Sister C Reignites the Legacy of Strong Country Women in “Faint of Heart”
If things keep going this way, the women of country are going to have to find a new target to throw their tomatoes at. Ever since SaladGate erupted, it does appear a concerted effort is underway to be more inclusive of females in country music, however plodding the progress may feel, or even if a few rotten tomatoes may be slipping through in the process.
When the CMA’s announced their performers for the presentation in November, they started with the women, and made sure to include a fair portion. The Country Radio Seminar coming up in February seems to be making an effort to be inclusive as well. Meanwhile Cam’s “Burning House” can’t slip out of the Top 10 to save it’s life, Jana Kramer’s fairly strong “I Got The Boy” has also outperformed expectations, and a slew of new singles from Carrie Underwood and Maddie & Tae have put country’s ladies at least in competition again with the boys.
Lurking out there as another potential breakout single is a song called “Faint of Heart” by a group named Sister C, and just like “Burning House” and “I Got The Boy,” it’s not just a good song for country’s women, it’s a good song for country. Made up of three sisters whose names all start with ‘C’ (Cirby, Carli and Celbi), the group got their start on Simon Cowell’s X Factor show, but their music, harmonies, and the song “Faint of Heart” evidence much more seasoning than you might expect from previous reality show contestants.
Originally from a small town just east of Houston called Mont Belvieu, the sisters now reside in Nashville, and are trying to make it as performers and songwriters. “Faint of Heart” comes from their own pens, and awakens the country music tradition started by Loretta Lynn, Jeannie C. Riley, and others of pointing out they inherent hypocrisy women face in society. Not only does “Faint of Heart” carry a message that is both poignant and timeless, it is delivered in a markedly authentic country manner, with a hammering bass drum beat, and eloquent three part harmonies that make you want to listen no matter how receptive you might be to the message.
There are some more modern accouterments to the song as well, but consider this an asset to assuage the country audience to listen. It’s fair to call “Faint of Heart” well-written, and even better produced, though at times the message can feel a little trite. The “double ‘X’ chromosome” line may take it a little to far for example, and I was a little frustrated that the title doesn’t better describe the spirit embodied in the song. But “Faint of Heart” is a pleasurable listen that you can see gaining some traction with country fans, possibly by walking through the door opened by Kacey Musgraves and Maddie & Tae recently. Call it “Merry Go ‘Round” mixed with “Girl in a Country Song” if you must, but with a sweeter vocal track than either.
“Faint of Heart” is the lead single and bonus track on an upcoming EP from the sister trio in 2016, and has found some warm reception on the mighty KSCS in Dallas and SiriusXM. Who knows where it’s headed from here, but “Faint of Heart,” despite it’s title, is brave and ambitious. Let’s hope there’s some brave folks in country’s seats of power to push this song where it belongs.
1 3/4 of 2 Guns Up (8/10)
December 6, 2015 @ 7:55 pm
Your article on a traditional country retooling is becoming more and more accurate.
If there is a full-blown resurgence, I’ll kind of miss complaining about the state of country music…
December 6, 2015 @ 9:13 pm
Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty to complain about. Cam is by no means helpful in the Country Music space, she’s just not harmful compared to Kelsea Ballerina. Kacey Musgraves is probably past her commercial relevance. Kane Brown is on the way in, and we still have a bro infestation to deal with, and for the life of me I can’t find anything strong enough to drive them away. Blake Shelton is too big of a star to fade away like Cole Swindell, so we’re stuck with him like a big ugly couch that’s just too heavy to take down the stairs. Miranda Lambert is too busy rehashing the same old angry woman songs to devote enough time to making good music like she does with the Pistol Annies…
We have a long way to go, so let’s just turn one ball cap the correct way at a time, and hope that the next hyper-trend isn’t worse than the last one.
December 7, 2015 @ 6:15 am
And don’t forget to bend the brims while you’re at it.
December 8, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
I can’t tell if I smell optimism or pessimism here , Fuzzy . Whatever you said , you’re right .
December 6, 2015 @ 9:28 pm
Was wondering if you’d heard the single by The Scott Brothers yet, “Hold On”, (from the HGTVs Property Brothers) and what you think of it in contrast of today’s mainstream Country music. Ran across it on iTunes, and have to say I was pretty surprised. Not sure what to make of it. I feel the lyrics might be a bit cliche..but I feel like it holds water better than most of what’s being played on radio right now. 3/4 out 2 (5.5/10) guns up? Nothing spectacular, but a step in the opposite, and better, direction than what we’re being force-fed right now.
December 7, 2015 @ 7:25 am
meh, I don’t know what they’re talking about. My girlfriend makes way more money than I do, and I’ve got a degree in network engineering.
December 7, 2015 @ 9:26 am
There’s some serious talent there — most obviously with the harmonies. Let’s hope they can get connected with some of the best in Nashville. I could see Vince Gill working with them.
December 7, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Love the harmonies and the message; not crazy about the arrangement. Something about the drums irks me.
Then again, I don’t like drums in country songs at all, which is probably not a reasonable stance to take. I’ll just sit here on my old-timey bench, listening to my Victrola and complaining about kids these days, with their rock music and their dungarees.
December 7, 2015 @ 11:17 am
That was nice! Some of the lyrics reminded me of “Follow Your Arrow” (particularly the no-win situations described in the verses) and the Pistol Annies’ “Being Pretty Ain’t Pretty”. 🙂
December 7, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
They have got the whitest white girl names I’ve ever heard.
December 7, 2015 @ 10:23 pm
It reminds me of “It Takes Balls to Be a Woman” and makes me miss Elizabeth Cook. I saw Sister C on x-factor though the one time I ever watched it and remember thinking that one sister’s voice is way stronger vocally than the others. I’m buying this song though because of the fact you can rarely find this theme in music.
December 8, 2015 @ 6:49 pm
TERRIFIC !
Say what you want about ’em but the Dixie Chicks are in ALL of this new substance -filled female music from vocal styling to attitude to the clever , the emotion and the mostly TRADITIONAL lyric-first themes and arrangements .
For my money that’s a good thing .