As Memorial Day Weekend filler, Country Music Television is showing 4-5 episode blocks of their “Crossroads” show. For those who don’t know, the show puts a country artist and a rock/R&B/“other” artist on a soundstage to sing one anothers’ songs live. For example, right now I’m watching Ray Charles and Travis Tritt.
For those who do know and do watch, tell me why you like it. (Heck, those who hate it, tell me why) Personally, I love the juxtapositions they set up; it creates some great opportunities to hear great songs sung in a completely different style, but with all the heart (example: Melissa Ethridge singing Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”) It’s amazing to see how good, well-written music really transcends genre boundaries. Sometimes the artists don’t seem to match, but once you hear them start playing, your jaw just drops (like Elton John and Ryan Adams, one of my favorite underappreciated artists period).
I’m really hoping episodes of this show come out on DVD (hopefully with some unaired songs per performance). There’s little that I buy anymore, I prefer to just rent from Netflix. But for something like this, I’d find the money to make an exception.