Category Archives: Music Videos

by | March 9, 2015 · 8:00 am

Best of Brooks and Dunn

Deciding on an album for the Album Analysis Paper was an EXTREMELY difficult process, for me at least. I went through album after album, artist after artist, and I still question “Have I made the right choice?”. Because I decided on a Rascal Flatts album, I thought it was only necessary to highlight one of the artists that I tossed around as an option. Even then it was still difficult to decide… Garth… Kenny… Brad… Carrie… but seeing as though Brooks and Dunn was the first concert that I had ever been to, country or otherwise, I decided a playlist of my favorite Brooks and Dunn songs would be the best choice.

Although no longer together, I had the honor of seeing Brooks and Dunn in concert three times! I definitely have a special place in my heart for this duo and what better way to show my love for them than through a playlist of my own (in no particular order).

“That Ain’t No Way to Go”

This Brooks and Dunn classic was the last single to drop from their 1993 “Hard Workin’ Man” album and was the sixth No. 1 single for the country duo. Although sad lyrics, this catchy song has a way of sneaking its way into your heart and your head.

“Play Something Country”

This 2005 boot-stomper was the 20th and final No. 1 single for Brooks and Dunn, but it was quite a way to go out! This fun song makes you want to get up and dance, obviously to “something country”. The call out for honky-tonk tunes was heard loud and clear!

“Red Dirt Road”

With the classic sound of Brooks and Dunn and the relatable topics of “Red Dirt Road”, you can’t go wrong. There is no surprise that country fans agreed as this song soared to No. 1 and still continues to be a country music anthem.

“She Used to Be Mine”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js6jqy1NtI8

‘She Used to Be Mine’ was another hit from the pair’s 1993 “Hard Workin’ Man” album, and yes, yet another No. 1. This is a beautifully sad song about a long lost love that will never be forgotten.

“My Maria”

A cover of B. W. Stevenson’s original ’70s Top 10, “My Maria” was also a chart-topper for Brooks and Dunn. It is definitely one of my favorites; you really can’t have a Brooks and Dunn playlist without this 1996 Song of the Year and Grammy Winner.

“Neon Moon”

Yet another No. 1, “Neon Moon” is a slow dance, Brooks and Dunn Classic from their album “Brand New Man”(1992). Turning 23 years old this month, this song still draws the crowd to the dance floor and remains one of my all-time favorite country songs.

“Boot Scootin’ Boogie”

You can’t get more country than a little “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”! A 1992 again from their album “Brand New Man” this song makes you want to throw your boots on and head out to a dancehall.

“Brand New Man”

What a beautifully romantic country song! This song speaks to me and obviously too many others as it was yet another No. 1 for the country duo.

“Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You”

This No. 1 from their “Steers and Stripes” (2001) album went on to be their second biggest hit. Personally, when I think of Brooks and Dunn, this is the first song that comes to mind. The passion and love in this song is inspiring and most definitely deserving of its No. 1 status.

“Only in America”

Who doesn’t love a country song describing the beauty of the American Dream! This song combines relatable life stories and the patriotism of true Americans to create, you guessed it, a No. 1 hit!

There is so much to love about Brooks and Dunn, and this is just the surface of their legacy in country music. This playlist reflects my favorites but what did I leave out? The beauty of music is that everyone experiences each song, artist, and album completely differently. What are your favorite Brooks and Dunn songs?

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Filed under Lists, Music Videos

by | March 5, 2015 · 8:00 am

A Short List of My Favorite Garth Brooks Songs

Since I decided to analyze Garth Brooks’ second album No Fences for my project, I’ve found myself listening to a lot of Garth the past few days and I’ve found myself reminiscing about all the songs that I have grown up on and loved throughout the years. So naturally I decided to compile a playlist of some of my favorite Garth songs to share with you guys.

First and foremost, I want to put “Friends in Low Places” on here, which I’m sure most of you are probably pretty familiar with. Not the regular album version though, but “the long version” of the song that Garth only plays live. This version includes a third verse that not a whole lot of people know. I’ve always found it really interesting that Garth has versions of certain songs he only plays live, such as “Friends in Low Places” and “The Thunder Rolls”.

