Delightfully Charming

After two years and two months, I said (a temporary) goodbye to all my sweet colleagues in the Faculty yesterday and I still don't know how I feel about it. The only thing I do know is that I'm going to miss seeing them everyday and working in an environment where it's commonplace for people to have super specific and endearing passions for things like soil and cheese cultures and flamingos and bees. It's simply been an amazing work family to have had the privilege of being a part of.

The First: Motel Flamingo by Madeline Merlo

I'll be honest, when that sun comes out and this song comes on there is little else I need to be happy. Maybe a drink and a beach chair. But that's pretty much it. I mean, I wouldn't turn down a kitten if you're offering. But other than that, I swear I'm set. And yes, I do find her references to burritos and Doritos delightfully charming.


The Second: Five More Minutes by Scotty McCreery

When I think back to summer nights as a kid, I can't help but remember all the times I'd yell for five more minutes. Like when my brother and I would play badminton at night and try to attract bats by hitting the birdie as high as we could. Or when my friend Kendra and I would spend hours laying on my driveway because the asphalt was still warm from the summer sun (we probably looked ridiculous) looking for shooting stars and deciphering constellations. Or when my mum would come by my room to tell me it was time to turn off the lights and I would desperately ask for more time to finish the chapter I was reading (and would inevitably keep on reading by moonlight even after the lights were turned off).


The Third and Final: Fix A Drink by Chris Janson

This video is kind of bordering on being too country for me, which is probably why I passed it up a few weeks ago. But then, as the story always goes, I started to hear it more and more and goodness gracious is it catchy. And so here we are, with me letting Chris Janson and all his famous country music friends have the pleasure of singing you into the long weekend.


Happy Canada Day Long Weekend - hope you have exciting, sun-filled, and patriotic plans lined up! Mine has quickly gone from a light to heavily packed (with fun things and people) weekend. Enjoy yourself, whatever you're up to!


Thanks for listening!
Karla

New Year, Old Me

Well, we're back folks!

Welcome to 2017 - the year I ushered in with a glass of prosecco, a bowl of popcorn, and missing the clock strike midnight because I was already asleep. So basically everything about this year is the same so far and absolutely nothing has changed. Fun!!

The First: Sinking Like A Stone by Madeline Merlo

I realize that this song is a few years old, but consider this my very desperate attempt to infuse more ladies into CMF. Even if they are choosing to give me zero new material lately(!!!) And yes, I do take the lack of new releases as an obviously personal and very intentional slight directed specifically at me from every female country music recording artist in the world. Because what other logical reason could there possibly be??


The Second: Easy by Mike Ryan

Audio's not perfect and the guy at the beginning is a Chatty McChatterson (song starts around the 1:00 mark), but the song is short, sweet, simple. Everything* anyone ever needs on a Friday.
*Other than wine. But you probably already knew that. ;)


The Third and Final: Yours If You Want It by the Rascal Flatts

Apparently 2017 hasn't changed Rascal Flatts either. Because they've still got it. I'd be annoyed by their inability to make bad music if I wasn't so busy enjoying this new song.


I am now off to hang out with 90 lovely student leaders for three days while simultaneously attempting to overcome a very persistent cold. I'll let you know how all that turns out next week...

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Sometimes we TSwift it

Once in a while country artists get a little pop-y. Usually I try to avoid songs that blur that genre line, but this week I've chosen to overlook the boundary lines and just go with it. Now, I'm not talking about artists who outrightly crossed the border and burn their passports without looking back like Taylor Swift did (still love her, tbh). For the record all these artists are still country, but some of these selections just happen to be a little more Red than Our Song, if you know what I mean.


The First: Saltwater Gospel by Eli Young Band

What have these boys been up to lately? Apparently working on some new stuff like this salty gem. I think the steady power of the drums is what gets me most.


The Second: War Paint by Madeline Merlo

I like this song. What are your thoughts on it?
Additionally, what are your thoughts on her lip syncing only some of the words in the music video? What about the attempts to oversell those aforementioned words with a bounty of emotion and over-exaggerated facial reactions? And let's not forget about the profuse head shaking, à la Shania in Party for Two. Because on those fronts I'm a little torn.
Still super into the song though (and also the "unplugged" version).


