Melody Williamson’s Studio Version of “There’s No Country Here”
It isn’t like the 15-year-old singer-songwriter Melody Williamson and her family band Williamson Branch weren’t worthy of our attention before she released her home-spun video “There’s No Country Here” that would soon go viral, be picked up by multiple news outlets including The Huffington Post, and has now been viewed over 180,000 times (and counting) on YouTube, and 200,000+ on the original Facebook video. But because of the glutted nature of the music landscape these days, sometimes it takes something special to capture our attention and make us stop down and really think about what we’re listening to.
In part, it was the lo-fi nature of the video, Melody’s proclamation at the beginning of the song that it “…truly comes from the bottom of my heart” and that she wasn’t trying to make something to go viral, but something simple on her back porch to share, that made the song so resonant. Sure, country protest songs are a dime a dozen these days, but from a 15-year-old girl? It was one of those moments when it was our job as adults to stop down and pay attention to someone younger than us because in this upside down world, sometimes they are the ones that hold the purest wisdom.
Since releasing the initial video for “There’s No Country Here” in mid January, Melody has recorded a full studio version of the song that is now available for purchase, and she made a key change in the lyrics that make the song even better than the original version. She also recently stopped by the Big D & Bubba syndicated radio show to record a new live version of the song.
As I always say, it won’t be websites, organizations, or awards that will Save Country Music, it will be songs. And Melody Williamson proves why this is true once again with “There’s No Country Here”.
February 25, 2014 @ 5:40 pm
I picked up a digital copy once I saw one was available. Great stuff and thanks for bringing attention to such a great, young talent. I’m looking forward to hearing more from this young lady.
February 25, 2014 @ 8:45 pm
“Who told those country boys that they could rap / And who told Music Row we wanna listen to that crap?” Love it. 😀
February 25, 2014 @ 8:54 pm
Wise move to change that line from ‘white boys’ to ‘country boys’ which a few people commented on in the earlier post about this song.
It would be nice if these two clowns, who I have heard before, would take this song to heart beyond just saying how awesome it is at the end there. But good on them for having her on their show.
February 25, 2014 @ 11:30 pm
Very glad that she changed that line.
February 26, 2014 @ 12:49 am
Yes sir!
February 26, 2014 @ 6:59 am
Awesome!
February 26, 2014 @ 8:04 am
I said “thank you” with a dollar. 🙂
February 26, 2014 @ 2:40 pm
very good lyrics
February 26, 2014 @ 3:12 pm
Yes in the original version the line “white boys” really jumped out at me. There are white rappers and there are black country singers. (There definitely are black cowboys too!) Anyway perfect change, lovely voice, great song.
February 28, 2014 @ 3:38 pm
She is awesome. I come by here often. I don’t comment all that much. I just come to see who you recommend. I don’t listen to radio all that much. I just grab cd. I have discovered so many male and female artists, I really enjoy and listen to often. I would have not known about them if not for your web site. Holly Williams and Sara Jarosz had a chain reaction among my family and couple friends. I just wanted to say thanks for your Web Site.
February 28, 2014 @ 3:43 pm
Thanks for reading Sarah!
March 4, 2014 @ 10:59 am
Thanks for the heads-up. Just bought the mp3 on amazon. Good tune.
February 29, 2016 @ 9:03 am
Pure dulcet tone. That comes from the natural anatomy of her skull. The rest comes from endless hours of practice, a burning desire, and more than a little talent. Such a sweet young lady. She’s so pure she even has a little hesitancy at saying the word “crap”. Way out of the norm for today’s filthy mouthed brats. Nobody else I’ve noticed has said how beautiful she is! Maybe that gorgeous voice overwhelms people, but she is drop dead knock-out beautiful! Without ten pounds of make-up. Big things are coming from this lady. he has the control, sense of pitch, timing and phrasing of Allison Krauss, without the irritating nanny goat vibrato at the end of phrases. Don’t read that wrong. Allison is a MONSTER talent, but that little trill is distracting. She should lose it.