Jessica Simpson - "Pray Out Loud"

[lasvegaskid]

I couldn't disagree more and here is why...who said any publicity is good publicity? Even if we are just talking about Jess' waistline, it is pub that she (and her song & album) wouldn't be getting otherwise. And Jess has always been about self promotion.

[43dudleyvillas]

Jan 28, 2009 15:22:51 GMT -5 lasvegaskid said:

I couldn't disagree more and here is why...who said any publicity is good publicity?

The topic of this thread isn't Jessica Simpson's publicity.

Judging from your posting history, you are probably not familiar with the way the Country forum here operates -- it is a bit different from the other forums at Pulse because we don't treat single threads as catch-all threads for artist discussion. We treat them strictly as threads for discussion of the single and its chart progress (or lack thereof). Jessica Simpson single threads in this forum have been particularly vulnerable to circular and needlessly antagonistic discussions about her career and her polarizing persona. The volume of those discussions has been disproportionate to the actual chart impact of the singles.

Since we've already had those discussions, as a moderator I'm unwilling to allow another Jessica Simpson single thread to keep getting bumped up for a discussion of whatever her latest publicity storm is about. If the single starts seeing legitimate chart activity and/or there is official news, that's fair game. But that's about it.

In any case, if you have further concerns or questions, feel free to PM me as the Pulse rules indicate.

14. Moderator decisions are final. In addition to warning members, moderators reserve the right to lock topics, move topics, delete and edit offensive posts, and edit signatures and other profile information in violation of the rules. In general, these decisions will not be reversed. However, in rare circumstances, a reversal may be appropriate. Complaints about moderator action should be directed to the moderators. These complaints should NOT be posted in the Announcements/Board Concerns forum, or any other forum.

[nsfb17]

Why are the rules always enforced so heavily in the Jessica threads and nowhere else? I've seen several other threads go slightly off-topic in the Country section, yet nothing is ever said or done (examples - Martina McBride's new album is being discussed in the 'Ride' thread, future single choices are being discussed in the 'White Horse' thread, whether or not 'Jesus, Take The Wheel' was Carrie's first official country single is being discussed in the 'I Told You So' thread, and so on). That just seems really prejudiced. I know 43don'tbeasuperfan!villas dislikes Jessica, and it appears that she is allowing her personal feelings to get in the way of being a fair moderator.

[kw9461]

Jan 30, 2009 17:25:26 GMT -5 @nsfb17 said:

Why are the rules always enforced so heavily in the Jessica threads and nowhere else? I've seen several other threads go slightly off-topic in the Country section, yet nothing is ever said or done (examples - Martina McBride's new album is being discussed in the 'Ride' thread, future single choices are being discussed in the 'White Horse' thread, whether or not 'Jesus, Take The Wheel' was Carrie's first official country single is being discussed in the 'I Told You So' thread, and so on). That just seems really prejudiced. I know 43don'tbeasuperfan!villas dislikes Jessica, and it appears that she is allowing her personal feelings to get in the way of being a fair moderator.

Discussing potential future singles, and the album as a whole has always been fair game in these threads. That's what much of the discussion in the Remember That thread was about. The materials in question here were unfounded rumors about Jessica's status with her label, and gossip about her recent weight gain. That has absolutely nothing to do with her music and is basically just tabloid gossip. That kind of fruitless discussion belongs in a fan forum or her artist thread elsewhere on Pulse, not in the country forum.

[George]

I really wish my local country radio station would play her new singles. They played "Come On Over" a few, but never "Remember That".

I'm hoping that with the upcoming concert in March, "Pray Out Loud" will get some airplay.

[what]

review of the single:

Jessica Simpson - “Pray Out Loud”
Juli Thanki | February 3rd, 2009 Email Share

Though gossip mongers and tabloids of late have been focusing on Jessica Simpson’s alleged weight gain, there is another, more important issue which needs to be brought into the public eye, and that’s the sheer lameness of her latest single, “Pray Out Loud.”

First things first, it seems that Simpson—who began her musical career as a contemporary Christian artist—has never read Matthew 6:6, which states in part, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father.” We can only wish that Simpson would have followed these directions and stayed unseen (or at least unheard) when it comes to this three-minute snoozefest masquerading as a country song.