The Third and Final: Song For Another Time by Old Dominion

Old Dominion is still one of my favourite obsessions of 2015. So much so that they've remained an obsession into this calendar year. These boys will apparently be performing just over the Canada/US border (with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, and Sam Hunt... like... what?!) and that makes me sad. Come over to Vancouver, guys! It's fun here too!
I love the references to other songs within this one. Very inception-y. At least I think it is... I still haven't seen the film.


Thanks for listening!
Karla

The times they are a-changin'

Sorry if you thought there was going to be a Bob Dylan song in here. There isn't. I realize that title might have been a little bit misleading. Whoops.

The real topic of conversation here is that this weekend is Daylight Savings Time. I am sorry if this is the first you're hearing of it, but I'm just the messenger.

This is awful news. Yes, I do like leaving work without a veil of darkness clinging to everything. But I think I like sleep more. "But Karla, it's just an hour!" Yes, you are correct. But time changes do weird things to me. One time I went to Ontario for a week and when I returned back to Vancouver with that pathetic three hour time change, it took me two full weeks to recover. Two. Full. Weeks until I no longer felt like a walking zombie. Ridiculous? Absolutely. True? You better believe.

On top of that, did you know there is a marked increase in the incidents of car crashes and workplace injuries the week following spring DST?

All I'm saying is: stay safe, get some sleep, and if I'm acting weird next week, please be kind.


The First: Dirt Road In 'Em by Aaron Pritchett

Love it. Love it. Love it. Also so great that we're getting some new stuff from Mr. Pritchett - I think it's been almost two years! Favourite lyric? Pass the fried chicken. I don't even eat meat, but I still think this is hilarious. And I think he does too because he kind of laugh/sings it at the end there.


The Second: Whatcha Wanna Do About It by Madeline Merlo

Always a fan of this local lady and this song is no exception. She's got an ear for picking fun sing-along-y songs and the voice to sing them. The music video for this song is generally weird, but can we talk about that house with all the windows and the view?! Because I would not say no if someone offered it to me. In fact, I think if we were to blend this house with the cozy living room from Sundy Best's Until I Met You video (still one of my favourite songs, bee tee dubs), I think we would have my perfect living situation.


The Third and Final: Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw

Just some great life advice from Timmy on this fine Friday morning. Bitterness keeps you from flying is such a good line. It also always reminds me of dear old Coco O'Brien.


Have a good weekend, y'all! I think you can guess what I'll be doing.
(Just like a hibernating bear, I'll be sleeping in preparation for springtime).

Thanks for listening!
Karla

There are still four more days left in August.

So let's make them all count, okay?

And what better way to do that than through song??


The First: Absolutely Nothing by Randy Houser

GET READY FOR A GOOD TIME. Because that's what Randy is all about with this one. He is basically just singing through a run-on sentence for every verse and I'm super into it.
It may not be your style, and I get that. Just like how Mountain Dew and Slim Jims are not my sort of thing, but I can appreciate that others might enjoy them. (< that would only have been a rando sentence for you if you didn't listen to the song.)


The Second: Honey Jack by Madeline Merlo

First off: she's not just Canadian, she's from Maple Ridge. So well done, local lady!

Secondly: I like the chill vibes of this song. Yes, that's right, I said vibes. Get over it.

She starts this song off by saying "slow and easy" and I really don't know how else to describe the mood of this one other than that.

Thirdly, a confession: I'm actually really not a fan of Jack Daniels Honey. For the record. Shhh. But I am a big fan of this song, so that's something at least.

Finally: If you like Madeline's voice then Sinking Like a Stone is another lovely one, should you be in need of a moodier song.

The Third and Final: Drunk by Courtney Cole

My thoughts on this song/video, in "order of appearance":
0:11 - Nope, don't care for this song. No real need to sing about your over-intoxication.
0:15 - Oh, you're not.
0:35 - Who is this girl? Is she intentionally over-acting?
1:03 - I changed my mind: can we be best friends?? (take me with you to Tim McGraw, please.)
1:22 - I want your shoes and somewhere to wear them. Maybe to the concert?
2:00 - Yep. Basically this is what it would be like if I were to ever star in a music video. I would just have a slightly less aggressive side part in my hair. Confetti could not be more on point though.

That's it for this week! This will be my last official free weekend of summer, so I plan to fill it with friends and brunch and music and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Thanks for listening!
Karla