Crack in the Wall

2009. What a year, huh? I can't really say anything bad about it, which is probably one of the best compliments a year could get - if it were cognizant of the fact that such a thing as compliments exist.

And so, here is my last post of the absolute cracker of a year that was 2009. It is also my nineteenth (19th) of the year, the same number that I posted last year. Interesting, huh, that I should post the same number in the entirety of a year that I succeeded in posting in half a year? Or, as I would say: dun dun DUH! (cue dramatic music, please...)

Congratulations are in order to Carrie Underwood on her recent engagement to Mike Fisher, an Ottawa Senator. Congratulations. Or, you could totally say, she picked the wrong hockey player. Either way, may they have a long and happy life in each other's arms.

Any other country news? Not that I can think of.

I have discovered my favourite ever radio station, WYNK 101.5 Baton Rouge. It is the most wonderful radio station in the world for country songs and country music-lovers, I can assure you. Through it, I became acquainted with Jessica Andrews' "Who I Am," which is just beautiful, and Steve Holy's "Good Morning Beautiful," which I think I'd heard before, but I'm not sure. I must have heard Dierks Bentley's 'sexy new single' about 12 times already. It's nice. But my new favourite song, and possibly the only, singlemost reason I can't wait for next month, January, is Lady Antebellum's single, "Need You Now," from the band's new album, which is being released in January 2010. It's addicting, haunting, and beautiful.

Also, since posting last, I have obtained Gloriana's album, Gloriana (no surprises with the title there). It's a stunning premiere effort from one of country music's most promising new bands. Although none of the other songs from the album can compare to the shining "Wild At Heart," or the catchy "How Far Do You Wanna Go?" and "The Way It Goes," there are other exceptional songs, namely "Lead Me On," "If You're Leaving," "Over Me Now?," and especially "Even If I Wanted To."

And now...drum roll, please...the biggest news OF. MY. LIFE. (possible slight exaggeration here, but please let it slide, thanks.) On 13 May 2010, I will be going to my first concert ever (unless you count numerous classical symphonic performances or Charles Aznavour, but most people don't). And not just any concert. TAYLOR SWIFT. With GLORIANA as her opening band. Tears were spilled, amid bursts of surprised laughter, when I saw the tickets in my hand. Enough said.

Introducing a new song of mine. A few precursory remarks are necessary, as it is a bit of a mean and passive-agressive song. The first of which is, and this is written rather emphatically, I do NOT have issues. I am a perfectly happy, contented, unselfish, and cheerful person. It just occasionally happens that people - and by people I mean the exceptionally hateful and entitled and self-absorbed - take advantage of the person I am and take, take, take, take, take all they can and I'm left with nothing but my heart. And this is what the song is about. I wrote it with Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene" in mind, so if you sing the phrases with her melody as the accompaniment, it comes out to "Kerosene" a la moi. And yes, the chorus is only two lines long, but that's not unheard of: "People are Crazy" by Billy Currington is a perfect example ('God is great, and beer is good / and people are crazy'). As for the slighly odd first line of the chorus, it is an abstract way of saying that the unknown 'she' entity thinks she is just all that and there is no one else in the world above her, so naturally everyone else is just something to step on and at which to curl up one's nose disgustedly; it is possible that I came up with the precise phrasing 'queen of the golden hall' due to the fact that the night I wrote it, I had been watching Lord of the Rings (absolutely incredible movies!). Which one I don't remember anymore.

Crack in the Wall

I ain't like her in any way
and I sure hope to stay that way
she can't see my heart of gold
thinks respect is bought and sold
she gets fat and takes up space
and walks in like she owns the place

CHORUS:
she's the queen of the golden hall
and me, I'm just a crack in the wall

she acts like she is such a saint
and makes it clear she thinks I ain't
she gets big and I get smaller
she's been pickin' at me like a flower
no wonder that I ain't been heard
biting back those hateful words

CHORUS:
she's the queen of the golden hall
and me, I'm just a crack in the wall

by day she thinks she's always right
but she lies alone at night
when she's mad she slams the door
but when I blink she says it's war
there's something wrong with me, she says
when I ask what, she just laughs

CHORUS:
she's the queen of the golden hall
and me, I'm just a crack in the wall

she sits on her throne and barks out orders
waits for everything to come towards her
she's up in my face like a dog with a bone
but it's always she who wants to be alone
I guess there's nothing for me to do
but tell her I'm never gonna be like you

CHORUS:
cause she's the queen of the golden hall
and me, I'm just a crack in the wall
she's the queen of the golden hall
hey I'm just a crack in the wall

Merry Christmas, etc, and HAPPY NEW YEAR. It ought to be a good one!

Much love, and thank you for the musik!

NBK

p.s. Last time I praised Mr. 103, but today I have to praise Mr. 104! Yes indeed, Martin Brodeur broke the shutout record set by Terry Sawchuck all those years ago. It was a gorgeous 4-0 smoking of the Pittsburgh Penguins.