A few things. 1) I don't like country music. 2) I will never like country music. 3) no matter how many videos you try to make me watch of country songs (RJ), or how many times you sneakily change my radio to a country station (Lindsey), I will STILL not like country music.
Sorry.
I will give you this, though. I like Taylor Swift. I like blue grass music. I like Alison Krauss. I like folk songs with banjo? I don't know if that counts. But look, it's not like I hate everything about what you like. Just mostly.
What I really can't stand is pop-country songs, like stuff that plays on the radio. Like, really can't stand it. Like want to rip my ears off of my head and jump on them when I have to listen to it. I don't like twangy male voices or songs about dogs dying or something. It just isn't pleasant.
I mean take this Tim McGraw song that someone so kindly forced me to listen to. It's slightly ridiculous:
It starts off like this:
"It was Labor Day Weekend and I was seventeen, I bought a coke and some gasoline and I drove out to the county fair."
Alright, why do I care that you bought a coke and some gasoline? Needless information. In fact, all it does is make me not like you, because I prefer Pepsi. Way to alienate your audience, Tim.
Then, it goes on to when he gets to the country fair. He sees a girl standing in a ticket line and "it all started right then and there." It seems obvious that this boy is not a quality catch. If he was looking for a committed relationship, his feelings would have started after he had gotten to know this girl, asked her about her likes and dislikes, discovered what type of music she liked. But no. He falls for her because of the following reasons:
I had a barbecue stain on my white t-shirt, she was killing me in that mini-skirt...she had a suntan line and red lipstick.
First of all, gross. Clean up a little if you're trying to impress the ladies.
Secondly, gross. This is complete objectification of women. All this boy notices is: mini-skirt, red lipstick, suntan line. Does he say "Gosh, she has a great personality!"? Nuh-uh. What a pig.
Next, this boy is headed to Mardi Gras five years later and sees this same girl on a plane. How serendipitous! I'm sure that they will go on to have a classy, romantic time in New Orleans, getting wasted and doing Lord knows what. I mean, their love is based off of so much: similar interests, shared dreams, same sense of humor....oh wait. It's based off of a mini-skirt. Let's glorify that relationship, why don't we.
So, that's my take on country music. I would just like to add that just because I lead younglife in Greene county and am from a small town, those things do not imply that I should love country music. The fact that I don't just makes me a little superior in regards to everyone else.
Love you, friends!
p.s. Lindsey, I LOVE you (music taste & all). we can listen to up to two country songs in the car today just because I am nice :)
a post for those craving summer
look at those. get excited about bare feet & Popsicles & never-ending sunshine. listen to this (beautiful) song. join me in summer dreaming. 
rain
Rain on a late Thursday night. Beating fingertip sounds against the roof of my Saab, with me inside and the leather seats smell familiar like crayons. The buzz that sounds from somewhere near the broken clock on the dashboard continues with the engine off, familiar hum. Tires on a familiar spot of the driveway. Settle in. I settle in without thought of the door handle, of the inside rooms of my house, of work waiting, of catching up on days. Rain on a late Thursday night and I am me inside my car.
I think of rain like literature and like loneliness, the storm that pours on Lear when he walks across the heath, heartbroken. He thinks no one loves him, but somebody does. I think of rain like how it sounded to cummings, how he knew someone with smaller hands. I think of rain like music, think of Norah Jones and wonder if she really has a tin roof to listen to its falling.
I think of rain in terms of puddles, of the Dell surging up in fullness, of small streams down the side of my street, of the picture I saw on the news once of a man floating on a piece of wood on a river of rain where a highway was. I think of little and BIG. I think of two things at once, how rain is quiet but then it is L O U D, think of all the drops bumping into each other. I think of rain like students in a marching band drum solo competition, all pounding away with vigor, intensity- afraid of what their parents will say if they don’t outshine, win the award.
