Reba was born in Chockie, Oklahoma on March 28 th , 1955. Singing came naturally to her and she would sing with her brother Dale and sister Susie, as the Singing McEntires.

She made her appearance in country music in 1976 with her single, “I Don't Want to be a One Night Stand.” She recorded at a steady pace, but did not reach her first top 10 album until 1980 with “(You Life Me) Up to Heaven.”

In 1984 she got her first No.1 when “How Blue,” was released.

Reba continued putting out songs and albums, one after the other. She soon became highly interested in doing music videos. In 1986, “Whoever's In New England,” was her first music video to be made.

In 1987 she sold out Carnegie Hall, she won female vocalist of the year in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. She has also hosted the Country Music award more times than anyone else.

She continued to receive No.1 hits and Top 5's. In 1986 and in 1993 she was awarded with a Grammy. Reba has also performed on T.V. as a guest appearance, in her own show, in movies and has done voices for animated movies. Music however, will always be her solid ground.

More than 40million copies of Reba's albums have been bought so far, and the numbers continue to rise.

1. Fancy- Rumor Has It album, released on January 1 st 1990.
   
   This is one of my all time favorite country songs.
2. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
   
   For My Broken Heart album, released on January 1 st 1991.
3. I'll Be- So Good Together album, released on November 23 rd 1999.
   
   A great song to let someone know they can always count on you.
4. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter- Read My Mind album, released on April 26 th 1994.
5. Is There Life Out There- For My Broken Heart album, released on January 1 st 1991.
6. I'm a Survivor- Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: I'm a Survivor album, released on October 10 th 2001.
7. And Still- Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: I'm a Survivor album, released October 10 th 2001.
8. Does He Love You- duet with Linda Davis- Greatest hits, Vol. 2 album, released on October 1 st , 1993.
   
   This song is beautifully done.
9. How Was I to Know- What If It's You album, released on November 5 th , 1996.
   
10. Because of You-
    
    Duet with Kelly Clarkson- Reba Duets album, released September 18 th 2007.

I loved this song the first time I heard it. When it comes on, the radio goes up.

 

"Our Song" was the third release in December 2007. It spent six weeks at number one on the Country Charts and it went as high as 16 on the Billboards Hot 100. Swift has become popular mostly amongst young girls. At age 18 Swift has managed to create a healthy career for herself.

The video to "Our Song" is what made me listen to her music. Her annoying scripted smile is the one thing that would turn me away. I don't think she sings from the heart. She doesn't convert very well with the camera to show she is feeling what she is singing about. Yet, if you heard her songs on the radio I think it would more effective. The video however was bright and colorful. Beautiful colors will always attract people to watch which is one of the reasons why this song was so effective. The song had creative lyrics and my favorite is:

"Our song is the way you laugh
The first date man, I didn't kiss her and I should have
And when I got home, "fore I said Amen
Asking God if He could play it again"

"I was walking up the front porch steps
After everything that day
Had gone all wrong or been trampled on
And lost and thrown away"

Swifts current release is "Picture to Burn". This song resembles Carrie Underwood"s "Next Time He Cheats" with the same storyline. It is amazing to me how girls that are supposed to be so perfect seems to be having so many boyfriends that cheat on them. In "Picture to Burn" Swift sings about seeking revenge on her cheating boyfriend.

Despite her lack of appeal, Swift will have a decent career in Country Music. She sings about things that people can relate to despite her inability of showing emotion. She has a nice voice and if her songs relate to the simplicity and happy "Our Song" she should do rather well. You can see her videos on Yahoo, AOL, and Youtube.