“Belleau Wood” is a lesser-known Garth song that tells the story of a soldier in World War I at the Battle of Belleau Wood. I’ve always really loved this song because it was my grandfather’s (who served in WWII) favorite song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhdR5Fs_2dk

“Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” is the story about a cowboy who has been competing for years and just doesn’t have the strength to keep at it anymore with the stress of being away from home all the while watching a younger crowd taking over the business. My Dad really loves this song and I can always remember listening to it with him when I was younger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyWADizqtHk

“Mom” is one of the singles off of Garth’s newest album, and obviously I can’t listen to it without thinking about my own mom. It’s a very pretty and sad song and a perfect song to get everyone in a room to have a good cry, so if you’re in that kind of mood, I highly recommend it, just make sure you have a phone nearby to make a call to your mom when it’s over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4uhLf1uTLY

“Standing Outside the Fire” is probably the first Garth Brooks song I ever heard, and it’s been one of my favorites for a long time. It’s about living life to the fullest and is a sort of inspirational song.

https://vimeo.com/60119381

“The Dance” is a song I thought would be a fitting finale to this short playlist. It’s considered one of Garth’s signature songs and is a good love/heartbreak song.

Garth Brooks has been one of my favorite country artists for as long as I can remember. He has had countless hits and has a sound that can’t be copied or reproduced by anyone except Garth. He also has a good mix of different sounds in his music, fusing country music with rock and pop to create his distinct sound and style, and through the years he has kept making hit songs and without changing his style, and I really admire him for that. I’ve also heard that he is an excellent live performer, so I’m hoping he announces some Texas tour dates in the future so I can experience his one of a kind music for myself. I realize this is a pretty short playlist, but of course I couldn’t fit all of my favorite songs on here, but do you guys like Garth Brooks and notice any songs I may have left out?

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Filed under Live Music, Music Videos, New Country

by | February 18, 2015 · 8:00 am

Influences on the Big Band Sound of Western Swing

Because of our recent focus on country sub-genres and our talk with Christine Warren, I have taken an interest in Western Swing.  As I was listening to some of Bob Wills’ music, I recognized a certain sound: Mariachi Music.  Mariachi music includes, similar to Western Swing, a fiddle or violin, blaring horns, a variety of string instruments and the traditional “Big Band” Sound.  These similarities struck a chord with me because of my interest in learning more about older country music (I have little knowledge before Neo-Traditional George Strait and Pop country Garth Brooks) and because of my love of Mariachi music and my Hispanic culture.

To further understand the influences of traditional Mexican music on Western swing, we must listen to the King of Western Swing himself, Bob Wills.  His interesting band leader qualities and his high pitched interjections make for lively dance music.  The big band sound is key to the inner workings of Western Swing as well as Mariachi music.  Now here is Bob Wills…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C08jmN1sM8

I have chosen this next video that features Los Lobos singing “El Pescado Nadador” because although it is not heavily traditional mariachi music it does feature many of the same qualities.

Wanting to look more into Mexican and Tejano influences, I stumbled across Radio Cultures: The Sound Medium in American Life.  I found that not only is Western Swing and later forms of country music influenced by the instrumentation of mariachi bands but also by German and Czech polka bands.  One of the easiest sounds to pin point as a similarity between Western Swing and Mariachi Music is the fiddle and, in some cases, the violin.  The following video features violinists from Mariachis Los Arrieros and the Quebe Sisters’ fiddlers as they demonstrate the similar sounds of the two distinctly different genres and their ability to get the crowd dancing.

Big names that were influenced by this traditional Mexican music include Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Freddy Fender and Linda Ronstadt. Much of the western swing style with other incorporated influences eventually morphed into the beginnings of Rockabilly.  The exploding horns in the beginning of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” exemplify the obvious Mexican influence on country music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY

Understanding the intricacies of artists’ influences is a difficult task but it does make for some inspiring findings.  If there is any one thing that I love about country music, it is its ability to transcend one specific influence and incorporate a variety of genres and styles.

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Filed under Class work, Country Subgenres, Music Videos, USA, Western Swing

by | February 17, 2015 · 8:00 am

Jamie Foxx tribute to George Strait on the CBS George Strait special

George+Strait+Norma+Strait+Academy+Country+B9F99BaVpvjlWhile watching The CBS George Strait special, I saw Jamie Foxx give a Tribute to George Strait by singing his song “you look so good in love”. Before Jamie Sang the song he mentioned an experience when he was younger about trying to go see George in the town next over to his hometown. He talked about when he found out that George was coming to his town to preform, that he was going to see him no matter what even if he had to go over the tracks to see him. As Jamie said, unfortunately he wasn’t able to see him but no one believed him that George strait had performed there until he met George Strait and he verified his story.

I enjoyed watching the tribute for one because I love that song but also it shows how much George Strait has influenced country music artist but also other Genre Artists like Jamie Foxx who is an R&B artist. It amazes me how a country artist could influence an artist who isn’t even in the same Genre. This truly shows how country music has shaped music today and how George will be known as one of the greats for all time.

