Terri Clark - "Gypsy Boots"
By: Bobby Peacock
In the mid-2000s, Gretchen Wilson lit up the charts with her debut single "Redneck Woman", a hard-driving song with an edgy, ballsy lyric about a tough yet tender female. Since then, more than a couple female artists have tried to mimic that same sound, Terri Clark included. Both of Clark's singles for BNA Records — the atrocious "Dirty Girl" and the not-so-atrocious "In My Next Life" — found her doing just that, and failing miserably (at least from an artistic standpoint).
But she hadn't hit the Top 20 in the US since "Girls Lie Too" went to #1, so maybe her two BNA singles were just a temporary, desperate grab for radio attention by a label that didn't understand her, right? Wrong. "Gypsy Boots", her first single for Capitol/EMI Canada, continues in that same direction as "Dirty Girl" and "In My Next Life".
The song at least has a slightly funky, dirty 12-bar blues groove, goosed by a couple strong guitar riffs and horn blasts. Though below the standards of co-writers Jon Randall and Leslie Satcher, the lyrics avoid most of the stereotypes of most other "look at me, I'm a sexy, rebellious girl!"-type songs such as this, save for one cringingly out-of-place Johnny Cash name-drop.
It's a shame that Terri had to flat-out ruin the song with what is by far the worst vocal performance of her career. She belts the whole song in a whiny, nasal squawk, which somehow manages to stay at least a quarter-step off even after a ridiculous amount of pitch correction. Indeed, she sounds like Gretchen at her screechiest, not unlike "Here for the Party" or "All Jacked Up". Had she just used her normal voice, the song certainly would have worked.
Terri, if you're reading this, radio no longer wants the Gretchen Wilson that it already has. It certainly doesn't need the shameless doppelgänger that you're quickly becoming.
You can check out lyrics to this and other Terri Clark songs by clicking here.
READER'S COMMENTS
says:
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Heard Gypsy Boots on the radio last week...kind of like it.
candy apple says:
Posted: Thursday, September 3, 2009
Terri shouldn't try to be any style but her own. She always has. Whether she had radio air play or not, she has always stayed true to herself. Which I'm sure was not always easy with the way country music has gone. She has never tried to emulate anybody else (Gretchen Wilson? PLEASE!)Like her style or not, she's Terri and her fans will always love her for it!
TenPoundHammer says:
Posted: Monday, July 20, 2009
I'm aware that Terri had a tough sound early on. I was trying to imply that she didn't really take it to the Gretchen Wilson, in-your-face extreme until now. I think that most of her last few American singles (except the excellent "She Didn't Have Time") have fallen into a Gretchen mold to an extent. Had she just sung this song normally, it'd still feel somewhat derivative but it'd be a lot better. The way she sings it, though, I get a feeling that she's trying way too hard to sound like Gretchen. The whole nasal squawk is pure "Here for the Party"/"All Jacked Up"-type Gretchenesque bellowing. Not that I have anything against G.W. herself, but she's moved on from that sound (mostly), so aping it doesn't make a lick of sense. Oh, and nameless one with many typos, this was one of my first reviews for the site, so I don't think I've quite gotten any "antics" yet.
Bre says:
Posted: Sunday, July 19, 2009
Terri Clark had the "tough yet tender female"-thing going 9 YEARS before Gretchen Wilson ever released anything. Nice try though.
Jordan Stacey says:
Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009
I haven't heard the studio version yet but I saw her do it live and It was really great so, I'll have to listen to the studio to give it a fairer shot.
says:
Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
My typing errors and spelling errors are there for you to criticize my intregrity...Singer songwriter, calls act you are not! Midwest
says:
Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Hammer ... Recorc soemthing & put itout there... perhaps i am too new tho the site to even consider your antics. Compose,edit,get a gig, and tell me where you are in 20 years. Your comparison sucks, not all "ladies" appear to have the class and ethic, let alone the voice Terri has... consider the source with your nonsense. She can hold any tune and let you know she can! Save it Hammer... You mess with the wrong fan. I'm honored to see her still doin and livin her dream. Todd Midwest... near CANADA..
Rick says:
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009
Its bad enough when artists compromise their integrity to sound "hip" by current mainstream radio standards, but to shoot for a style that radio no longer fancies is asinine! Terri should be shooting for a Taylor Swift sound or Carrie Underwood style if she wants radio to remember her! Ah to hell with radio, I'd like to hear more songs like "Better Things To Do"...
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