Nineteen Candles

Well, hello there.

I know that I promised this post a while ago, and I said that it was coming soon, but no one reads this blog anyway, so I don't feel bad that I'm only just now getting to it. And it's not like you'll be able to tell when I actually sat down to write it, because I outsmarted the system.

So, first up on the agenda is my annual and, as always, highly anticipated run-down of the latest country music awards show. In this case, that means the ACM Awards (for all of you plebians out there, that's Academy of Country Music Awards). They are held in Las Vegas every year (for a week - "Vegas goes country!") and, as for the past few years, are hosted by the one/the only/the great Reba McEntire. My favourite part of the entire show? When she came onstage and displayed herself in the fine black sparkly dress and struck a lovely pose, which she accompanied with a list of all of the "helpers" she employed (make-up, spanx, etc) and said, "There are more special effects going on here than were in Avatar!" What made it even better was when they showed a close-up of Taylor Swift nearly falling out of her chair because she was laughing so hard.

Anyway, as always, I'll start with the performances and then I'll move on to the winners. Well, the show opened with "blonde bombshells" Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood lending their vocals to a duet (aside: watching this opening, I was struck by the difference between the two; Miranda was dressed simply and was engrossed in the song, whereas Carrie had perfectly coiffed hair and excessive makeup (she's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but give me a break!) and put on airs and concentrated mostly on the performance, of showing herself off...but that's just my impression), which also featured the guitar skills of Mr. Brad Paisley and the fiddling prowess of Charlie Daniels (of "Devil Went Down to Georgia" fame). I think the song was called "Travelin' Band," but please do not quote me on that. Thanks. The next ensemble performance was the hit "Hillbilly Bone," the duet between Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins that took airwaves and CMT by storm. It's catchy. Following that act (tough as it is to follow, to be sure) was Billy Currington, he of the curly hair and puppy-dog face, with his latest number 1 and follow-up to "People Are Crazy," "That's How Country Boys Roll." It's not a song I've ever particularly fancied, but the beginning always reminds me of Reba's "Just When I Thought I'd Stopped Loving You," so I always have to go and listen to that when the song plays on the radio. Kenny Chesney rocked the place with his summer sensation, "Ain't Back Yet," from his Summer in 3D movie, which had its premiere the week of the awards, in Vegas. The subsequent performer was a man I love to hate, Toby Keith, with probably the most heartbreaking song of the past few years, "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)," dedicated to his friend, basketball star and jazz saxophone player Wayman Tisdale, who had succombed to cancer a few months ago. Then came Taylor Swift, with the electrifying "Change," which took her from the highest heights of the theatre to the low stage, and from wearing a pretty white dress to ending up in a black tank top and jeans. The next series of acts were in conjunction with the announcement of the Top New Artist Category, so there were Gloriana ("Wild At Heart"), Luke Bryan ("Do I"), and Joey & Rory ("Cheater, Cheater"). Lady Antebellum contributed their latest number 1 to the show, "American Honey." I've heard it so many times, but I still love the song. Following their fellow Top Vocal Group nominees was the "Unstoppable" Rascal Flatts. It's a song that I'll never be able to listen to without thinking of snow, and sitting on a couch by myself while watching the Olympics (aside: I'm not a fan of whomever wrote this song, gotta tell ya, because the opening lines include the phrase "cracked a brick when you hit the wall," which would have not been so bad if Gary LeVox hadn't pronounced it "cracked a rib when you hit the wall," which always makes me incredibly sad). Jason Aldean displayed a wild side with his take on Nashville with "Crazy Town," similar in style to "She's Country," but thankfully it wasn't "The Truth." My favourite Jason Aldean song? "Amarillo Sky." Miranda Lambert stole my heart with her simple and endearing portrayal of "The House That Built Me," where she wore a plain but becoming black dress and just stood in front of the microphone and sang. Minimalistic and underrated, she is tremendous. And that song? A triumph. Next up were Jack Ingram and Dierks Bentley, who sang "Barbie Doll," inviting up all sorts of girls to dance on the stage. Dressed in another huge, poofy dress, Carrie Underwood took the stage for "Temporary Home," another song that I'll always associate with snow. Hm. Performing for the first time in a while, Tim McGraw was next, with "Still." They kept showing his wife, Faith Hill, onscreen as he was singing. Brad Paisley, that insane powerhouse of talent, followed with his latest single, "Water," which is also the name of his tour (the H20 tour). He jumped into a pool after his performance, which must have been quite the sight for the spectators (funnily enough, he then won an award and went, soaking wet, to the podium, and presented a hilarious speech in the way only he can). Reba introduced the next duo, Brooks and Dunn, and was clearly emotional, because it was to be the last performance for them at the ACMs, ever. And it was fan-voted through cbs.com, leading them to perform "My Maria." (That's the one I voted for! The other candidates were "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "Red Dirt Road.") I must admit, I, too, was getting emotional at this time. It's 20 years! Who wouldn't get emotional? The host herself took the stage after "My Maria," with "I Keep On Loving You," and in the background were pictures of famous country couples (June Carter and Johnny Cash, Tim and Faith, Alan and Denise Jackson, etc.). The video for this song is understated and JUST beautiful. Debuting another song from his album, Defying Gravity, was Keith Urban, as he performed "I'm In." Closing out the show was Darius Rucker, in his first ever performance at the ACMs, with "Forever Road." And then the show was over, for another year.