While Jamie was singing the tribute, I saw some similarities and some differences in how he sung it and how George sings it. In Jamie’s version, it has more of a gospel and R&B sound to his voice; whereas with George, it has a deeper tone and a more rustic feel to his voice. The most profound similarity is the way the music flows with lyrics showing that side of Nashville sound and being elegant and smooth in both of their versions of the song.

Although Jamie wasn’t the only person who sung a song in tribute to George i think that his was the most profound due to the fact that exemplifies that country music can cross all boundaries even other genres. As I finished watching the rest of special I started to look back to my past to remember things about George Strait and how much his music has affected me and I am not even a country singer so I knew that some of the people like Jamie, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton , Miranda Lambert, and Taylor swift who are singers, how much he has affected their lives in a tremendous way by either influencing their music or allowing them to be the opening act in his concert for their first concert. George Strait has and will always be an iconic figure in the music business no matter what genre it is and this tribute below shows how this is true.

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Filed under Awards, Live Music, Music Videos, New Traditionalism, Reflection, Uncategorized

by | February 13, 2015 · 8:00 am

My Ultimate Miranda Lambert Playlist

With Miranda Lambert’s huge success of winning the Best Country Album Award at the Grammys for her album Platinum, I began reminiscing on some of her old albums and decided to compile a playlist of my all time favorite Miranda Lambert songs, although there’s no way I can fit ALL of my favorites I’ll do my best!

“Gunpowder & Lead” has to be one of my absolute favorites. Growing up Lambert’s family took in abused women and children. She wrote this song for those women, describing how she herself would handle an abusive relationship. Although it covers a dark topic the song is a kickass girl power jam.

“Mama’s Broken Heart” was actually given to Lambert by Kacey Musgraves, one of the original writers along with Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. It’s about a girl who gets her heart broken and starts acting out because of it. When people in the town notice the girl’s behavior her mom is informed and tries to put her in line. I love this song because it perfectly describes the crazy emotions that go through your head when you get your heart broken.  I actually got to see Brandy Clark perform this when she opened for Jennifer Nettles this past summer!

“Only Prettier” is one of Lambert’s snarkiest songs, written about two groups of girls that cannot get along and think the absolute worst of one another. The song is about Lambert’s group of friends saying the only difference between the two groups is that hers is prettier.

“I Wanna Die” describes the singer’s relationship with a guy who she knows is a complete jerk, but wants him anyways. This song is super relatable for just about any girl on the planet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_UPbe8XgGE

Now we transition to a group of deeper, more meaningful songs. The song “Over You” was actually written by Lambert and Blake Shelton about Shelton’s old brother, who was killed in a car accident when he was a teenager. Lambert added the song to her album Four the Record to honor Shelton and his brother’s memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D2-oD06SWo

“The House That Built Me” holds the biggest personal connection for me. Written about a young woman going back to the house she grew up in to visit and try to find a small piece of the person she used to be. When this song first started playing on the radio my mom always told me it reminded her of me because she knew I was going to grow up and leave home (Virginia) someday.

I’ve always loved “Famous in a Small Town.” My dad grew up in a small town and whenever we go back to Alabama to visit I’m constantly reminded of this song. Everyone knows everything about everyone else. This past summer I went to the mall with my dad and my aunt and they saw at least 2 people they knew in EVERY. SINGLE. STORE. It was the longest shopping day I’ve ever had, needless to say this song is not an over exaggeration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMXG1-YKn1c

One of Miranda Lambert’s newer songs, “Automatic,” is another great track. I love it because it’s one of those songs that brings you back to your roots. It reminds us all of simpler times before we had internet to do everything and before we started living in this “instant” society. I think it’s a great reminder that we need to work for the good things in life.

Kerosene is by far my favorite Miranda Lambert album, and as many of you may know it was her first album. All of the songs on the album are very simple, such as “I Can’t Be Bothered,” “New Strings,” “Kerosene,” “Me and Charlie Talking,” and “Bring Me Down.” These songs make me think of the battle between the Texas Country and Nashville Country subgenres that we’ve been discussing in class. This album is very much Texas Country and each song has a very raw sound.

Miranda Lambert has been very successful with 5 hit albums, countless music awards, and years of sold out tours. She is a strong woman with admirable morals and amazing talent. Her country music style changes with each album and I can’t wait to see what she does next. What are some of your favorite Miranda Lambert songs? Leave them in the comments below!

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Filed under Awards, Music Videos, Reflection, Song Analysis, Women