Danger in Frustration

A few days ago one of Jeremy's Tumblr Friends, Kristyn (Kristin-The-Cowardly-Dog.tumblr.com) proclaimed her belief that Miranda Lambert wrote Desperation about her current husband Blake Shelton "and that leads to thoughts and images of poor, heartbroken, desperate little Miranda Lambert who was hopelessly in love with a married man who she could never have." As a huge fan of this song myself (the name of my tumblr blog is taken from a line in this song) I agreed to this at  first but I think after some listening to the song, I believe I have figured out another angle.

Now, to be fair, I am not sure what Miranda wrote the song about, so this may be a possibility but from my own experience, I believe the song comes from a point of someone who feels lost. Lost in lost love. Lost in life. And they continually turn back to longing for the love of someone they can't have.

 

I believe the main drive of the song comes from the point of view where Miranda is longing for someone (we will say it is Blake Shelton for this exercise) but she cannot be with who she truly wants, so she will try and turn to someone else. Anyone else, even settle for less than she deserves. Or even worse, nobody's feelings for her match the ones she has for them. But she cannot seem to shake her feelings for Blake. Because she is still so desperate to be with the one that she wants she is doing herself emotional harm over him. It is especially clear in the 2nd verse of the song that she has given up on trying to move on and is stuck on the pain that "Blake" has stuck her with. He has clearly ruined her. Shaken her confidence and shut her down.

“Complicated words slipping off of your tongue but ain’t one of them the truth”
The scariest part of the song and I guess I am saying this as someone who is guilty of it myself in a way, is a desperation to be with or even near someone who has hurt them. That is where the danger lies in frustration. You can’t harm yourself over someone else who harms you. You miss out on life and the other person likely is moving on. Holding out hope is fine, but now when you are stupid enough to believe that you don’t need to move past that.

10 Song - Stream of Consciousness

Dallas by Alan Jackson

I don’t often remember the details of my dreams, but for some reason, I remember at one point last night, I began to sing “Dallas” by Alan Jackson. My first memories of hearing that song was sitting in the Taco Bell parking lot when I was 4 (thus 1992). It is my favorite Alan Jackson song, (in an unrelated story, that was my favorite Taco Bell). I don’t know why this popped up. I guess it is a symbol that I am getting more comfortable with myself. Other people were in the dream, coworkers, other people, for some reason Alan Thicke. I don’t get that. He didn’t die, so that ends the continuous streak of Alan Thicke dying in my dreams. I have no problem with Alan Thicke, he just keeps dying.

Crazy Ex Girlfriend by Miranda Lambert

I wish I were more interesting, I wish I had a crazy ex-girlfriend (or a current one, crazy or not, that would be nice, but that is for another time). All my stories are about me being crazy and obsessive. If you don’t believe me, sit down with me and after a certain amount of time I will divulge too much about someone who I perceive to have done me wrong. The story changes repeatedly though, so take notes, try and find consistency.

Saved by Big and Rich

I used to be a HUGE Big and Rich fan. Their first, second and third album were on repeat for me for the longest time. But in 2007, they went on a sabbatical and when they returned 5 years later, I cared a lot less. I am just not as interested in their latest musical endeavors. This song, off their first album, I find to be a strong one. They clicked as a unit for those releases. The latest one, which I have only read reviews of, seems to be them trying to recreate the attitude of their first cd. I do not understand why Bon Jovi is as involved as it seems they are.

Give It Away by George Strait
George Strait has a unique swagger when he sings. This song is about giving away everything that reminds you of someone. A few months ago I watched Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind. In that movie, Jim Carrey went through brain cleansing to wash his mind of everything that reminded him of Kate Winslet (I think) because it was driving him nuts. The crew in the movie, had to gather up all physical things as well as doing the deep psychological cleansing. Sometimes I have thought that I could use that type of deal. The physical objects are limited and I could get rid of those myself, but I think I may need them. They are hidden away enough to where I can avoid them for the most part so that really isn’t a problem (or I have convinced myself of that), it’s the psychological I will need work on.

Little Miss Honky Tonk by Brooks and Dunn

I want a cowgirl. Someone who listens to country music, shoots guns, drinks beer, whiskey, etc. Perhaps rides horses. I am mostly describing Miranda Lambert here. I am not picky but I think it would be cool to have someone like that. I don’t shoot guns, don’t drink much anymore and don’t find horses interesting. So it is a lot of the opposites attract theory I guess. I have an interesting theory as to why that works so well.

Take It Out On Me by Miranda Lambert

I feel bad when I take my sometimes bad attitudes out on people. I don’t mean to. I feel really bad when I end up tearing someone a “new one” (meaning asshole) for something that happened long ago. Especially when I don’t do it to their face and resort to doing it over The Twitter © and to the face of people who rightfully respect them. I just feel hurt sometimes, but over time that should have gone away. I guess my immature actions proved things right in the long run. I still think I am justified in some ways though, I just need to find a way to be a bigger person (not THE bigger person, because clearly I am not that, as much as I would like to be)

Tiny Dancer by Tim McGraw

I had a blog written about the Tim McGraw and The Dancehall Doctors album a few weeks ago, I never posted it, I don’t even think I finished writing it to be honest. This song was on that. I always associate that album with rain, I don’t know why. It was my favorite Tim McGraw release. I am not a huge fan of his but I really liked most of the songs on that one. I have heard this version of the song more than Elton John’s version. I think it could be good for a choreographed dance scene. Those aren’t thoughts I have often. I am not sure if it is about a child, drugs (it was the 70s) or what. Tony Danza perhaps (Friends used that joke, I am not above ripping that off). But I guess we all have a “Tiny Dancer” that sticks with us in our heads, whether we want to or not. This song is really long.

Carried Away by George Strait

It sucks to get carried away by someone. Not physically (well I imagine being abducted sucks, not my point right now), but mentally. Every time you see someone, your mind races and emotions rush to the forefront. I guess it is a key thing to the human condition. More honesty. I have had it happen numerous times. Where you don’t think, you just say or do. Its fun in the moment sometimes but looking back you feel stupid. This would be a good name for a Carrie Underwood tribute band.