I think of rain and what it means when it’s absent. I think of dryness, how we crave rain then. I think of heat, how we pray for rain then. I think of sunshine, how then we wish for rain never to come again. Strange.
And then when I stop thinking of everything else, I think of You, who knows the rain. You who knows that the Magnolia tree in the front of my house still needs rain to grow, no matter how big it seems. You who could count the drops, who could match the beat of each hit against my roof in perfect rhythm with Your perfect hands. I think of You who wrung out the white cotton clouds into this perfect gift of water that I sit here, alone and not alone, listening to. The here of where I find you in my dark street with my lit windows and I’m outside them, and the yellow pollen is falling to the ground - in my car, in the driveway, in the shadow of my house, in the palm of Your hand.
I think of rain like literature and like loneliness, the storm that pours on Lear when he walks across the heath, heartbroken. He thinks no one loves him, but somebody does. I think of rain like how it sounded to cummings, how he knew someone with smaller hands. I think of rain like music, think of Norah Jones and wonder if she really has a tin roof to listen to its falling.
I think of rain in terms of puddles, of the Dell surging up in fullness, of small streams down the side of my street, of the picture I saw on the news once of a man floating on a piece of wood on a river of rain where a highway was. I think of little and BIG. I think of two things at once, how rain is quiet but then it is L O U D, think of all the drops bumping into each other. I think of rain like students in a marching band drum solo competition, all pounding away with vigor, intensity- afraid of what their parents will say if they don’t outshine, win the award.
I think of rain and what it means when it’s absent. I think of dryness, how we crave rain then. I think of heat, how we pray for rain then. I think of sunshine, how then we wish for rain never to come again. Strange.
And then when I stop thinking of everything else, I think of You, who knows the rain. You who knows that the Magnolia tree in the front of my house still needs rain to grow, no matter how big it seems. You who could count the drops, who could match the beat of each hit against my roof in perfect rhythm with Your perfect hands. I think of You who wrung out the white cotton clouds into this perfect gift of water that I sit here, alone and not alone, listening to. The here of where I find you in my dark street with my lit windows and I’m outside them, and the yellow pollen is falling to the ground - in my car, in the driveway, in the shadow of my house, in the palm of Your hand.
songs named names
Today I was thinking about how a lot of really good songs are named after names. Here are a few of my favorites you should check out:
1) Jolene - Ray LaMontagne
SO good. So. So. So. So.
2) Jolene - The Weepies
OK, this is another good song called "Jolene". I can never decide which one I like better. The Weepies are awesome, so if you haven't checked them out, you need to. They are kind of chill, folky music that is smooth and easy to listen to.
3) Caroline - David Gray
My friends and I just had a conversation a few weeks ago about wonderful it would be if David Gray was your husband and he could serenade you any time you wanted.
4) Kate - Ben Folds
"everyday she wears the same thing...I think she smokes pot"
5) Samson - Regina Spektor
She has such a beautiful, haunting voice. There are some really lovely lines in this.
6) Jack & Diane - John Mellencamp
You know you love it.
7) Amie - Damien Rice
I could melt into this.... or just have a good slow dance while listening to this.
8) Sarah Maria - James Taylor
Not one of his better known numbers, but this song is wonderful. (so is JT)
9) John Wayne Gacy Jr. - Sufjan Stevens
This song is about the Chicago serial-killer. Yes, kind of creepy, but for some reason this song really impresses me. I love Sufjan and think this tells a really haunting story.
10) Emily - Frank Sinatra
Alright, this song only made this list because I am a little self-obsessed.
11) Taylor - Jack Johnson
My bro's name! Although, I like to make fun of him about it because this song is about a girl.
12) Mary Ann - Ray Charles
probably my favorite Ray Charles song
13) Vanessa (from Queens) - Stephen Malkmus
I think I got this from a mix Zoe gave me, so you know it's good.
14) Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Warning: do not play this song unless you are in the position to have yourself a killer DP.