“Pray Out Loud” manages to be positive in the blandest way possible thanks to a trio who takes every opportunity to pen one hackneyed cliché after another. The song was written by Simpson and industry veterans Brett James (who co-wrote “Jesus, Take the Wheel”) and producer John Shanks, who’s written with Keith Urban (”Somebody Like You”), and the younger, less-talented singing Simpson sister. Here, Shanks and James are scraping the bottom of their barrels when it comes to writing trite pop-country. It’s a song written for the minivan set to hum along to, completely forgotten as soon as the vehicle is back in the garage.

But the lyrics themselves aren’t the song’s biggest problem–that would be Jessica Simpson’s absolute inability to sell said lyrics, which she delivers with about as much emotion as Mr. Moviefone. If a song urges listeners to “Just close your eyes and let it out/All your fears and doubts,” then the singer should at least sound as though she believes it herself, or that she has been through a similar experience in order to give the song a modicum of believability and most importantly, honesty.

Unfortunately, “Pray Out Loud” along with Simpson’s recent foray into country music rings utterly false.

www.the9513.com/jessica-simpson-pray-out-loud/

[George]

^ Did they like "Remember That" or "Come On Over" either?

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Feb 4, 2009 3:25:31 GMT -5 George said:

^ Did they like "Remember That" or "Come On Over" either?

"Come On Over" got a thumbs down as well, and they didn't review "Remember That".

[mimi2008]

Feb 4, 2009 10:24:39 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Feb 4, 2009 3:25:31 GMT -5 George said:

^ Did they like "Remember That" or "Come On Over" either?

"Come On Over" got a thumbs down as well, and they didn't review "Remember That".

I don't think that particular site would ever go out of their way to give Jessica Simpson a positive review. Probably why they didn't review 'Remember that'. That was definitely a good song.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Feb 5, 2009 2:51:37 GMT -5 mimi2008 said:

I don't think that particular site would ever go out of their way to give Jessica Simpson a positive review. Probably why they didn't review 'Remember that'. That was definitely a good song.

I don't know, they hardly show bias against any artist. I think they sometimes show bias in favor though.

[nsfb17]

'Pray Out Loud' live on The Early Show...


She looked and sounded great.

[Deleted]

I actually like this song, but I rather heard it from someone else. She doesn't really have the voice to pull of these kind of songs.

[MyLastView]

I didn't know this was getting released. Should've gone with ''Still Don't Stop Me''.

[musicbuff78]

Feb 14, 2009 12:15:51 GMT -5 MyLastView said:

I didn't know this was getting released. Should've gone with ''Still Don't Stop Me''.

Yep, I've been saying that all along.

[nsfb17]

Feb 14, 2009 15:51:59 GMT -5 musicbuff78 said:

Feb 14, 2009 12:15:51 GMT -5 MyLastView said:

I didn't know this was getting released. Should've gone with ''Still Don't Stop Me''.

Yep, I've been saying that all along.

Same here. 'Still Don't Stop Me' is fantastic. It absolutely NEEDS to be a single. They'd be stupid not to release it, as I really think it's her only shot at a hit single from this album.

Feb 14, 2009 11:49:39 GMT -5 @reidlos20 said:

She doesn't really have the voice to pull of these kind of songs.

Seriously?

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Feb 14, 2009 17:01:59 GMT -5 @nsfb17 said:

Feb 14, 2009 11:49:39 GMT -5 @reidlos20 said:

She doesn't really have the voice to pull of these kind of songs.

Seriously?

I don't think she has the voice for much of anything. She tends to affect this "strangled" tone where every other note sounds choked out and it's very annoying.

[ontheroadwith]

Well, she wrote this song, so it is not like she pulled it out of somewhere and thought she could sing it. When artists write, they tend to write for their voices. Just saying.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Feb 15, 2009 15:29:00 GMT -5 ontheroadwith said:

Well, she wrote this song, so it is not like she pulled it out of somewhere and thought she could sing it. When artists write, they tend to write for their voices. Just saying.

True. I write within my range, which thankfully doesn't limit me very much. Jessica has the range and when she's not choking, she sounds fine. I thought she sounded fine on "Remember That", for example.

