Country Christmas 2016

A very merry First of December to everyone!

I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't start compiling my 2016 Country Christmas round up approximately eight months ago. And since this is my blog and I have no need to lie about these things on here, I should just tell you straight up: I started compiling my 2016 Country Christmas round up approximately eight months ago.

So let's jump into this thing! Here are my picks for holiday tunes this year. Some of them are brand-spanking-new and some of them are a little more aged, but all of them are as magnificent as this time of year.

1. What Christmas Means To Me by Brett Eldredge

Jazzy and wonderful, as per usual with Brett.


2. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) by Lady Antebellum

I used to be partial to the Buble version of this song... but way to go and ruin that, Lady A.


3. Mistletoe by Lucy Hale

I'll be honest: I thought that this was going to be a Lucy Hale cover of Justin Bieber's Mistletoe and that's why I originally listened to it. For investigative reasons only, of course. Of course. As it turns out it isn't but I think it's still a catchy and fun song in its own right.


4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Dan + Shay

I really don't think it's a coincidence that croon rhymes with swoon.


5. Do You Want To Build A Snowman by Mickey Guyton

Unabashedly including this because I feel like it will score me major Aunt Points with my niece (who is five and definitely doesn't even know what a blog is but whatever). I think she would be so happy that this cover exists. If she stopped correcting me about how it's pronounced "Ahhhhnna" not "Anna" long enough to actually listen to it, that is. Five-year-olds, I tell ya.


6. Santa Came Anyway by Jojo Mason

Weird cover photo, but who am I to judge.


7. Let It Snow by Kacey Musgraves

Kacey went for a bit of an oldschool vibe with this album and it totally works.


8. Home Christmas by Blake Shelton and Michael Buble

Apparently a Michael Buble version of the original song and a Blake Shelton version of the original song just wasn't enough. They had to also change the words and make it a duet.


9. Do You Hear What I Hear? by Carrie Underwood

Nothing like this powerful voice to sing this classic carol.


10. Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Randy Travis

And finally, I thought it was only right to round out this Country Christmas post on an extra-twangy note.


And if this ten just wasn't enough, you are welcome to check out last year's round up as well.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

It's Country Music Friday, once again!

Hello from the end of a very exciting week! I started my new job on Monday and let me tell you, it has been awesome so far and I’m eager to start diving into my projects! But we’re not here to talk about me, we’re here to talk about country music.

This week I had my CMF selections all picked out but was shocked and disappointed (An overreaction? Perhaps.) to find that one of the songs isn’t on Youtube yet. GASP. So I’m saving those selections for next week with the hopes that there will at least be some sort of lyric video released so that I can share it with all of you wonderful people!

So instead here is a completely random selection of songs with no rhyme or reason other than that they’re all great. 

Warning: All the music videos this week are awful. You are excused from watching them.

The First: Young and Crazy by Frankie Ballard

Poor Frankie doesn’t know that if I wrote this song it would be about how I would be telling my grandbabies that wild Saturday nights for me in my youth (because apparently I think I’m old now?) meant separating my laundry into not just lights and darks but five subcategories and watching Trading Spaces on TLC. Boy, those were the days. On second thought, it’s probably good that Frankie doesn’t know any of that.


The Second: Lie a Little Better by Lucy Hale

Remember 13 year old Lucy? (More than anything, I just remember really wanting her high-heeled sneakers and also wondering if I could convince my mom to first let me buy them and then let me wear them to school… I decided the answer would probably be “no” to both of those items, but I never stopped dreaming about them.) She’s 25 now and still singing strong.


The Third and Final: Wrapped Around by Brad Paisley

This was the inspiration for Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), in case you didn’t know… Additionally, please know that Microsoft Word just prompted me to correct “Beyonce” to “Beyoncé”. Clearly this woman is as amazing as everyone says she is if she now has power over the dictionary. Brad Paisley is great too.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Valentine's Day(?)

Hello CMF Friends!

This week’s Country Music Friday will feature Country love songs! *GASP* What? People sing about things other than small towns, alcohol, and trucks in country music? Since when?

Since always, people. Where have you been living? Under a rock? Get with the program.

The First: You Sound Good To Me by Lucy Hale

Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars, [previously of Privileged,(previously of American Juniors – remember??!)] has broken into the music scene (or, depending on how you look at it, has re-broken into the music scene?)! How fun! This song makes me excited for summer (gear down over there, David. I just said I was excited for summer. I still prefer autumn.) Also: 1:31 of the video makes no sense to me – why include that clip? Unnecessary.

The Second: Somewhere Only We Know by Dan & Shay

I first heard these boys a couple months ago on the ray-day-o with their song 19 You & Me. Which is also great! But then, as I typically do when I hear a new artist, I youtubed them. And voila! I found this acoustic song. That they sang and recorded in the backwoods (classy). And it also really shows off their vocal skills. So, amazing! I particularly love their mini-riff a the very end. What d’ya think about that?

The Third and Final: Hope You Get Lonely Tonight by Cole Swindell

I just really like the rhythm of this one and the way he puts stress on the latter half of each line. I will also say that you need to actually listen to the song. If you judge me purely based on the title, I am very aware that you will assume me to be some sort of bitter, terrible Valentine’s Day Grinch. That’s why I need you to listen to it. Because then you’ll realize that I’m not!

Sidenote: Cole is playing a concert tonight but I couldn’t find anyone that both loves country music AND had no Valentine’s Day plans to go with me... Le sigh. I’ll catch up with you next time, Mr. Swindell!

Thanks for listening,

Karla