Listen! It’s Vetrano!: Reality Hits Nashville

As a blogger in the digital age, I have the pleasure of sharing my thoughts and musical recommendations with thousands of people that I know personally (and intimately *wink, wink*) and others of whom I probably will never get the chance to meet. For those of you in the second category, I’m sorry I’ve neglected to introduce you to my highly inappropriate and snarky side. The side I’m most proud of, really.

Since the New Year, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to many of my readers in Nashville about what they want to see on this space. That’s when “reality” hit me. So without further ado I introduce the new feature Listen! It’s Vetrano! Insight into my thoughts, rants, dreams and will include both written and video commentary in the coming months. Get ready, cause shit’s about to get wildly inappropriate.

And speaking of reality hitting Nashville, what’s with the influx of reality stars in Music City?

My obvious love affair with music and my not-so-secret addiction to cheesy reality television can only lead to a DVR filled with today’s “most watched” television programming: the highly (and sometimes not so highly) rated reality singing competitions. Yes, I watch them all and often add my own critiques of each artist’s performances. In my head, I’m a more sour, yet lovable, version of Simon Cowell (Hey Simon: If you’re looking for someone to fill L.A. Reid’s shoes, I wear a size 13 and think I could do the job…much better than that snooze fest!)

I am not trying to let my highly praised (ok, moderately praised) judgemental commentary go to my head, but I have to question whether the influx of winners from those series landing in Nashville has anything to do with my decision to move to Music City.

Alright, I’m not that self involved -at least in this case- but it should be noted that Nashville isn’t just home to country legends, a new soapy-drama series and Tragic Kingdom’s own “V for Vetrano.” It’s now “home” to newly crowned winners of The X Factor and The Voice. The down-home country crooner, Tate Stevens, who beat out Carly Rose Sonenclar on the Season Finale of The X Factor, signed his 5-million dollar country deal with RCA Nashville. His single “Holler If You’re With Me,” or as I will likely refer to it as “Clearance Bin,” is set to premiere during his Pepsi-sponsored commercial airing during Sunday’s telecast of The Grammy’s. I’m guessing this will be as hyped at Beyoncé at the Super Bowl and as talked about as Kenny Chesney‘s sexual orientation (i.e. not at all).

Cassadee Pope, who was named Season 3’s winner on The Voice, also jumped on the Nashville bandwagon, signing a deal with Music City powerhouse Scott Borchetta‘s Big Machine Records. The former frontwoman of American rock band Hey Monday won over audiences with her take on country hits “Cry”, “Stupid Boy” and “Over You,” which was penned by Voice coach Blake Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert. Since the show’s conclusion, Pope has been staying in Nashville writing with some of the biggest hitmakers in the genre and is expected to drop a single sometime in March. If my previous prediction rings true -although I’d love hear her as a female Adam Levine (minus the douche-bag attitude)- she’ll be making Nashville a more permanent home.

But that’s not all. Those are just two of the new additions to the reality-transplanted Nashvillians. American Idol has spawned a slew of new residents over the years, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina… aw fuck it, I’m outta breath! You get the idea. But seriously, Kelly… Carrie… call me?

Whether it was my move that inspired the future of music to join me here in wonderful Music City, or just happens to be coincidence, it sounds like Nashville’s the new “it” town for music’s emerging stars.

Welcome to Nashville! What’s your dream?

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