"I Want Crazy"

If you haven't fallen in love with Hunter Hayes by now, you do not have a heart.  Ahh I love him.  His album, Encore, came out today and it is ahhmazing.  This kid is so talented it kind of makes me sick.  

To contextually capture emotion is indescribable for me.  This song does it so effortlessly.  And its uptempo.  Total summer anthem right here.  Plus, Troy Verges + Lori McKenna, my hearts already broken, could you imagine if this co-write was a ballad?     

FM Radio:

Singer: Hunter Hayes

Songwriters: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges, Lori McKenna

Song: "I Want Crazy"
Buy it here: iTunes

I'm booking myself a one way flight

I gotta see the color in your eyes
I'm telling myself I'm gonna be alright
Without you baby is a waste of time

Yeah, our first date, girl, the seasons changed
It got washed away in a summer rain
You can't undo a fall like this
'Cause love don't know what distance is
Yeah, I know it's crazy

But I don't want "good" and I don't want "good enough"
I want "can't sleep, can't breathe without you" love
Front porch and one more kiss, it doesn't make sense to anybody else
Who cares if you're all I think about,
I've searched the world and I know now,
It ain't right if you ain't lost your mind
Yeah, I don't want easy, I want crazy
Are you with me baby? Let's be crazy

Yeah

I wanna be scared, don't wanna know why
Wanna feel good, don't have to be right
The world makes all kinds of rules for love
I say you gotta let it do what it does

I don't want just another hug and a kiss goodnight
Catchin' up calls and a date sometimes
I love that we're rebels, and we still believe
We're the kind of crazy people wish that they could be, yeah

Oh, I know we're crazy, yeah

But I don't want "good" and I don't want "good enough"
I want "can't sleep, can't breathe without you" love
Front porch and one more kiss, it doesn't make sense to anybody else
Who cares if you're all I think about,
I've searched the world and I know now,
It ain't right if you ain't lost your mind
Yeah, I don't want easy, I want crazy
You with me baby? Let's be crazy

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

No, I don't want "good" and I don't want "good enough"
I want "can't sleep, can't breathe without you" love
Front porch and one more kiss, it doesn't make sense to anybody else
Who cares if you're all I think about,
I've searched the world and I know now,
It ain't right if you ain't lost your mind
Yeah, I don't want easy, I want crazy

Yeah, look at us baby, tonight the midnight rules are breaking
There's no such thing as wild enough, and maybe we just think too much
Who needs to play it safe in love?
Let's be crazy!

Who cares if we're crazy? We gotta be crazy
I know that we're crazy, so let's be crazy
Yeah…

>

"Blessed"

Since today marks my 21st, I am making a promise to myself to track this next chapter of my life because God knows, it's gonna be a big one.  It feels like a lifetime ago that I've written one of these.
Reflecting back on my year, I have been so fortunate it's kind of nauseating.  Anyways, I had a great pre-birthday weekend in Boston seeing my songwriting idols, Music City Hitmakers, perform with the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Ahh what a 'moment.'  I know I can go on like a broken record how amazing Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges, and Brett James are, but, an experience like this has to be witnessed.  Words cannot describe seeing a MCHM show.  You've never experienced or felt a so-called 'concert' like this before.

Words + Music = A Song.  Lies.  Words + Music + Emotion = A Song.  Writing a song is the most emotionally draining and satisfying thing I've ever experienced.  Once you realize what true 'music' is, your eyes instantaneously open.  I couldn't imagine my life without music.  Being able to play and create is what I will spend the rest of my life chasing after.  At 21, I've learned to not care about what the ideal career would be.  I believe that if I could do this forever, I somehow have that ability to capture lightning.  Yeah, I probably sound like a nut right now but hey, this is my blog.  Haha!

Listen to this song and feel every emotion and beautifully done string arrangement.    
 

