All That's Good

Happy 2010!

I know that comes a little late, considering that tomorrow is the first day of February (ALREADY?!?!), but this is my first post of the year, and I think it's fitting to pay tribute to the new year. May nothing but "all that's good" fill your lives and be the theme of your year - and I guess not just this year, but every year as well.

This year's Grammy Awards are going on as we speak, or as I type, so I'll probably elucidate on those in my next post, so I'll just say that Taylor is due to perform in about 5 minutes, and Lady Antebellum has already (in my opinion) stolen the show with their absolutely stunning song, "Need You Now."

That serves as a wonderful segway into my next section, which is the one where I introduce new music that I've recently fallen in love with. I guess I'll start with Lady Antebellum, because the band's new album was released on Tuesday (January 26th). I myself got it on Friday, and so far I am lovin' it completely. The track listing is as follows: (1) "Need You Now," (2) "Our Kind of Love," (3) "American Honey," (4) "Hello World," (5) "Perfect Day," (6) "Love This Pain," (7) "When You Got a Good Thing," (8) "Stars Tonight," (9) "If I Knew Then," (10) "Something 'Bout a Woman," and (11) "Ready To Love Again." I haven't listened to it enough times to be able to pass judgment on any of the songs yet, but as you may have guessed, I absolutely love the first one. But they're all written and executed in the only way Dave Haywood, Chris Kelley, and Hillary Scott and their various additional songwriters know how: in beautiful Lady Antebellum fashion.

I would also like to dwell a little on a movie that I saw the other day, "Crazy Heart." It features the talents of Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Colin Farrell. It's a movie about a run-down-by-life country singer, and it contains the most beautiful country songs that I have ever heard, really Johnny Cash- and Hank Williams-caliber songs, including (my personal favourite) "Fallin' and Flyin'," "I Don't Know," and "Hold On You," as well as the award-winning theme, "The Weary Kind." I recommend this film to anyone and everyone, and I think the plethora of film and critics' awards it has won also recommend the film. I like to think of it as the emobiment of a country song: life, love, and loss, and then, ultimately, the gain of something great that takes the place of what was lost.

Taylor Swift has a new single out, "Today Was a Fairytale," and it's featured on the soundtrack for a movie that she is in, "Valentine's Day." The song continues in the formidable Taylor tradition, and is a wonderful addition to her body of work to date.

What a jump. From Taylor Swift to my less-than-formidable basic lyrics, but, that's the way it is. Deal with it.

This song is about, as the title so subtly suggests, all that's good. It started out as a tribute to someone I love and respect and admire greatly, and it ended up as a song that's about a person (whether he is real or not is irrelevent, but I like to think he is real) who embodies all of the good qualities and personal characteristics that are rare enough to find individually. The pre-chorus was the first thing I wrote (and it just popped into my head one day while I was en route to the garage in my house around Christmastime), and at first it connected to a completely different chorus, but then I realised that chorus was really really bad, so I wrote this one and the song kind of evolved into that which is presented here for you to read.

All That's Good

Every time something good happens to you
and works out the way you wanted it to
you never take credit for it
When people give praise you keep none for yourself
you've always put others ahead of yourself
and I love you for it

PRE-CHORUS:
But please, don't sell yourself short
there's more to you than meets the eye
don't forget what that's worth

CHORUS:
There's something special 'bout you
all that's good comes first to you
you stand out against the crowd
your heart's bigger than any I've found
you're like some modern-day Robin Hood
filling lives with all that's good

Whenever you are walking by yourself
and you run into anybody else
you hold the door open for them
If ever you see people being mean
or others not being treated fairly
you will stick up for them

PRE-CHORUS:
But please, don't sell yourself short
there's more to you than meets the eye
don't forget what that's worth

CHORUS:
There's something special 'bout you
all that's good comes first to you
you stand out against the crowd
your heart's bigger than any I've found
you're like some modern-day Robin Hood
filling lives with all that's good

BRIDGE:
you move with such elegance
possess such intelligence
speak with such eloquence
smile with benevolence
and wait with such patience

PRE-CHORUS:
that you shouldn't sell yourself short
'cause there's more to you than meets the eye
please don't forget what that's worth

CHORUS:
Y'know, there's something special 'bout you
all that's good comes first to you
you stand out against the crowd
your heart's bigger than any I've found
like some modern-day Robin Hood
you fill lives with all that's good

like a hero or modern Robin Hood
you fill my life with all that's good

I just realised, that Taylor writes about princes and fairytales and I just wrote a song about Robin Hood and his modern incarnation. I just wanted to point that out on account of the fact that I think it's funny.

As always, criticism/compliments/corrections/commendations are equally accepted.

Much love, and thank you for the musik,

NBK

p.s. The Olympics are coming fast! I'm really excited, they should be really good. Many of the Devils will be participating: Martin Brodeur (duh) and Jacques Lemaire for Team Canada, Johnny Oduya and Tommy Albelin for Team Sweden, Jamie Langenbrunner (captain) and Paul Martin and Zach Parise for Team USA, and Patrik Elias (captain) for Team Czech Republic. Hopefully he'll be able to participate, as he is still recuperating from a hit by a Colorado Avalanche a few weeks ago. As for Travis Zajac, he is having a wonderful season, with 16 goals and 29 assists to date. Perhaps he'll reach that milestone of 30 goals. Here's to you.

p.p.s. The Super Bowl is next Sunday! I'm rooting for the New Orleans Saints, but they're probably the absolute underdogs going up against the Colts. Here's to you.

p.p.p.s. I've decided that I'm going to write a song for my birthday. So stay tuned for that, sometime in the next four or five months.