In 2007 Stacey was signed by Lyric Street Records. His first album is self-titled Phil Stacey. His first release "If You Didn't Love Me" has received moderate success on the country charts at number 29. The lyrics are rather meaningful and well-written. The music is simple and the chorus is catchy. Stacey sings country but this song has a flare of rock in it with its use of acoustic and electric guitars. Many can relate to "If You Didn't Love Me" with its story of moral support during the hard times. Here are some lyrics from the song:

"Sometimes it feels like
I'm runnin' straight into the wind
You whisper three words
And it's at my back again
Yeah, it's at my back again"

"If you didn't love
If you didn't love
If you didn't love me"

The video is directed and performed well. There are three segments of three different people who experience hard time. The first one shows a man living without his wife and child as he has to work away from his family. In the end his wife appears at the door of a hotel room to stay with her husband. The second segment shows a woman sitting on the bathroom floor while her two children sit in a room watching television. Then one of her kids came to her to comfort her from her troubles. My favorite segment is the third one where an old man sits on a bench looking sad until his dog comes up to him wagging his tail. Love can come from just about anyone, even a pet. Stacey obviously feels what he is saying especially when his wife enters the video at the end.

With songs such as "If You Didn't Love Me" Stacey will find a comfortable career in country music. He is not exactly easy on the eyes but he is a story teller that means what he says which always comes across to listeners.

There are three judges that decide which duos make it through to the next round. The main judge is Naomi Judd who used to sing with her daughter, Wynona and has gone on to become a spokesperson, entrepreneur, and author. She can be very brutal in her criticisms to some of these contestants. I was shocked to see this mean side of her. The other two judges are Brett Manning (vocal coach) and Aimee Mayo (songwriter). Each of these judges takes turns being mentors to the contestants as they try to help them improve to the next round.

Before they got to the current 8 couples (16 contestants) they had to go through 2,500 people who tried out. Many were asked if they were willing to leave their partners and be matched up with another person. In some cases only one of the partners were good enough to move on which is why they gave the opportunity for certain people to do this. Few accepted the challenge and were matched up with a person they didn't know. Whoever does win this 11 week contest will get a record contract and $100,000.

The host is someone that has been very familiar hosting shows. His name is Rossi Morreale. He seems to do an ok job with what he is given on Can You Duet. The couples go in to get the good or bad news from the judges and then they come out to be interviewed by Morreale which appears rather corny. You are made to feel as though you are in a place that you shouldn't be and he is getting a quick response from the contestants before getting booted out of the studio.

Can You Duet is a new twist on a singing contest and could work once they manage to work out the problems. First of all, the duo's that come in to audition should be kept together. If they cannot sing as a duo then they should leave. I have seen a few couples that one singer was picked out of the other and I thought they were both good together. I understand why they chose to do this but at the same time I don't think it is something that will be as effective. Not everyone is going to be able to perform well with a person they don't know and it will leave them at a disadvantage. On top of that, if they win the contest then they will probably have to record together and tour together. They will really have to like each other and it just seems like an accident waiting to happen.

Next thing they should try is to move the show a little faster. There's only so much we can take of people singing horribly. Skim through the ones that are bad since this has been taken care of by American Idol. Another thing the show could improve is the placing of the host. There's no need to have him waiting outside a black curtain for the contestants to come out to him in a creepy manner. If the lighting was better and it wasn't so dark then it may work better. It just needs to be worked on.

If you enjoy listening to country music you might actually enjoy watching Can You Duet? once it gets closer to the top 6 couples. Otherwise, you won't miss much for now.

From country music to hip-hop and every music genre that has influenced a moment in a person's life, it's no doubt that music has played a major role in the lives of billions throughout the course of human existence. The role that music has served whether from the horrors of the battlefield or to the honors of the grand stage, music that is not taken lightly has the unique power to bring happiness into the grimmest of days.

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All to often, the songwriters get forgotten in the shuffle, Mark Narmore did the original version of his hit Shenandoah classic "The Moon Over Georgia" it can be found  below.

The next time you think of the music industry insiders, the ones who work behind the scenes to make each artist that comes to them a success, remember Mark Narmore dear friends.

He is truly one of the most gifted songwriters on earth.

I mean that sincerely and I hope the man keeps writing.

As long as he writes I can assure you there will indeed be at least one fan waiting to hear what he has to offer. His talent is unmatched by even some of those considered masters of the Songwriters artform.

Other notable achievements to Mark's portfolio are he was named Songwriter of the year in 2006 by

the Alabama Country Gospel association. Mark is very thankful for the opportunities he has been blessed with over the years as a songwriter. Narmore resides in the Muscle Shoals area

and continues to share his gift both Locally and internationally.