FM Radio:

Singer: Martina McBride/Hillary Lindsey

Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Brett James

Song: "Blessed"

I get kissed by the sun each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet
And no words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me
I know

I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

"Windows On A Train"

There's something cathartic about sitting here listening to the first real thunderstorm this year, rain hitting the windows, lightning in the sky, and darkness in the house that makes me want to pour my heart into this blog.  I just want my sad songs, now.  Bring on the ballads.  When I think of amazing songs, I only think of one songwriter.  And if you have read any of my other posts thus far, you probably know who that is...Hillary Lindsey.  Well, this gem is hidden in Jessica Andrew's Now album from 2003.  World, put yourself in this song and think of the clouds releasing rain and missing the love of your life like windows on a train.

FM Radio:
Singer: Jessica Andrews
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Angelo
Song: "Windows On A Train"

It felt like just a moment
The way they never last
Where were you going’
That you had to leave so fast

We were supposed to wake up
One day when we were older
Holdin’ on forever
But we flew past each other

Like windows on a train
The flashing of a frame
I can’t hold on but I can’t let go
A snapshot in my mind
Of a love that’s stuck in time
I saw it slip away
Windows on a train

I’m not sure what happened
But here I am alone
Tryin’ to find a way
To find a reason that you’re gone

I don’t know if I’m shakin’
From the rhythm of these wheels
Or if its my heart breakin’
And this is how it feels, This is how it feels 

Like windows on a train
The flashing of a frame
I can’t hold on but I can’t let go
A snapshot in my mind
Of a love that’s stuck in time
I saw it slip away
Windows on a train

I’m on my way to kneel down with the truth
With my black dress on to say goodbye to you

Like windows on a train
The flashing of a frame
I can’t hold on but I can’t let go
A snapshot in my mind
Of a love that’s stuck in time
I saw it slip away
Windows on a train



Windows On A Train (Album Version)

"This Is Me"

Being honest with yourself sets you free.  Its like the deepest bit of fresh air seeping into your lungs breathing out again.  Its wonderful and so if this song.  I love Faith but not a soul could sing it with such conviction as Hillary.  Here's to an old forgotten demo that has disappeared somewhere in cyberspace.

Remember...Open Arms.  ;)

FM Radio:
Singer: Faith Hill
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges
Song: "This Is Me"

Yeah I have my addictions
I keep my share of secrets
And things you'll never see
Mmm I get selfish and defensive
And pay too much attention to my insecurity

Though I
I'm just like everybody else
I try to love Jesus and myself, yeah yeah


I don't know what you believe
What you think or what you see
But this is a part of me yeah
What I do and who I am
All about your impurities oh
I'm right here on my sleeve
This is me
This is me

Yes my heart breaks for the homeless
I worry about my parents
And all my bills are late
Yeah I I'm dealing with the changes
This complicated strangeness of seeing life this way

Hey yeah I
I'm just like everybody else
I try, Lord I try, to love Jesus and myself, yeah yeah
I don't know what you believe
What you think or what you see
But this is a part of me yeah
What I do and who I am
All of my impurities
I'm right here on my sleeve
This is me yeah
This is me

I laugh at silly movies
Tear up when I see babies
And I'm stubborn as a stone
Yeah I, I criticize my body
I wonder if I'm ready to ever be alone


Oh I, I'm just like everybody else
I cry yes I cry just like everybody else yeah yeah yeah
I don't know what you believe
What you think of what you see
But this is a part of me
What I do and who I am
All of my impurities
Are right here on my sleeve
This is me
Oh this is me
Oh this is me
I'm gonna celebrate it
I'm gonna celebrate it
Don't be afraid who you are
Celebrate who you are
What you do, what you feel, what you see, who you are
Celebrate, celebrate
This is just me
I'm not afraid, I'm not ashamed
This is me 

"What If You Stay"

My signature writing style should just be titled: "Red dress, hardwood floors, Am7."  Really, I should just say emotional drama.  I aim for the soap opera dramatic, front porch view of a breakup.  I. Love. It.  Yes, I already know I am crazy, but think of how many great titles, scenarios, dialoges, etc., can be written with that in mind.  Ahh, I wanna grab my guitar as I write this.  I discovered Chuck Wicks on that short lived reality show called NASHVILLE.  Yes, it was not your typical E! reality show, but I loved every second of it.  Well, needless to say, it made me run out and obsess over him and his CD for a few months, and after six years or so of owning it, this is the only song I really loved.  Just close your eyes and feel the drama...ahh.  

