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.

This is his audition...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q8IAwaGNqg

- Caity xx

TAYLOR SWIFT

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq4W68_h6rw

BREATHE -Fearless (album)

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. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLw3NYydHNU

FIFTEEN

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-K2tXWK4w

MEAN

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:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfvXQZ7Zlyw

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4tSE2w53ts

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97aSeambf_g]

Enjoy and be happy
- Caity xx

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....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgJXbIP83A8

- Caity xx

COUNTRY

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?

Anyway, enjoy :)
- Caity