[jen]

Did anyone else think that if they recorded the song with just the drum and guitar (like on the Early Show) it would've been much better? The studio version sounds so overproduced

[George]

Feb 14, 2009 12:15:51 GMT -5 MyLastView said:

I didn't know this was getting released. Should've gone with ''Still Don't Stop Me''.

I'd kinda prefer "Still Beautiful" as her 3rd single, followed by "Do You Know" w/Dolly.

[MyLastView]

Heard this on the radio tonight!

[change4change]

I hope she has some success with this! She really seems like a genuinely nice person, and doesn't seem to deserve all the flak she's getting for her weight in the media!

[Modern Myth]

I don't see this doing anything if a smash like "Remember That" couldn't.

[mimi2008]

Maybe 'Remember that' was too much of a heavy song in terms of it dealing with such as serious subject which the average listener may not relate to.

[nsfb17]

Feb 21, 2009 22:30:21 GMT -5 mimi2008 said:

Maybe 'Remember that' was too much of a heavy song in terms of it dealing with such as serious subject which the average listener may not relate to.

Also, the fact that a lot of people (including some members here) thought Jess was trying to take advantage of a touchy subject for her own personal gain probably didn't help.

[jessluvsnick]

Was this posted?
www.countryuniverse.net/2009/02/22/jessica-simpson-pray-out-loud/
Jessica Simpson, “Pray Out Loud”
Posted By Lynn Douglas on February 22, 2009

One probably thought they knew what to expect from Jessica Simpson on her latest single, “Pray Out Loud,” simply by reading the title: The big-voiced former Christian pop singer was going to put forth her best Martina McBride imitation and sing for the rafters. It was going to be over-the-top, joyous, cheesy, uplifting and worthy of its name and oft-repeated chorus “pray out loud.” One may even, like me, have been planning on giving her permission to do so because if ever a song - and a time - was asking for it, it is this one. But, umm … no. On this single, Simpson shows … restraint. And a great deal of it. It’s completely baffling.

Simpson has never been a stellar interpreter of song, but the sheer lack of joy, enthusiasm and spirituality in her vocal is surprising. Simpson was more convincing inviting us to “come on over” than she is imploring us to “pray out loud.” Unfortunately, because the song is blessed with lyrics as original as “When you’re down / Don’t be afraid to pray out loud / Just close your eyes and let it out / Take all you fears and doubts / He’s listening right now / Don’t be afraid to pray out loud,” this severe lack of emotion is all that much more glaringly obvious.

It is likely that Simpson viewed this song as a means to connect with the same country demographic that propelled Carrie Underwood into stardom following the release of “Jesus Take the Wheel.” However, I’d be shocked if this single achieved a fraction of its predecessor’s success.

Songwriters: Jessica Simpson, Brett James, John Shanks

Grade: C

Listen: “Pray Out Loud”

[George]

I'm guessing her label isn't pushing this anymore?

[lasvegaskid]

It looks like she can take off her cowboy boots now. And honestly, I don't see pop radio welcoming her back with open arms (and ears) either via Epic.

Access Hollywood - April 7, 2009 1:17 PM PDT
Hollywood LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Contrary to erroneous online reports, Jessica Simpson has not been dropped from her country music record label.

A country music Web site claimed the pop star-turned-country singer had been dumped by Columbia Nashville and Sony Music Nashville, noting Jessica was no longer present on either label's Web site.

However, a spokesperson for Jess' longtime label, Epic Records, said she was only working with the country labels on a temporary basis.

"Jessica is and has always been an Epic artist. She was on loan to Sony Nashville for her country album. She continues to be on Epic's label," the spokesperson told Access Hollywood on Tuesday.

When contacted by Access, a rep for Columbia Nashville said they would not comment on the report.

Jessica released "Do You Know" on Columbia Nashville in 2008. The album sold 65,000 copies in its first week and reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart. "Do You Know" also reached the top spot on the Top Country Albums chart.

[Marv]

According to today's edition of Country Aircheck, her rep confirmed the information regarding the fact that she is still with Epic Records in the previous post, and went on to say that Simpson 'will not be releasing singles to Country radio at this time'.

[mairy]

So, this mean that she will go back to pop? Or just that Columbia Nashville don't want her anymore?

I personally think she should leave Epic and sing with some smaller country label. She could fit in Lyric Street or Carolwood.