Slightly More Line Dancing Than Normal

I will give you fair warning: the majority of the videos this week are slightly ridiculous. But I hope you'll find them slightly ridiculous in an amusing and charming way, like I do.

(Unlike the ridiculousness outrage that's about to happen south of the border... which is far from amusing and certainly not charming.)

The Second: Can't Turn You Down by Jon Pardi

A bit of a diversion from the usual Jon-O songs I feature on here, but I suppose we can't all be hilarious and slightly self-deprecating all the time. So thanks for the slow down, sir.


The Second: Waiting Kind of Girl by Leaving Thomas

Umm. These two are my new internet besties (even if they don't know I exist...).


The Third and Final: Head Over Heels by The Washboard Union

OKAY. Stay with me here before you hit play on this video.
This is the only version of this song available on the YouTube.
And I really like this song.
And for a few weeks I thought, "Maybe I can wait it out because this video would be kinda odd to send around, not to mention the audio isn't great." But after watching it several times, I've since decided: No. You need this in your life. You need both this song AND this sweet french man who is just trying to spread his love of line dancing with the world in your life.

Here is where I would tell you what I have planned for the weekend, but I think we know each other well enough by now for you to have already guessed that I'll be drowning my inauguration sorrows by spending the weekend practicing the steps to that line dance.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Jealous of a Five-Year-Old

Remember last week when I was super excited to see my niece and nephew (aka the littles)? Yeah, that was great until my niece rudely gave me her cold which has left me hopped up on cold meds for the past few days. She's now cold-less and on a beach somewhere in Hawaii. And I'm stuck in rainy Vancouver being jealous of a five-year-old. All that to say, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!


The First: Sun Sets Down by Chris Buck Band

This one was just too fun not to share! It makes me want to get up and dance. But I don't currently have the lung capacity to do that so instead I just get to sit on my couch and shake my shoulders along with the music. It's basically the same thing. Just like how Coca-cola and Pepsi are basically the same thing. (They're not the same at all don't fall for those lies Pepsi is awful.)


The Second: Dirty Laundry by Carrie Underwood

We got some new stuff, folks! This song feels very Miranda Lambert to me - especially the chorus - and I'm into it. Let's talk about the obvious weirdness though: Umm... the lion. And the horse, and the burning shoe and the peacock and the buck... What's happening here, Carrie? Did you film this video at a zoo or did a circus crash your set?

Also, and probably more importantly, what are you doing wearing a pair of suspenders backwards? I would maybe even be okay with it if they weren't slightly off center the entire time but they are and my brain is super irritated about it.


The Third and Final: Midnight Train covered by The Washboard Union

Covers! Camper vans! Collaborative harmonies! Did I try too hard for alliteration back there? Perhaps. But that's not what's important right now. What's important right now is that you listen to this beauty of a song and then start figuring out your Valentine's Day plans immediately because (*spoiler alert*) you're about to fall in LOVE.

I plan to spend this rainy weekend watching the Jay's, baking apple pie, and ideally finishing off the novel I've been working on for far too many weeks now. Hope you've got some great rainy day plans yourself!


Thanks for listening!
Karla

On [Fridays] We [Talk About] Pink

Well hi.

Full disclosure: I ate too much candy earlier.
My stomach is now like "ow, why??" and my brain is like "I'm crashing hard, girl."
So I guess what I'm saying is that you'll just have to continue at your own risk at this point.

The First: Setting The World On Fire by Kenny Chesney ft. Pink

Yep. You read that right: Pink.
I actually used to like Pink when I was younger. She seemed so... rebellious. At least she did to the preteen conservative and quiet Karla who enjoyed following the rules. Plus her song Dear Mr. President always stirred up some emotions. Now, I would argue that mid-twenties Karla is still fairly conservative, quiet, and thoroughly enjoys following the rules, but the difference is that I probably haven't listened to a Pink song for quite some time. Until now, of course. Because if Kenny Chesney thinks she's cool enough to duet with, then let's be real I'm in.


The Second: Seven Bridges Road covered by Meghan Patrick and The Washboard Union

These beautiful bearded gems are back, along with their Canadian friend, Meghan Patrick, to cover this song originally from The Eagles.
First off: them harmonies are "on fleek" as (I think) the kids are saying these days.
Secondly: the single shot filmed inside that beautiful church is perfect.
Thirdly: that intense head bob around 2:35 that evolves... nay, metamorphosizes into something even more wonderful at 2:59 cannot be under-appreciated.


The Third and Final: I'll Be Home Soon by Craig Morgan

It's been a while since we've heard from this guy and since I like the slight grit to Craig's voice, I'm bringing him back. There's definitely something about it that makes it recognizable.
Video commentary: he does this oddly entertaining head/upper body roll thing at 1:44 that simultaneously makes me cringe and laugh. And then there's the whispering to end off the song. So take that for whatever it is, I suppose. But generally, I enjoy this song.

Apparently there's a meteor shower happening, so that's what I'll be spending an evening doing this weekend, along with visiting with some siblings and a long-lost (Edmonton) dear friend who I haven't seen in the flesh in who knows how long. So. Like. Maybe I'm excited it's the weekend. Just a tad.

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

Good Ole Boys

Hello CMF lovelies!

I hope you've all had a fantastic week and are gearing up for an exciting weekend! I don't know what your plans are, but I'm sure they're good ones. If you're in need of assistance in making your weekend particularly festive, please note that I shared a list of Country Christmas songs earlier this week, for your listening pleasure. You are most certainly welcome.

The First: Maybe It's The Moonshine by The Washboard Union

These wonderful men and their beards are at it again! I haven't shared a solid sing-along-in-the-car song in a while, but here you go. Hopefully it makes you feel a little sunshine-y, especially for those of you who have had the pleasure of experiencing this lovely sideways rain Vancouver's been conjuring up lately.


The Second: Fire Away by Chris Stapleton

Rough and gravelling and glorious. That's what this song is.
Those also happen to be the three words I typically use to describe myself, in case you were wondering.


The Third and Final: Think Of You by Chris Young (feat. Cassadee Pope)

Chris Young's voice will never get old.
On a side note, I do realize that Cassadee's vocal presence in this song kind of contradicts the title for this week, but the truth is I'm much too lazy to change it at this juncture. I'm afraid we're all just going to have to live with it.


That's all from me this week! Enjoy this collage of selections - I didn't really know what I was sitting down to write but can honestly say that I'm rather pleased with how this week shaped up. Hope the feeling's mutual.

Thanks for listening!
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.