Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

As we learned a few weeks ago, I apparently like to find CMF inspiration at the dentist. This week is less so about the musical inspiration I've gleaned from a follow up dental visit, but more so about how, as I'm writing this, my face is approximately 57% frozen. Really anything below the middle of my nose is numb. Plus up my cheeks and at one point the corner of my left eye was oddly droopy. You can see it all on my snapchat - my username is karcarr, in case you were wondering. Which I know you were ;)

I'm so frozen it's basically a Disney movie up in here.


The First: May We All by Florida Georgia Line

It's upbeat. It's catchy. It's new.
These are all good things.
Wanna know about some other good things?
Autumn. Getting lost for a bit down a dirt road. Gaining a speckle of wisdom in your lifetime.
Spoiler alert: these things are also in this song. So you should probably listen to it.


The Second: Jet Black Pontiac by Chase Bryant

I mean, the whole song is good. But those fifteen seconds between 2:30-2:45 are so good. The clapping, the emphasis on the off beat, the boot-stomping greatness of it all. It reminds me a little bit of the western songs they'd play in seventh grade P.E. classes during the line dancing portion of the curriculum. Which, by the way, what a weird thing to make a bunch of preteens do together.


The Third and Final: Stompin' Ground by Tim Hicks

I think more than anything I'm just wondering about the small children who likely make up the softball team were thinking when they were told practice was postponed because Tim Hicks was filming a music video on their field.
"Why does he get to use our field, daddy? He doesn't even have a bat."
"Well son, he has a guitar. And in some circles that's more important."
"..."
"..."
"Can we go get ice cream while we wait?"
"Sure. Just don't tell your mother."


Hope you all have a great weekend! My plans include potentially some beach time as well as helping out with new student move-in because apparently September is coming.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

My Top Ten Loud-Car-Singing Songs

I spend a decent amount of time in my car and would argue that that's really where my best vocal performances occur. In fact, the best ones usually happen at around 8:30am when I'm driving to work and trying to get myself super pumped for the day. I also feel that this practice doubles as a public service to other drivers who get to see me rockin' out without restraint and thereby have a slightly brighter day because of it. You're welcome, fellow commuters.

Here are my favourite songs to sing loudly along with while I'm driving:

1. Here Comes the Thunder by Tim Hicks

I really can't express to you just. how. excited. I get whenever this song starts playing on the radio. My hand immediately shoots to the volume dial and the music takes over. This one arguably turns into something more akin to screaming than singing. Tim's Hell Raisin' Good Time is a good substitute, if you need one (the vid's weird though).

2. Kerosene by Miranda Lambert

Because who doesn't love a good revenge-filled cowgirl kiss-off?


3. Friday Night by Eric Paslay

Bonus points for singing this on a Friday, post-work.


4. Young and Beautiful by Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood's powerful voice really just invites you to duet with her in the car.


5. Natural Disaster by Zac Brown Band

You can hear more about my thoughts on this gem here.


6. Want To by Sugarland

This song reminds me of my lovely high school friend Melissa and our adventures driving around our small hometown.


7. Drink In My Hand by Eric Church

Even though I love my job, I can't help but sing this anthem real loud when it comes on.


8. Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

Because let's get real, once a commercial break comes on the radio I'm switching to the CD player and TSwift is in there 70% of the time. Haters gonna hate.


9. Catch All the Fish by Brad Paisley

I explain my tactic with this song in great detail here.


10. Who's Bed Have Your Boots Been Under by Shania Twain

Shout out to by good friend Lawrence, because this is the only country song he knows (but at least he loves it) so we sing it together sometimes.


Thanks for listening,
Karla

Lists and whatnot

Time to celebrate – it’s Friday, CMFers!

I feel like all the songs that I’ve been loving lately have involved some sort of list-making. What I mean by this is that a large portion of the song lyrics are comprised of the artist listing off all the wonderful things about their love interest. Or all the things about themselves that their love interest makes better. In some cases the love interests are people. In other cases they are a time of year. Or a country. Did I lose you on that last one? That’s okay. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.

The First: Friday Night by Lady Antebellum or Eric Paslay

I. Love. This. Song. I can’t even... ah. So good. So good, in fact, that I have found not one but two great versions of it. Two! If that’s not a marker of greatness, I don’t know what is.

