My Gift is My Song

As my final "required" entry, I wondered what to write about. I could do a complete over view of what I have discussed over the course of this blog, but that would be boring. I could introduce a brand new artist that would entice all of my avid readers to come back and check up on things. Or perhaps just ramble about life lessons I have learned from being apart of this blog. However, all of those things are boring and not in the least bit interesting.
So, seeing that it is almost December and Christmas is right around the corner, I can't help but think of how Christmas has changed throughout my years. When I was a little girl, as most kids do, could hardly sleep in the anticipation of all the presents Santa would bring me. Although I still enjoy receiving gifts and giving gifts, the older I get, the more I realize how little gifts actually have to do with Christmas. My family is so important to me, and the time I get to spend with them during this holiday season is a time that I cherish and look forward to, even more that the baby doll dentist chair I got when I was four.
My family is very musical and, most of the time, when we get together some form of singing occurs. Even if it is "Happy Birthday" we usually have four part harmony. Music enhances life to its greatest potential. Without it our lives would truly be missing out on life's greatest gifts! I'm reminded of the song "Your Song" from the movie Moulin Rouge. "My gift is my song, and this one's for you." Give a gift of a song this year. Write a song, give a song, or a whole album to someone you love. Spread Christmas cheer and love to all this holiday season!

Girl Power! Peace!

With the come-back tour of the Spice Girls and Posh on every magazine cover, lately I drift back to those middle school days of "girl power" "peace" and "wanna be." Sometimes you just need a little "Girl Power" for a boost in this man-driven world. Sure, we give the guys opportunities to accompany us, but it is only to make them feel better about themselves. Look out fellas...us girls aren't going anywhere and we have voices that will be impossible to ignore!

Taylor Swift "Our Song"

High school senior and country ingenue Taylor Swift has created a lot of buzz this year. Not only because she has had a number one album and two hit singles under her belt before her 18th birthday but also because she wrote or co-wrote every song on her debut album. Third single from the set, "Our Song", finds Taylor getting reassurance from her significant other that they don't need a particular tune to call their own: "...Our song is the way you laugh/The first date..." "man, I didn't kiss her, and I should have..." Heavy on the fiddle and banjo "Our Song" showcases Taylor's ability to bang out country hits with her pen as well as her voice.

Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo "Hate That I Love You"

Sometimes it only takes one spin of a song to know that its destined to be a hit. Such is the case with the third single from Rihanna's stellar album "Good Girl Gone Bad." With the assistance of R & B's singer/songwriter of the moment Ne-Yo, we are given a fun and catchy melody to sing along with. "And I hate how much I love you boy/I can't stand how much I need you/And I hate how much I love you boy/But I just can't let you go/And I hate that I love you so." A chorus that sticks with you long after the song has ended "Hate That I Love You" is mid-tempo ballad of excellence.

Kid A

With the semester coming to a close and stress reaching its all time high, I find comfort in music. When I study I like to have music on in the background. My study mix usually consists of some mild, familiar music then topping off with some instrumental. Here are some options for study music and hopefully will help everyone make the A+ we all strive for.

John Mayer has a smooth, soulful, sultry voice that touches the soul. My top picks for study music: "Gravity" "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" and "Dreaming with a Broken Heart" from his "Continuum" album; "New Deep" and "Kid A" from his "Heavier Things" album; "City Love" and "St. Patrick's Day" from his "Room Full of Squares" album.

Nickel Creek has enormous talent ranging from Chris Thile's unmatched mandolin playing to Sara Watkins amazing fiddle playing and topped off with Sean Watkins incredible guitar strumming. Top picks for study music: "Speak," "This Side," "Sabra Girl," and "Brand New Sidewalk" from their "This Side" album; "Doubting Thomas" from their "Why Should the Fire Die" album.

Noah Jones. If you are not aware of her talent, voice, and incredible way to fill your heart and soul with love then you need to immediately buy her albums- all of them. Top Picks for study music: "One Flight Down," "Nightingale," "The Long Day is Over," and "The Nearness of You" from her "Come Away with Me" album and "Humble Me" from her "Feels Like Home" album.

Now for the instrumental. I have many albums I could choose from that would suffice for the instrumental section of the study music album, but only one would be perfect. The "Finding Neverland" soundtrack is hands down the best album for studying. Not only is it all instrumental, but every track tells a story. If you have not seen the film then you are truly missing out. However, even if you have not seen the movie you will be able to fall into a fairyland world which is perfect for sparking creativity.

Just Say the Words

More than almost anything, I love going to concerts. Concerts with huge, big name bands, concerts with small, little known artists, all of the above, I am always in for a good concert. Something about the energy of the performer and the way the music seems to take over your thoughts and mind just pleases my soul. I am lucky to be able to go to two concerts this week. Dave Barnes/Matt Wertz featuring Gabe Dixon Band in Birmingham, AL and Josh Kelley here in Nashville. Barnes and Wertz (and Gab Dixon) are on their "Two Birds/One Stone" tour. Gabe Dixon is known for his amazing piano skills and incredible lyrics. Barnes and Wertz are two crazy guys who kill the guitar. They have been friends for many years and decided to collaborate their talents and hit the road. They play in Nashville December 1. That is a show you do not want to miss. Josh Kelley, who is engaged to Kathrine Heigl(Gray's Anatomy), has been in the acoustic rock scene for some time now. His new album "Just say the word" is a final goodbye to his past lover reassuring they will always have love and friendship between them but it is time to move forward. He is playing at Exit/In this Saturday (10th) opening up for

Nothing Left to Lose

Here are some of my favorite songs in very different genres.

