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In 1999, The Dixie Chicks caused a stir by killing Earl, being ready to run away from marriage and doing a little mattress dancing. The album was called Fly, but had we lived in a different society it would have been called Sin Wagon. Somehow the idea that women could be young, single and enjoy it made people very uncomfortable. Trisha Yearwood (“The Restless Kind”) and Chely Wright (Picket Fences) also had songs about women staying single, but they were quieter tunes on quieter albums. Later, Trick Pony celebrated not marrying a specific ex in "The Bride." But, by and large, there are not a lot of songs about women who choose to stay single. Joanna Smith jumps full throttle into this tradition with her first single “Gettin' Married.”

“All my friends are getting' married,” Smith growls with frustration. “They're dying to be brides, they're dressing in white, they're dropping like flies,” she concludes glumly. “Gettin' Married “ is a smart and brazen song, far more Dixie Chicks than Chely Wright. Smith is not a woman who was hurt, or a woman who fears relationships, she is just a woman who does not want to get married yet. At one point, while complaining about frequent trips back to her home town, she pouts, “being Maid of Honor's keeping me from making out.” Smith has a voice that fits well with this kind of genuine, girl power spunk. She belts out an alto that falls somewhere between Jennifer Nettles and Paulette Carlson, sounding not unlike Beth Ditto with a twang. And she uses her voice with remarkable control, growling and snarling as the song requires, and drawing verses out tautly for emphasis. If the song has a flaw, its a reliance on cliches that offer an fairly old fashioned view of marriage. Smith doesn't want to “be somebody's ball and chain, a reason for a Friday night poker game.” While her grousing over not wanting to do laundry or get someone a beer is understandable, it also reflects a relationship which pre-dates the philosophy of sharing household responsibilities. However, this flaw is easy to overlook in light of the fact that studies reflect women still do most of the housework. Its also easy to ignore this flaw when Joanna Smith is having this much fun singing it. At the end of the day, “Gettin' Married” is a frothy and fun radio ditty, but it is an incredibly fun and infectious ditty all the same.

“Gettin' Married” is a brave choice for a first single in its own way. It is light, driving and fun, which makes it easy to dismiss it as forgettable. Its strident, with a sense of humor that makes it easy to lump in with a slew of “man bashing” songs from the past 5 years. Its hits a few notes that make it very easy to dismiss both the song and Joanna Smith the artist. This would be unfortunate. The song is a fun addition to a very small cannon that represents a growing number of women in America. The artist has a fresh new voice and a view towards songs that offers a unique slant in an increasingly homogenous musical landscape. There have been a number of attempts to crown young female singer “the new Dolly Parton” or “the new Loretta Lynn.” Smith doesn't make it quite to that lofty a summit, but “Gettin' Married” makes a strong case for a new Lorrie Morgan. And a lot of women could relate to one of those right now.

You can support Joanna Smith by purchasing this single from Amazon (September 14, 2010).