CMF: Valentine's Day(?)

Hello CMF Friends!

This week’s Country Music Friday will feature Country love songs!

*GASP* What? People sing about things other than small towns, alcohol, and trucks in country music? Sincewhen?

Since always, people. Where have you been living? Under a rock? Get with the program.

The First: You Sound Good To Me by Lucy Hale

Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars, {previously of Privileged,(previously of American Juniors – remember??!)} has broken into the music scene {or, depending on how you look at it, has re-broken into the music scene?}! How fun! This song makes me excited for summer {gear down over there, David. I just said I was excited for summer. I still prefer autumn.} Also: 1:31 of the video makes no sense to me – why include that clip? Unnecessary.

The Second: Somewhere Only We Know by Dan & Shay

I first heard these boys a couple months ago on the ray-day-o with their song 19 You & Me. Which is also great! But then, as I typically do when I hear a new artist, I youtubed them. And voila! I found this acoustic song. That they sang and recorded in the backwoods {classy}. And it also really shows off their vocal skills. So, amazing! I particularly love their mini-riff a the very end. What d’ya think about that?

The Third and Final: Hope You Get Lonely Tonight by Cole Swindell

I just really like the rhythm of this one and the way he puts stress on the latter half of each line. I will also say that you need to actually listen to the song. If you judge me purely based on the title, I am very aware that you will assume me to be some sort of bitter, terrible Valentine’s Day Grinch. That’s why I need you to listento it. Because then you’ll realize that I’m not! 

Sidenote: Cole is playing a concert tonight but I couldn’t find anyone that both loves country music AND had no Valentine’s Day plans to go with me... Le sigh. I’ll catch up with you next time, Mr. Swindell!

  

Thanks for listening!

Karla

My loves this past week

Today’s Country Music Friday selections are just the songs that have been spinning around in my head for the last week or two, either because of the artist, the lyrics, or the video. I hope you enjoy!

The First: Not Fooling Anyone by Buddy Brown 

So this guy is awesome. I discovered him two weeks ago and have been spending a lot of time listening to all of his originals and covers on youtube. I highly suggest that you do the same. Also: his name is Buddy Brown! So, similar to folks like Tim Hicks, how could he not be a country musician? I enjoy this song because I think that the bridge is clever and the song slowly unravels the story of what happened the night before. Kind of like an episode of CSI or another cop drama when you see the outcome (murder) and slowly figure out how it all played out. That got dark much faster than I intended... just listen to the song.

The Second: Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran

In the time that has not been spent listening to Buddy Brown since this video was released on Wednesday night, I have been watching this on repeat instead. I already really liked this song, but I LOVE this video. I think it’s so sweet and wonderful and adorable and perfect. I love that they’re doing yoga while the other kids are playing soccer. I love that she is sewing a patch onto his jacket. I love that he is reading to her. I love how meticulous she is when decorating her gorgeous cookie. I love that he is reading the newspaper and drinking coffee on the bus. I love it all and I love the creativity and beauty in their friendship. 

The Third and Final: Easy by Sheryl Crow

I think this may be the first week when the ladies have outnumbered the men! Unless we count Ed Sheeran, then it would make it even. But still, I think that’s impressive. I like that this song is about making your own happiness, despite your situation. Yes, it may be pouring rain, but that doesn't have to ruin their day.

Thanks for listening!

An Important Message.

Hello, Good Morning, and TGIFBTMICMF! (aka Thank God it’s Friday because that means it’s Country Music Friday!)

It’s been a couple weeks and things have certainly been booming in the country music arena! This week’s selection is brought to you by: Summer. 

There have been so many awesome new songs released lately that I been forced to react to by yelling, alone in my car, “OMGTHISISGOINGTOBEMYNEWSUMMERJAM!”

Now, as you probably know, I often exclaim things to myself (or sometimes other drivers) while I’m alone in my car. But what I bet you didn’t know is that I use the term “jam” in my everyday vocabulary. Yeah. I know. I’m hip like that. Try not to get too close. You may catch hypothermia because I am so cool. So settle in - it’s a good one this week! (But let’s be honest, we’re talking about country music here: they’re all good ones.)

The First: Boys ‘Round Here by Blake Shelton

 Like you didn’t think this was going to be on here. I’ve just been loving this new Shelton song. It’s amazing. It’s got a little hint of that ‘country rap’ that Jason Aldean paved the way for with Dirt Road Anthem two years ago, but also fully embraces the hillbilly by interspersing “re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-redneck” to emulate a record scratch in the background. How clever. And, of course, let’s not forget my favourite and least favourite line in the entire song, the line that marks the culmination of the chorus, the line that makes me want to puke and sing along all at the same time: Chewtobacca, chewtobacca, chewtobacca, spit.

