Last night, “Christmas at the pry” aired on NBC, and of course, there were some pretty solid performances, but I particularly love seeing Brenda Lee perform her iconic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” at the age of 78!
Brenda can still hang!
And I love that it clearly wasn’t lip-synched. Brenda don’t need that mess.
Also, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is #1 this week on the Billboard Hot 100, 65 years after it’s release!
Fun fact: Brenda Lee recorded the holiday staple when she was 13.
Once again, Kelly Clarkson floored me with her incredible vocals.
This time, it was covering The Eagle’s classic “Desperado” which is one of my all-time favorite songs. So poignant and perfectly written, and Kelly did a great version of it on her “Kelly Clarkson Show” Kellyoke segment last week.
Right?
RIGGHHHHHHTTT???
I thought I would share with you to hopefully make your Monday better.
If you’re a fan of the massive hit TV show “Yellowstone” then you know all about Luke Grimes, who plays Kayce Dutton on the show. As of last year, he’s been getting into Country music, and his stuff is pretty good. I love his laid back, true Country sound, and his music is the perfect soundtrack to the ranch lifestyle, which, of course, is depicted in a very dramatic way on “Yellowstone”.
He just released a cover of the Blaze Foley song “Clay Pigeons” which was originally released back in 1989, and he does a solid job on it.
If you want more Luke, he just released his debut EP “Pain Pills or Pews” and you can get more info and tour dates at http://lukegrimesmusic.com
I can’t wait to hear more from him, and I REALLY can’t wait for the final few episodes of “Yellowstone” which is slated (for now) for next Fall.
I just stumbled upon a version of John Denver’s classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” that Lana Del Ray just reimagined, and you know what? It’s pretty stellar.
Kind of hauntingly beautiful, isn’t it?
Being from the country myself, this song always resonated with me, and this is just an extra cool version that I am definitely adding to the playlist.
It turns out, Lana was inspired to record a version of this song after a recent tour to the Southern states and Appalachia.
I know there are some people who complain about covers and reimagined versions of songs, but I like hearing different voices on classics. I think Lana Del Ray nailed it on this one.
In case you missed it, “Christmas at Graceland” was last night at the iconic home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, TN. Of course, the whole point was to honor The King of Rock and Roll this holiday season with some stellar performances on the NBC special.
The standout?
Kacey Freaking Musgraves.
I love her version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” which she recorded for the “Elvis” movie soundtrack, but her live version last night?
Magical.
Seriously, how perfect is that???
Kacey is an incredible talent, and I’m still not sure why her success hasn’t translated to more radio airplay. I’ve always loved her music, and her voice is one of the purest out there. Plus, she’s ridiculously STUNNING.
A few weeks ago, Walker Hayes dropped a holiday version of his smash-hit “Fancy Like” called “Fancy Like Christmas” and it was absolutely perfect! So, of course, I’ve been waiting for the video to come out, and I am NOT disappointed.
Isn’t that great? I love Walker’s relateable sense of humor, and how he involves his family in all of his videos and socials.
Hopefully that puts a smile on your face this holiday season!
Also, I got to chat with Walker Hayes on the show last week, and he is seriously the BEST.
One of my favorite websites- http://ultimateclassicrock.com– just compiled a list of the worst lyrics in Classic Rock, and it’s hard to argue it.
Here are the Top 10:
1. “Why Can’t This Be Love?”, Van Halen: “Only time will tell if we stand the test of time.”
2. “Don’t Stop Believin'”, Journey: “Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit.” (South Detroit doesn’t exist.)
3. “Roundabout”, Yes: “Mountains come out of the sky, and they stand there.”
4. “Sleeping Bag”, ZZ Top: “Let’s go out to Egypt ’cause it’s in the plan . . . we’ll whip out our mattress ’cause there ain’t no beds.”
5. “Dirty White Boy”, Foreigner: “I’m a loner, but I’m never alone.”
