Just some great tunes, okay.

Well we may not have a long weekend to look forward to but we do at least have a weekend (and if you're in BC like me, sunshine!) and that's something to celebrate regardless. Wouldn't you agree?


The First: All About You by Josh Turner aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music

Josh Turner has been sharing some stuff from his new album on the Youtube which means we can all enjoy it together! And it's good. This particular song is mostly just super catchy and, as you know, I think a catchy song is a pretty good start to the weekend.

Catchiness, exhibit a: the lyrics for this song may include "friggin' diggin' livin' in your world" which is almost as ridiculous/wonderful as Brett Eldredge's "flip flop flippin'" (which we already know I approve of).

I'll also take this opportunity to go ahead and share another *bonus* song that I really love off Josh's album, called Never Had A Reason. It's got a similar message, but is a bit slower, sweeter, and he doesn't say "friggin' diggin' livin'" in it, on the off change you weren't super into that.


The Second: Losing Sleep by Chris Young

I mean, we had one deep-voiced crooner, so might as well add his apprentice*, Chris Young, to the lineup too I suppose. I like the stop and start beat thing (that was obviously a technical term) that's going on during the verses of this song. It pulls me and gets me on the edge of my seat. Did the song just abruptly end? Will it stop again? Will I fall off this chair I'm precariously sitting on? Who knows!

*There is no evidence to suggest that Chris Young is actually Josh Turner's apprentice. I don't even know if they know each other. I mean, they probably do since the country music world is small enough to make that a very real possibility, but I just can't be absolutely positive about it - you know?

The Third and Final: Makin' Me Look Good Again by Drake White

Closing it out with some blues-y country to get you coasting into the weekend on some feel-good mellow vibes. (I'm so sorry I just used "feel-good" and "mellow" and "vibes" all at once. It won't happen ever again, you have my word. Please don't judge this song off my lack of sophisticated vocabulary. The song's still good, I promise). 

The end of May brings with it a lot of birthdays for friends and family which means I get to celebrate some really great people this weekend. Bring on the birthday cake!

Thanks for listening!

Karla 

No Good Reason

I'm excited for this week's selections for honestly no good reason other than I just think they're fun. But then again, the idea of cat wine appeals to me for the same reason, so maybe tired Karla isn't the best person to be taking advice from.

To be determined. I guess you'll just have to listen to find out.

Stone Cold Killers by Dallas Smith

I can only stay away from featuring this talented gem for so long. And it's been months since we've had a decent listen to Dallas Smith around here, so it's about that time. This is an oldie but a goodie that I've just rediscovered and figured I might as well share with all of you Dallas Smith lovers too! I just assume you all love him as much as I do because literally how could you not.


Missing You covered by Kira Isabella

I'm a big fan of the original John Waite version (and the perfectly 80's music video, tbh), so obviously this cover by a country artist caught my eye. I was tentative at first, but can gladly say that I was pleasantly surprised. Even if her voice isn't as husky or gravely as we're used to hearing those lyrics sung.


Deep South by Josh Turner aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music

Anyone else up for a crawfish boil after listening to this one? Sweet tea? Front porch sittin'? Well that's what I'll be up to in case you're looking for me. Fingers crossed that Josh Turner reads this, grabs his guitar and joins me too. I've always wanted my own troubadour.


I've been especially grateful for good friends and people who ground me this week and am looking forward to a weekend of sleep and very few chores (the best kind of weekend). And also, a special shout out to John who, despite being from Calgary, isn't the biggest fan of country and has to put up with my country music listening ways when he'd rather be listening to his rock 'n' roll. Oh and also because it's his birthday tomorrow (too bad//so sad if you didn't want me to tell people).

Thanks for listening!
Karla

The Youtube Autoplay Rabbit Hole: a love story

There's all sorts of greatness in store with this week's selections. Including, but of course not limited to, the results of me falling down the sneaky yet inevitable Youtube Autoplay Rabbit Hole. This time, like most times, it has led to some really great things. So let's take a listen, shall we?

The First: Shot of Glory by The Washboard Union

It's brand spankin' new and it's great. But really, what else do you expect from these bearded gems? Literally nothing. Great is the only kind of music they know how to make.


The Second: Tread by Blackjack Billy

I realize that this is a different kind of country, but I took a hip hop class last night for the first time in like seven or eight years, and so a little bit of what I've now deemed to be "gangsta country" was kind of guaranteed today. Yes, I did just make up my own sub-category of country music. And I hate that I don't hate it. In fact, if I can get real with you guys for a minute, I really love the chorus of this song. Of course that's mostly because it's frustratingly catchy and I can't escape it. But isn't that what love is, after all?

No, it's not? Oh... whoops.


The Third and Final: The Right Ones by Chris Stapleton

So. Here's the truth, team. I originally intended to share a different song by Chris Stapleton called Parachute. Don't get me wrong, it's a great song. However, I then stumbled upon his cover of Josh Turner's Your Man, which he apparently co-wrote with good ole' Josh aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music, and I got really excited about it because it's pretty great. But of course the Youtube Autoplay function had a whole other song in mind and led me to The Right One (was the title a coincidence? I think not) and I gotta say, Youtube Autoplay knew what it was doing. I mean, just listen to it. It. Is. So. GOOD! And then, as if that wasn't overwhelming enough, I then kind of fell down a bit of a Chris-Stapleton-singing-songs-he-wrote Rabbit Hole. It happens. And leads to amazing things.