Better As A Memory by Kenny Chesney

The last few weeks a lot of my good friends/coworkers have left. It sucked because I knew ahead of time they were going and I was going to miss them. But I wasn’t super close to them. It got me thinking that when I leave, when I make a major life move which I have yet to do voluntarily, I don’t think they will care, it won’t be a big deal to them. It could be my low self esteem though. I don’t think any of them have anything positive to say about me. In my opinion, the only thing they may know about me is the fact that I get far too obsessed with something/someone and can’t keep my mouth shut when I should. I don’t like the way I am possibly perceived by them but accept the blame because this is the way I painted myself. It shouldn’t bother me as much as it does but I make too much of things I guess

I’m In by Keith Urban

Far too often on this 10 song adventure these “love songs” have come up. I like this one but the stream of consciousness exercise does lead to a problem. I don’t know the “love” feeling too well. Because, I am 0-however many with this. I did this exercise to get my mind off this crap and it keeps bringing me back around. So as I am typing, I am trying to drown out the song because I plan to go to bed after this and I do not really want to have this song stuck in my head because I fear it will drown out any positive movement I have had in the past few hours. I suspect it is all superficial anyway and I am trying to convince myself that I am past things. I am a surprisingly quick thinker and can fool myself pretty easily. Problem is, other people can fool me quicker.

 

In conclusion – 776 songs that could have been used, I really don’t like the selection that came up here.

Covering All Bases

This blog makes it clear that I am a Country Music fan. However, I am more than JUST a country music fan. My vast laziness as a child led me to hours of viewing of VH1, thus I am widely versed in various genres of music. Add in the fact I took a History of Rock N’ Roll class in College (yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is a blog that is written by SOMEONE WHO WENT TO COLLEGE, I never finished but that is a story for a different blog) and you have someone who is widely versed in various genres of music.

I am also a fan of cover songs, especially ones from genres different from that of the original song. So my blog today will be a list of songs that I would like to see covered by Country Artists.

 

Cherry Pie (Made famous by Warrant)

“So I mixed up the batter and she licked the beater”

This song is one of my favorite songs just because of the amazing use of metaphors in it. Now obviously, should a country artist record it, I doubt it would recieve much airplay due to its risque nature, despite that, I believe very few bands in Country Music are better fitting for recording this song than Rascal Flatts. Lead Singer Gary Levox has a wide vocal range and I think he could bring a lot to the song.

Are You Happy Now (Made Famous by Michelle Branch)

Michelle Branch did have a brief country career so this would not be much of a stretch, however I am gonna say that the cover of this song should go to the trio of sisters, SheDaisy. I always preferred SheDaisy over The Dixie Chicks (who I don't remember the relation between each), these girls have cultivated perfect harmonies because they grew up together. I would very much like to hear those perfect harmonies work away at this song.

More Than Words (made famous by Extreme)

.

This song has been covered many times but never by a Country artist. I think this song should go to Alison Krauss and Union Station. Her soprano voice could accentuate the meaning of the song. Her song, When You Say Nothing At All (originally recorded by Keith Whitley) had the same message.

Losing My Religion (made famous by R.E.M)

 

.

 

The reason I believe this song should be covered by a Country artist, is along with it just being a great song, is, it was written on a mandolin.  The mandolin is prominent in many genres of music, but I mostly associate it with Bluegrass and Country. The artist I believe that would fit this song outstandingly is Sugarland. They have done R.E.M covers before, whether it be "The One I Love", "The End of The World" and "Nightswimming". Kristian Bush is one of the more prominent Country mandoliners I think of (at least one of the first, behind Vince Gill). The fact I can't find any evidence of them covering this yet shocks me.

In an interesting note, other people that I have seen evidence of Sugarland covering includes but is not limited to The B52s, Dexy and The Midnight Runners, The Eagles, Beyonce, Queen, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Cee Lo Green

Let Her Cry (Made famous by Hootie and The Blowfish)

.

Hootie and The Blowfish lead singer and writer of this song, Darius Rucker intended this to be a country song. So much like with Michelle Branch earlier, I could very easily just say Darius Rucker and leave it at that. Instead, I believe this song would be great to hear from the voice of Chris Young. I am not a fan of Chris Young's original songs but absolutely love his covers of other artists. He has a great voice.

Thinking of You (made famous by Katy Perry)

Despite the intended genre, I honestly consider this to be a country song anyway. I think the song would work well with Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry's voice. And the name connection between the two was not made until after I chose the artist, so I was not intending to be cute there.,

The House That Built Me

 

Here is a fun fact: I was not a big fan of this song for the longest time. I can’t really put my finger on why. Something turned me around a few months ago. Oddly enough it was not a Miranda performance of said song that did it. It was Selena “Wizard” Gomez that spun me around. I heard she did a performance of the song, gave it a listen, then went back to Miranda’s version to compare. As I expected, I preferred the Miranda version and put it on heavy rotation (for lack of a better term). I became such a fan of the song, I used it as the basis for the title of this very blog.

“I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard”

It may be the very last line in that first verse that caused me to think not very much of the song. Those type of things bother me. But I understand why the line is there. It emphasizes the importance of the house. A key line I believe is the “these handprints on the front steps are mine”. It indicates that she has left as much of a permanent impact on the house that it has on her.

“I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me.”

She is searching for something to fill a void, so she returns to what had made her strong. It is her safety. The house had been her foundation. I can relate to that type of thinking. Whenever I am feeling down, I return to the things that define me and made me who I am today. As life gets longer and harder, the things that made you who you are up to that point are kind of the cushions for life’s tough falls. It provides a solid reassurance and reignites the spark to continue on.

“Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream”

This is the verse that specifically turned it around for me. I can’t think of any deep meaning or analogy to go along with it. I just find the lyrics painting a wonderful picture.