6. “A Horse with No Name”, America: “In the desert you can remember your name, ’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.”
7. “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da”, The Police: “And when their eloquence escapes me, their logic ties me up and rapes me.”
8. “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, Billy Joel: “Rock and Roller, cola wars, I can’t take it anymore.” (A Coke and Pepsi rivalry frustrates him?)
9. “We Built This City”, Starship: “Who counts the money, underneath the bar, who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars?”
10. “Pinball Wizard”, The Who: “[He] plays by sense of smell.”
Yeah, they’re all pretty bad. But what about “Christine Sixteen” by KISS?
“I don’t usually say things like this to girls your age
But when I saw you coming out of school that day
(Christine sixteen)
That day I knew, I knew
I’ve got to have you, I’ve got to have you
[Bridge]
She’s been around, but she’s young and clean
I’ve got to have her, can’t live without her, whoa no”
As time goes on, I am definitely becoming more and more of a Miley Cyrus fan. I wasn’t into her in her “Hannah Montana” days, nor her music right after. Some of her songs on the “Bangerz” album were good, but her public persona was a bit much for me at the stage of life I was in. But now? Miley has grown as an artist and a person and is really impressive. These past few years, she has really turned my head as an artist, and she keeps getting better.
Case in point: Her version of Journey’s “Faithfully” at her 31st Birthday Party at Chateau Marmont:
Well, she just slayed that, and made it her own.
“Faithfully” is one of my favorite 80’s Power Ballads, and I love the spin she put on it. She made it her own.
Anyone else hope she releases her version as a single?
One of my favorite YouTube Channels “There I Ruined It” just released another gem this weekend.
It’s called “What Bro Country Sounds Like to People Who Don’t Like Bro Country”, and it is absolutely spot on!
Ok, now I actually like some of the “Bro Country”- I said “some”- and it still sounds like that to me.
I grew up in the Country, so the beer/truck/buck/cut off jeans thing resonates with me, because that’s an actual thing. But for about a decade, that’s all Country music was. I was a Program Director at a Hot Country station a few years back, and the Bro-Country was a bit extreme. I really felt sorry for all the girls who had short, pale legs, because they never got any love in Country songs.
At least Country Music is kind of getting away from that trend. I mean, Florida-Georgia Line is no more, so that’s half of the Bro-Country genre right there.
And again, I don’t hate all of it, as I do relate to it. Hate on me all you want for that statement, I don’t care. I have spent many a nights at a field party drinking beer while wearing cutoff jeans. No regrets.
Jason Aldean just announced his new radio single “Let Your Boys Be Country” off of his latest album “Highway Desperado”, and honestly, I really like it.
I know Jason has been the center of controversy after his last #1 single “Try That in a Small Town”, which, growing up in a small town and living that lifestyle, I didn’t take offense to it, although I can see why some took it the wrong way. And I’m sure someone will have a problem with this song, too, as people who don’t know that life won’t exactly understand the meaning of it. That’s fine. I really liked the song, as for me, it’s very relateable. Especially as I have a son of my own right now, and one day- hopefully soon- my husband and I will return to the family farm in West Tennessee and get to live the small town life once again. I want Brandon (my son) to grow up outside, with acres of land, to be able to roam and be free, the way my husband and I both grew up. My husband- an Officer in the US Army- and a true Country boy at heart- can’t wait to live the outdoor lifestyle with our son. There really is something to it. And that’s what I get out of this song.
I especially like the video. It makes me want to go home right now, and show Brandon the ropes of growing up on a farm in a small town. All in good time.
Growing up in a rural area was a blessing. I know there are some that make fun of that lifestyle, but in my 40+ years on this planet, and getting to see many sides of life, I have to say that there is something special and real about growing up in the country and I really can’t wait to get back to it.
I hope that my son will appreciate it as much as his father and I do. If not, that’s fine, too.
But I am excited to give him that opportunity.
Cheers to Country boys, and the Mamas that raise them!
Audio, Video