Here is the list of the winners:
Vocal Event of the Year: "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins
Video of the Year: "White Liar," Miranda Lambert
Single Record of the Year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
Album of the Year: Revolution, Miranda Lambert
Top New Vocal Group of the Year: Gloriana
Top New Vocal Duo of the Year: Joey & Rory
Top New Solo Vocalist of the Year: Luke Bryan
Top New Artist: Luke Bryan
Top Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn (Surprise, surprise. But I'm glad.)
Top Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Top Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Top Male Vocalist of the Year: Brad Paisley
Entertainer of the Year: Carrie Underwood

All in all, it was quite the show. I always enjoy these. Even if I may have enjoyed this one a tad less, on account of the fact that I was watching it after getting my wisdom teeth removed...

Moving on.

I think that's about it for news. In the following posts, I'll talk about the 'Brooks & Dunn: the Last Rodeo' special event (once I finish watching it), as well as the CMT Awards (once I both start and finish watching them). So you have that to look forward to. If, in fact, you do look forward to things like that, that is.

The song I have for you today is one that I had talked about before, as sort of my birthday gift to myself, as it were. So, happy birthday, me.

Nineteen Candles

I was born in May on a Tuesday night
Eleven days later than my mom might've liked
born into the best family in the world
what a start to the life of a lucky girl
my mom wore a smile and had no fear
oh, my dad will always be my hero
and the only time my big sister made me cry
was one night when she sang me a lullaby
when I was seven, I told my mother
that I wanted to stay seven forever

CHORUS:
but I kept on growing
and time kept on going
and led me to where I am now
every road I've taken, every part that I've played
every hand I've shaken, every move that I've made
everything I've done right, and every mistake
have brought me to these nineteen candles on my cake

the day I left grade school, I really cried
but that summer, I began learning to fly
I've travelled through Europe and I've been to China
and soon enough I outgrew my horizons
at fourteen I discovered country music
and my whole life got better for it
not long after that, I met a redheaded guy
he was the first one who caught my eye
I could've loved that boy more every day
if he hadn't in fact turned out to be gay

CHORUS:
but time kept on going
and I kept on growing
till I got to where I am now
every road I've taken, every part that I've played
every hand I've shaken, every move that I've made
everything I've done right, and every mistake
have brought me to these nineteen candles on my cake

(BRIDGE?:)
when I got to college, I made me a promise
not to lose myself in the craziness
well I haven't yet and you can be sure
I've got my eyes fixed on the future
cause you know it's bright as the morning sun
and I'll get married when I find the one
I can't wait until I raise a family
and get to become the best version of me
until someday down the road when I'm older
I'll be able to look over my shoulder
and say

CHORUS:
I kept on growing
and time kept on going
and led me to where I am now
every road I've taken, every part that I've played
every hand I've shaken, every move that I've made
everything I've done right, and every mistake
have brought me to all these candles on my cake

yeah, time kept on going
and I kept on growing
till I got to where I am now
every road I've taken, every part that I've played
every hand I've shaken, every move that I've made
everything I've done right, every mistake, and every wrinkle on my face
has made me who I am today

I was born in May on a Tuesday night
Eleven days later than my mom might've liked
I know my heart and I've seen the world
what a start to the life of a lucky girl...

So, that's it. I can't believe that I actually/finally finished it! I got the idea for this sometime in January or there or thereabouts. Please, tell me what you think.

Having said that, perhaps I'll publish some comments anonymously to myself so that I don't feel bad!

Much love, and thank you for the musik!

NBK