I doubt there's a country
singer on this earth who wouldn't give their eye teeth to sing with Gene Watson and after
hearing, "In A Perfect World", I imagine the tooth fairy is hot on the trail of
some of today's hottest artists whose wishes came true in the making of this album. The
line-up of talent that has gone into this production is staggering. Included are some of
the great classics such as Merle Haggard's, "Today I Started Loving You Again",
Ray Price's, "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me" and Buck Owens',
"Together Again". Lending their talents to this collaboration are some of
country's finest such as Vince Gill on "Let Me Be the First to Go", Connie
Smith on "A Good Place to Turn Around", Lee Ann Womack on "Today I Started
Loving You Again", Joe Nichols on "In A Perfect World", Rhonda Vincent on
"Together Again" and Mark Chesnutt on "This Side of the Door".
When it comes to ballads,
there is no one who can bare their heart and soul through music quite the way Gene does.
He has a distinct cry in his voice that can only come from within. The title song,
"In A Perfect World" is the perfect example of how well he conveys in song
just what real pain is about. There's not a person on earth who hasn't known what it is to
suffer, some more than others, but even the most stoic will be moved to not only
sympathize, but empathize with the devastation of a broken heart. It's no secret I'm the
"queen of ballad lovers".... possibly because I have lived through tragedy and
heartache throughout my life. Some may find it morbid to "dwell" on the sadness
but for me, the opposite is true. It's thanks to artists like Gene Watson that I am able
to persevere. I guess the old saying is true... "misery loves company"...
or maybe... just maybe... it's that I simply don't feel so alone when I listen to
Gene cry out a ballad. He gives me a sense of simpatico.
Whew... so much for
Psychology 101... but I guess I've made my point. When Gene Watson sings, he doesn't just
bare his soul... he probes into yours as well. Whether you're reminded of loves lost, new
love or the dream of love, his is the voice of reason as well as wonder. If pain is your
burden his voice is like the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down... it's not
only soothing, it's healing and you come away feeling better for having let him in.
In a perfect world, we'd
all be happily in love and there would be no pain or need for medicine. We'll only find
that world in the hereafter... until then... I think we're blessed to have the perfect
voice of Gene Watson... the voice of a man that brings you a little bit of heaven with
every song he sings.
© Marlene Slater (Marli)
My Kind of Country
9-30-2007
