Brad Paisley is a really nice guy; check him out Sept. 18
Women may not swoon, but musician has humor, heart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Brad Paisley lacks the macho ruggedness of Toby Keith or the swooniness factor of Kenny Chesney. He just seems to be that really nice guy next door.
But he’s also married to actress Kimberly Williams (“Father of the Bride,” “According to Jim”) and has built up a bevy of Hollywood buds, many of whom show up in his videos. (Check out Andy Griffith in the video of his current No. 1 single “Waitin’ on a Woman.”)
STEPHEN CHERNIN / Associated Press
Brad Paisley put humor in his songs and doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously.
Chris Weeks / AP
Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams, who was in the “Father of the Bride” films and is in the show “According to Jim” arrive at the premiere of the film “Open Range” in 2003. The couple’s first child was born in 2007 in a Nashville-area hospital.
Brad Paisley. Lakewood Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. 404-443-5090, 404-249-6400. Tickets: www.livenation.com
RELATED LINKS:
• Paisley's guitar skills shine at live shows
• Paisley picks up four CMA nominations | Photos
• Blog: Atlanta Music Scene
Better yet, Paisley’s got a swell sense of humor. In fact, some of his biggest hits are rather goofy. Here’s a rundown of the big five in chronological order:
1. “Celebrity”
This lighthearted 2003 tune satirizes the concept of celebrity in a way that still resonates today.
Sample lyric: “I’ll get to cry to Barbara Walters, when things don’t go my way/ And I’ll get community service no matter which law I break.”
The video: “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander acts like a jerk at a coffee shop; William Shatner (“Boston Legal”) mocks Paisley as a Simon Cowell-type judge and Trista Rehn from “The Bachelorette” picks country legend Little Jimmy Dickens over Paisley.
Billboard country chart peak: 3
2. “Alcohol”
This is a clever, tongue-in-cheek ode to liquor that remains a fan favorite in concert.
Sample lyrics: “And since the day I left Milwaukee, Lynchburg and Bordeaux, France, been making the bars lots of money/And helpin’ white people dance.”
Chart peak: 1
3. “Ticks”
This song seems to be a typical tune about a guy wooing a gal, but he gives it a memorable, amusing twist in the chorus.
Sample lyrics: “I’d like to walk you through a field of wildflowers/ I’d like to check you for ticks.”
Chart peak: 1
4. “Online”
Paisley himself is no geek, but he places himself in the shoes of a socially regressed nerd who refashions himself on his MySpace page.
Sample lyrics: “Cause even on a slow day/I could have a three way/Chat with two women at one time/I’m so much cooler online”
Video: He brings back Alexander as the dork, with Shatner as Alexander’s dad. Alexander’s fictional mom from “Seinfeld” Estelle Harris pops up as his mom. Also watch for cameos by Maureen McCormick (“Brady Bunch”), Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler.
Chart peak: 1
5. “I’m Still a Guy”
The battle of the sexes is a perennial topic, but Paisley has a way of encapsulating the tensions with a wink and nudge.
Sample Lyrics: “When you see a deer, you see Bambi/And I see antlers upon the wall/When you see a lake, you think picnics/And I see a large mouth up under that log”
Chart peak: 1
