Seriously, let's just do it. Let's just start referring to this as CMFS instead: Country Music Fridays, Sometimes.
Doesn't have much of a ring to it, but it's certainly much more accurate than Inconsistent Karla over here.
The First: Sugar and Salt by Jillian Jacqueline
I haven't been able to stop listening to her stuff since I discovered her a few months ago and these simple versions where she just accompanies herself on the electric are certainly my favourites. A bit edgier than an acoustic interpretation but still clean enough to showcase her vocals. Big fan.
The Second: Last Shot by Kip Moore
Will we ever get tired of his voice?? Nope.
This one's got a great catchy cadence to the chorus that'll make you hit repeat. If you were my last shot.............OF WHISKEYYYYY.
The Third and Finally: Kiss Somebody by Morgan Evans
Wanna feel incredibly uncomfortable? Watch the beginning of that video. Wanna feel even more uncomfortable? Watch the rest of it. Go ahead, just do it. I dare you. What do you have to lose? It's Friday, after all. You'll have the whole weekend to recover.
Here's the current state of things over in my apartment: In the last two hours I've made not one but two cups of tea and forgotten about both of them, causing them to over-steep and get all bitter and gross. I've sorta been trying to pack, write emails, put together CMF, and make a simple cup of tea simultaneously which is really the root of the problem. I threw out the first cup, but I'm forcing myself to drink the second one. Partially because it feels like a waste if I don't but mostly because it seems like an appropriate punishment.
All that to say: unlike my tea-steeping mistakes, this week's songs have been welcome repeat offenders in my apartment lately.
The First: Asking For A Friend by Devin Dawson
I was so torn between two Devin Dawson songs this week. I heard this one first though and it kind of makes me melt so it ultimately won out. But the other song is a groove-worthy winner too so I'm sneaking it in here anyways - it's called I Don't Care Who Seesand it's very good.
The Second: Hide The Wine by Carly Pearce
You already know that my love for these kind of country/blues-y numbers has consistently been on the rise since the summer and I just felt the need to remind you that it's still a thing. I blame my parents for taking me watch to jazz band concerts when I was younger, and also Michael Buble and Maren Morris for my obsession. Oh and by "blame" I really mean "thank".
The Third and Final: Bittersweet Company by Kip Moore
Kip just gets cooler and raspier with every song he puts out, doesn't he? Like, his sound has genuinely changed and matured from his days of hanging out in a truck in a farmer's field, don't you think? Am I only asking leading questions so that you agree with me? Yes. The answer to all of the above is yes.
On a different but important note... my heart breaks over the consistent events of senseless harm happening in this world - most recently in Las Vegas. It's really hard to consider the good that humans can do for one another when we're constantly hearing about those who choose to hurt instead of love. But I suppose these are the times when it's most important to keep love and goodness close to our hearts. If you're celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving - or if you aren't - my hope is that the weekend offers you moments to pause and remember the boundless good that there still is in this world, to give thanks for all that you have and perhaps think of how you can support those who aren't as fortunate, and finally, to hug your loved ones close.
I'm looking forward to an easy weekend at home after several weekends spent being a busybee and/or out of town. I'm gonna watch a lot of Planet Earth and clean my apartment and drink wine/margaritas and my goodness am I looking forward to all of it. Yes, even the cleaning part. Most people probably wouldn't include cleaning in their list of things that are relaxing but if you know me at all, this likely doesn't surprise you; I clean and tidy when I'm happy, stressed, procrastinating, and yes, even when I want to relax. A clean house is cathartic, people!
The First: More Girls Like You by Kip Moore
This song came on the radio yesterday and it dawned on me that I never got around to sharing it. It was the fourth in line for several weeks there but just kept coming in as the runner up and eventually was forgotten about. So sorry, Kip. Sharing you first this week to make up for it.
The Second: Play It Safe by Petric
I've said it before and I'll say it again, these Manitoba brothers are quickly giving the High Valley boys a run for their money. I like this song for the summer because it's easy and carefree and upbeat. Plus it sounds like there's some banjo thrown in there too, which you can't really go wrong with in my opinion.
PS. because I know not everyone's into live acoustic performances in radio station booths, if you're looking for the recorded version you can find it here.
The Third and Final: That's When You Know by Chris Buck Band ft. Kira Isabella
Okay FINE. This video is adorable. And I appreciate that they include some of the lows throughout the couple's relationship and not just all the good lovey dovey stuff. Makes it feel a bit more real, you know? I'm also a fan of the pairing of Chris and Kira's voices here - and not just because of their inherent Canadian wonder.
