"Give Me Back My Hometown"

Happy 2014, SongBirds!  

This year is off to a crazy start and I know there are some magical things in store.  

This year is and will definitely be blog-worthy, in my life and musically. 

Now, I will be the first to admit...I am not the biggest Eric Church fan.  However, I am totally having a change of heart, and I know you will too.  This song restores my tested faith in Country Music.

I am over society's judgmental views of country music.  This song shatters those criticisms.  To the untrained ear, country music no longer sounds 'country' any more, and it doesn't have to!  From the structure, instrumentation, and choice of words, this song is propelling our genre into a new chapter.

Can I just talk about how brilliant these words are?  Like come on.  "All the colors of my youth/The red, the green, the hope, the truth/Are beatin’ me black and blue cause you’re in every scene"  The. Best.  My songwriting head is exploding, absolutely brilliant.  

This. Is. Country. Music.  

FM Radio:
Singer: Eric Church
Songwriters: Eric Church/Luke Laird
Song: "Give Me Back My Hometown"
Buy it here: iTunes

Damn, I used to love this view
Sit here and drink a few
Main street and the high school lit up on Friday night
Down there it’s another touchdown
Man, this year’s team is stout I can hear them goin’ crazy
And up here so am I

Thinkin’ about you sittin’ there sayin’ I hate this, I hate it
If you couldn’t stand livin’ here why’d you take it, take it

Give me back my hometown
‘Cause this is my hometown

All the colors of my youth
The red, the green, the hope, the truth
Are beatin’ me black and blue cause you’re in every scene
My friends try to cheer me up get together at the Pizza Hut
I didn’t have the heart to tell them that was our place
These sleepy streetlights on every sidewalk side street
Shed a light on everything that used to be

Give me back my hometown
‘Cause this is my hometown

You can have my grandma’s locket
The knife out of my grandpa’s pocket
Yeah my state champion jacket
I don’t care you can have it
 Every made memory
Every picture, every broken dream
Yeah everything, everything, everything

Give me back my hometown
‘Cause this is my hometown

"Play On"

This is my response to life today.  I guess we all have days like this.  But on the other hand, if we didn't we would never have songs like this.

FM Radio:
Singer: Carrie Underwood
Songwriters: Carrie Underwood, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird
Song: "Play On"


What you gonna do when the show is over
What you gonna sing when the song ends, yeah
How you gonna cope when there is no closure
Where you gonna reach when the goal gets higher
How you gonna make it through when you think you've lost your chance 

Play on
When you're losing the game, play on
'Cause you're gonna make mistakes
It's always worth the sacrifice
Even when you think you're wrong
So play on
Play on

Even when the flood gates swing wide open
Never let the currents take you down, no
Even when you're not sure where you're going
Swimming through a mess, and you can't get out
Just going through the motions, and trying not to drown

Play on
When you're losing the game, play on
'Cause you're gonna make mistakes
It's always worth the sacrifice
Even when you think you're wrong
So play on
Play On

Even through a storm on the darkest night
Don't you ever give up the fight
Even when you feel you're all alone

Play On
Play On
Play On
When you're losing the game, play on
'Cause you're gonna make mistakes
It's always worth the sacrifice
Even when you think you're wrong
So play on
Play on
Play on

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Na na na na na na
Na na na na na na

"A Little Bit Stronger"

We all push a littler harder, fight a little longer, and try more, until we just give up.  Every step you make, or mile-marker you pass becomes a 'small victory,' one more step away from where or who you used to be.  Well, not because three musical geniuses wrote it, but this song is that extra step.  This song = power.  This song = a hit.  (Note: I could've done without the brush my teeth part, but it works, its real, its relatable, I LOVE it!)  

Not because I am SO excited to be witnessing my 1st Lady A concert tomorrow night but because this song has inspired me.  However, although I am a big Sara Evans fan, the original version takes the cake...and the grammy.  Hillary Scott & Lady A should, undoubtedly, release this song!  I cannot wait to see them perform this tomorrow!  Ah!!!

FM Radio:
Singer: Sara Evans/HIllary Scott
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey aka God herself, Hillary Scott, Luke Laird
Song: "A Little Bit Stronger"

Woke up late today, and I still feel the sting of the pain.
But I brushed my teeth anyway, got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my face.
I got a little bit stronger.

Riding in the car to work, and I'm trying to ignore the hurt.
So I turned on the radio, Stupid song made me think of you,
I listened to it for minute, but then I changed it.
I'm getting a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay.
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.

Doesn't happen over night, but you turn around and a months gone by,
And you realize you haven't cried.
I'm not giving you a hour or a second or another minute longer.
I'm busy getting stronger.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay.
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

Getting along without you baby,
I'm better off without you baby,
How does it feel with out me baby?
I'm getting stronger without you baby.

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around.
And ohhh
I'm done thinking, that you could ever change.
I know my heart will never be the same,
but I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

I'm just a little bit stronger.
A little bit, a little bit, a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger. 

Stronger:



Weak:



I can only imagine how many hearts Hillary Lindsey could rip out with this demo?  


I want your opinions!!!!  Who has the 'Stronger' version?
Comment!!!

"Twisted"

Never did I think that this would be my first Carrie Underwood song I would write about but never that I ever forgot this song but magically no matter how many times I put my iPod on shuffle, this song always comes on!  No matter how hard you try, I don't think this crazy life is meant for us to fully understand.  And this song explains it best.  Not to mention the epic background vocals by Hillary Lindsey.  I think I could listen to a record just of her making vowel sounds, she's unreal.

Carrie Underwood was like a musical God to me when she won American Idol.  I just couldn't stop talking about her.  I knew she was going to come out of this show with a career from her audition..and then "ALONE" blew me away, I was sold.  I would buy Carrie Underwood sings the telephone book and it would undoubtedly rip my heart out.  Anyways, I'll talk about her a million times again but I couldn't resist.  I fell in love with Some Hearts, but Carnival Ride just exploded my heart.    

I would kill to hear Hillary's version, if anyone has ever heard it, let me know how incredible it is!

FM Radio:
Singer: Carrie Underwood
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Luke Laird, Brett James
Song: "Twisted"

Baby you're a wrecking ball crashing into me
Nothing I can do but fall piece by piece
You broke down every part of me that ever thought I'd never need you, baby

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Everybody's telling me I'm over my head
But they don't feel you lovin' me
They all say that I've gone crazy
Maybe, but it's too late now to save me
I'm too tangled

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Even if it's twisted

Maybe it's not right
But that's all right
Yeah, it's all right tonight

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it

It's twisted
Messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm wanna love you even if it's wrong

Even if it's twisted
Even if it's just a little bit
Just a little bit
Just a little bit twisted
Yeah, it's twisted