by Jimmy Patrick

Created on: July 09, 2008

LeAnn Rimes "Nothin Better To Do" is a good example of her ability to sing a catchy, fun song that fits into the country music category as much as pop or rock. Of course, Rimes got her start in country music and won over a lot of fans with her song "Blue," a more traditional, soft country song reminiscent of Patsy Cline.

That first hit song showed off her amazing voice at just 14-years-old. Since that first big hit, she has technically stayed in the country music business, but seems to have chosen songs that can be marketed to a wider audience than just die hard country fans.

"Nothin Better to Do" is a real showcase of Rimes singing talent. She shows off the range and power of her voice all over in this one. She also provides a real artistic quality to the song in the way she bends the notes around the lyrics much the way a great guitar player might bend and twist notes into each other. She doesn't just sing the song; she creates the song with her own unique style of singing it.

If there is any complaint I have of most recent country music songs is the lack of originality. Many of them sound like they are following some kind recipe for a country song, but Rimes' "Nothin Better To Do," while providing a bluesy country sound we have heard before, sound fresh and exciting.

Be it her singing talents or the combination of a rock and roll guitar beat with a sort of gospel harmony, it would be hard to find another song like it in our popular library.

The lyrics lend themselves to a country setting. There is talk of cotton dresses and beer and country roads and raising hell. All these are themes consistent with country music. There is also a story telling element in this song that most country music fans love to listen to.

You have to listen close to Rimes singing the lyrics, however, if you really want to understand what she is saying, a quality that may fit more of the rock and roll side of her song than the country side.

"Nothin Better to Do" is a hip, fun song that country music fans can enjoy for its traditional elements, but it rocks just enough to cross over and win a few non-country fans over as well. It shows Rimes to be a musician with immense talent and the capability of winning lots of fans. Careful that catchy chorus doesn't get you singing along: "Mama said, "Idle hands are Devil's handiwork."/ Oh the trouble you'll get into/ you got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do/ You've got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do/ Yeah!"

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