14 DAY TRIAL // Kids had their fun over the weekend with the Kids’ Choice Awards 2011, but grownups (and country music lovers in particular) also had theirs with the 2011 Academy Of Country Music Awards.
The night was capped off with two spectacular performances, two surprising duets from four amazing artists: Rihanna and Jennifer Nettles, and Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler.
In its review of the awards show, Entertainment Weekly points out that, while better music could have been made on the ACM stage, the duets were as surprising as they were good.
In fact, they provided the show with just the right dose of fabulousness and glitz that it lacked, while also proving that ACM is trying hard to stay fresh.
“Jennifer Nettles applied her formidable pipes to Rihanna’s ‘California King Bed,’ and together they turned the song into a soaring power-ballad with soulfulness,” EW writes.
“Rather than seeming out of place on the CMAs, Rihanna fit right in with the glamour-plus-glitz that characterizes the best of the entertainment emanating from the CMA home-site this year, Las Vegas,” says the e-zine.
One thing that seemed off about this duet was the fact that Rihanna’s voice paled when Nettles opened her mouth to sing, for the simple reason that the former doesn’t have the same strength and range as the latter.
For this reason, she was barely heard for most of the song, voices online are saying.
Not the same can be said about the Underwood-Tyler duet, which was extraordinary from all points of view.
Not only did Carrie tie a scarf to her microphone as some sort of homage to the rocker and American Idol judge, but she kept up with him and complimented him perfectly on the 2-song medley they performed.
“Underwood and Tyler blasted though her ‘Undo It’ and his ‘Walk This Way’ with a fun swagger,” EW writes.
Audiences picked up on it and were standing, dancing and singing along by the time the performance was over.
“Underwood’s surprising willingness to lose some of her patented control and catch Tyler’s phrases as he tossed them — and a few perilously close air-kisses — to her made for a spontaneous-seeming performance,” says the publication.
And, now, without further ado, enjoy.
Rihanna and Jennifer Nettles, “California King Bed”
Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler, “Undo It” / “Walk This Way”