Happy Monday (as if there's such a thing)! I only have one song this week but it has been stuck in my head for over a week now!
Like I said last week, I've been listening to a lot of country music lately. Almost every country music song reminds me of home in Mississippi but Rodney Atkins' song "Take A Back Road" really makes me miss home. This song was written by Rhett Akins and Luke Laird and sung by country music singer Rodney Atkins. It was released in April of 2011. In 2011 it reached number one on the US Country Songs Billboard.
The song is about a guy that is stuck in traffic and starts day dreaming about driving down a back road. This song speaks to my country soul and makes me want to take a back road. I usually catch myself speeding a little bit when this song comes on. There's just something about driving in south Mississippi (where every road is a back road). There are no traffic jams, there aren't red lights every 5 feet and people wave when you drive past them. I also think that, for me, this song speaks to how busy people are in the city. We always have some where to go and not enough time to get there. Everyone is pushing their way through the herd of cars crammed on the highway moving at 5mph (or not moving at all). In south Mississippi the mentality is VERY different. You'll get there when you get there, there's no need to cut someone off. Just relax turn on some George Strait and enjoy the ride.
Take A Back Road by Rodney Atkins
Well that's my Southern Soapbox! I hope you enjoyed the song and it spoke to your inner country soul like it does mine.
Last week I did my first Maizy Music post! I hope y'all enjoy this weeks as much as you seemed to enjoy last weeks post!
If you don't know the following song then you are not human, or you're REALLY REALLY young and shouldn't be online without adult supervision (but even that's not an excuse). What song is that you ask? None other than Don McLean's American Pie. Like I said, if you don't know it then there's something seriously wrong. Don McLean released this iconic hit in 1971, in part, to mourn the death of Buddy Holly. The first verse and line "The day the music died" refers to the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson JR). Apart from that verse McLean never told what his original meaning to the song was. He insisted that "Music is beyond analysis, much like poetry" and that people should interpret it for themselves. A popular theory for the remainder of the song is that it has to do with the events of the 60's (the Kennedy and MLK assassination for example). Another theory is that Don McLean wrote it regarding the events of the Altamont Free Concert but since McLean never said this to be true there is no way to know for sure. There are also TONS of references to American-Folk songs ("The Book Of Love"by the Monotones, Don Cornell's "The Bible Tells Me So", "Helter Skelter" by the Beatles and many many more) and other popular 60's activities, like a sock hop (the line "You both kicked off you shoes").
American Pie by Don McLean
Let's mix it up shall we? I have been on a country music kick lately. I grew up listening to country music and still love it. I particularly love the song American Honey by Lady Antebellum. It was released in January of 2010 and was written by the members of the Lady Antebellum band, Hilary Lindsay, Cary Barlowe, and Shane Stevens. There isn't too much mystery as to the songs meaning. It is about the desire to escape the pressures and responsibility of adult hood and go back in time to a much simpler time of childhood. I was surprised to find out that this song was not well received by critics. Personally, I love the song. It makes me immediately nostalgic for home, and by home I do not mean Texas. Despite the fact that I was born in Alabama and have lived in Texas since I was three years old, I do not consider either of those places to be 'home'. Home is south Mississippi. I spent every summer of my childhood their and loved every moment of it. This song takes me back to riding horses with my two cousins, swimming in the river and playing Indians and I often find myself wishing I could go back to that time. "Nothing's sweeter than summertime".
American Honey by Lady Antebellum
Well, that's my musical Southern Soapbox! I hope you enjoyed the songs and learning a little something about me! Have a great week!
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I was in choir from the time I was in third grade and all the way up to high school. I also spent some time in my parent's church choir. Rarely do I spend an entire day without music. I either listen to it in the car, while at the gym or just while I'm sitting at home writing this blog (currently playing: Good Life by OneRepublic ). My music collection is extremely eclectic. I have some newer rock like Breaking Benjamin, I have some older rock like The Beatles, I have some new country and some old. I even have a few soundtracks from movies, like Chicago, along with some American-Irish folk bands. I'm all over the place with my music. So, I decided that I should do a music post, and hopefully, if it works out I will continue to do music posts. The idea is that since I listen to most of my music during the weekend (while I'm in the car.. hence why this segment is called Maizy Music. Maizy is the name of my car.) I will pick a few songs that really stuck with me through the week end (or week, we'll see...) and post links to them on here. I will then explain why I like this song, assuming there is a reason. I am hoping that this will encourage me to listen to music I haven't considered before because my fear is that I will run out of "new songs" since I tend to listen to the same things over and over and over again. So, let's get started!
Some of you are probably familiar with this song. It's called Hallelujah and has many many singers that have done their own version. It was originally written by Leonard Cohen in 1984 to portray that "many hallelujahs exist) but, as music often does, it means different things to many different people. This particular version is by singer/songwriter Jason Manns, a gentleman you have probably never heard of it. I was introduced to him while watching a video of actor Jensen Ackles and Jensen sings one of Jason's songs. Jason's voice is very soothing to me and for whatever reason, possibly the same reason Cohen originally wrote this song, I really love it. I suppose it is a combination of the music itself and the words. I would agree with Cohen and his interpretation that there are many reasons for rejoicing, or saying "hallelujah" and they aren't always the typical "yay" moments.
Jason Manns' Hallelujah
Another song performed by Mr. Manns is Crazy Love. Typically when I find a new artist I latch on to them and listen to all their songs over and over and over again and Jason is no exception. Earlier I mentioned Jensen Ackles (he plays Dean Winchester on Supernatural, a show you should watch if you don't already, also, Jensen is from Richardson, TX which is about 15 minutes from where I live but I digress.. back to the music). Crazy Love is one of the songs he sings with Jason. Jason did not write this song, he is not the first to perform it but, again, I am now obsessed with him. Like most love songs, this song depicts what everyone wants their relationship to look like. Every women would love for a man to say this about her and actually mean it. I think, in a way, it is what a relationship looks like and it's a great way to remind yourself what your counterpart is looking to you for, comfort when it's needed, a sense of humor to brighten their day, someone to look forward to coming home to. Isn't that something we all want?
Jason Mann and Jensen Ackles singing Crazy Love
Most likely my descriptions and explanations will get shorter as time goes on. You tell me. Do you like that I explain some of the songs history? Would you prefer to just Google it yourself if you want to know? I really would like to see this "segment" do well and for people to enjoy it, and the way that happens is for "the people" to tell me what they like/don't like. They won't all be "artist themed" I will mix it up and have some rock and country in the same post, but these two songs have been stuck on repeat in my head for DAYS so I thought I would share them with you.
Well, that's my Southern Soapbox! I hope you liked it. If you didn't, let me know why or if there's something I should do differently. Perhaps as time goes on you can learn more about my life through music (that could get interesting... is there a song entitled "My Family Is Insane"? I'm sure there is...). Anywho, your feedback is much needed and appreciated!
