With one pop album under her belt, Jessie James is hoping to break through in the genre where her heart always was, country music. The 23-year-old has just dropped a new video on CMT for her current single, "When You Say My Name," the lead single from the former pop starlet's upcoming sophomore album due out late summer. The new track is also the first official single to be sent to country channels since her transition to country music was completed. It looks like the country-pop hybrid isn't wasting any time making a splash in the country world.James is a talented flok singer who continues to straddle the country and pop genres. "When You Say My Name" is her most country effort to date, yet it still makes hits from crossover artists like Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift feel steeped in Nashville traditionalism. James clearly wants to be a country artist, and she has a voice strong enough to stand up on its own. The ultra cute & catchy, country/pop-ish tune is progress, but it ultimately ends up short of what even the most open-minded country music fans will be likely to embrace.
James, a larger-than-life talent, has that throaty, country roughness thing going on in her vocals, but really, it sounds a little too forced to be genuine. James still has some pop connections, however. The move to country seems like destiny. Most likely everyone was expecting James to come out with a "Wanted" 2.0 (her biggest hit yet) but she made it clear that she's a "country girl at heart," putting her foot down country music is in fact her thing, and that she wouldn't be comfortable just recording pure pop songs.
The newly-premiered Kristin Barlowe-directed music video perfectly captures the essence of the song. It shows James just hanging in her house, in a sexy pajama, feeling really happy about the beginning of a new relationship. She's so crazy in love, and just can't help but jumping on the sofa, dancing with a broom, or just doing silly stuff with her boyfriend. The clip ends with the boyfriend surprising her with a romantic dinner outside the house, but all they wanna do is dance closely, and hold each other.
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