FM Radio:

Singer: Chuck Wicks

Songwriters: Chuck Wicks, Troy Verges, Blair Daly

Song: "What If You Stay"

I can’t make you turn around
And I can’t take back what I did
I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me

Before you slam that open door
And throw away four good years
Think of everything we used to be
I know you say that you’re over me
But I’m askin you, beggin you not to leave

What if I told you I’ve changed
Would you still walk away
What if I told you I loved you
Would you say that it’s too late
What if you could feel what I feel
When I watch you slowly drift away
What if you’re wrong
What if I’m right
That you could move on
What if you stay

I know right now it’s hard to breathe
Hard to think and hard to see
All the reasons we should work it out
It might be easier to go, 
But if you walk out, you’ll never know
How strong we could be at the end of this
I know that sorry is not enough
But I’ll do everything, anything to make it up

What if I told you I’ve changed
Would you still walk away
What if I told you I loved you
Would you say that it’s too late
What if you could feel what I feel
When I watch you slowly drift away
What if you’re wrong
What if I’m right
That you could move on
What if you stay

What if I told you I’ve changed
Would you still walk away
What if I told you I loved you
Would you say that it’s too late
What if you could feel what I feel
When I watch you slowly drift away
What if you’re wrong
What if I’m right
You could move on
What if you stay
Oooooo

I can’t make you turn around
And I can’t take back what I did
I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me

"Big Cry"

If we could wash every bad feeling, bad memory, or anything that we wanted to forget away from us, we probably wouldn't have music.  I probably wouldn't live my life for it, nor would I be sitting here writing this right now.  Well, let me see I'm glad I can't forget to remember.  
I would kill to hear Hillary sing this song...literally, you know me and you know my heart by now.  Well, take a listen to this brilliant song with this fresh structure, which I love, and let the horns and amazing lyrics & melody take you to a place where only a broken heart can.


FM Radio:
Singer: Sara Evans
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Angelo
Song: "Big Cry"

Chorus
Give me a sad song that I can hold on to
Anything to set me free
Just one big cry, big tears in my eyes
To wash you away from me

I need a night all by myself
Got some things I need to work out
I got this fever that just won't break
I got some troubles I got to shake
Give me, give me

Give me a sad song that I can hold on to
Anything to set me free
Just one big cry, big tears in my eyes
To wash you away from me

I know, I know I'm gonna have to cleanse my soul
If I'm ever gonna get back on my way
One night, one night, one dark and lonely night
And then will come a brighter day
Just give me one night, one night, one dark and lonely night
And then will come a brighter day

Give me a sad song that I can hold on to
Anything to set me free
Just one big cry, big tears in my eyes
To wash you away from me

"Simple Life"

Don't you just wonder what life would be like if you could just hit the pause button.  Seriously, like remove all of the complicatedness and just rediscover the simple things.  Kind of like making yourself 4 years old in your modern-current age body.  It would be refreshing and give every single one of us a new perspective.  Well, this is Hillary Lindsey's amazing response to that.  P.S. - Her version can't even compare to this.

FM Radio:
Singer: Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Troy Verges
Song: "Simple Life"

I have wondered this world far and wide
I've been all around to the other sideBut there's nothin' like comin' home
I wanna sit on my front porch and drink my lemonade
Cut my grass after church every Sunday
And go out on Saturday night
Live the simple life
Wake up in the morning to these fields of gold
And take a long walk down a gravel road

Spend my days in the sweet sunshine
Rock in my swing and watch my garden grow
Know that I'll always have someone to hold
Oh I-I-I wanna live the simple life

I wanna take a blanket down to the creek
And let the water sing me to sleep
Let go of time
Live the simple life
Lately I've seen too many city lights
I wanna go somewhere where I can see the stars at night

Spend my days in the sweet sunshine
Rock in my swing and watch my garden grow
Know that I'll always have someone to hold
Oh I-I-I wanna live the simple life

Spend my days in the sweet sunshine
Rock in my swing and watch my garden grow
Know that I'll always have someone to hold
Oh I-I-I wanna live the simple life

Find more artists like Carolyn Dawn Johnson at Myspace Music

"You Were Just Here"

Of course, the 'dream team' wrote this, of course...because no one else could.  Well, let me tell you I have witnessed in these past few days, the craziest stories and tragedies.  Every minute, every hour, every day, someone is taking their last breath while someone is taking their first.  Make your life count.  Life is too short.  Whatever you want to do, however crazy it may be...do it.   


FM Radio:
Singer: Jo Dee Messina
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Brett James
Song: "You Were Just Here"


I woke up at 5 a.m.
Hearing your voice again
But it was just the TV
Coming from the other room

Your half empty coffee cup
Is sitting right where it was
I almost moved it last night
But it didn't feel right
It's too soon, it's too soon
It still feels like

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

The calendar on the wall
Doesn't miss you at all
It still says you'll be there
With us all on christmas eve

The picture you hung last week
Keeps staring back at me
There we are still laughin'
Like nothin' ever happened
I still feel you in the air
It's not fair, it's not fair

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

I reach out and you're not there
But I still feel you everywhere
No matter how much I try
Or how hard I cry
It still feels like

You were just here
You were just holding me
I was alright
I never would have believed
That you'd go away
That you could just disappear
When you were just here

"Paris"

There's some dignity in loving a person so much that you would go to the edge of the earth to give them everything they have ever wanted.  Sometimes, you can only go so far and find that it isn't possible to give what they want.  And that has to be the lowest of low.  Well, Gordie Sampson wrote a song, in my opinion, that is about that rupture of emotion when you can't give what that one person wants most.  I am beyond obsessed with these lyrics...who writes a song with these fine-tuned lyrics?!  In Gordie Sampson's video, he talk about how this song is about getting into a fight in the middle of Paris.  I am utterly baffled by that...so I want to hear from you, what does "Paris" mean to you?  Comment!!


FM Radio:
Singer: Gordie Sampson/Faith Hill
Songwriters: Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges, Blair Daly
Song: "Paris"
THE TRAIN PULLED INTO PARIS LIKE A ROCKET TO THE MOON
THE STATION’S LIKE A CIRCUS EVERY FACE IS A CARTOON
EVERYBODY’S STONED ON PRIDE AND DRUNK ON CHEAP CHAMPAGNE
TONIGHT THIS JOIE DE VIVRE SURE DON’T LIVE UP TO ITS NAME
AND NOW ALL THAT I CAN SAY

CHORUS:
IS I’D GIVE THIS WORLD TO YOU
EVERY ROCK AND EVERY STONE EVERY MASTERPIECE IN ROME
AND IF YOU ASKED ME TO
I’D STEAL THE MONA LISA, TEAR IT UP IN LITTLE PIECES
AND LAY THEM AT YOUR FEET
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
BUT TONIGHT I CAN’T GIVE YOU PARIS


ARISTOCRATS ARE EVERYWHERE
AND THE AIR’S AS THICK AS THIEVES
SHE’D LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO STEAL THE BREATH FROM ME
THE TOWER’S LIGHTS AIN’T SHININ’ AS IT HANGS ITS HEAD IN SHAME
AT THE SIGHT OF AMERICAN BLOOD ON THE STREETS OF ST. GERMAIN
WASHIN’ UP INTO THE SEINE

(REPEAT CHORUS)

AND I’D GIVE THIS WORLD TO YOU
I’D STEAL THE CROWN AND KINGDOM FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND
AND IF YOU ASKED ME TO
I’D TAKE THIS CITY IN MY HANDS, BREAK IT DOWN IN GRAINS OF SAND
AND LAY THEM AT YOUR FEET
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
BUT TONIGHT I CAN’T GIVE YOU PARIS


Gordie's Version:



Faith's Version:

"Stronger"

As a promise to myself, The SongBird Project will be at least a 365 day blog.  I may not post every single day but by this time next year, I will guarantee there will be 365 posts!
Anyways, my reason for not posting yesterday is that I had the most traumatic experience of my life.  To spare the details, let me just say if I ever am able to get my voice back and sing like I used to, it will only be by the grace of God.  However, Music always saves me.  As I was going through the events of yesterday, all I had in my head was this song.  Besides the obvious title of this song, "Stronger," I believe a great song is marked by the ability to carry a message that can be applied to any situation.  If you remove the relationship context of this song, this song can apply to anything.  This chorus is incredible!!  Not to be totally corny, but once you cry it out and get the weight of your emotions off your chest you are then able to move forward and on to something greater than what had been.  To me, this song symbolizes allowing yourself to be vulnerable enough to realize what you have to overcome to get to where you want to go.  You have to be weak to be strong. 


