Let's play a little game. I want you to come up with as many possible answers to this question as you can: What is today?
Ready, go.
This is what I came up with: It is Thursday. It is two days after the release of Sugarland's new album, The Incredible Machine. Three days to Speak Now.
Yes, I am boring. But this is how my brain functions. I think of days in terms of country music. You don't?
That said, I'm going to progress right into business, because there's so much to cover. I really should blog more often than just once a month, but I really can't write more quickly than that. And I don't really post unless I have a song...except I will do just that next week, because it'll be after the release of Speak Now! (Can you tell that I've had very little sleep over the past week - or past few weeks - and that this is the most stream-of-consciousness I've ever posted? Applause.)
So, first things first, I would like to alert my fanbase (ha, ha, I'm a stand-up comedian) that the new Sugarland album, Incredible Machine, is...well INCREDIBLE. It oozes Sugarland-ness in the best possible way. I read a critique from the New York Times that was none-too-pleased about the album, but I beg to differ. It said things such as, Kristian Bush's background harmonies take away from the dynamic of the songs and from the luster of Jennifer Nettles' voice, or that the songs are more of an homage to bands such as No Doubt and similar rather than country or even previous Sugarland products. I was astounded by exactly how wrong - in my opinion, that is - this guy was! The inclusion of Kristian Bush's vocals add such an extreme depth to the songs that was not utilised in the previous albums, and really creates new levels of melodies, which only underscores the message of the album. As for the reflections of other genres' bands' songs in the album, what is wrong with that? And while I may not be the most knowledgeable about No Doubt and therefore cannot comment as to the verity of his statement, I can say that "All We Are," the opening song, is more indicative of a Queen influence. The rest of the album, however, is more similar to the band's sophomore effort, Enjoy the Ride, in theme and in melody, which I welcomed and found very comforting. Sugarland distancing itself from country music? Hardly. (However, he also said that the bandmates are not the best songwriters in terms of the lyrics, and this is something I must agree with...except in the case of "Little Miss," which pretty much struck home with me and gave me goosebumps and almost shook me to my very core.) So yes, run - don't walk! - to your nearest store and purchase this album. It's brilliant and it can light up your world in all sorts of psychadelic colours.
In other news, Taylor Swift, who is gearing up for her new album's release (am I excited? oh, yes.) has been weekly releasing a single from it onto iTunes every Monday. Aside from "Mine," (love it love it love it) the songs released have been: "Speak Now," "Back to December," and "Mean." From the small thirty-second snippets that I've worn out on iTunes, I'm predicting another shining collection of songs from the girl who periodically changes my life. And it seems to signal songs more grounded in the genre from which she grows, with a greater return to the tenets of country music, so the haters can shove that in their pipes and smoke it. Though, her spreading her wings really indicates that she is becoming even more of an all-around musician (rather than one limited by and contained within the borders of her specific genre), and a fantastic one at that. So it will come as no surprise to anyone that I will love next Monday no matter what happens, and I will always support the beautiful and talented and extraordinary Taylor Swift.
For those of you who aren't aware of this: Kenny Chesney is a superstar. He has become involved, also, with films and, in particular, documentaries. Case in point: his newest venture, called "The Boys of Fall," which is (from what I've heard) about football and what an impact the sport can have on the players who participated in it in high school, as did the singer himself (he has amassed interviews with many people, including those famous people Joe Namath, John Madden, Peyton Manning...yeah, the guys many many many people grew up revering [but whom I barely recognised...], as well as high school coaches and players in their element). To go along with this documentary, he recorded a "Boys of Fall" single and music video. And they're unbelievable. You can find them on Hemingway's Whiskey, Kenny Chesney's newest album, but I bought just the video, because I watch it and I'm instantly transported to fall at home. Apple cider; pumpkin products; the crisp air; lazy Sundays; Mommy's cooking in the kitchen; a football game on TV that no one's paying attention to, beyond a cursory and disinterested glance at the score from time to time; falling leaves to rake; etc. And I'm instantly blinded by a slew of tears, because growing up is painful and missing home is worse,...and things are never going to be as simple and beautiful as they were two years ago.
