Much to Matt's chagrin, I've sort of gotten back into my country phase. Country music, that is. Pop country, more old-timey bluegrass fare or southern gospel, I like it all.
My first country phase lasted all through high school--it started when my dad used to drive me to seminary in the morning in his sporty F-150, and we'd coast through the dimness of Foothill Blvd. with a little Vince Gill or somesuch blarin' on the radio. And honestly, I have no idea how that started, because all we'd do is make fun of the lyrics and talk about how we should write country songs.
Then, I don't remember exactly when I heard "Just to See You Smile" and "Little Red Rodeo"--sometime in ninth grade--but that was my turning point. I mean I had always had some affection for Dolly and Johnny and Garth and Reba (honestly, even the haters have got to love "Fancy." What's not to love?), but I pretty much turned up my nose at the other stuff. I remember hearing "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" while visiting the Kerksieks one preteen summer and practically vomiting all over my stirrup pants. And, unlike Ray Charles, I did not like the "stories" aspect of country. I thought that was very dumb. (Except for Fancy.)
But when I heard those two songs--especially "Smile"--I thought, "I could LOVE this." And then the Dixie Chicks came out, along with a sort of pop-country crossover led by people like Shania Twain (boots and all), so I embraced that, and KZLA became a permanent fixture on the van's presets, and that phase lasted for me, funnily enough, until I moved to Utah.
That is kinda funny.
Well, my freshman year at BYU I dated a guy who had a Weezer poster on his dorm window and wore a "punk-rock belt" almost daily (do semi-preppy people still wear those?), so I guess that's kinda where it ended.
Although over the years I have still reveled in my smallish collection of country CDs from time to time--it hasn't gotten much bigger since then and consists of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Deana Carter, Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride, and one lone Greatest Hits of Collin Raye (for the "Little Red Rodeo"). I really do love those Dixie Chicks. Plus the mix tapes and CDs that include my faves from Diamond Rio, Rascal Flatts, Phil Vassar, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and your other basic 90s country stars, most of whom I'm happy to report are still going strong. Hooray for them.
And I'm even giving those new-millenium folks a chance. Gretchen Wilson, Dierks Bentley, you people popped up out of nowhere.
Anyway, long story short, when Phil & Lynnette moved back, we got cable again, and I have to tell ya, I am loving that GAC. Or CMV. Whatever it's called. I'm so out of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm still just a casual listener. But it's so great, isn't it? (Don't answer if you disagree.) I just want to go to a barn dance or something.
So, in the pop-country vein, I'm currently recruiting people to go with me to see Tim & Faith bare their Soul2Soul at the Delta Center August 5. Anyone in? I know Matt's not. But I just love that Tim, and I love that Faith, and I love them together.
And I can still listen to "Just to See You Smile" over and over and never get tired of it. "Little Red Rodeo" and Collin Raye in general, not so much. But I still love Tim.
And I love the stories. (Mostly.)
Semi-related: Did anyone else sit through the entire Matt Lauer-Britney Spears interview the other night? I couldn't stop watching it, for some reason. Even when she made me a little uncomfortable with "sad faces," awkward references to her husband, and the defense for driving with her kid on her lap on PCH: "I used to do the same thing on my dad's lap in our truck. We're country."
11 comments:
Also, Matt Lauer needed to put on some socks with those loafers. I guess the 80s are back, though.
Re: Dixie Chicks, I've just seen their video for "Not Ready to Make Nice." But I liked it. So I'll probably pick up the CD one of these days.
I seem to recall a time when you guys made fun of my taste in country.
But that's okay - I won't hold it over your head(s)!
I always listen to more Country during the summer. Country music just seems to be the summer type- very easy going and relatively happy.
Mom, I'm pretty sure I only ever made fun of you for liking "I Hope You Dance."
Which hey, I liked that song too, the first time I heard it. By the five hundredth time, I was over it.
P.S. You're right Melissa, country is great summer music.
I understand the phases. I do the same thing, KROQ to KZLA to KBIG to KLOS. (I love XM for this reason)
My taste in country definetly leans toward the Montgomary Gentry, Big and Rich side.
Eliza, that would be such a great concert! Sadie loves Faith and listens to and sings her songs all the time. I'm all over the XM dial with my music. Life would be so sad without music and all its varities. Last night the kids were all dancing to C+C music factory. It was so fun. It just lifts ones soul!
I also was converted by "Just to See You Smile." I will never get sick of it, no matter how many times I hear it. Did you see the Oprah with Tim & Faith on it? Hope you have a great time at the concert.
Also couldn't tear myself away from the Britney debacle. I felt bad for her. I mean sure she is messed up but she is just really immature. Why didn't anyone fix her fake eyelash mess?? What about when Matt Lauer was like, "you believe in Karma, do you think he's going to leave you now?" I thought he did a really crappy job as a reporter.
Sadly perhaps, I still have so many things to say about that interview. I really didn't realize how uneducated Britney Spears seems to be--although I remember seeing her on the Rosie O'Donnell show like 8 years ago and when Rosie asked what she got on the SAT she said, "Oh, I think like 600 or something?"
That said, it's very difficult for me to believe that she really didn't know how far along she is in her pregnancy, or that she didn't prepare more for the questions she knew would be coming.
Matt: "How far along are you?"
Britney: (pause) "Um...you know what...I don't really know! Like 6 or 7 months, I think?"
Matt: (pause) "Ummm, you're due in September, right?"
Maybe they were both a little tipsy. Or heavily sedated. All in all it was an awkward experience, yet I kept watching. I did actually cover my eyes a few times though.
I still like "I Hope You Dance" and I'm one of those people who can eat the same thing many days in a row and NEVER gets tired of hearing a favorite song!!
I thought the same thing, Katie, that maybe she was trying to keep her due date a secret. But... (a) due dates mean almost nothing, and (b) even if she was just being secretive, that was an awfully awkward way to go about it.
I guess I should admit I still kind of like "I Hope You Dance" or at least the idea behind it...but...I don't know, something about it bugs me.
I want XM radio in my car. As it is the car's antenna refuses to go all the way down or all the way up--and I'm not even "country," how sad is that. So, in the car Matt and I mostly listen to CDs or to each other breathing. haha.
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