15) Janet - The Format
My mom's name :) The Format rules. I love the line in this that says "I love waking up to your laugh"
16) Rapunzel - Dave Matthews Band
"lost in love and dancing - shake your tambourine!"
17) Pauline - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
ohhh I just adore their voices.
18) Ms. New Booty - Bubba Sparxx
just kidding.
19) Lola - The Kinks
la la la la lola.
20) Kathleen - Josh Ritter
This song is perfect. If any boy ever says to me "all the other girls here are stars, you are the Northern Lights", I will be so happy.
21) Jenny - Flight of the Conchords
they are so entertaining. I love this song tons.
22) Jonathan Fisk - Spoon
Every time I listen to Spoon, I get this sudden urge to learn how to play the drums.
23) Victoria - John Mayer
If you are looking for an especially sappy John Mayer song, you've found it.
24) Zak and Sara - Ben Folds
I remember that this was so fun to sing at his concert. I will forever love Ben, even though he is apparently a jerk in real life.
25) Maggie May - Rod Stewart
An oldie but a goodie
1) Jolene - Ray LaMontagne
SO good. So. So. So. So.
2) Jolene - The Weepies
OK, this is another good song called "Jolene". I can never decide which one I like better. The Weepies are awesome, so if you haven't checked them out, you need to. They are kind of chill, folky music that is smooth and easy to listen to.
3) Caroline - David Gray
My friends and I just had a conversation a few weeks ago about wonderful it would be if David Gray was your husband and he could serenade you any time you wanted.
4) Kate - Ben Folds
"everyday she wears the same thing...I think she smokes pot"
5) Samson - Regina Spektor
She has such a beautiful, haunting voice. There are some really lovely lines in this.
6) Jack & Diane - John Mellencamp
You know you love it.
7) Amie - Damien Rice
I could melt into this.... or just have a good slow dance while listening to this.
8) Sarah Maria - James Taylor
Not one of his better known numbers, but this song is wonderful. (so is JT)
9) John Wayne Gacy Jr. - Sufjan Stevens
This song is about the Chicago serial-killer. Yes, kind of creepy, but for some reason this song really impresses me. I love Sufjan and think this tells a really haunting story.
10) Emily - Frank Sinatra
Alright, this song only made this list because I am a little self-obsessed.
11) Taylor - Jack Johnson
My bro's name! Although, I like to make fun of him about it because this song is about a girl.
12) Mary Ann - Ray Charles
probably my favorite Ray Charles song
13) Vanessa (from Queens) - Stephen Malkmus
I think I got this from a mix Zoe gave me, so you know it's good.
14) Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Warning: do not play this song unless you are in the position to have yourself a killer DP.
15) Janet - The Format
My mom's name :) The Format rules. I love the line in this that says "I love waking up to your laugh"
16) Rapunzel - Dave Matthews Band
"lost in love and dancing - shake your tambourine!"
17) Pauline - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
ohhh I just adore their voices.
18) Ms. New Booty - Bubba Sparxx
just kidding.
19) Lola - The Kinks
la la la la lola.
20) Kathleen - Josh Ritter
This song is perfect. If any boy ever says to me "all the other girls here are stars, you are the Northern Lights", I will be so happy.
21) Jenny - Flight of the Conchords
they are so entertaining. I love this song tons.
22) Jonathan Fisk - Spoon
Every time I listen to Spoon, I get this sudden urge to learn how to play the drums.
23) Victoria - John Mayer
If you are looking for an especially sappy John Mayer song, you've found it.
24) Zak and Sara - Ben Folds
I remember that this was so fun to sing at his concert. I will forever love Ben, even though he is apparently a jerk in real life.
25) Maggie May - Rod Stewart
An oldie but a goodie
on creativity and colored ketchup
In 2000, Heinz came out with this product line of colored ketchup called EZ Squirt. Did your mom buy it for you? Mine did, and all of my friend's moms bought it for them, too. They had tons of different and appealing colors that you wouldn't normally associate with ketchup: purple, blue, bright green, teal, pink. It was all the rage. There was something so exciting about eating french fries covered in purple instead of red. In the end, though, the excitement didn't last. After about two weeks, me and all my friends got bored of colored ketchup. After about six years, Heinz discontinued the line completely.
