Whenever I write about Danny Gokey, I always want to start out by saying, I like Danny’s voice, I liked him when he was on American Idol, I think he has a future in the recording industry, I know he has a lot of fans out there, and I so admire him for his work with Sophia’s Heart, but …. I just don’t think he’s a country singer. With that said …
“My Best Days” is the name of the new single we’ve been hearing all over country radio recently. It’s also the title of Danny Gokey’s debut album. The former American Idol contestant turned country singer, seems to be making quite an impact on the country music world. It will be very interesting to see what happens with the next single Danny releases.
I haven’t had a chance to listen to the entire album yet. And while I think “My Best Days” is a good song, I’m still not sure that Danny is a great country artist. It’s easy to look back at the country charts over the past 20 years, and see how many singers had one song that pushed it’s way up the charts – after that, we rarely heard from them again. They might have had a second release that didn’t go anywhere, and some even tried a third single. After that, they just kind of drifted out of the picture, and off to wherever it is all of our “one hit wonders” end up.
I don’t think Danny is going to be one of those “one hit wonders”. He’s too good a vocalist for that. But I’m not sure we’re going to see him staying within the boundaries of country music. I expect him to push over into pop – a transition I think he could make easily. And while I’m sure he will at one point open up for some of country’s major artists, if he ever headlines his own tour – I’m not sure it will be in country music. And I’m not sure it will be any time soon.
I just checked Danny’s list of upcoming shows, and I see he’s going to be at Cotton-Eyed Joes in Knoxville on April 1. That’s a Thursday night, and I don’t usually make plans to go to Knoxville on a weeknight, but it is just 90 miles away – so I might try to see Danny live for the first time. I’m sure all of Danny’s fans will want to keep their eye on his schedule to see when he’s coming somewhere near them.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful one!
Country
Aww, you should definitely go! Danny can be pretty incredible live, and it’s fun to see in person to see how well he interacts with the country music crowds. I saw that a couple of times even before his album came out and he had the buzz of being on AI9 the other day, can only imagine the crowd energy will be up a level or two from all that.
Danny’s chance to open for one of country’s major artists is coming up pretty soon. He’s on a bunch of dates this spring/summer with Sugarland on their Incredible Machine Tour. Big fan of Sugarland, and I love Danny Gokey — hoping to see at least one of those concerts when they come near me.
I have Danny’s cd and I do not agree with you when you say he would not make a country artist. He is every bit as country as Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. He gives country a wonderful soulful sound. I would call his cd modern urban country. I love his cd and am a huge fan. I have been listening to country music for many years and quite frankly I am getting tired of all the holler and tractor songs. I think Danny is bringing country up a notch and as you say he is a very talented vocalist. Listen to his cd and then decide, but for me, I hope he makes it big in country. I will buy his cd’s no matter what.
Hey Sherry, thanks for your comment. Look at the people you’ve compared Danny to – “Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts.” Taylor and Carrie are both cross-over singers. They are both heavily played on pop stations all over the country. I really expect Danny to end up there, too. I still believe that it is because of people like Carrie and Taylor that country music is losing its identity. It isn’t what it used to be. I like Carrie’s music, I like some of Taylor’s music, and I do like Danny’s singing a lot – I just don’t believe he is a country artist.
Hi Stef,
Thanks so much for your feedback. If it’s possible, I will get to Knoxville to see Danny on April I did hear about Danny opening for Sugarland this spring and summer. I knew he’d get a great show sometime soon.
I think Danny wants to reach as many people as he can, but from anything I’ve seen he seems truly happy working from Nashville where he has family ties and feels he can be himself. And he seems to be genuinely appreciative that the country community by and large has welcomed him in.
Maybe it’s just coming out of AI in the same season as someone like Adam Lambert, but Danny seems to be very uncomfortable with trying to be a “pop culture” figure. Danny is a big fan of Rascal Flatts, who also come from a midwest Christian-oriented background. I could see something like their type of crossover appeal, but I don’t see Danny wanting to do what it could take to try competing in pop radio/MTV/VH1.
I agree with you, Danny is definitely not a traditional country crooner but what he is now bringing to the genre is refreshing. I cannot even compare him to Carrie or Taylor because he brought his own flavor to country music which is apparently being well received as evidenced by the response to his music. I encourage you to go see Danny sing live if you get the chance. I had the opportunity to do so and I was amazed at how he was able to make a personal connection to his audience everytime he performs. Danny is not simply a performer but someone who is not afraid to bare his heart and soul when he sings thus making his audience feel that they are a part of his life.
I can see Danny as a cross over pop, and some of his songs cross over to christian, however, I’ve been a country fan for years and lost my love affair with most of the music. It’s been several years since I purchased any CD’s (although I have a huge collection from years past) and although I always listen to country radio, most of the songs just don’t reach me anymore. I don’t know what the problems are, but I just don’t care for most of the music.
I do love Lay A’s songs, Carrie’s Temporary Home, Josh Turner’s “Let’s Dance”, like “That sounds Like Life to me, Rebba’s, “Consider me Gone.” But I can count the ones I like on two hands.
However with that said, I just bought two of Danny’s CDs. I’m so happy he went country so I can hear him on the radio.
I believe he fits in perfectly with country because of: His faith, his penchant for charity work, his poor but happy big family upbringing, he understands the ordinary person, blue collar roots, his driving an 18-wheeler while pursuing a music career as choir director at two churches, his love and acceptance for all people from all walks of life, his liking to tell ordinary stories in his music, and of course his wonderful vocals, and last, but not the least his feeling perfectly at home in Nashville and around other country artists, fans.
Just saw Danny at the Rodeo Club sponsored by San Jose Country radio and he was fabulous and the mostly young adults there screamed and hollered and hooted and whistled with applause so that I finally stuck my fingers in my ears for a few moments. I was up front next to the stage and the noise was deafening, not the music, but the appreciation, love given to Danny. This was 3/3 Wed. before he sang on AI.the next evening.
So what do you think? Country? I hope he makes New Country Artist of the year. By the way, his whole album is one of the best I’ve heard in years.
Marilyn,
I definitely agree with you – I think Danny would make a fantastic contemporary Christian artist! I still haven’t heard his whole album, but I definitely plan to.
Thanks so much for your comment, and for reading Country’s Chatter!