Sugarland "Settlin'"

The hits keep coming from country duo Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles delivers another signature performance with the follow-up to the country smash "Want To." Channeling the right amount of twang and honesty with her vocal she makes you believe she is reaching for the top. She says to "raise the bar high" and we have no reason to doubt her after 3 minutes and 27 seconds of country gold.

Gwen Stefani w/ Akon "The Sweet Escape"

Gwen gets back to the business of making fun and memorable music that made her first album a smash. The quirky sound of this single is the closest she has come to paying homage to her No Doubt days. However, Akon's high pitched chanting throughout the song may prove to be the scene stealer.

Mat Kearney "Nothing Left to Lose"

Nashville based Mat Kearney makes a strong debut on the pop scene with his single from the album of the same name. Taking you on a journey with his lyrics you can appreciate his song writing ability and talent. His gamble payed off with a solid song that stands out among the guy and his guitar genre.

Industry Bummer

With CD's sales falling faster than the stock market the record industry is counting on some huge names to bring them home during the last half of 2007. And the stars are lined up to deliver, as we should see releases from Carrie Underwood, 50 Cent, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and more during the fall. While these stars may not be able to offset the 15% drop in sales this year they may be able to soften the blow. Here are some lead singles from some newly released albums.

Carrie Underwood "So Small"

Carrie's new single from her sophomore set barely reached programmers hands before it was blasting over the airwaves. What else would you expect from this American Idol who became country's reigning queen in a span of just over a year. And the song is no disappointment. Her voice sounds even stronger and more mature than it did on her first release. As she takes you to new heights singing "Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand / What you've been out there searching for forever is in your hands" its clear that Carrie is here to stay.

Kanye West "Stronger"

Its a good thing for Kanye that his music backs up his mouth. Rap's number one egotist returns after taking a short break. This time sampling Daft Punk, Kanye delivers strong lyrics, clearly taking aim at his critics in saying "That that don't kill me can only make me stronger." But he also drops some pop culture gold in saying "You know how long I've been on ya / Since Prince was on Apollonia / Since OJ had Isotoners." 50 Cent has proclaimed that he will retire if Kanye's album outsells his album with the same ominous release date of September 11th. Team Kanye.

Backstreet Boys "Inconsolable"

With the departure of Kevin Richardson, America's oldest "boys" will try to make it a go as a foursome. Opening with Nick Carter's signature voice this mid-tempo ballad goes pretty much where you would expect it to in talking about missing someone when they are gone. Their experience as a group is evident in the fact that they sound at ease with each other and blend nicely. But while delivering a solid single and expanding on their more mature sound that they showed on their last album it will be interesting to see if there is still room to be found for them on pop radio.

Updates!!

I feel it is time to give updates on the artists I have highlighted in this blog. To start us off, Andy Davis has just released his 2nd full album "Let the Woman." He paired up with Barnes and Noble Booksellers to release this album and is now available to pick up today! He will be performing at Exit/In on Nov. 16 at 8 pm for his CD release show. Colbie Caillat is still hitting it hard with shows across the world. She is performing everywhere from Nevada, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, Washington DC, Maryland, and North Carolina then traveling across the ocean to Berlin, Hamburg, London, and Munich. She will be playing in a private event here in Nashville on Nov 30. Charla is trying to move up the musical ladder slowly but surely. Her musical showcase is Thursday, Oct. 26. Come out and support a wonderful local artist. There will be quite a few labels at this showcase so, wish her luck and enjoy the show!

The Nashville Sound

The best thing about Nashville is, of course, music. While driving down Broadway at night you hear so many different types of music. Everything from twangy, old school country to up-beat hip-hop pouring from the different venues that line the street. A particular favorite of mine, in the country scene, is Charla. She is the host of Karaoke-Dokey on CMT as well as co-hosts of different shows (as needed). Hailing from Tx, Charla moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a country music singer. She has great energy and stage presents as well as an amazing voice. She is playing her first Showcase at 12th and Porter Oct. 25 at 6 pm. Come out and enjoy great songs about life, love and loss.

I'm the Next American Idol!!!

