I have to 'fess up and say that I've never been a fan of country music.  Although I seriously enjoyed seeing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with my uncle when I was in high school, country music stations have never earned a preset spot on my radio.  When I hopped in my parents car a few years ago and found it tuned to country instead of the previous AM talk radio, I thought I needed to send them to rehab.

A few times each year, I would get my fill of country music during our multi-hour drive to see my MIL... there are areas in Kentucky and Tennessee where there is nothing but country music.  So we would search the radio dial for the channel with the most hick versions of country music just so we can make fun of it.  If the lyrics don't reference losing a truck, a dog or a woman then it really isn't country, right?

Well sometimes people make mistakes.  This is my time to suck it up and just admit it.  When Shania hit the scene with her pop-crossover hits, I actually bought one of her CDs.  But over the past few years, I would be listening to the radio and enjoying a song only to cringe when I hear "That last hit was from 'country music superstar blah blah blah." 

It started happening more and more where the line between pop and country music was starting to blur. There were several songs that I enjoy that are the product of country music.  Then a few weeks one of my public relations contacts asked if I wanted to check out the latest Martina McBride greatest hits release "Playlist".  My PR rep offered two or three to give away to my readers.  Bribery, I tell you!

So I sucked it up and said "Sure. I'll do it for my readers."  But there's nothing that says I have to like it.  In the spirit of the event, I decided to just go ahead and taint my ears.

Dangit.

Stupid country music that sounds like pop.  Makes me have to admit that I kind of like it.

Dangit.

Now, to be honest and fair - some of it was a bit too country for me.  But some of it is very catchy.  Like Track #11 "This One's For the Girls" is a remix from the On Target album.  Track 9 "I Love You" is a pop remix from the Runaway Bride soundtrack.  Then there's #14 - "God Bless America" from the Patriotic Country album... which isn't pop, but it is God Bless America so who cares.

Here's your chance to grab some country music for yourself.  First, click the Soundcheck banner to download "I love you" for free from Walmart.  Just enter code "Suave".

When you're done with that, if you would like a chance to receive Playlist: Martina McBride, just enter my giveaway!  Oohh, the things I'm willing to do for my readers.
The Prize
Playlist: Martina McBride CD
Participants -
...must provide a US mailing address.
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond.  If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.

Sometime on February 16, 2009, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left.

(1) Check out Walmart Soundcheck presented by Suave.

(2) Leave a comment with your best recommendation of any Martina McBride song that leans more toward pop (besides the few I already mentioned) for me to add to my own personal playlist. If you're not a devout Martina McBride fan, that may mean you'll need to listen to a few sample tracks.

(a) Earn an additional entry by adding my NEW button to your sidebar.  Not in a scrolling bar that requires a wait of more than a minute for it to show up.  Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so. 

(b) Earn THREE additional entries if you publish a blog post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave THREE comments providing the link to your post.

(c) Earn one additional entry for sharing this post via one of the following:  Digg, Stumble or Facebook. Leave a comment with which ONE you did and your ID for that service.
(d)  Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest with hashtag #SahmReviews. Comment with your Twitter ID.
(e) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.

(f) Follow me using the Blogger feature (there's a button on the top of the page.)  Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.

As always, subscribe so you don't miss anything - there's more on the horizon! Pay close attention because along with my new template, I'm no longer adding "Giveaway" to the title of the post! 

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