“Giddy On Up”
Laura Bell Bundy
Written by Laura Bell Bundy, Jeff Cohen, and Mike Shimshack
2010
Laura Bell Bundy burst onto the country music scene in 2010 with a bold concept album that fused Shania Twain’s sharp and empowering songwriting with Reba McEntire’s musical theatricality.
At the time, those two ladies were the only female singers to have won Entertainer of the Year in the last 25 years. Sure, women were barely being played on the radio, but could those programmers really pass up the chance to launch another career with as much positive impact on the genre?
Oh Lord help me, they sure did. That’s a shame because 15 years after its release, “Giddy On Up” is still a fresh and fascinating fusion of contemporary country and musical theater. The production does a lot of the heavy lifting for that, but the record would never work without Bundy’s story-driven songwriting and Broadway-polished delivery.
The single was enough to power Bundy’s album to respectable peaks on the albums chart, suggesting that the eye-popping video had connected with audiences and they wanted to hear more from the woman who shoehorned some hilarious Bath & Body Works shade into a kiss off anthem. The track brought genuine Western elements into its production, but delivered with the same Great White Way aplomb that Ethel Merman brought to Annie Oakley back in the day.
It was all a little too much for country radio, which by that point had reduced its female representation to a trio of under thirty blondes, only one of whom received as much airplay as the male superstar acts of the era. They were never going to make room for something this distinctive and disruptive.
Anyway, Bundy’s talents were too strong for her to limit herself to a genre that wasn’t entirely welcoming of her anyway, and she soon returned to Broadway and film and television work, dedicating her energy to creative communities that better appreciate her talent.
Additional Listening:
That was Shakin’, here’s some Achin’
- “Curse the Bed”
- “Drop On By”
More LBB gems
- “China and Wine”
- “Another Piece of Me”
Spiritual predecessors
- “Fujiyama Mama,” Wanda Jackson
- “Any Man of Mine,” Shania Twain
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…she plays in “hart of dixie”, one of the overall maybe most dreadfully casted tv-series (when it comes to the main character) ever. then again, a fact that for some absolutely inexplicable reason hasn’t prevented it from becoming a seriously guilty pleasure of mine occasionly. i blame it on forrest gump and his property though – and not on that blonde actress with that fascinating upward pointing nose, who plays the “lemon” character there in bluebell, beautiful alabama.
these days sierra ferrell (“money train”) and kaitlin butts (“other girls”) are picking things up and doing a pretty great job, where miss bundy left it – and of course the breathtakingly, delightfully charming ms. ella langley. the theatrical and country music can indeed be most enjoyable at times. not to forget about the dashing ms. hannah dasher (“redneck ass”) for the more “south park” minded fan.
The Kaitlin Butts comparison, especially, makes a lot of sense to me. Although Butts’ music is more doggedly traditional at times, there’s a similar theatricality and sense of humor to her work, for sure. Ferrell, though I do think she’s a major talent, doesn’t strike me as hitting the same notes of *cleverness* as Bundy or Butts. The drama’s there, though.
I’ve never watched Hart Of Dixie, but IMDB tells me you’re referring to actress Jaime King, who is probably best-known for her work in the horror genre (remakes of three separate holiday-themed slashers, My Bloody Valentine, Silent Night, and Mother’s Day) and the two Sin City films.