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

Artist of the Week: Rascal Flatts

Gooooood morning!

We're chatting about the Rascal Flatts today! I'm pretty confident that my first exposure to these boys was back when the Disney Family Channel would play music videos in between shows. Do any of you remember that? I can't recall what that feature was called, but I do remember being thankful that it turned me on to so much new music. Was it mostly Aaron Carter and Hilary Duff? Yes. But sometimes there were diamonds like RF's Life Is A Highway, which they covered for the Cars movie. I can't even tell you how many times I've watched them pull up for that drive-in movie. Great mems.

Anyways, I've since expanded my Flatts knowledge and would like to share a few (believe me, I could listen to all their stuff forever) of their songs with you.


The First: Bless The Broken Road

Gosh I love this song. I love the lyrics, I love singing it, I love this performance of it, I just love it all. It is true what they say about it being used for people's wedding song... I know of at least three couples who have used it. I can't say I blame them, it's pretty beautiful and I can see how the lyrics would hit home with many. Thanks, boys.


The Second: Banjo

I mean, I'll be honest here: I had completely forgotten about this song until writing this post. I had forgotten about this GEM! Like a fool! I remember when this song came out and I genuinely could not contain my excitement whenever it came on the ray-day-o. And now I've apparently just forgotten about it. Thank goodness for CMF forcing me to re-evaluate the musical past, huh?


The Third and Final: Why Wait

I mean, you'll have to overlook the very odd Hangover-inspired music video, but the song is a favourite of mine for sure. It's upbeat and though real-life Karla would probably find the concept impractical, dream world Karla thinks it's sweet and spontaneous.


Thanks for listening!
Karla

I Got 99 Problems and CMF Titles Are 96% Of Them.

The other 4% involves contemplating how to live off peanut butter, chocolate, and popcorn without eventually weighing 500lbs. Think on that for me, will you?

In other news, this week has felt like an exceptionally long one... and I have only worked two days. So I suppose that says something.


The First: Record Year by Eric Church

This poor song has been passed up so many times over the past few weeks as others have beat it out for one of these three coveted spots each week. BUT NOW IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE, ERIC! Of course, he's already received a lot of play time on here, including a dedicated week of his own post-concert last year. Not to mention that he's kind of already a big deal. So maybe we'll just play this oversight as me trying to save his ego from expanding any further..? Okay, cool.


The Second: White Lightning by The Cadillac Three

I think more than anything I just really like the simple story this video tells (shocking, I'm aware). Also the crooning at the beginning just makes me happy.


The Third and Final: I Like The Sound Of That by Rascal Flatts

I truly believe that you can never go wrong with Rascal Flatts. They're just a pretty solid go-to when you need some not-at-all-understated twang in your life. This particular song also reminds me of the Aaron Lines song that is suspiciously similar and has an iteration of the same title... so please go listen to that as well. Coincidence? Who knows. All I know is we now have two decent songs.

Cheers to the weekend - hope yours is a great one!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Take Me Back

I feel like we're in that sad little gap in between fall album releases and summer singles blowing up the radio. Aka unfortunately we're in a bit of a new country dry spell, if you ask me.

So you know what we're doing this week? We're throwing it back. I realize this is Country Music Friday and not Throwback Thursday, but flexibility is a virtue people. So this week I give you not just oldies and goodies, but oldies and goodies that talk about the good old times. Ooooooh. Inception. (< a movie I still have yet to see because I simply don't have the energy to deal with it).

The First: Mayberry by Rascal Flatts

I love this song. It has always been one of my favourite Rascal Flatts songs, which I think says a lot since I am a fan of nearly all of the many, many songs they've released over the years. I think part of the reason I love Mayberry so much is because:

a) It totally reminds me of growing up in a small town where passing someone on the sidewalk and not smiling and saying hello was pretty close to being an offence worthy of jail time. It just wasn't a thing that happened. So much so that when I first moved to university it took me about a month and a half to figure out that this was why I was getting so many strange/confused looks on campus. I was that weird girl walking around smiling and making eye contact with everyone.

b) It launches me into a world that exists in my daydreams in which I own a cute little yellow house with a massive front porch that I hang out on in the warm evenings with some really funny and good-looking man.