Just amazing. I also very much enjoy the cameo appearances of the cow, the piglet, and the chickens. Because why not.

(PS He also references/makes fun of ‘the dougie’)

The Second: Beat This Summer by Brad Paisley

http://tinyurl.com/blo43ea haha, just kidding:

 He’s right. There’s no way we’ll be able to beat this summer. Because this summer is going to be awesome. AMIRYTE? Serious item to research: are there any boardwalks In my town that I can go hang out on? I feel like that needs to happen this summer. Why? Because Mr. Paisley basically just told me that I have to.  Please note that I almost left this song out of this week’s selection because I have been in a 4 year-old war with a friend about what the best season is (autumn, of course) and I wasn’t sure if this would weaken my argument. But then I thought, “No. Karla The Martyr would never allow a silly vendetta to disservice you, the readers of CMF.” So here you go. You’re welcome.

The Third and Final: Find Me a Baby by Josh Turner aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music

 Because summer is when all the good-lookin’ ones come out of the shadows and grace us with their chiselled chins and six packs and tans. And who better to represent them than the deep-voiced beauty that is Josh Turner? Answer: No one. There is no one better.

Thanks for listening!

Lists and whatnot

Time to celebrate – it’s Friday, CMFers!

I feel like all the songs that I’ve been loving lately have involved some sort of list-making. What I mean by this is that a large portion of the song lyrics are comprised of the artist listing off all the wonderful things about their love interest. Or all the things about themselves that their love interest makes better. In some cases the love interests are people. In other cases they are a time of year. Or a country. Did I lose you on that last one? That’s okay. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.

The First: Friday Night by Lady Antebellum or Eric Paslay

I. Love. This. Song. I can’t even... ah. So good. So good, in fact, that I have found not one but two great versions of it. Two! If that’s not a marker of greatness, I don’t know what is.

The Second: Ten Time Crazier by Blake Shelton

So adorable. Every girl wants a guy to say that he’s crazy about her. But then Blake Shelton goes ahead and literally surpasses all men on the planet by saying he’s not just crazy about Miranda (we can assume that she’s the one he’s singing about. I always just do.) but he’s ten times crazier about her. Ten times! Imagine winning the lottery and being all “guys! I just won a million dollars!” and then Blake Shelton walks in and goes, “that’s nothing. I just won ten million dollars. I’m buying ya’ll your own unicorn.” That would hurt a little bit, don’t you think? You may say to me, “It’s okay, the good news is that I still have a million dollars to comfort me.” Well guess what, money isn’t everything. Way to be materialistic. So what have we learned today, boys? The lesson is that you should tell that special person in your life that you are eleven times crazier about them than anything else on the planet and just blow Blake Shelton out of the running for Most Romantic Cowboy. You’re welcome. 

The Third: Point at You by Justin Moore

The song that puts a giant, stupid smile on my face whenever it comes on my radio dial. It’s just so happy and sweet and wonderful. 

The Fourth and Final: Stronger Beer  by Tim Hicks

 I know, I know. I usually limit CMF to three songs but I just couldn’t do that this week. I just couldn’t, people! And when you hear this song, you’ll know why. It’s too good/ridiculous to pass up. And it would be quite impolite to leave it out of my Lists Roundup, and that’s just not very Canadian, eh? So here you go. A bonus song this week! Woohoo!!! Okay, calm down. Save that energy for your big Friday night plans. Mine include making popcorn, cleaning my house and – hold on to your hats ‘cuz it’s about to get crazy - watching tv. So, yeah. I’m saving my energy.

 Thanks for listening!

Remember that time I ran a 10k?

So, I ran my 10k this weekend. And it was difficult and sweaty and exhilarating and fantastic. I was surprised by the adrenaline that hit me when I crossed the start line, but it worked in my favor and helped me surpass the goals I had set for myself going into this thing. I think the hard part now will be trying to maintain the motivation I've developed. I just have to remember that I always feel good after a run.

But also, let's please discuss the following: why were there 10,000+ people up before 8:00 am on a Sunday morning to exercise? Because I was, and still am, mystified by it.
Other questions I wish I had an answer to: why was I up so early on a Sunday morning to exercise? Why did I see so many people running this race in jeans? Why can't I have a little pet goat? Why am I not yet best friends with Kate Middleton? Thoughts for another day, I suppose.