On a side note: I am probably the biggest Hillary Lindsey fan out there, but I saw her and a few other writers a few years ago at a CMA Songwriters Series in NYC and that night completely changed my life.  One of the songs Hillary sang that night was "Stronger," which is better than Faith's in my opinion, below is the video I took!

FM Radio:
Song: "Stronger"
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges
Singer: Faith Hill

This is the window to my heart

I just want us to be free

There ain't no freedom where we are

Ain't no wishes in these stars

Ain't no reasons to believe

But don't worry baby

Don't you worry

Maybe this is what we need

A little bruise and a little bleeding

Some space that we can breathe in

Some silence in between

[Chorus:]

So cry for me baby

And I'll cry for you

And we'll both break down and we'll both break through

We'll find our way you will face the truth

We both will be stronger

And we'll lie down in our loneliness

Wake up with our sad regrets

Even know we don't know it yet

We both will be stronger

We both will be stronger

I can't believe you're really gone now

But I know it's for the best

And I know that we weren't right

But I still reach for you each night

And man that hurts like hell

[Chorus]

So baby
[Chorus]

This is the window to my heart

I just want us to be free

Baby I'm sorry for the way things are

Goodbye is always hard

And we both will be stronger

Hear Hillary's version: (She looks at us around the 3:20 mark)

Hear Faith Hill's version: (3:11 is my favorite)

"This Is Me"

Silence is the antithesis to my life.  Since I can remember I've always had a song in my head, constantly.  I know every 'music lover' says this, but honestly, music IS the soundtrack to my life.  I believe music can change your life...it's changed mine.  

I've always admired others who can crack themselves open and expose everything about themselves, whether that be in a book, a song, a blog...So the least to say is that I have been inspired.  I've never been an open book, but I guess I could try to be.  So to all the songs, songwriters, bloggers, Oprah, etc., this is for you.  You've taught me to not be afraid of who I am, what I believe in, or what kind of music I listen to.  ;)    

Every school report, that anyone grades or reads, gets criticism for being too wordy.  Well truth is, I love to write.  Even that is an understatement.  I'm constantly finding words that I hear people say that instantly sound like a song title.  Although I'll sometimes strive for the 'ideal' 3 minutes and 40 seconds, I want to lose and find myself in my words, my music, and in my songs.  I'm a songwriter, through and through, it's everything I am.  However, sometimes it gets hard to open a hidden heart.  So that is what this blog is for and what it's going to become.  A place to crack myself open and expose all I am.  


I love shedding light on things that remain unseen or unheard.  I am, self-professed, totally, utterly, obsessed, with discovering songs and songwriters.  So, since my life is chronicled through songs, and is practically a Lifetime movie in the making, as long as you are reading this, you are basically listening to my radio.  So at the end of every post will be a 'What's playing'....Listen!!  I like my music relatable, emotional and truthful.  Unfortunately, most music has now become any 'singer' that likes to have a backing of fake instruments and autotune.  Fortunately, there's one genre that doesn't tolerate that nonsense...country.  
So if I haven't made it clear....My name is Francesca and I love Country Music.     

Why SongBird? - Everyone is a work in progress, myself included.  In my eyes, music is empowering, it can give you wings.  Hopefully, one day, when these wings are ready to fly, I'll have a 'franchise' haha, that will be everything SongBird...SongBird Music, SongBird Bake Shoppe, etc.  So this blog is sort of a 'making of' myself with documentation = The SongBird Project.   

FM Radio

Song: "This Is Me"

Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey (You'll be seeing a LOT of her), Troy Verges

Singer: Faith Hill