there that are striving to get better. And it’s one of the reasons I’m such a fan of Ashlee and I believe in her so much. Hearing this is like listening to “Girl in a Car” the first time and getting near the end where she hit ‘that note’ - the one that still floors me everytime I hear it. That note sold me on the Hewitt sisters in much the same way this line sells me on her songwriting. I hope she can hold it in there.

So enjoy this ‘behind the scenes’ video of Ashlee - and as always, don’t forget to vote for her: