This is one of my favourite songs by Lady Antebellum, still, I guess you could say, a relatively new group in the country world but, a force to be reckoned with. So take a listen, other songs of theirs that I like are Need You Now and Our Kind Of Love. They have already one numerous awards for best country album including a Grammy and I look forward to seeing what more they add the the country world.
Hope you are all well!
- Caity xx
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
One of my all time favourite country songs is WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (what a name for a country band), I think (correct me please if I am wrong) ... I think its really a great listen. It is by far the best version of a traditional song like this one thta I have heard....
I come from quite a big musical family and its one of those songs that we all sing along to when we have people round, you know, they just bring their guitars, banjoos, what not, you name it and we all just add our muscial contribution. I love the off beat of the shaker and something about his song is just so truly country and I love it!
I think its also relavent in this genre to mention Tate Stevens. He is a contenstant on the current cycle of X Factor USA and is doing incredibly (placing consistently in the top 2) with his really great country music... See if you like him, although at the moment he is resrticted to the X Factor themes, etc.
One of my all time favourites, I would love to see her live, although I must admit that I am much keener on her good old songs from back in the day rather than 'Never ever getting back together" and some of her newer album but I will get to that...
Ok so I am just going to post on some of my best songs of hers....
THE BEST DAY- Fearless (album)
For me this is how I like to think of her music, simple, county-pop and completely sincere. Dedicated to her mom, Andrea Swift, she wrote this really stunning little song... I really enjoy it every time because I think she has successfully pulled off a tribute to someone whilst maintaining her style, staying true to her roots and also making it relevant to her audience. It is an enjoyable song to sing, I can say from experience, because even though it is older, I still love playing it on guitar.
She has made it interesting with minimal instruments, but some beautiful guitar thrills in between verses and through solid structure.
This is another one that I love. She has co-written and sings it with Colbie Caillat who always does really beautiful harmonies and does nothing less in this song. I think one of the things that really caught my attention is because I usually really dislike songs where the chorus simply repeats a word, I find that few artists pull them off well, however I like this one and again, its really traditional Taylor Swift. The bridge is also one of my favourite parts of the song.
For me, this is possibly one of my best because it is just such a genuine story, you can tell that she sings with a voice of sincerity and it managed to touch my heart, especially because I was fifteen when i first heard it. It also demonstrates how Taylor Swift always manages to tell a story in her songs, she has written with some meaning. I really do recommend that you listen to this if you haven't already!
A little newer and she performed it at the Grammys this year and really did a great job. What I love about it is that she literally played her banjo on stage and it was just something refreshing to see after all of the other pop artists these days.
Glee also do a really decent lower version that I love:
I also really like Ours,White Horse and You Belong With Me.
Ok so I promise to start finishing off cause this is really long, sorry, so of Taylor's newest album RED, I must be honest, I haven't listened to it yet, although my friends having been saying they're liking it...? Let me know what you think if you've heard it.
I have a sort of like/hate feeling about WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER. There is no doubt Swift is a talented musician, I think she proves this with her 6 Grammys and 6 extra nominations as well as numerous other prizes and awards. But I would like to open up the debate of what everyone thinks of her new music. My problem is that it is catchy, I can dance to it at parties and it is still sincere if everything else may have changed.... but when I listen back to song like Mean and You Belong With Me and all of her older and way more country-ish songs, I can't help wondering if the music industry has damaged a really good country singer. I wouldn't say in songs like this one, I can pick up on any of her old roots. Maybe its just change, and change can be good, so I am still a bit on the fence. Also if you want to see her do something a bit different, check out BOTH OF US by BoB ft. Taylor Swift, I think she sings really beautifully in the beginning.
Hope you managed to bear with me if you are not a Taylor fan!
- Caity xx
Sunday, 18 November 2012
TRAVIS TRITT:
I love love Travis Tritt, he sings such feel good songs with a traditional country style <3
There are my two favourites:
1) ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE:
I mean come on, the title itself says it all, so positive and happy and just living life....