A lot of times I find myself overwhelmed with life’s struggles, big or little, you can usually see this in my face. Recently I have turned and returned to the “House” that built me, not the actual physical house that I grew up in, but the things that have kept me sane and in a comfortable place. That is why this blog was made. That is why I am also writing a TNA Wrestling blog. That is why I am currently lining things up for what could be another enormous writing project. These things are what comfort me. These are serving as therapy. And even when recently things haven’t been going the way I liked, I am finding ways to take my mind off of those things, by “walking through the house”. It is giving me a chance to express myself when I feel I can’t do it any other way. These things are filling the brokenness that has been created in myself, by myself, other people, just the general flow of life. I understand the message of this song. When I first heard it, I assumed it was a simple one level song. “I grew up here, isn’t this nice”, but it’s the heartbroken sound in the lyrics and her voice that makes me relate to this.

The Classics

Something happened to me Saturday Night that inspired this blog. I referenced an old Country song which my mom had claimed that she had never heard (which actually made me kind of mad for a little while haha). That inspired me to write a blog of old songs (latest one on this list I believe is 1974), that country music fans should give a listen to. There will be far less fancy words here from me, I will try and let the songs speak for themselves.

All For The Love of Sunshine (Hank Williams Jr)
I first heard this song on a Steve Holy record. I was shocked to learn that it was a Hank Williams Jr song because it doesn’t fit the type of rocking Honky Tonk style I am used to from him.

Flowers on The Wall (Statler Brothers)
I first and most frequently have heard this song performed by Eric Heatherly, I prefer that version but this one is good as well

He’ll Have To Go (Jim Reeves)

Hello Walls (Faron Young)
The song that inspired this blog

Help Me Make It Through The Night (Sammi Smith)

I Fall To Pieces (Patsy Cline)

I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)
Became familiar with this song due to its cover a few years ago by Martina McBride and Dolly Parton.

I See The Want To In Your Eyes (Conway Twitty)

She Thinks I Still Care (George Jones)

You Don’t Know Me (Ray Charles)

Miranda: Love Is Looking For You

 

My obsession with Miranda Lambert is kind of… an obsession.

How obsession is this obsession? If my headphones are in, there is at least a 75 percent chance I am listening to a song of hers, or her singing a song of someone else’s.

How obsession is my obsession? If it were not for the Miranda Lambert tag on Tumblr (@JeremyTheMVP for those interested), I would likely never use my account. Same for Instagram (same username).

How obsession is my obsession? In moments of stress, I find myself singing “The Truth”. Which I am aware is not her song. BUT if you go back up two paragraphs, I mentioned “her singing a song of someone else’s”, I sing it with her version in mind.

My obsession is so obsession that I based the name of this blog “The Music That Built Me” off of one of her songs “The House That Built Me”. The blog was never intended to be a shrine to the lovely Miss Lambert*. I have an idea for how to do that that I hope to get around to soon. But I also have strict (SELF IMPOSED by the way) deadlines to fill with this thing. I do not want to go too long without a blog, so in times of transition between topics, I figured out that I can return to the person who is kind of responsible for me doing this.

Miranda stated a few years ago that “Love is Looking For You” is one of her favorite songs that she has written. Now, my favorite Miranda song changes daily. There will be songs I listen to over and over based solely on lyrics that pop into my head in relation to that song. Her proclamation of her love for this song, got me to listen to it more than I would before. And I found a deep relation in what she sings.

I may be misinterpreting what she speaks of here but I get the feeling that she is trying to say that absolute most important thing is to look at your self in the mirror and love yourself for you who are. That is something I need to do. Its not a “love the way god made you” physical type deal. No, my problem is more a moral issue. I need to be able to look at myself and realize that the decisions that I am happy with are the ones that I made on my own. And due to my frequent questioning of my actions (sometimes deservedly), I am unable to do that as easily as others would. I have no idea when I started to get this way, I have no idea who or what caused such gross insecurity. Sometimes I would and have tried to contort myself to fit in with another person for my own comfort but I always have found it easier to point out my own inadequacies. Revealing myself completely, so everyone knows exactly what is up with me. This has, in many ways, caused me to feel weaker because I am hiding very little if anything at all.

In the past few months, at least and I am using Miranda’s words here, I have been looking to put out a flame. Something that burns at me but I don’t know how because I do not know where to find this “flame”. How do you remedy what you don’t know is wrong? The longer this burning sensation goes on, the worse it gets. I need to find a way to get “over” someone who I was never “under” (Sup to Ross and Rachel for supplying me with that analogy way back in the 90s). I had no idea how to do this. My most logical answer in getting over this problem is to dive headfirst into something else. Head out into a rainstorm but the rain isn’t coming hard enough to put that fire out. So now I am burning and wet. I need to find a good medium. A transition of sorts.

The problem with this transition that I am looking for is mentioned by Miranda a little later into the song. “Maybe you’ve been swearing that forever might have already run out”. I have proclaimed several times that it may be too late for me to actually achieve anything. Based solely on the comparisons of other people I see. Now in the past few months, the hundreds of people I have turned to (much less of an exaggeration than you might think) have told me that it isn’t easy and they have gone through the same thing.

“You can’t love yourself, at the expense of someone else”. I can’t do this based on comparisons. Either good or bad. Every case is different. That is what this song has instilled in me. The unique optimism that maybe certain things have happened and will happen for a reason. I need to take my own time with all of this. Maybe the answer will come to me and I don’t need to worry about taking to many steps in its direction, it will find me.

Live Those Songs

For the absolute longest time, I had believed that many Kenny Chesney songs were similar. They are about him being on an island. I learned that there is obviously more to it than that. And there are more songs that I like from Kenny Chesney than the ones I mentioned here. These are songs I find relation with. 

