Norah Jones's band-named after Willie Nelson-and the country legend himself stage a showdown of country covers with their new albums
It's fitting that both the Little Willies, Norah Jones's side project, and Willie Nelson revisit songs named "Remember Me" on their new albums. (For the Willies it's the one by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Scott Wiseman; for Nelson it's Ernest Tubb's 1950 hit by Stuart Hamblen.) Clearly both acts are in a reminiscent mood on these collections of country remakes.
On For the Good Times, Jones and Richard Julian share lead vocals while also playing piano and acoustic guitar, respectively. Jones gets to show her playful side on Loretta Lynn's "Fist City" but is at her best on a jazz-kissed "Jolene," and Julian strikes a perfectly bittersweet note on Nelson's "Permanently Lonely."
Covering other greats like George Jones and Merle Haggard, Nelson doesn't shake things up much on Remember Me, Vol. 1. Still, is there anyone better to provide the crusty-voiced cure for a hangover on "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"?
THE LITTLE WILLIES:
WILLIE NELSON:
SNOW PATROL
Fallen Empires
It will never overthrow the dynasties of U2 or Coldplay, but this alt-rock band still knows how to make songs like "Lifening" that will rule on Grey's Anatomy.
JOYFUL NOISE
Original Soundtrack
Despite the musical pedigrees of film stars Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, there are only a few truly inspirational moments on this collection. Think Glee gone gospel.
YOUNG JEEZY
TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition
Jeezy continues to champion "Thug Motivation" on his latest, which features starry support from T.I., Jay-Z and Jill Scott. But some of his rap tracks lack real ambition.
SKRILLEX
Bangarang
This EDM (electronic dance music) producer surprisingly scored five nominations for next month's Grammys, including Best New Artist. You can hear his banging beats on this new EP.
CATCH THE 54TH ANNUAL
GRAMMY AWARDS
SUNDAY, FEB.12, 8 P.M. EST ON CBS
BRUNO MARS
Up for five awards, including Album of the Year, the pop crooner reveals his inspirations-and the secret behind his pompadour
ON WHAT INSPIRED RECORD OF THE YEAR NOMINEE "GRENADE"
My fragile little heart. Just being in that situation where you love a girl so much and she's not loving you back. I was a bit of a drama queen in that song. It was therapy.
ON WHERE HE KEEPS THE GRAMMY HE WON LAST YEAR
I move it around the house. [Laughs] Right now it's in my office, next to an award for Outstanding Wedding Band I was given three or four years ago.
ON HIS MOST MEMORABLE GRAMMY ENCOUNTER
Lenny Kravitz came backstage last year before I went on, and I'm a big fan. He was cool as hell. I'm pretty sure I said, "Hey, you're Lenny Kravitz!"
ON WHAT SONG HE WISHES HE'D WRITTEN
"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley or "Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson. One or two words totally get the message across.
ON WHAT HE'S LISTENING TO NOW
A lot of Prince, Mobb Deep, OutKast, James Brown. And I love the new Black Keys record [El Camino]. But sometimes I'll put on "Ninja Rap" [by Vanilla Ice] from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II. Why not?
ON HIS TRADEMARK POMPADOUR
I'm kind of getting tired of it. I have really curly hair-an Afro-so [it's hard] trying to make a pompadour with it. I might bring the mullet back. It's definitely something I'm considering!