Listen to it, now :D
2) I'M GONNA BE SOMEBODY:
for those of you who are dreaming for something bigger, hang onto your dream....I think thats definitely what this song showed me...
Ok so the first song that I am going to do is called Forever and Ever Amen by Randy Travis.
It was released in 1987 as a very cute little love song. I don't know any more of Travis's work but I love it. I am one of those soppy romantic people so when I hear a song like this my heart beams but, even if that's not you take a listen. It's very sort of traditional country with stunning pedal steel, acoustic guitar and thats sort of typical country beat (you'll know what I mean, its like boom chica boom chica ).
Listen to the lyrics when you hear it and in between the chorus and the second verse there is a really nice little guitar solo/rift type thing that is really nice.
The video has a little bit of weird talking first, but it stops after about 15s or so....
Ok so the theme for this week is country (which includes stuff like bluegrass, etc as well as country pop stuff like Taylor Swift, etc).
I am really excited to do this because it is one of my favourite genres (don't rash if you're a hater please) and it's one that I sing a lot of myself. I think old traditional country songs are some of the most simple, yet true messages and so I love listening to them but then again, being a Taylor Swift fan, who can resist something like 'Fifteen' or some Lady Antebellum?
I so am rather childishly excited because my close friend Pip and I recently made our first Youtube Channel , woop woop :D
Haha, I don't know why I'm so keen, but anyway, as soon as our final exams for this year are over, we'll hopefully be posting some videos of us singing, so yeah, check it out if you want :) Although be I'm serious, please don't be mean, rather don't say anything at all.
The channel has nothing on it at the moment except our views, so don't look now, try in about a month :)
To finish off easy listening, I thought I'd do ABC by the Jackson 5.
Its one of my favourite songs and my school ensemble are doing it at the moment because we are performing it soon at a benefit. Its a really fun, lively song and young Michael Jackson's voice is beautiful. Its one of those you can listen to over and over, although at times, I tend to find it a little repetitive. But anyway, see what you think.
This is one of my ultimate easy listening songs. Its the perfect, laid-back song that we all know and love. Maroon 5 have definitely proved their versatility in genres ranging from Moves like Jagger and Misery to covers of Mandy and then to this, but of all their stuff, this is one of the good ones! Take a listen! This song is the perfect example of how a strong, continuous melody and a catchy chorus can form a great song...I love the quite jazzy introduction of the piano in the beginning and although I find the drums possibly a little over-whelming at times, they are really well done for most of the time. There is also an electric guitar very subtly playing in the background which further elevates the song.
Please forgive me if this is the wrong original artist because so many have covered it that google nor YouTube have given me a legit answer yet. Honestly, I am not going to say more, click play and you'll know why this is one of my favourite easy listening songs. Enjoy!
My Rating: 82%
Quite honestly, I actually prefer Maroon 5's cover of this, its almost exactly the same, but I just like their voices a bit more, so see what you think, feel free to comment and let me know which
you prefer or of any other great covers of this :)
- Caity xx
Sunday, 30 September 2012
GOOD TIME- Carly Rae Jepson and Owl City I love this song. As the title suggests, it is really about just having a good time, which makes it the perfect easy listening song. I love listening to it and singing along, its one of those that get stuck in your head for days. Honestly, I think its a pretty hard song not to like, because it just does everything right. It has the catchy chorus, likeable voices, well-known artists, an awesome music video and a laid-back, easy listening message. Quite surprisingly Carly and Cody's voices go really well together, both are quite gentle and pop-py so they work well for this song. My rating; 85%
These two actually happen to be Jenners and yes, I found them on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, a little embarrassing, I know. But I looked it up and I love it.
This song is really one of those feel good, sway your hips and sing along songs and has a somewhat reggae feel to it, although it definitely wouldn't classify as that. I love the simplicity of guitar, ukulele and slight drumming mixed with voices of people who can really sing. I am starting to get so sick of these pitch corrected pop songs that are more frequently being released but you can tell that this cute couple can really sing.... I guess its also a testament to your true voice when you sing live. On YouTube, there is a version of them performing the song live and you can hear that the recording is no lie. Leah has a sort of rich, jazzy voice that is really powerful, and whilst Brandon only joins in for a few harmonies, together they have produced a charming little song, one of my current favourites...