The double punctuation there, in that last sentence, was intentional.
Lately, I have discovered that I like to watch the CMT Top 20 Countdown - with host Evan Farmer - on CMT (down here, it's channel 170) during the weekends in the mornings. It's so comforting, and while I don't get any work done, it's a lot like being in the company of good friends. When I'm able to watch, my life gets exponentially better for a few hours - and that's saying a lot!
Well, I think we're all caught up with that. If I think of anything else, I'll plug it into a different post, but for now, we move onto the song I have for you today. It's called "I Thought You Were (White Picket Fence)," because of what the white picket fence connotes today and because recently, I had to grapple with a decision larger than myself and one that affected someone other than only myself. For the first time, I really had to make a choice between hurting someone and being caught in a situation that was harmful to myself. I generally pride myself on being the person who would rather do anything than put herself first, and would put aside whatever she thinks for the betterment of someone else's life and/or moment. But this time, I couldn't. It would have felt the lie, and it was more painful to me to be in the situation than it would be for someone else to no longer be involved. And out of the frustration and angst of the moments, out came this song. (Fun fact: I get a lot of my best ideas either in the shower or when I'm brushing my teeth. This came from the former.)
I Thought You Were (White Picket Fence)
I guess I should consider myself lucky, to find a guy like you who wants me
but if I'm honest with myself, it's not going the way I had imagined
because you're kissing me, and I'm not feeling anything
my heart's not racing and I'm wrapping myself tighter in the sweater you lent me
and I don't know why that is
you're enjoying yourself and I should be having fun, too, but I guess
CHORUS:
you're not the one I see myself with twenty years from now
there's no white picket fence, but in my defense
I thought there could've been
I'm looking for forever, you're not playing for keeps
and that's not enough for me
You're not the guy I want to say that I'm his girl
but if it's any consolation, I thought you were
Idealistic notions can be altered, dreams of romance can be skewed
I lowered my expectations, but they still don't add up to you
I liked staying up late and talking all night, but I'm not feeling the next leap
and when we're alone, I find myself counting down the minutes until I can leave
my sentimentality is not fair to you, but here's the truth
CHORUS:
you're not the one I see myself with twenty years from now
there's no white picket fence, but in my defense
I thought there could've been
I'm looking for forever, you're not playing for keeps
and that's not enough for me
you're not the guy I want to say that I'm his girl
but if it's any consolation, I thought you were
BRIDGE:
I'd just like to say I'm sorry, for leading you on the way I did
but all of a sudden, me with you makes no sense,
because
2nd CHORUS:
You're not the one I see myself with twenty years from now
there's no white picket fence, but in my defense
I thought there could've been
I want to feel forever, you're not thinking 'bout love
and for me, that's not nearly enough
and after all I realised, you're not the guy I want to tell the world that I'm his girl,
but if it's any consolation, I thought
you were the one I would still be with twenty years from now
I thought I saw a white picket fence, but in my own defense
I'm trying for forever, you're not playing for keeps
and that's not enough for me
CHORUS:
you're not the one I see myself with twenty years from now
there's no white picket fence, but in my defense
I thought there could've been
I'm trying for forever, you're not playing for keeps
and that's not enough for me
you're not enough for me
but if it's any consolation
I really thought you were
And there it is. As I was typing it up, I realised just how much of a justification for my actions it really is. It's more of an apology - and I know why that is. It's because I'm uncomfortable with the fact that I can't do what he wanted me to do, be what he wanted me to be, because that's what I strive for. I try to be the one who folds herself into the box someone has ready for me, even if at first glance it's impossible for me to fit there. And I didn't do that with him. And that's because I realised that, since he wasn't what he acted like and what he seemed to be, I didn't want to be someone other than me and me with him wasn't right. (I apologise if that sentence is utterly incoherent, but I had to get it out there and stream-of-consciousness was the best way to do that. And that was true stream-of-consciousness. My eighth-grade English teacher would've been so proud, as I was never able to do that during "free write.") But I don't believe that what I did was wrong, because at the beginning, "I really thought you were."
And there it is.
Much love, and thank you for the musik!
Just Another Ordinary Girl
3 days to Speak Now!