Anything But Mine

This song is about the belief that there is someone out there who you cannot possibly imagine being with anyone but yourself but going through the scenario of losing them. The way I see this going down is Kenny is deeply in love with Mary but can’t tell her. That is the explanation for “So tonight I hope that I will do just fine”. He doesn’t want to blow it. The description of everything is so deep. What they were doing, the weather, little things like her taking her shoes off to feel the sand. It’s a powerful image, it really puts over how much the night means to him, he will probably remember every little thing of that until they are together again, if. I have been in the position painted in the song. It did not work out, yet the night that he points out is also very similar. I remember the details of the night not as well as he does here but still too much to deny. My favorite line of this song, and it is more than a line, comes in the second verse and actually takes a majority of it.

“And as we are dancing Mary's wrapping her arms around me
And I can feel the sting of summer on my skin
In the midst of the music I tell her I love her,
We both laugh cause we know it isn't true
But Mary there's a summer drawing to an end tonight
And there's so much that I long to do to you”

I think this signifies my belief that he is too nervous or hesitant to tell her exactly how he feels and what he deems their relationship is. It is a sickening, sickening feeling. She isn’t painted very well in this picture. She probably doesn’t feel the same way, yet she is leading him on. Had he probably mentioned it, what could she think? He will never know and it will eat at him every day. And I believe the line “We both laugh cause we know it isn't true” is actually one of the most brilliant lines in the song. He knows how he feels about her, yet she laughs it off, so to cover his own pride he does too. It is sick. Why should he stifle his feelings just because she is too stupid to see the truth.

Being Drunk is a Lot Like Loving You

This was an unreleased song from When the Sun Goes Down. Every damn morning, when you wake up and there is someone that crosses your mind that for your sanity you know you must swear off but you cannot because it is an addiction. No matter what you do, you turn around and you see things that send you into a spiral. I am in no way an expert in the being drunk thing, but I can imagine the same thing is there for alcohol. While there can definitely be good times with both the person and the drink, at the end you will end up miserable. You will fall down and it will hurt like hell. It takes an emotional, psychological and in some cases physical toll on you.

“And I've woke up some mornings and sworn off the drink
At that I've done reasonably well I think
But I haven't done well swearing off you and me
At that I've failed miserably”

For months at a time, I had felt near the same way as this is demonstrated and I heard this song before I ever felt those feelings. Eventually one day you will get on the wagon for good, hopefully (or is it off the wagon?) . The song was good before familiarity, it is better now.

Better as a Memory

I believe, and I don’t think there is too much pride in me saying that the second verse describes me very well.

“Never sure when the truth won't do,
and pretty good on a lonely night ,
or move on the way a storm blows through,
and never stay, but then again...I might,
I struggle sometimes to find the words,
always sure until I doubt,
walk a line until it blurs, build walls too high to climb out,
but I'm honest to a fault, that's just who I am,
I'm better as a memory than as your man...”

It could be that some of what is said here is kind of generic but I enjoy the comparisons. The insecurity of when to tell the truth and being honest to a fault.

Come Over

This is his most recent single, at least as of this writing. He is verbalizing the feeling of being so strung out over someone that he cannot sleep and will do anything to subside the feelings that he breaks down and calls her, even if he knows that it will lead to more heartache in the future. It is restarting of a vicious cycle. You make me miserable, so I may as well bring back some joy and delay this feeling from passing for a little longer. I once remarked to someone that I am the type of person to “Forget about her completely, then have the urge to call her and tell her that I have done so”. I like his demonstration in the first verse of the desperation.

“I turn the tv off, to turn it on again,
Staring at the blades of the fan as it spins around.
Counting every crack, the clock is wide awake.
Talking to myself, anything to make a sound”.

That type of frustration really hits home. A silent panic. What am I going to do to get this girl off my mind. And the fear that you shouldn’t ask anyone what to do because you don’t want to be thought any less of by people.

Dancin' For The Groceries

An unreleased song from Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, This song is about sacrifice, the woman that he talks about here is sacrificing her happiness, her pride, her time with her children, just for her children. She is doing what she has to, to get through life. The story about the woman “dancing” so she can afford her children’s braces, so they can smile all while she has to put on a fake smile to do the job. I have no experience with strippers, but I imagine that this is a common occurrence, I don’t think there can be many little girls who aspired to grow up to be strippers. I seem to recall an e-mail that was read on the Jim Rome show that indicates there may be a few but I am not sure how common those are.

Down The Road

There have been a few songs so far that I liked but for whatever reason could not include because of the way that they cause me to feel when I listen to it. Don’t Blink for one. As I am writing this, I am listening to the songs. It just started to hit me really weird and I could not focus as I write. I am not sure why. This song “Down The Road” will also be very hard to listen to but I have a reason. I know why. In most of these songs I write about I am hinting at a time where I was in a down and heartbroken position and that could fit here. Perhaps it is the desire to take a girl “Down The Road” and have her start a life with me. A kind of missed opportunity in hindsight thing. It would fit so well, I guess, but that is not the case here. The actual story as to why this song is so difficult for me is the time I most remember hearing it, not the first time, the most memorable time was on the way to my grandmother’s funeral. I like the song, I find it to have a great story, but I cannot kick that memory.

I Can't Go There/Somewhere With You

An unreleased song from No Shoes No Shirt No Problems, I Can't Go There. He is reminded of her every single place he goes. But as the song goes on, it goes from small places such as a restaurant to slightly larger places like San Francisco (yes, that is only slightly larger than a restaurant) to whole states like Florida and California. Every place he has ever been and everything he does, his relationship with her has torn him apart so he questioned everything he has done. A feeling that I understand. What I really enjoy in this song is the part near the end which features Tim McGraw. I enjoy the melody. And years later, Kenny released “Somewhere with You” which is a parallel to it. He needs to move on, but once again, everybody he goes out with, he is reminded of the woman from his past. In an interview will Billboard, Chesney said, "This is a tortured soul song. If you get going with somebody, you've been in a relationship and for whatever reason she's gone or you're gone. And you're not necessarily in another relationship, but you're with somebody else, just starting something with somebody else. Trying to balance both those worlds is tough.”