On top of all of this, this is possibly the cutest music video I have ever seen, just them goofing off together, I really enjoyed it and it fits in with the message of the song.
So please click play and see what you think, I have also added the link for their live version, so take a look.
The new theme is EASY LISTENING, I love these sort of laid back songs that you can listen to any time and that make you just feel good and happy. So, I thought why not dedicate some posts to songs particularly suited to this genre...
Feel free to comment if there are any songs that you'd like me to look at :)
Enjoy the good music..
- Caity xx
Friday, 28 September 2012
Before I start, maybe a quick explanation as to my essentially dropping off the grid with this challenge. So what happened is, as you know, I went to Italy for a 6 week exchange... but, while I was there my Mac broke, leaving me without a computer for that month. So I couldn't blog then and when I got home, although I could've used any of our house computers, I didn't want to continue without my laptop because I wasn't sure i could keep this up every day.... so anyway, I will start again now :) you may or may not have noticed that I updated my 'Top Songs for the Week' column on the right, so this is just my description of them: READY OR NOT- Brigit Mendler This is a relatively new song that one of my friends recently told me about. For those of you Disney haters, please do not click 'next blog' just yet... Yes Brigit Mendler is from Disney, but give it a chance and see what you think, if you hate it, then so be it... This is a very typical pop-py song but there's just something about it that makes me happy and want to get up and dance... Honestly, the lyrics aren't particularly strong or relevant to the music video, but Brigit has a strong voice that I happen to really like and it will definitely appeal to the right age group. The song has a somewhat jazzy style, which is popped up with pitch correction and drums and piano and what not, but honestly, if you don't look to far into the depth of the song and just want some fun easy listening, this will do the trick. I think part of the reason why I liked the song so much was because of its music video, I just love it, so take a look!Its as easy as clicking play!
ALL YOU WANTED- MICHELLE BRANCH I actually heard this songs years ago when my guitar teacher gave me the chords and I played it and stuff, but had barely ever listened to the original, just enough to get buy and learn the basis of the tune but `i recently downloaded it and I really love it! Michelle Branch ha a strong, powerful voice and she used it really effectively here! I mean, its quite basic in terms of the lyrics, chords, etc, you know, nothing extra-ordinary, but there's something about it? It managed to charm me....take a look...My rating is: 83%
Another song of hers that I really like is called EVERYWHERE...see what you think! I only just heard it so won't comment unknowledgably but I like it so see what you think...
Enjoy the good music!
- Caity xx
Monday, 18 June 2012
Ok so that's an end to Golden Oldies, hope you enjoyed.... For now I'll have no theme for a bit...
I really like this new duo that I found called THE WRECKERS.... They quite country-ish and I wouldn't have said so myself but they actually formed as huge fans of michele branch and so she is essentially their biggest influence. Its just these two girls together but their voices blend so well together and they have added some clever instruments to re-inforce the beat, etc... MY OH MY I really like this and its my favourite song of theirs. It has a cute little intro of electric (i think) but focuses mainly on their voices...my only criticism is that at times especially in the verse, the base beat is a bit overpowering in contrast to the genre of the song but overall a lovely little song...have a listen! My rating is 84%.
Others of theirs that I like are TENNESSEE AND CIGARETTES Enjoy the good music... - Caity xx
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
HAPPY TOGETHER - THE TURTLES
This is a happy cute little song about being in love but despite is relatively simple message, it is made into a much more complex, interesting song through the beautiful harmonies and background humming, singing, etc... The chorus is also a really catchy tune that you'll find yourself humming for hours after.... My rating: 78%
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER- THE BEE GEES
This takes us through a journey of disco in the 70s, and it was definitely a popular one. The song was actually written for the movie starring John Travolta (as far as I know) and is typical disco, you know, with synthesized background music, high voices but there's something about it that elevates it from the rest....take a listen....it has a really nice chorus, and is perfect for the ultimate golden oldies disco...
