Sunny Sweeney - "From A Table Away"
By: Bobby Peacock
Sometimes, a prominent label will sign an artist more for the fanbase than for any semblance of radio success. Back in 2007, Big Machine Records invested in Sunny Sweeney; although she never saw any chart action with "If I Could," "Ten Years Pass" or "East Texas Pines," her album was released anyway. No doubt the Texan fanbase was well pleased with her energetic honky-tonk sound, led by a commanding, distinctive twang.
Now on Republic Nashville, Sweeney has finally nicked her first chart entry with "From a Table Away." It wastes no time with its time-tested premise of cheating: "I bet you'd never guess who I saw tonight / I guess you didn't see me in those low, dim lights / I knew who she was / By the ring still on her hand / Sure looked like you still wanted to be her man," she sings, and the rest of the song clearly highlights the infidelity she witnessed from a table away. Her no-nonsense delivery falls comfortably between Natalie Maines and Miranda Lambert — in fact, it wouldn't be difficult at all to imagine it appearing on the Dixie Chicks' Monument Records albums or on Lambert's Revolution. In fact, it even has the same smooth yet minimalist production of those two artists — but at the same time, Sweeney's interpretation is clearly her own, inspired without being derivative.
As I've pointed out before, Texas country music is an interesting market in that it rarely spills out across the state boundaries and onto the national music charts unless the artist tries to adapt to the Nashville sound (Pat Green, I'm looking at you). But if a few recent hits (such as "The House That Built Me" or "American Honey") are any indication, simpler and more traditional sounds may just be falling back into favor at radio within the past year or so. "From a Table Away" is certainly simple and traditional, with just enough polish to keep it radio-friendly. Don't be too surprised if "From a Table Away" ends up in the single digits by year's end; it has "dark horse hit" written all over it.
READER'S COMMENTS
says:
Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tony Janigian says:
Posted: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
This is Sunny's best song. What a great voice she has. Superb job.All her music is great. I cannot wait to get the CD when it comes out.
Tara says:
Posted: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I found your blog after I googled "From a Table Away" to find out if Natalie Maines was indeed the singer. A little dissapointed that it's not, because I really miss hearing her music. But it's nice to finally know who sings it! And yes, you definitely "called it". This song seems to be a bonafied hit....in my market at least. They play it all the time! :)
Brandy says:
Posted: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
This is the best song she's done. I love it!
Ron says:
Posted: Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Living in a city with no country music station I have to rely on Sirius but I'm rarely in the car these days, so I finally heard this song for the first time this morning and not having a clue who this girl is I really loved it. She sounds a lot like Natalie Maines and thats not a bad thing.
Jimmy Franco says:
Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
This is such a far cry from her original sound. What happen to her playing "Real Country Music" like she always told folks. I feel like she's been changed by the powers that be. Sorry but I hate this song. Where's the old Sunny?????? :(
Tom B. says:
Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
All I can say is I'm disappointed. This song is too polished and doesn't even sound like Sunny.
Susan Allen says:
Posted: Monday, June 28, 2010
I LOVE Sunny's music...her new single FROM A TABLE AWAY released to radio's today :)
Rick says:
Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010
ANYTHING Sunny does is worthy of one's full attention!!!! Sunny is one of the best tradition oriented female country singers in the business today bar none and its always a joy to hear her on the Grand Ole Opry. Sunny is "too country" for Top 40 Pop-Rock AirHead Country Radio and proud of it. I think she should be in Texas makin money the way Aaron Watson does and kiss Nashville goodbye!
sheare0 says:
Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010
I can't wait for the CD!!! GOOD LUCK Sunny Sweeney!!!
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