Hey John,
If you are asking about the Aldeen song, it is a moot point. And one of the weaknesses a lot of writers trying to figure this out go through. They try to take things in a vacuum, and it doesn't work that way. To answer your question, "IF an atypical country voice recorded this, would it be as appealing....? It doesn't matter. Maybe, maybe not. If it was an "atypical country voice" who had started his career being a huge live act, with multiple hits in his previous track record, possibly. If he had defined his career like that in the beginning by doing other songs that were AC/DC (Crazy Town) or other songs that were in this vein, had built his fan base on it, quite possibly. Jason's Aldeen is actually BUILT on the AC/DC big concert Anthem in the first place, so that is what he is known for.
But that is the factor. You have to look at artists from a longer perspective. It can't be done on a solitary song basis.
What 60's group could have come in off the street and as a first record released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?" Probably none, because they didn't have the cultural standing the Beatles had at that time. The entire psychodelic era, was driven by the Beatles, much from Rubber Soul and experimenting with other songs, sounds, production techniques. Sgt. Peppers wouldn't have happened without Rubber Soul, then "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys, and the rest of the cultural revolution.
The Aldeen song and others going on in current country are driven by the elements in the culture, most notably younger people being driven to country, and shifting from rock as rock changes. Go to a Jason Aldeen concert and you are going to see a TON more of AC/DC, Metallica, Led Zepplin t-shirts, than you are going to see Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard or George Jones t-shirts. The audience has changed. So artists are changing with it to play to the demands of the audience.
In my opinion, the song will go to number one easily, will fill the Summer touring season. Aldeen's record company is way behind it and it is picking up steam all over. So would another singer make this into a hit? Have no idea. But most "Atypical" country singers would probably not sing this song in the first place. Hit songs are hit songs because a lot of things line up, from label involvement, previous track record, artists fan base, and all the planets aligning.
One of the most famous songs in country history was THE GAMBLER by Kenny Rogers. IT became a HUGE hit for Kenny, propelling the second half of his career. Inspired movies, a ton of spin offs, and an entire persona for Kenny in the 70's, 80's, into the 90's. But that song was cut nine times by other artists, ranging from Charley Pride, Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed, Don Schlitz himself, and other people, and never went ANYWHERE with them. Why did it work with Kenny? Who knows. Mostly because it was in the right place, right time, with the right artist. There are many songs and artists with the same artists. Songs being out there and going no where for some artist and then exploding with some other artist. No way to predict how that happens.
So the question can't be answered the way you are asking it.
MAB
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