The Second: Ten Time Crazier by Blake Shelton

So adorable. Every girl wants a guy to say that he’s crazy about her. But then Blake Shelton goes ahead and literally surpasses all men on the planet by saying he’s not just crazy about Miranda (we can assume that she’s the one he’s singing about. I always just do.) but he’s ten times crazier about her. Ten times! Imagine winning the lottery and being all “guys! I just won a million dollars!” and then Blake Shelton walks in and goes, “that’s nothing. I just won ten million dollars. I’m buying ya’ll your own unicorn.” That would hurt a little bit, don’t you think? You may say to me, “It’s okay, the good news is that I still have a million dollars to comfort me.” Well guess what, money isn’t everything. Way to be materialistic. So what have we learned today, boys? The lesson is that you should tell that special person in your life that you are eleven times crazier about them than anything else on the planet and just blow Blake Shelton out of the running for Most Romantic Cowboy. You’re welcome. 

The Third: Point at You by Justin Moore

The song that puts a giant, stupid smile on my face whenever it comes on my radio dial. It’s just so happy and sweet and wonderful. 


The Fourth and Final: Stronger Beer  by Tim Hicks

I know, I know. I usually limit CMF to three songs but I just couldn’t do that this week. I just couldn’t, people! And when you hear this song, you’ll know why. It’s too good/ridiculous to pass up. And it would be quite impolite to leave it out of my Lists Roundup, and that’s just not very Canadian, eh? So here you go. A bonus song this week! Woohoo!!! Okay, calm down. Save that energy for your big Friday night plans. Mine include making popcorn, cleaning my house and – hold on to your hats ‘cuz it’s about to get crazy - watching tv. So, yeah. I’m saving my energy.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

We need a little bit more excitement around here.

And what's more exciting than Country Music Friday?!

Answer: Nothing
Zip. Nada. Zilch. Goose Egg.

I know, I know, you're all so happy right now. Well, calm down. You're drawing too much attention to yourself waving your hands around like that.
Oh - and you look like a fool. Well done.
Just say, "Thank You" and I'll say, "You're Welcome" and then we'll just leave it at that and pretend none of it happened and you didn't actually embarrass yourself that much, okay?

Okay good.
MOVING ON.

The First: Get Your Shine On - Florida Georgia Line

What can I say? Florida Georgia Line is hot right now... so hot right now. They had their first hit last summer with Cruise and then proceeded to sell out concerts for their tour this year. On the first day I heard Cruise I proceeded to listen to it on repeat for about a week. And then I had to stop because I started to get sick of it... but I still sing along when it comes on the radio! Anways. I love this song too! Mostly, I just love the way they sing the "homemade jar lemon drop take a sip" parts. They are stellar. If you wish to explore them more, might I suggest taking a gander at Stay?


The Second: Get By - Tim Hicks

Okay. To begin: How do you name your son Tim Hicks and NOT expect him to become either a country music star or a barrel racer at the local rodeo? I will tell you something: you can't. His parents knew exactly what they were doing when they chose to call him that/chose not to change their last name. His fate was sealed. They must have known they were having a cowboy. Good job, parents. (< this is not sarcasm) When I listen to this song, I like to change the pronouns so that I'm singing to a boy because I feel like the attributes align with my personality better that way. Because i don't like to smoke, I like country, and I drive automatic. See how that works? I know, clever. Other things I enjoy: the fact that he doesn't always pronounce the 'S's at the end of his words because

Preach it, girl!


The Third and Final: Texas Was You - Jason Aldean

How witty that you've attributed States to states of being throughout your life, Mr. Aldean! So clever! So cute! Oh... you don't like being called cute? Okay, fine. Tough? Rugged? Yeah, those do seem to fit you better. Good call, Jason. Good call. Anyways, all I have to say is that listening to this song is like walking down someone else's Memory Lane. And I know we all want to do that. (If you just affirmed that statement then you're a creep. Why would you want to infringe on someone else's Memory Lane, dude? How rude. Get your own Lane of Memories. Sheesh.)

If you need me, I'll be singing country music and occasionally whispering "ain't nobody got time fo dat" to myself whenever I think about vacuuming.

Thanks for listening, y'all!
Karla