My Rating: 80%
I can't find a video that works so here is the link:
Ok so I know I already did the Beach Boys, but I left out one of my favourites and was only reminded of it now so this is BARBARA ANNE, it is really such a wonderful song that displays their beautiful harmonies and creative writing....love it! My rating: 95%
- Caity xx
My favourite song from the 70s is SWEET HOME ALABAMA by LYNYRD SKYNYRD... I just love it....! It has such a stunning beginning to the song and the same guitar riff continues throughout..its such a great song inn terms of the music. There is an amazing electric guitar solo in the middle or so, the same continuous slightly clanky sounding guitar as the main base, drums and occasionally an excitable little frill from the piano and mixed together they produce a beautiful and fun-listening song....
I really do love it so my rating is: 96%
- Caity xx
THREE DOG NIGHT: This is a nifty, cool little band from the 60s and 70s and I have only heard a few of their stuff but I have liked what I heard.... I don't even know how to explain why I like them, so see what you think....
ONE IS THE LONELINESS NUMBER: this has a really cool piano making a strong, bold base in the background and the whole song is quite contradictory because it's quite a cheerful tune, but the words are actually quite sad....I like it a lot and the singing is also good...I don't know, see what you think? My rating: 80% http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ab8BOu4LE
JOY TO THE WORLD: no, this is not the traditional christmas carol, it is actually a really great song with a definite message of being joyful and just seizing every opportunity in life. Released in 1974, this (in my opinion) is one of Three Dog Night's best and so don't read past this, click play! My rating: 85%
NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN- FLEETWOOD MAC This song displays some absolutely stunning guitaring, it is pretty and has an underlying continuity that adds so much to the base and depth of the song....I love fleetwood mac, another favourite is LANDSLIDE, but I really think that the lead singer's voice for this song sounds so impressive and really beautiful. Glee do a respectable cover of it so check it out if you're interested, but really it is nothing in comparison to the original.... Listen to it and see what you think of the guitaring...
My second beautiful guitaring is STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN by LED ZEPPELIN... This guitaring is also so stunning, different, a lot more, "quiet/gentle" and lower on the neck but really still beautiful and it gradually moves up higher. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of the rest of the song just because for some reason, I don't love how the lyrics fit into the music but still it is great and a favourite!
- Caity xx
AMERICAN PIE by DON MCLEAN This is such a stunning song, now not living in America, I don't actually know any of the references to American Pie but I think I get the just of the song.....and wow, they are powerful words.... I also like the tune and it is really an interesting piece, though long, it doesn't seem to bore me... Most people from the 70s will know this but if you don't yet, then see what you think... There's also something about the rawness of acoustic guitar and piano that is intriguing and unusually beautiful. It also contracts tempo a lot as it really speeds us in the chorus. My rating: 82%
- Caity xx
One of my all time favourites of the golden oldies is TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE by DAWN, it is just such a cute little song. It was released in 1976 and is truly a blast from the past. Throughout this week, you've heard me go on about how the lyrics back in the day were so great because they weren't complicated, they were simple, honest and at times completely random, but that's what I love... This little song is great, its motives are simple, I love you....do you love me? Really listen to the lyrics and allow yourself to be charmed by them and the beautiful music....
Just listened to it again...do yourself a favor and click play or go to YouTube cause its just wonderful.
Ok so lets end golden oldies with a bang! I've got some really great songs from the 60s and 70s coming soon soon.
- Caity
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Have any of you heard COUSIN NORMAN BY MARMALADE (released in 1972) because I love it. Its just so happy and cheerful and its so funny because its not even really about anything, just reminiscing about long days in the sun and being with family and that sort of stuff but its just so refreshing compared to all the complication with songs about love and breaking up and all that now days. I love the beginning of the song, a really clever introduction. Also has some great harmonies and a nice beat but like I said, its the subject matter and the message that I like the best. I actually don't know anything else by Marmalade but I do like this song so if you know any other nice songs that they do, please let me know.