I Lost It

I think everyone has someone else who has a complete hand over their emotions, they bring the best out of them. The peaks and valleys of emotion.

“No one can make me cry
Make me laugh
Make me smile
Or drive me mad like she does
It's like a curse that is the cure
Better or worse, one thing's for sure
It's real love and I don't know what I'd do
If I lost it”

I believe that that type of control that someone has is what indicates how true your feelings are for someone, if they cannot do those things for you, then they aren’t right for you. And in my own way, I should have seen that. As strong as feelings may be, if they cannot pull the best and worst of you and there is someone else that can, perhaps you should change your direction. Obviously that is easier said than done.

I'm Alive

Kenny remarked “Writing that song was a release. It was the best I'd felt in a long time after I wrote that song”. He wrote it after his divorce. I find comfort in this song.

“And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well”

Whenever things are too tough, you just have to sit back and be happy that you are still here to deal with whatever struggles are facing you.

Just Not Today

This was an unreleased song from Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. And that irritates me because I find this song so fun to sing along with. You know that one day you will have to face responsibility, show maturity and grow up, but some people have the luck to put that time off. Perhaps my admiration for this song is due to the desire that I would like to be able to feel this young, wild and free. He paints a story in this song that I would like to live. Carefree and falling in love. Sounds nice.

Never Gonna Feel Like That Again

An unreleased song from No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems. My relation to this song is as follows: I never played high school football. I didn’t go to the prom. I never impregnated a girl in high school, (at least while I was in high school, you know what I am talking about ;)………….. I have very little shame in making that joke) What I like about this song is simply the sound of it. All of those things aside, some of them seriously bother me sometimes (except for the pregnafying of high schoolers), I genuinely like this song because of the sound of the instruments and the flow of the lyrics.

And in a surprisingly related note, the song actually bothered me a lot when I first heard it and I was a sophomore in High School. For some reason I could see that it was not gonna work out on that front.

On The Coast of Somewhere Beautiful

“Knew I could never hold that girl
She was born to see the world
All I got is a picture she mailed me
Barefoot in the snow white sand
A bag of sea shells in her hand
She finally found a paradise it seems”

I could probably see ahead of time what would happen and it is for the best that it did. Saying that now is kind of odd. I am not exactly sure when it won’t be.

“On the coast of somewhere beautiful
Trade winds blowin through her hair
Sunlight dancin on the water
And I wish I was there
Don't know how i'm goin' to find her
All i know so far
Shes on the coast of somewhere beautiful
Runnin' with my heart”

Ok, honestly I am not sure if she is still running with my heart anywhere or anymore. I like to think that all of those feelings have subsided. Nonetheless it hurts to think about what could have been.

“Sometimes when the sun goes down
Shadows fall across this little town
And I close my eyes and I drift away
to another place in another time
When the world was ours and she was mine
I dream of holdin her again someday”

But happiness is a good thing. Its not anywhere near me. But nonetheless and all my negative feelings toward situations are for right now not anywhere near me either.

This song, as it may be easy to figure out, holds a unique place for me. The description paints a post card type picture of heartbreak and lost love.

Urban Development

The first Keith Urban CD I ever bought was “Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing”. The following article will reflect that. I may not be including all of your favorite songs, these are my opinions. These are my 19 favorite Keith Urban songs. Despite that, I would like to hear your opinions.

19. But for the Grace of God

For years I had not liked this song. Then one day I realized the story behind it. In actuality, Keith kind of comes across as arrogant. It seems like he is saying, everyone around me is completely screwed up and it is all because I have you in my life. Without you, I would be just as miserable as them. In that scenario of course, he is singing to a woman. That is how I always determined the song, him singing it to a woman. The song of course can just as easily be about god. He is namedropped in the title. Even if it is about a woman, he still is crediting god for her being in his life. He may not even have a shot with her without god’s intervention.

18. Raining On Sunday

“It ticks just like a Timex, never lets up on you”, I believe that is a great first line of the song. I really enjoy the use of comparisons in songs, one may look for the word simile to describe it. This song has several, not only the line I started with but also “Your love is like religion, a cross in Mexico, and your kiss is like the innocence, of a prayer nailed to a door” and then the chorus tells a story of how the man wants to take advantage of all these things. Her kiss, her love and all that.

17.  Won't Let You Down

This is another song from Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing. In this song, he is basically telling the woman that he is the only one she can trust. Because he loves her. Very few people will be there when the house of cards comes tumbling down but he will stand right there good or bad and be there for her. I would like to think that is the type of person I am, someone who good or bad, will be there for someone. I find the energy of the chorus is the real strong point of the song.

16. Long Hot Summer

The song builds up during the first verse to a powerful chorus that gets you to sing along, this is one song that goes along with a common occurrence of many of Keith’s songs. Up tempo and catchy. He stated the song was written with the car radio in mind. “Singing along with the radio is such a beautiful sound”. It is a line that I agree with, I have more fun listening to the music when I am in the car than any other time. It is louder and more memorable, I am much more likely to sing along with a song while I am driving.

15. Shine

From Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing. This is a song that I have gone back and forth on, I generally don’t like the things will get better songs (for contradictions to this belief take a look at my Shania Twain “Up” blog, among others likely) but this one seems different. The instrumental work as always is extraordinary but the lyrics basically say instead of “life gets better, stay strong” its “I will make things better, give me a chance to make you strong” It’s an arrogant song, but once again its good. Confidence can be mistaken for arrogance.

14. You're Not My God

Keith sounds so angry performing this song, particularly during the chorus. “But you're not my god, and you're not my friend, You're not the one that I will walk with in the end. You're not the truth, you're a temporary shot, you ruin people's lives and you don't give a second thought, You're not my god” He is singing to objects, money and drugs specifically but I always believed that the chorus could fit just as well talking about someone who has an overwhelming influence on him. Someone who made him feel used. Just as money and drugs did. Someone caused him to feel the same symptoms of addiction. And he is finally telling them off.

