These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Jessica Simpson featuring Willie Nelson

"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" by Jessica Simpson featuring Willie Nelson has huge hit written all over it. A skeletal arrangement by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis has enough country flourishes to please country radio stations while thrilling pop audiences. It's the video, though, that will get the most attention and overshadow what is an outstanding pop/country arrangement that is pleasing even with a complete rewrite of the original Nancy Sinatra lyrics.

Back in the 60's, Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's daughter, created a stir with her independent woman anthem "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Now, almost 40 years later, the song has been revitalized as a vehicle for Jessica Simpson in her role as "Daisy Duke" from the upcoming Dukes Of Hazzard movie.

From a purely sonic viewpoint, this cover version is electric. The skeletal Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis arrangement catches your attention instantly and Jessica Simpson turns the song into a hot sexual tease with new lyrics written to fit her character. Both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have traveled down this path in the past, but neither has created a pop/country confection guaranteed to soar in both formats. Willie Nelson's featured involvement here appears to be very minor.

Even with the quality of the recording, it is the video that is likely to garner the most attention and discussion. It's an eye-filling fest of Jessica washing a car in her bikini, scantily clad country line dancers, a barroom brawl, and Willie Nelson! It's obviously the stuff of adolescent sex fantasy but no more explicit than the 25-year-old tv show that provides the inspiration.

The original song by Nancy Sinatra is a well-deserved classic and this version does the original justice. Watch the video if you are so inclined...otherwise just enjoy the music and watch Jessica Simpson's star rise.

Have something to say about it? Let's hear it in the forum.