Every spring, my family and I huddle around the television to see who will be the next American Idol. We watch the show from start to finish, of course including the beginning with all the awful singers. Questions have been raised about whether this show really does find "American Idols" and if the talent is really as good as they think (meaning, more talent is in the world than just on the show). Kelly Clarson was the winner of the very first season. Since then, she has released two albums with the first selling six million copies in the United States and 11 million worldwide. Jennifer Hudson was a top 12 contestant on season 3. She won an Academy Award for her role in the movie "Dream Girls." Carrie Underwood won season 4 beating Bo Bice for the title. She hit the country music scene by storm and her album "Some Hearts" is the biggest-selling American Idol album to date. She has won two Grammys and many other awards from the AMA, ACM, CMA, People's Choice and Billboard, among many others. Taylor Hicks won season 5, and although we have heard a little from him and runner-up Katherine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and his band "Daughtry" have been blasting all over the radio. Their dabute album went double-platinum, have been in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200 Albums since its release, and spent nine weeks among the Top 3 Albums. With Season 6 just under our belt, I know I look forward to hearing great things from winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis. I have high expectations for other season 6 stars such as Melinda Doolittle and Chris Sligh. Auditions for Season 7 are coming up soon! So, if you think you have what it takes to be the "Next American Idol" look up audition dates, and we'll see ya then!

Oh, Capri. She's beauty.

I have two brothers and a sister. My oldest brother has a little girl and a little boy, the most beautiful children in the world. My sister is now pregnant with her first child, which will be a boy named Owen. I'm sure he will be just as beautiful as my other niece and nephew. I am really close to my niece, Chloe, and am growing closer to my nephew, Zach (he is only 6 weeks old). And although I love my niece and nephew I am very excited about little Owen that will grace us with his presence at the end of January. My sister is my best friend and I know she is going to be such a good mommy. One of my newest album purchases is "Coco" by Colbie Caillat. Her light and ever changing song selections make the entire album easy to listen to. (I've always said if you can sit and listen to an entire album, you know the artist has true talent.) One song on her album is called "Capri" and is about a lady who is pregnant and how careful she is so that her baby will grow strong and healthy. As soon as I heard this song I automatically thought of my sister, even though "Capri" is a girl and Owen is a boy. Try to find an album that you can relate to. Music is about relationships. Whether it is a relationship with a loved one, a family member, a close friend, or even yourself, music tells it all and everyone can relate.

I Play on the Black Keys

Music is a gift from God. Something about music just makes me smile and soothes my nerves. I find comfort in the transitions of chords, the ease of pianos, the strum of the guitars, but most of all in lyrics. One of my favorite lyricist is ANDY DAVIS. "I play on the black keys, where I don't have to worry much, it's already hard enough, to sing a song about this. Some people try the white keys, but the thinking hurts my head, so I move back here instead, it comes easier.." This song is about his love for a woman and he is doing his trying his very hardest to express to her that he wants her to stay and not leave. He is afraid that he isn't showing enough or proving to her that he does care about her as much as he does. Everyone has had this experience and everyone knows what it is like to want someone to stay with them and love them. Songs like this one, "Black Keys," have deeper meaning than the words and Andy Davis does an amazing job with this concept. He is a Nashville-based musicial that has played behind and with people such as Marc Broussard, Josh Kelley, Dave Barnes, and Matt Wertz. He will be performing this Friday at the Exit/In at 8pm and is most definitely worth checking out.

"Oh, What a Night"

Last night was the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. I am not an avid awards show watcher but I do enjoy these celebrations. There is nothing like rich, successful television stars congratulating each other on his or her accomplishments. Ryan Secrest was the host for the evening which included his great stage presence, clever wit, and ability to hold a crowd's attention. Some of the presenters included Patrick Dempsey, Sally Field, John Goodman, Queen Latifah, and Ray Ramano.
One of my favorite things about awards shows is that they often feature wonderful musical acts. Last night included a wonderful performance by Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera of "Out with my Baby" which was incredible. Another one of my favorite performances was the Jersey Boys. The group is a collection of four guys who wanted to tell the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. They were the 2006 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical and one of Broadway's biggest successes. They feature songs such as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and "Oh, What a Night." I am an avid fan of Broadway musicals and I cannot wait to see this production!

Summer in the City

Every ending has a beginning. The end of summer means the beginning of fall. Time for football, sweatshirts, hot chocolate, boots, big blankets and my personal favorite, coffee!! Although Fall is my favorite time of the year, I cannot help but look back on this past summer as a successful one. I had a wonderful roommate. I had great summer classes. I got to travel to New York. I received a couple paychecks, always nice. However, my favorite thing about this summer was simply living in Nashville. "Why?" you ask? Well, I will tell you. One simple word: Music. It is a great passion of mine, so to be able to live in the Music Capital of the world, well, what more could a girl ask for? I was able to enjoy countless concerts, meet so many different types of people, but most importantly, my eyes and ears were open to so many different genres of music. I gained a new respect for singer/song writers. What talent they have to not only write lyrics, but also write music to fit perfectly with the soul of the lyrics and then to jump on stage in front of a crowd of people hoping not to get 'boo-ed' off the stage. This weekend is the Next Big Nashville event. Being new to the Nashville area/scene I am not sure if this is an annual thing but it seems to be an amazing opportunity! 5 days full of music, 6 different venues and over 130 artists! To me, this sounds like music heaven! I am going to try and make it to as many concerts as I can this weekend and I urge you all to join in on the fun!