I've been spending a lot of time writing this week and all I keep thinking about is how often I produce colored ketchup. How many times do I write about the same exact themes or recreate the same sort of story or use the same poetic format? And I can get excited about it for maybe a day before I make the heartbreaking realization that all I've done is add a little food coloring and it's the same old thing I always do, or the same old thing I've read before a thousand times. Ughhhhh. It is more frustrating than writer's block in my opinion, the feeling of being unable to think of anything creative or new to add to the world.
So what is the goal, then? NOT to create colored ketchup? Some could argue that Heinz was successful with EZ Squirt. People bought into it. Kids went crazy. I'm sure there were hundreds of temper tantrums over dinner tables where neon-colored tomato products were not endorsed: "Little Timmy, you better eat those fries! I don't care if they don't have teal ketchup on them, the red kind tastes exactly the same! No dessert for you!"
But what I want and what artists & creators & producers everywhere want is to make something new. Something radical. Something that changes things. Something no one has ever seen before. What good is it to produce something that people gobble up in two seconds and then tire of? I want something lasting. Those great works of literature you read in English class? Those endure because they are different and wonderful, like a Beatles song you hear on the radio and that your parents and maybe grandparents heard on the radio, too. They aren't like that Kesha "Tik Tok" number that people can't stop playing for now but will quickly come to find obnoxious.
I shouldn't be frustrated, really. I know close to nothing so far about what it means to be a good writer in any sort of genre or capacity. And maybe it just takes practice and learning. For you, it could be anything. Maybe it's painting or singing or building or whatever it is you science people do. Go be inspired by what works already. Spend time being frustrated that you only seem to recreate different versions of other people's better ideas. Grow to loathe yourself for not having a single unique thought. And then, have joy, because someday you are going to work and work and work and finally find your voice and make something that is so much better than colored ketchup.
I've been spending a lot of time writing this week and all I keep thinking about is how often I produce colored ketchup. How many times do I write about the same exact themes or recreate the same sort of story or use the same poetic format? And I can get excited about it for maybe a day before I make the heartbreaking realization that all I've done is add a little food coloring and it's the same old thing I always do, or the same old thing I've read before a thousand times. Ughhhhh. It is more frustrating than writer's block in my opinion, the feeling of being unable to think of anything creative or new to add to the world.
So what is the goal, then? NOT to create colored ketchup? Some could argue that Heinz was successful with EZ Squirt. People bought into it. Kids went crazy. I'm sure there were hundreds of temper tantrums over dinner tables where neon-colored tomato products were not endorsed: "Little Timmy, you better eat those fries! I don't care if they don't have teal ketchup on them, the red kind tastes exactly the same! No dessert for you!"
But what I want and what artists & creators & producers everywhere want is to make something new. Something radical. Something that changes things. Something no one has ever seen before. What good is it to produce something that people gobble up in two seconds and then tire of? I want something lasting. Those great works of literature you read in English class? Those endure because they are different and wonderful, like a Beatles song you hear on the radio and that your parents and maybe grandparents heard on the radio, too. They aren't like that Kesha "Tik Tok" number that people can't stop playing for now but will quickly come to find obnoxious.
I shouldn't be frustrated, really. I know close to nothing so far about what it means to be a good writer in any sort of genre or capacity. And maybe it just takes practice and learning. For you, it could be anything. Maybe it's painting or singing or building or whatever it is you science people do. Go be inspired by what works already. Spend time being frustrated that you only seem to recreate different versions of other people's better ideas. Grow to loathe yourself for not having a single unique thought. And then, have joy, because someday you are going to work and work and work and finally find your voice and make something that is so much better than colored ketchup.