And so, CMFers, I leave you in the very capable hands of Chris Stapleton and his entrancing and gravelly voice to lead you into the weekend.

Please, don't thank me. I'm no hero. I do it only because I care.


For all you Canadians out there, I hope you have an exceptional Victoria Day long weekend! As my boss told me when I accidentally tried to book a vacation day for Monday, the Queen has granted you this day off, so enjoy it!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

The Return

WELL HELLO COUNTRY MUSIC FRIDAY LISTENERS! Did you miss me?

So, it’s been a little over a week* since my last CMF**, and I was specifically requested to share one this week, so here we go!

The First: My Mistake by Cam

That harmony in the beginning! Her crystal clear and twangy voice! Here’s a fun fact I’ve learned about Cam from doing my intense research (read: watching youtube videos) for this issue of CMF: She’s really into yellow! In every shot I’ve seen of her she’s wearing yellow. Yellow dress. Yellow skirt. Yellow shirt paired with yellow pumps. I presume it is her “thing”. Eric Church has his ball cap and sunnies. Taylor Swift has her cats. Cam has her yellow ensembles. If you’ve just fallen in love with Cam and all her yellow, here is a bonus track for you called Half Broke Heart.


The Second: Lay Low by Josh Turner aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music

I want a cabin on a lake.
I also want the warmth and sunshine of summer and the beautiful colours of autumn that magically seem to be happening concurrently in this video.
Finally, I want Josh Turner to just be around me singing all the time while I stare at his perfect face.
Life goals, I suppose.


The Third and Final: Homegrown by Zac Brown Band

Even though this song has been out for a while now, you know I just can’t pass up an opportunity to display my love and adoration for the musical talents of Zac Brown and his crew. They. Are. So. Talented! Homegrown is wonderfully catchy, warm, and perfectly idealistic. Classic ZBB if you ask me.

*My friend Lawrence likes to use the term “a little over a week” for any period of time longer than one week. Examples: twelve days, two months, 476 days. It didn’t matter to him. What a maverick. So, even though it’s been over a year since my last CMF, I felt that this term was perhaps still applicable and kind of downplays how long it has actually been.

** I am so sorry it has been this long. Please accept this as my attempt for a resurgence of weekly country music roundups in your life.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

An important message.

Hello, Good Morning, and TGIFBTMICMF! (aka Thank goodness it’s Friday because that means it’s Country Music Friday!)

It’s been a couple weeks and things have certainly been booming in the country music arena! This week’s selection is brought to you by: Summer. 

There have been so many awesome new songs released lately that I been forced to react to by yelling, alone in my car, “OMGTHISISGOINGTOBEMYNEWSUMMERJAM!”

Now, as you probably know, I often exclaim things to myself (or sometimes other drivers) while I’m alone in my car. But what I bet you didn’t know is that I use the term “jam” in my everyday vocabulary. Yeah. I know. I’m hip like that. Try not to get too close. You may catch hypothermia because I am so cool. So settle in - it’s a good one this week! (But let’s be honest, we’re talking about country music here: they’re all good ones.)

The First: Boys ‘Round Here by Blake Shelton

Like you didn’t think this was going to be on here. I’ve just been loving this new Shelton song. It’s amazing. It’s got a little hint of that ‘country rap’ that Jason Aldean paved the way for with Dirt Road Anthem two years ago, but also fully embraces the hillbilly by interspersing “re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-redneck” to emulate a record scratch in the background. How clever. And, of course, let’s not forget my favourite and least favourite line in the entire song, the line that marks the culmination of the chorus, the line that makes me want to puke and sing along all at the same time: Chewtobacca, chewtobacca, chewtobacca, spit.
Just amazing. I also very much enjoy the cameo appearances of the cow, the piglet, and the chickens. Because why not.
(PS He also references/makes fun of ‘the dougie’)


The Second: Beat This Summer by Brad Paisley

http://tinyurl.com/blo43ea 

haha, just kidding:

He’s right. There’s no way we’ll be able to beat this summer. Because this summer is going to be awesome. AMIRYTE? Serious item to research: are there any boardwalks in my town that I can go hang out on? I feel like that needs to happen this summer. Why? Because Mr. Paisley basically just told me that I have to.  Please note that I almost left this song out of this week’s selection because I have been in a 4 year-old war with a friend David about what the best season is (autumn, of course) and I wasn’t sure if this would weaken my argument. But then I thought, “No. Karla The Martyr would never allow a silly vendetta to disservice you, the readers of CMF.” So here you go. You’re welcome.


The Third and Final: Find Me a Baby by Josh Turner aka The Best Looking Guy in Country Music

Because summer is when all the good-lookin’ ones come out of the shadows and grace us with their chiselled chins and six packs and tans. And who better to represent them than the deep-voiced beauty that is Josh Turner? Answer: No one. There is no one better.

Thanks for listening!
Karla