As the title gives away, here we have the "2021 CMT Music Awards", an awards ceremony that aired just little over a week ago and this is/was one of the defining country music (awards) events. I don't think I have to elaborate here as much in-depth as I have with other awards shows, but you can see from my rating that I was not a fan at all of the outcome here. Reasons follow later on. First of all, let's look at the basics: This one ran for 105 minutes without commercial breaks, so comfortably over two hours with advertizing. Corona numbers may be lower now, at least here, but distancing and masks still make it really obvious what was going on. I must say I was not a fan at all of the hosting. I'd take Underwood and Paisley any time over these two. Especially Kelsea Ballerini was unwatchable at times and Kane Brown was just mostly boring. The directors DeMaio and Quinn, well you would think that they could deliver better with their experience (especially DeMaio), but no they did not. Then again, I am not sure if these two were also writers. Those are probably more to blame. What I am sure about, however, is that the intention to please the general mainstream (media) here was basically the creative death of this event with the 2021 editions. We get the most uninspired song about ladies at the very start of the show. It was by Lady Antebellum or Lady A (whatever...) and it's kinda telling that it is not a positive thing at all if this is the quality we get these days froom one of the defining country music bands. They fit in all the political aspects very early on already as what followed next was a proper elaboration on Black people in country music or rap music. Imagine such an inclusion when it comes to White people in RnB. The media reaction would be massive and the producers would have to retire for reasons of (alleged) racism. Double standards galore. At least this was almost it for the show. I mean it's just a fact that country music is to rap music what the NHL is to the NBA pretty much. There may be exceptions, but they have to be good enough and should not only be part of this show for reasons of diversity. Then again, the White acts were noot exactly a revelation either.
Two other slightly cringeworthy inclusions happened a little later when we have more praise for women. The way it was presented was surely cringeworthy. One person talked about the immense depth of female country artists' lyrics when said lyrics really couldn't be any more shallow. The other would be open men bashing in terms of how they keep cheating on their female partners. This was only slightly forgivable because it came from the stunning Ashley Shahahmadi, maybe the most beautiful contributor that night. I have no clue why she was there. Is she a social media icon? A journalist at best? I don't really see much of a connection to the music industry, let alone country music industry. But some of the people chosen to present awards here really did not fit in anyway. There were athletes and for some reason there was also Anthony Mackie, who seems to (try to) be a part of every American awards show now to promote himself and his new show. Cringeworthy stuff. How low he got after great stuff like The Hurt Locker. But yeah, kinda telling when he rambles on about how he is the one in charge of saving the planet or something like that. Speaking of crucial subjects, the most pseudo important moment of the night goes also to host Ballerini (it was her no?) with the duet on the subject of a partner being the reason why you stop being an alcoholic. I mean it is an important issue and subject, but the way it was presented here in the most uncreative manner one could imagine was really a slap in the face of everybody who is these days still struggling with alcoholism or struggled at some point in the past.
Then there are the usual issues. Again, it did not really feel like an awards show because there was one music performance after the next. On a positive note, you can say that it was not the case that many categories were simply left out because there just weren't many categories. But all these easily could have fit into 80 minutes max and it still would have been more than enough music. That way, we also could have done without Restless Road who I initially mistook for the Jonas Brothers. Here and there, we also got some shameless advertizing as part of the show, not just during the commercial breaks. So yeah, what else is there to say really? Ah yes, when there were finally awards being handed out, the winners were waiting behind the stage, so the surprise delight element was also not a part of this show, which made it even more boring to watch. I think the entire show and project was dommed for failure and it turned out a major disappointment. I like country music here and there and this event really needs a back-to-the roots approach for future editions that it can at least be somewhat watchable again. The 2021 edition was constantly somewhere between utter cringe and highly uninspired. It feels almost impossible to fit in something truly positive in here. Not even Carrie Underwood with her performance could save the entire thing one bit and she is an artist I like at least on some occasions. Here she was just as weak as the rest. Which says nothing positive at all about American country music these days, especially because it is each and every single time with this event the same in terms of who is performing. Always the same people. There are some new and young faces here and there, but either they are not good or they are gone quickly as well. I am not sure if there's acts that are more talented and just have to stay out of shows like this.. Then it would be even worse. Or... I don't know. Maaybe if they don't exist would still be worse. Instead, they get in slightly strange combos. I mean Underworth/Legend was still okay, even if the play on words was surely cringeworthy later on, but no excuse for stuff like Urban and Pink being nominated. Alright, that is really it now. The lowest rating for the outcome here and I'd definitely prefer this show not bing held over it being held the way it was now very recently in 2021. Maybe it's indeed time for a break and I mean a break of more then 52 weeks. Absolutely not recommended.
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