I love the Beach Boys, the honestly are so great and truly understand how voices should work together! They are famous for their absolutely stunning harmonies and trust me, when you hear them (if you haven't already) you will just understand immediately. They have really sweet and clever songs too but for me it's always their voices that make such an impression on me! The Beach Boys formed in 1961 but a lot of their best hits were produced a bit later. Ok so I promise I won't rant off giving you every song like I did for the Beatles, so just 3 for now...
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE: This is such a beautiful little song. I feel kind of like I have run out of adjectives after all these critiques but I honestly do find it very hard to dislike much of their music. This is probably one of their most famous but it is really one of the good ones, and worth a listen to hear their beautiful voices together.
GOOD VIBRATIONS: Starts so gently and with just a few instruments and then into the pre-chorus, they just sort of burst into a lively, harmonious rut....I also love the drumming in this song specifically. This is also one of their most popular and was released in 1966. Right at the end, about 2,30 minutes in, they have a really pretty quite verse just before the chorus again that really sounds so so good.
SURFING IN THE USA: this is a really sort of "summer jam" song, really easy listening and again a great display of their beautiful voices. It just makes me happy to listen, so do yourself a favor and click play, whether you have heard it or not, it will not disappoint.
Listen to the whole album if you like what you hear, it's called PET SOUNDS
Enjoy - Caity xx
Saturday, 9 June 2012
HERE COMES THE SUN...This is a really pretty beautiful song, I really love it. It has some stunning guitar-ing and harmonies and overall just a simple, sweet song. It is worth a listen if you don't already know it...my rating: 95%
HEY JUDE....What a stunning song, it is just so gentle and really very beautiful...so the story that I heard behind it really warms my heart, i am not sure if it is 100% reliable but my mom told it to me when I heard it for the first time. She said that after John Lennon's divorce with his wife, McCartney went to visit her as an old friend. There he chatted to Julian (Jude) Lennon's daughter and right there, he wrote this song for him about the divorce and to just re-assure him that everything was going to be alright.... My rating: 97%
I WILL: this is also one of my top three favourites, I can't even really say why but I think it's got to do with how sweet and genuine the lyrics are and also some really interesting guitar frills in between....really so cute.... My rating: 95%
LADY MADONNA....I love this because it is so funny, it makes no sense to me cause I have no clue who its about (not Madonna as she was not a singer yet) but its got a bit of a jazzy piano feel and is a light fun listen.... My rating 88%
LOVE ME DO....so cute, a little love song, but has a fun melody and is easy listening. No surprise, a huge range of interesting sounds and instruments and brilliant harmonies. My rating: 94%
OCTUPUS' GARDEN: completes my top three, so wonderful, I mean who writes about an octopus' garden under the sea, I'll tell you one thing, only the Beatles so far, but anyway I am in love with the intro to this song, a cute little guitar riff but absolutely amazing and sets the tone of the song perfectly... My rating: 96%
WHEN I'M 64: so so cute, listen to the lyrics, they say it all....my rating: 94%
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: also one of my favourites, love the chorus, I think that the verse is more of an acquired tune but nevertheless, still great and wonderful harmonies. My rating: 95%
TWIST AND SHOUT: This is such a great song and I absolutely love it because it is a different sound to most of the other songs because it is a lot more rock-y and Lennon's voice is really great and the main lead. This one is really worth listening to. My rating: 95%
Other songs that you songs that I haven't posted on but are a good listen are A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, HELP!, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND, I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN, I'M ONLY SLEEPING, IN MY LIFE (beautiful piano riff), MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMMER, OB-LA-DI OB-LA-DA, SHE LOVES YOU, SHE LOVES YOU.
Anyways, that concludes my Beatles intervention, sorry about the long post! - Caity xx
Ok....THE BEATLES:
Ok I am doing my favourite ones alphabetically just so its easier, not necessarily in the order of my favourite....