As a bonus with this one, you get to enjoy a now vintage photo slideshow of the Rascals while listening to the song.


The Second: 19 Somethin' by Mark Wills

Please enjoy the pre-Instagram filters, all the weird facial expressions, and of course, that goatee.


The Third and Final: Automatic by Miranda Lambert

The newest of the oldies, I thought it was only appropriate to also include this hit from Miranda. The only thing that concerns me is the unsafe amount of time she spends staring out the driver's side window - instead of at the road in front of her - while driving. Equally excellent throwback song from Miranda is her duet with Keith Urban, We Were Us.


As much as I love all these songs, here's hoping there's an infusion of new songs soon! Perhaps that's what each of you can work on this weekend: writing and producing the next country hit. You know, if you don't already have plans that is. Just a thought for your consideration...

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

Fireworks and beards and love.

Welcome to Tuesday? Friday!

I hope you all had a wonderfully patriotic Canada Day and enjoyed a BBQ hot dog and some fireworks!! I, of course, did neither of those things. Why?
   a) I’m vegetarian.
   b) I was so exhausted from the day that I was in bed by 10pm which meant I missed the fireworks. I did hear them, however. I also heard the choir of dogs in my neighbourhood barking at the fireworks (and the resulting humans yelling at said dogs, because that’s apparently necessary) until well past 11pm. Charming.

Let’s listen to some country music, shall we?

The First: It’s All Good by Jojo Mason

This guy. Who is he? Where did he come from? It doesn’t really matter because he rocks this tune and I look forward to many other wonderful and oh-so-fittingly-Friday jams from him in the future. Apparently Tim Hicks co-wrote this song, which I find interesting because I think it would sound quite different if he was the one singing it. Either way, it’s aaaaall good.


The Second: Some Day by The Washboard Union 

All the beard. All the banjo. What else could you want in a country music video? A truck? Some hay? Oh don’t you worry, they’ve got you covered there too. My favourite part of this video – and I think what really speaks to the goofiness of this group – happens nice and early on at 0:24, in case you were wondering (don’t lie, you were).


The Third and Final: Everyday Love by Rascal Flatts

Taking us back to this lovely oldie in honour of my friend David’s wedding this weekend. I have no doubt you and Kim will share a life no less wonderful than the one described in this song. Thanks for being my country music buddy for those years in Victoria when I so desperately need one – wishing you both the best! (P.S. Specifically linking the lyric video here because the real music video is too Y2K for my liking.)

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Find me and the CMF playlist on Spotify @karcarr8.

Quick! Check your calendar! I think it’s Country Music Friday!!

Well, well, well, funny seeing you here. Glad you’ve tuned back in for another edition of the best day of the week!

The First: This is Country Music – Brad Paisley

I don’t know why this wasn’t the very first song I sent out on CMF. It really is the perfect introduction and explanation to the wonderful music genre (read: total lifestyle) that is Country. He talks about all the things that Country music isn’t afraid to put down in song. “It ain’t hip to sing about tractors, trucks, and little towns, or mama.” It’s not that we don’t get that you might find these things boring, it’s just that we’re (what, ladies and gentlemen? Oh yes, that’s right) keeping it real.

The Second: Put Some Alcohol On It – Gord Bamford

You can always count on Gord to find a solution to your problem. I’m pretty sure we can all agree that Gord has a better solution than these guys' attempt. In fact, I’m also fairly certain that the Bacon Boys, as I like to call them, stole their idea from him (there’s a two year gap that is not in their favour, people).

The Third: Summer Nights – Rascal Flatts

Because you can never go wrong with these little Rascals. And because songs about summer make me feel like eventually we’ll have one. Hopefully.

Thanks for listening,
Karla