Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Hello CMFers,

Since the boys had their day in the sun (rain, if you were in Vancouver) last week, I thought it was only fair to balance it out with these three ladies this week. So get ready for lots of clear, twangy, pretty vocals and stuff.

The First: Want It All by Cam

That twang. Also, that hair. Both things I seriously envy about good ol' Cam.
This lovely lady released her first record last week and it's a good one, as promised by her single My Mistake.
She also is still super into yellow. I respect a woman with this degree of commitment.


The Second: Shut Up And Fish by Maddie & Tae

I mostly just think this song is funny and extraordinarily catchy.
But I am also now going to have to remember "madder than a hornet in an old coke can" for future use because that just paints a very clear picture of someone who is quite perturbed.


The Third and Final: I Wish I Was by Maren Morris

I'm calling this bluesy country, which I'm really loving for the record. It combines two of my three favourite genres of music: country and jazz. The third genre on my list is musical theatre, which I assume would be a tricky combo attempt, outside of Annie Get Your Gun and Oklahoma!.


Finally, you get a bonus this week because Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton did this a month ago. ("Anyone born after 1997 thinks Justin Timberlake is an okay actor who is just now breaking into the music industry." - a hilarious thing I once read on Instagram).

Thanks for listening,!
Karla

Good Ole Boys

Hello CMF lovelies!

I hope you've all had a fantastic week and are gearing up for an exciting weekend! I don't know what your plans are, but I'm sure they're good ones. If you're in need of assistance in making your weekend particularly festive, please note that I shared a list of Country Christmas songs earlier this week, for your listening pleasure. You are most certainly welcome.

The First: Maybe It's The Moonshine by The Washboard Union

These wonderful men and their beards are at it again! I haven't shared a solid sing-along-in-the-car song in a while, but here you go. Hopefully it makes you feel a little sunshine-y, especially for those of you who have had the pleasure of experiencing this lovely sideways rain Vancouver's been conjuring up lately.


The Second: Fire Away by Chris Stapleton

Rough and gravelling and glorious. That's what this song is.
Those also happen to be the three words I typically use to describe myself, in case you were wondering.


The Third and Final: Think Of You by Chris Young (feat. Cassadee Pope)

Chris Young's voice will never get old.
On a side note, I do realize that Cassadee's vocal presence in this song kind of contradicts the title for this week, but the truth is I'm much too lazy to change it at this juncture. I'm afraid we're all just going to have to live with it.


That's all from me this week! Enjoy this collage of selections - I didn't really know what I was sitting down to write but can honestly say that I'm rather pleased with how this week shaped up. Hope the feeling's mutual.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

My Top Ten Country Christmas Songs 2015

We're now well into December, so I figured it was the perfect time to share my favourite country Christmas songs with all of you.
Below is a mixture of both traditional and new songs that get me into the holiday spirit!

Please note: this is best enjoyed with some mulled wine and friends, preferably with the sparkling lights of a tree in the background of the instagram photo we both know you'll end up taking.


1. Run, Run, Rudolph by Luke Bryan

I rarely share Luke Bryan but I love this version of the song! Also, please enjoy his guitar strap lights.


2. Oklahoma Christmas by Blake Shelton (feat. Reba)

One time Blake sang this song with his Mom instead of Reba and it was just as wonderful as you would expect.


3. Go Tell It On The Mountain by Little Big Town

Possibly one of my favourite Christmas classics, sung by a group that can vocally do no wrong.


4. Winter Wonderland by Darius Rucker

Thank you, Hootie.


5. White Christmas by Home Free

You didn't even know you needed country a cappella in your life until now, did you? (Their entire Christmas album Full of Cheer is great, if you're super into them).


6. The Wood Shed Is Full by Dean Brody

Not a classic... yet.


7. Jingle Bell Rock by Rascal Flatts

Their twang rings louder than any of those jingle bells.


8. Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy by Brad Paisley

Can't beat a little Paisley around the holidays.


9. Merry Christmas Baby by Hunter Hayes

I just had to include the little musical gem that is Hunter Hayes.


10. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Lady Antebellum

But actually. I would like some snow this year, please.


And finally, Leroy the Redneck Reindeer as a bonus, mostly because that mullet will not be denied.


Thanks for listening and happy holidays!
Karla

Music and Lyrics

I started off wanting to do a week of sweep-you-off-your-feet lovey dovey lyrics and I had no idea what to call it. I've now somehow landed on this homage to a Hugh Grant movie that I am only 43% sure I've seen. In summary, these are three songs that have lines in them that make me swoon just a teeny tiny bit whenever they come on.

The First: Could It Be by Charlie Worsham

"Who knows we might go down in flames, then again I might just change your name"

Now, even though I am definitively confident that I do not ever want to change any part of the name my incredible mother spent nine months picking out for me (Karla-Christina Theresa Pratt? No. Karla-Christina Theresa Reynolds? Also no. Those all sound terrible*. Karla-Christina Theresa Carreras? Yaaassss.), I still do really like the idea behind this line. He's basically saying, then again I MIGHT JUST MARRY YOU SO LET'S SEE WHERE THIS GOES. Which is just a really sweet thought to have at the beginning of something. On the other hand, you might be thinking, "HECK NO that's not a sweet thought at all, you're crazy!" and to that I would say, "Clearly this is not the person for you since you're having such an extremely negative reaction. Why are you two even dating?"

(*Yes, I was just imagining myself married to either Chris Pratt or Ryan Reynolds, thankyouverymuch. And to be clear, I wasn't saying no to them. I was just saying no to their last names.)

The Second: Don't You Wanna Fall by Frankie Ballard

"Don't you wanna fall?"

Just super straight to the point here. A few months ago I spent a weekend listening to nothing but this album from Frankie Ballard. I don't know how it happened, or why, but the fact is that it did. And this was the song that I kept on falling back to. 

(Did you catch that?)

I hope you like it too.

The Third and Final: Ours by Taylor Swift

Don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine... 

The stakes are high, the water's rough, but this love is ours.

CONTROVERSY. I've selected a tswift song. I will argue that this song still has enough of a hint of country, even if there is no country twang. Anyways, these lyrics. I unabashedly love them. And this song. And Taylor Swift. 

It's fine. Don't worry about it. Everyone has a guilty pleasure, right? Mine is chocolate. And also mini fruit marshmallows. And popcorn. 

Oh, and also Taylor Swift.

If I was allowed to feature songs more than once, then you better believe Sundy Best's Until I Met You would be on here. But unfortunately, I make the rules around here. And I say I can't feature a song more than once outside of Top Tens. 

I'm the worst.

Thanks for listening!

Karla