Bucky Covington Rocks

I went to Michigan last weekend. Back in December, when I was home for Christmas, my mother requested that I spend a random weekend in June with her and my sister at an event called "Birthday Bash" sponsored by a Michigan radio station. It's a free concert, held over two days. Did I mention this was sponsored by a country radio station? With Bucky Covington as a featured performer!! I agreed to this in December!! It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Let me tell you. There were some seriously interesting fashion trends at this concert. And lots of large men. Fleshy men. With farmers tans. And beer bellies. And my mom and sister, I must admit, were enjoying the display of skin. I, on the other hand, really wanted to pass out belts, t-shirts that covered certain belly areas, and sunscreen. (And ladies. There's nothing less classy then wearing your shorts unzipped and unbuttoned. It makes it look like they are two sizes too small. Don't you want your man to have to imagine something?)

Oh, but the point of this. Bucky Covington was on American Idol during the fifth season (the same season as Kellie Pickler, Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, and Chris Daughtry). If you are reading this and you don't recognize those names, I can't tell if I should be somewhat disgusted (wow! you really do live in a pop culture cave) or impressed (wow! you really do live in a pop culture cave). Although, just as a side note, today I was watching the Top 20 videos on VH-1 and the top song was called "Wait for You," and I kept thinking, this is a really boring song by a really normal looking guy. I mean, it's not painful to listen to, but it's not great. And then the name Elliott Yamin popped up and it was immediately clear to me what was going on. American Idol strikes again.

Anyway, back to the concert with the large men. For weeks, I have been telling my mom and sister just how bad Bucky Covington is. And Bucky proved me right. At one point during the concert, he forgot the words to the song he was singing. And this is not an Elvis-like, drug-induced, momentary forgetfulness. This is a complete idiot who should not be given a stage in which to perform in front of 60,000 people.

However, as soon as Covington's name was called, the crowd went insane. It was crazy. Bedlam. What I assume it was like when the Beatles hit the stage in 1965. Or NKOTB in 1989. And the local paper claimed that "the party didn't get started until Bucky took the stage."

But, I want to assure you, Bucky Covington was awful.

P.S.
Dear Little Girl in Front of NGS who was holding the Bucky Covington's #1 Fan, You're My American Idol Poster,

I was impressed that you used the correct "your/you're" in your poster.

I'm sorry that you heard me mocking Bucky Covington for his lack of singing ability and lack of stage presence. And I'm sorry that you got so overwhelmed by seeing Bucky Covington that you began to cry. And I'm sorry that your first big-time crush is someone with so little talent. My first crush was Sebastian Bach and now he's a chubby man, but I still listen fondly to my Skid Row albums and I hope that Bucky leaves you with many fine memories and songs you can listen to gleefully when you are in your late 20s and trying to convince your fiance that "I Will Remember You" would be a rockin' song for your first dance. I apologize for my inability to keep my laughter during Covington's cover of "Suspicious Minds" to myself. I apologize for making jokes about Elvis rolling over in his fake grave. I hope you are not scarred for life.

You are an adorable little girl. Good luck in your future music crushes. And try to consider the validity of Skid Row and Guns and Roses and potential obsessions.

Sincerely,
NGS

(Geez, I totally forgot to tell you that there actually were decent acts as this music festival. Jason Michael Carroll was impressive, as was a group called Bomshel, Dierks Bentley (although we didn't see his dog), Clint Black (not the best live, but hey, he's got a million songs), Emerson Drive, and Josh Turner. There were other acts, but those are the ones that I probably enjoyed the most. In case you are interested.)