Cheers to a relaxing weekend for all of us - even if cleaning isn't part of your plans.
Welcome to the I-don't-know-what-number of CMF iterations. Lovely to have you here. So glad you could make it.
You know how sometimes you see a road titled "No Name Road" or there's that grocery brand called "No Name Brand"? And do you ever think to yourself, "That's kind a witty - they couldn't think of a name, but then their lack of name became their name!? And you think about how it was a super smart idea? Well that's what I've done here. Because my brain is exhausted. And also because I'm super smart.
The First: Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Eli Young Band
Just throwing it way back (even though it's not Thursday) to this song that I forgot about. When it first came out I tried to learn it on guitar and failed miserably, despite the efforts of my ever patient guitar-playing father to teach me. So perhaps subconsciously I stopped listening to it out of fear of being reminded of that experience. But then it came on the other day and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. And what do I do with things that get stuck in my head? I lovingly pass them along to all of you on Fridays.
The Second: Running for You by Kip Moore
I thought I would share with you the entire monologue that happened in my brain when I first heard this song on the radio a few days ago. Allow me to set the scene: Monday morning. Let's say it was approximately 8:49am. I'm in my car, driving to work. Still a little sleepy because I thought tea would suffice on what was clearly a coffee morning. The song starts to play...
"Is this Johnny Reid? It sounds like it might be Johnny Reid... How in the world did Johnny Reid manage to come out with a song that I am actually kind of super into? This can't be JR... can it? Either way, I'm loving this song. Way to redeem yourself after years of (in my opinion) subpar music, Johnny!!"
Parked my car, and because my curiosity got the best of me, I looked up the song on my walk to my office...
"Oh. Nevermind. It's Kip Moore. Yes, that makes more sense."
The Third and Final: Head Over Boots by Jon Pardi
I've been head over boots for Jon Pardi's music lately, so here I am to shamelessly share yet one more with you. I'm fully aware it's because of his intense twang.
One thing I am not a fan of: the questionable CGI animations throughout this video (for example, why a tiny hat? Why is the tiny hat only twice as big as the abandoned playing cards? That seems highly inaccurate.).
One thing I am a big fan of: "You're the rock in my roll. You're good for my soul, it's true. I'm head over boots for youuuu."
So I don't personally celebrate Halloween (mostly because I dislike dressing up in costume) but I do wish a happy and safe evening to all of you who do! I will likely be at home watching Gilmore Girls and eating halloween candy I pretend to buy for trick or treaters to save face with the cashier in Safeway, even though we both fully know that that box of 94 chocolate bars will just be for me.
Your weekend may still be a few hours away, but you don’t have to wait another second for Country Music Friday because it’s right here!
The First: Crash and Burn by Thomas Rhett
Not to be confused by the (excellent) Savage Garden song of the same name, Thomas Rhett’s Crash and Burn is certainly a current favourite of mine. And by that I do mean that it is one of the songs I’ve been enjoying on repeat ever morning whilst getting ready for work. I think my favourite part is the transition into the chorus. I could not tell you why. I just like it. When the beat drops (is that the right terminology? I don’t know. I’m sure one or ten of you will correct me if I’m wrong), I just feel like the music is basically saying, “Okay Karla, get ready, it’s about to get real good!”
The Second: I Love This Life by LoCash
To begin, let’s discuss these guys: The LoCash Cowboys. They are their own kind of cowboy, if you ask me. I can’t quite decide how I feel about them. In my very thorough research that you all know I do in preparation for each week’s CMF (< that was sarcasm, fyi. Unless you count watching YouTube videos “research”), I came across this gem of a video of them debuting this song at a country music festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCC8OFVV5m8. First of all, you’re welcome because your life was clearly incomplete without these six minutes of gold. Secondly, I wish to share a few of what I believe are the major highlights of their personalities in this particular performance:
- The fist pump and determined high-kneed strut up the stage at 0:16.
- The choreographed pose at 0:56 (which is actually one of my favourite lines in this song, in case you were wondering. I know you were.)
- The groovin’ by Mr. Red Hat at 1:40.
- The enthusiastic shoulder shrugs at 2:51. To be entirely fair, this is legitimately how I “dance” when I really don’t want to dance for real.
Those are all the gems I could find before I felt the need to stop watching.
If you wish to just hear the song and not watch the shenanigans, just click on the link I provided at the top there.