ALL MY LOVING....a really sweet song, yes, I sound a bit hypercritical now because I said all modern songs are about love however, even though this is, it is just so sweet and listen to the little guitar rifs in between and how great the composition of the piece is and usually they do harmonies but this is so nice with their voices in unison for the first bit....my rating: 88%
BLACKBIRD...I absolutely love this, so sweet and honestly the beautiful guitar-ing ever, I mean think how great you must be to come up with such a beautiful melody! I love it and the lyrics are so beautiful and again what a perfect example of doing a whole lot of different things, not just love, etc....Glee acutally do a good cover of it but I do prefer the beatles....the link is the Glee cover in case you want a listen....it was first released on their White album in 1968.
DON'T PASS ME BY.....this is a really different song cause it has some sort of processed organ type instrument in the background that repeats throughout the song and works so well....it is really a great song, I can't even properly communicate why I like it because the repetition makes t unusual....this is also an example of how the Beatles are not afraid of other instruments, there is a very enthusiastic violin/viola in the background too....take a listen...
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: love love love this one, its so beautiful and happy! There are also some beautiful harmonies in the choruses and really its just makes you have to tap your foot....
My rating: 91%
FROM ME TO YOU: Ok, this is my favourite song by the Beatles, no doubt. I just love it, a simple, clear message, "if you need anything, I will send it along with love from me to you", a happy tune, amazing harmonies, not too long, a great variety of instruments like harmonia, electric guitar, amazing drumming and wow, just stunning...
CLICK PLAY NOW
My Rating: 97%
GIRL: a really plain, yet beautiful and sad touching song.....some people love it but my one criticism is that I am not actually a fan of the sort of sand sound that they do in the chorus (you'll know what I mean when you hear it) but I do understand that some people will like it.....also some great harmonies and clever background singing.....
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE.....also love this one, such a beautiful happy chorus, just a fun, playful and
cheerful song about being in love. Lovely harmonies and obviously they do everything else right, beautiful piano riff too.....
My rating: 92%
Ok, just ignore me if this is taking long and you don't like them but I am going to finish on one more post so just don't read it if it bothers you .....
- Caity xx
Ok so this morning I am going to brave the work of the Beatles. The reason I put it like that is because I am a MASSIVE fan and so it is going to be hard for me to limit my choices of what songs I post so just up ahead, a warning, this is a long post, also if I don't put your favourite song, please do comment and tell me and I'll happily post it....
The Beatles, if you didn't know, were a completely revolutionary band of the 60s consisting of John Lennon, Ringo Star, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. It is fair to say that they changed music forever, and were completely outrageous, people were not used to the wild, crazy, illogical yet stunning music of theirs and so many people were very resistant at first however they later grew to be one of the biggest and most popular bands in the world. I love them, they are truly musically brilliant and have some fun when playing.
You know I very often think about what music has come to today....can you right now, this second think of a song from after the year 2000 that isn't about love, breaking up, deserving better or "just being friends", your answer to this is most likely no, and if you do, I doubt you have many more...I mean, I guess thats fine, it is popular enough (hence it being called pop music) but back in the day people actually wrote music because it was fun, beautiful and it didn't always have to be sad or romantic (the theme of most pop songs today) it could be completely random. This post will show you how the Beatles did this. (side note: please don't get me wrong, I love a lot of the music of today and I listen to it more than anything else buuut, it does become a bit tedious at times.....)
I will use another post to post all my actual songs by the Beatles, so read up and find them, but for now check this out, it is a comic Australian band ripping off pop music and just listen to what they're doing because there is some truth in what they're saying.....
Ok so I counted around 40 songs all with the same chords!!
- Caity xx
Friday, 8 June 2012
I really love an artists called Carole King who released a brilliant album called Tapestry. One of my favourite song on it is called Beautiful, released and recorded first in 1971. It is such a happy a song and every time I hear it, I just have to smile....
Its odd though cause while I love the chorus I am actually not a huge fan of the verses, I just don't like how the tune deviates however, the beautiful chorus and fun, playful interludes, etc bring it together.... have a listen, her voice is very powerful and I don't always like it but I really do in this song and it is really a great song.
