Why would a superstar country singer with more then a dozen hit albums put out an album of duets? Especially when the duets are with other A-list superstars in the music business? Because she can. Reba McEntire has done just that with her new release, “Reba Duets.” Don’t question it, just sit back and listen.
Reba has brought country, pop and folk singers together to create a unique album. Stars like LeAnn Rimes (“When You Love Someone Like That”), Don Henley (“Break Each Other’s Hearts Again”) and Trisha Yearwood (“She Can’t Save Him”) have brought their own distinctive voices in to blend with Reba’s. Many of the artists even brought their own music with them, like Vince Gill (“These Broken Hearts”), Justin Timberlake (“The Only Promise That Remains”) and the CD’s first single with Kelly Clarkson (“Because of You”).
Ronnie Dunn sat down with Reba to write “Does the
Wind Still Blow in Oklahoma?”—and then stayed on to sing it with her. It
is a wonderful blend of country twangs. Reba also matches harmony with
Rascal Flatts on a song the trio wrote called “Faith In Love.”
While all of the 11 songs included on the album are treasures, two are bound to become fan favorites. The first brings together Reba with the equally strong vocals of Faith Hill in a sad song called “Sleeping with the Telephone.” Many will identify with the beautiful words of this song about those of us who have spouses, children and loved ones who risk their lives every day:
"I hear the sirens and I watch the news
And he leaves with his gun and his blue uniform
And I pray God keeps him save from harm
And I cry because I’m all alone
And the nights get so cold and long
And I try not to think he won’t come home
But I’m sleeping with the telephone…”
My personal favorite is Reba’s duet with Kenny Chesney. “Every Other Weekend” captures the real emotions that separated/divorced parents go through in shared custody situations where one gets the children every other weekend. The combination of their voices is so appealing and so are the words:
“Every other Sunday, I empty out my backseat
While my children hug their mother in the parking lot.
We don’t touch and we don’t talk much,
Maybe good-by to each other
Then she drives away with every piece of heart I’ve got
I re-convince myself we did the right thing again
Every other weekend.”
Reba has talent enough to carry any song or album without assistance, but is more then willing to share this record with her friends. The best thing to do with this album is to put away the jewel case and the list of songs because you will have no problem identifying these distinct voices. Just sit back and listen and just enjoy the music.