13. For You

This was on the soundtrack for the 2012 movie Act of Valor. I don’t know where it plays in the movie. I never saw the movie. I truthfully believe that all I need to see in the movie, is featured in the video. The line I really like in this song comes at the end of the first verse.” No greater gift has man,than to lay down his life for love.” The whole song paints the sacrifice of servicemen very well I believe. They sacrifice family and love for country. It sounds like an epic power ballad.

12. Once In a Lifetime

This song has the feeling of an epic movie. The video backs it up. The exhilarating roller coaster rush of falling in love. As much as she may question it, the man is trying to convince her that this is something different and he wants her to overlook all apprehension and see that this is something unique and special. The chorus is incredibly upbeat and just another example of my belief that Keith Urban’s strongest asset is his ability to pump out catchy upbeat tunes. Something else I like about this song is the extended guitar work on the album cut (Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing again). It is about a minute and a half longer than the radio edit and towards the end he just goes nuts with it.

11. Used to the Pain

Although it doesn’t fit the definition, I had always considered this to be the title track of Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing. With time, people accumulate series of pains and regrets that don’t kill them but they have to go through life with them. And how do they do that? They just get used to it. “There's a past in everyone you can't undo, you can't outrun” I don’t know what was the story behind the writing of this song, but I will assume it was about Keith’s drug addiction. Obviously that would be something you would want to out run and undo but it could also be about a love you are trying to forget.

10. I’m In

I see this song as one I would quote if I had any talent at pulling off long term conversation with the opposite text . It would fit with what I should say. “If I knew what I was doing, I'd be doing it right now. I would be the best damn poet, silver words out of my mouth. Well my words might not be magic. But they cut straight to the truth, if you need a lover and a friend, baby I’m in. I like this song because it seems so familiar to me. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

9. Romeo's Tune

This song seems Shakespearean (Romeo is named in the title, I think this was intentional). It appears on his Greatest Hits album. I learned just weeks ago that this was a cover of a song from the 80s by Steve Forbert. Now it has been quite a while since I read Romeo and Juliet (Freshman year of high school which would be 10 years) but listening to this song I can see where it would fit. If they did an updated version of Romeo and Juliet, I can see this song fitting. Perhaps Justin Bieber as Romeo and Selena Gomez as Juliet (I may have started this rumor on Twitter). Lines such as “It's king and queen and we must go down now beyond the chandelier, where I won't have to speak my mind and you won't have to hear. Shreds of news and afterthoughts and complicated scenes , we'll huddle down behind the light and fade like magazines” paint a story of a forbidden relationship that is frowned upon by onlookers. (GO FIGURE)

8. Your Everything

This song seems like a good wedding song, and not just for the “And be the hand that lifts your veil” line. It is poetic. For some reason, years went by where I knew this song was by Keith Urban but it reminded me of Mark Wills, it was not until recently that I realized that it is a screw up. It should remind me of Andy Grigg’s “She’s More”. I would love to meet someone that makes me say things like this (or gives me the courage to say this). Just a beautiful song.

7. You Gonna Fly

A upbeat song that is about being upbeat. Another song that fits perfectly with driving along with your windows down and screaming the lyrics. The song builds and builds during the first verse until it reaches the chorus where it climaxes. Its great. It also comes across as incredibly arrogant (I say that nicely, I appreciate arrogance). He is saying he can lift her/you up. “You could be a black bird on the country street. Hiding from the world with a broken wing, but you better believe you're gonna fly with me”. I enjoy the simile of the black bird.

6. Somebody Like You

When this song was released it seemed like a “new beginning”. Something about the banjo at the beginning seems like a new wind to his career (first line of the song mentions “There is a new wind blowing that I’ve never known”). It sounds different to his previous songs. His life is better because of the woman and he wants to share the better life that the woman provided to him, with her. She has given his life purpose. Keith wrote (actually co-wrote) this song and his girlfriend at the time supermodel Nikki Taylor was featured in the video. And she was in a coma a year earlier. Maybe he wrote the song about her? It seemed like a new beginning for her too. A non-coma beginning.

5. You'll Think of Me

This song is so heartbreaking. The sadness of the lost love keeps him awake, tortures him and rips his heart out consistently. The style of the song sounds like spoken word. He has no idea where the love would have gone but for whatever reason he will never find out. The unknowingness kills him and he just wants to close the door to the past that is still hanging open but he has all these things that are around to remind him. Perhaps if the physical things are gone, the psychological items will go with them and he wants her to take them as well. He is hoping that she will have the same regrets if she has those things.

4. I Told You So

What I like about this song is the seemingly double sided meaning, “"Please, just come back home. No, don't say that you're sorry. And I won't say “I told you so" He wants her back in his life, but does not want her to apologize for ending it. He wants to move on from the past and start a new future. Only with the same person from the past. She caused the rift, she is the one to blame but if she apologizes, he is gonna tell her where she screwed up. And that wouldn’t be a good thing.

3. I Can't Stop Loving You

When I first heard this song on Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing, it sounded familiar. I didn’t know why and until I looked it up I deduced that it was an Elton John song. I am not too familiar with Elton John’s song book, so I am not surprised I was wrong on that. It was actually recorded by Leo Sayer and later Phil Collins. I still don’t know how I knew the song. Upon listening to the earlier versions of the song, I realize that I prefer Keith’s version so much to the others.

2. Got It Right This Time

This song was originally featured on Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing, but re-recorded and released on the Greatest Hits compilation. He wrote it about his marriage with Nicole Kidman and explained to AOL how it came about and how the two versions differ: "It's interesting, because the song's hook is, 'I think I got it right this time.' And I'm certainly at a point now where there's no thinking involved! [laughs] There's a little more conviction than that. And I had that full conviction when I wrote it, but as a songwriter, there are choices made with words because they sing well. So, 'I know I got it right this time' just doesn't sing as well as 'I think I got it right this time.' But as the song has evolved and grown, our marriage has evolved a lot. So [on the new recording], at the very end there's an ad-libbed line that says, 'I mean, I know I do.' [laughs] Songs are interesting, because they're written at a certain time in a writer's life and they mean a certain thing, but often, the really magical ones develop deeper meaning. And this song has definitely grown to have a deeper meaning for me." I greatly prefer the re-recording of the song. It has more of an epic feel to it. There was a song on Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing entitled “God Made Woman” that featured a choir on it. It seems that this song would be just as fitting for that treatment. The song is even parenthesized “The Celebration”. You can tell his jubilation for finding her within this song.

1. Stupid Boy

What I really, really like about this song is, the way he seems so angry about it. He took her heart and soul and dreams into the palm of his hands and tore them all to shreds. I had always taken it that he is singing it about himself. This isn’t much of a revelation however as in the song it is said “Oh, I'm the same old, same old stupid boy.” It paints a chapel of regret and self hatred. He had a wonderful girl in his life but his own pride, stupidity and regret, whatever it may be caused him to lose her forever. That is a damn true to life story.

Diamond Rio

My topic of choice this week is Diamond Rio. I realized last week that it has been a long time since Diamond Rio released a CD of new Country Music. July 2002 was when “Completely” hit shelves. Since then there have been a few compilation and gospel releases but nothing new that got me to enjoy them in the beginning, neo-traditional country music and bluegrass.

10. "Walkin' Away"

What I like about this song is the line “We've still got it good no matter how bad it gets. Even after all this time the slipper still fits”. Even if they are fighting, no matter how bad it gets, she is still his Cinderella. And as long as they have chosen to stay together, that indicates how strong they are together. Walking away solves nothing.

9.  "You'll Find Me"

Unlike the song at #10, this song is about a woman walking away. The man realizes that without her he can’t survive. He needs to evaluate himself and his history with her to find her. The harmonies of the group on this song is what makes it for me.

8. "Meet in the Middle"

For years, I thought this song was performed by Billy Dean. The song is about compromise. But it also lays out it in story how they would literally meet halfway at a tree between the two’s houses. They have memories involving that tree.  

7. "Sweet Summer"

On the chorus for this song, the group’s voice all melds together so well. It lays out a perfect story.  Its just a fun song.

6. "Redneck Love Gone Bad"

The thing I love about this song is the “how about that” manner in which it is sung.  And what makes it even better is songwriter Shannon Lawson said that it was inspired by something that happened in hometown.

5. "Night Is Fallin' In My Heart"

I had not heard this song before getting the band’s first Greatest Hits in 2006. I would listen to the album while also playing Tony Hawk American Wasteland. Oddly enough it fit perfectly together. The laid back sound of the song with the skateboarding in Los Angeles.

4. "Make Sure You've Got It All"

The chorus is so heartbreaking. The narrator wants to make sure that since his woman is leaving him, she has everything that could possibly remind him of her.

3. "Beautiful Mess"

His life is falling apart. Shoes on the wrong feet, salt in the coffee. Can’t eat, can’t sleep. It is a wonderful feeling, at least from his end. It’s a sweet addiction. The sound is so smooth. And the story seems so familiar. Too familiar.

2. "It's All in Your Head"

The reason I like this song is it reminds me of Pro Wrestling. It sounds like a promo. The way Marty Roe tells the story is amazing. The story itself sounds like very little I have heard in Country Music.

1. "You're Gone"

Songwriter Paul Williams said of this song in 1998 “It just seemed like what we should write about are the people who are no longer in our lives who had a positive effect on us. And it just poured out of us. The people that pass through our lives-we remember what they say to us, and we remember how they touch us.” I understand this story perfectly. Several times over the past few years there have been people in my life that affected it so greatly that for one reason or another I cannot tell them how they meant to me. The same thing could be said about the Diamond Rio song “One More Day”, which I have not listed. The difference between the two is that song, while good does not stand close to the power of this song in my opinion. That song  is about getting another shot with someone. To get another shot with someone, you first must lose them. This song is that loss. The piano that starts the song is just the beginning of the strong instrumental work that affirms the power of it. This song is Diamond Rio on all cylinders and I believe it should be the song that defines them as a group.

Get Up With Shania!

 

Just as I did with Come On Over, I will rank the songs from worst to best in my opinion on the release. But unlike Come On Over, I will not review the complete selection. This album had 19 songs on it. Because when Shania goes, she goes hard. Instead I will go with my top 11.

#11: I'm Jealous

She is painting the picture of being jealous of any and everything that the object of her affection comes in contact with, the sun, the moon, the rain. She doesn’t want any other thing to have his time, his love, his affection. I like the way her voice sounds during the chorus.

#10: I Ain't Goin' Down 

The song has an upbeat message about how love can get you through the hard times. Very positive.

#9: She's Not Just a Pretty Face

This song reminds me of  Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl” (actually the other way around) more for the video of the Underwood song than anything else. Just a basic upbeat “Girls Can Do Anything” message. I like that

#8: Up!

A downright upbeat positive song. Everytime I have felt down about something I have used the “There is no way but up from here” mentality. It is an outstanding outlook. It is so low on the rank here because I am not a fan of the “I wish I could grow a beard” line.

#7: Nah!

I am not to familiar with this situation. This song is #7 because Shania sings about being naked. Also the successfulness of her moving on. That sounds less sleazy. Its catchy.

#6: C'est La Vie

“Must be Monday, what a dumb day, can’t drag my butt out of bed. Somebody stop me, I need another coffee like a hole in my head.” Positivity again. You just sometimes have to say “Don’t let it get to you”. Life is sometimes just gonna suck.

#5: It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing

I think I can relate to this song. There are times when you struggle for so long to get over something and someone but it still hurts all the time. “There’s no need to worry, I’m really alright” It’s a fight. For the similar experiences I have had and will have, this song is #5

# 4: Forever and For Always

Her voice on this song makes this song. The strength of keeping a love that you do not want to let go. The video is so beautiful too. She looks so natural. It is astounding. 

#3:When You Kiss Me

This sounds like the big final scene of a movie. It was the final song on the CD too. “I can see you with me when I’m older, all my lonely nights are finally over. You took the weight of the world off my shoulders". The verses are the strong part of this song I believe.

#2: I'm Gonna Getcha Good!

This video had to cost a few million dollars. It was her first song back in years. It seemed so big and epic. This is ranked so high SIMPLY for the amount of impact it had at the time.

#1: Thank You Baby! (for Makin' Someday Come So Soon)

This song has such a powerful strings section that kicks in just before her vocals start. It makes it epic. I one day pray for the day I can quote this song to someone. It would be nice if they actually got the reference. It kind of is also a perk of optimism. Love can always be around the corner.

Shania Twain: Come on Over

After an astonishing 4 month layoff, the Shania Twain blog returns. When I last left off, I had reviewed her singles chronologically from her “The Woman In Me” album. Now I move on to “Come On Over” (The eighth highest selling album of all time) but I will do it in a different format here. I will rank the songs from worst to best in my opinion on the release.

This album had 16 songs. 12 of which were released as singles.

#16. "Love Gets Me Every Time" 

This one happened to be the first single of the album. Infectious song but I just don’t like the lyrics at all. Too poppy for my liking.

#15 “Honey, I'm Home”

This for the same reason. The same exact reason as #16. (other than being the first single)

#14 “That Don't Impress Me Much”

16 and 15 here again. This is actually turning into a burnout of the concept.

 

#13 “I Won't Leave You Lonely”

This song features an accordion backing, something that I don’t know too many that do. The lyrics are great and all but I don’t like the melody very much, however, I find it very catchy.

#12 “Come On Over”

This at one point was one of my favorite songs on the album. I do like the positive upbeat message but now it just seems like something that Rascal Flatts would sing (that sounds like a slight, it is not intended as one). Noticed the accordion on this one too.

#11 “Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)”

The fiddle that guides throughout the song, makes the song in my opinion. But lyrically, I am not a huge fan of it.

#10 “Man! I Feel Like A Woman”

This song is poppy just like 16-14 were BUT it is SO catchy that it can even override the lyrics. Oh and…

#9 “Rock This Country”

Much like Come On Over, through the years this one has dropped in my mind. Positive and upbeat and all that. I like the na-na-na’s that bumper the chorus. It sounds like it could be a Presidential campaign song (cause it was)

#8 “From This Moment On”

It is a big song. It seems like a wedding song. I am not getting married. This song has no bearing on my life, irritates the hell out of me. I did see this song performed live by Bryan White (who did duet on the original version ) and Leann Rimes though. The instrumental work is great. This ranks high for those two reasons. Lyrically this really hits me in places that I don’t want to be hit.

#7 “You've Got a Way”

This one has actually been moving up my list, I used to dislike this song severely but over the years I have begun to understand the message more. I would love to be capable of something the second verse describes

“You've got a way with words
You get me smiling even when it hurts
There's no way to measure what your love is worth
I can't believe the way you get through to me”

#6 “If You Wanna Touch Her, Ask! ”

I like this song, it kind of highlights my method for love, get to know someone first. But the title is kind of ridiculous, not for the advice it gives but the fact it has to be given. It is fun to pretend she is saying “If You Want To Touch Her Ass”

#5 “Black Eyes, Blue Tears”

The song which was not released as a single is an anti-domestic violence song. Kind of encouraging the victims to stand up and fight back. Its upbeat too. Taylor Swift has a song about a guy beating the crap out of her which is also upbeat “Tell Me Why”, this one is soooo much better than Swifty’s. Melody wise, it is great. Lyrically outstanding. Great all around.

“Definitely found my self esteem, finally I’m forever free to dream”

#4 ”When”

I love the first line of this song “If elephants could fly, I’d be a little more optimistic” . The song uses great metaphors. The guitar work is very interesting. It just sounds different in a good way

#3 “You're Still The One”

“You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life”

From This Moment On really bothers me because it has no bearing on my life. This song technically doesn’t either. I can spin it in my mind. That one was about when you have already found someone and are ready to commit to them. This seems like just a step or two away from that. Like the big dramatic moment in a movie. Like when Ross and Rachel came together on Friends (early in the series).

#2 "Whatever You Do! Don't!"

This song is about the attraction. The way someone can crumble you with a single move. The wonderful torture. I have been there. I actually love the feeling of falling like the song describes. This song illustrates that. Totally reminiscent for me and that is why it is up so high on this list.

#1 “I'm Holdin' On To Love (To Save My Life)”

The clapping. God I love the clapping along. Its upbeat. And the clapping. The lyrics too. But the clapping. I really love that clapping.

The Music That Built Me

You know what I love about Country Music? Among other things, its the fact that I repeatedly find songs that mirror my own life. For example, the Brantley Gilbert song "You Don't Know Her Like I Do", which describes the struggle of overcoming a lost love. Or Whiskey Lullaby, which I have determined recently has perhaps the greatest 2nd verse ever. She sends him into incredible despair but feels just as bad as she makes him feel and eventually ends up suffering the same fate. Its an uplifting and human genre. It has the ability to break your heart but create optimism in the place of that emptiness.

 
I love any genre where they can just sit down on a stool with their instrument and guide the listeners through a story. Especially barefoot (I know Shania has done this)
I love it when I wake up with a song in my head, especially if I haven't heard it in a while. It has happened a lot recently with The Band Perry and Miranda Lambert (the Miranda ones make perfect sense, she is playing in my car enough over the past few years to stick).

I love songs that remind me of other songs. Eric Church's latest, Springsteen, reminds me of Clint Black's State of Mind. Especially ones by the same artist. Intentional or not. Kenny Chesney's "Somewhere With You" seems like a direct parallel to "I Can't Go There". He is reminded of every place he has ever been with her but can't go to those places because of his memories of her. Its like a perfect contradiction that makes sense.