~ New Music Monday ~ A Return to our Regularly Scheduled Listening ~ February 29th ~

I am so happy to be working on this post . You have no idea !!!!! As mentioned in prior posts it has been a tough few weeks and I am working on returning to my version of " normal " . Part of that " normal " is you guys !!!! Sometimes I write my posts earlier and schedule their posting , but other times I write on the day of . It is simply how my way of creativity works . That was the case for the last few weeks . I didn't have any of my thoughts out on paper/computer and so nothing was scheduled for posting . It made me sad . BUT I am back and it is time for use to return to our regularly scheduled music talk . My lists have built up in the down time and so I am gonna do my best to get them , along with my thoughts in proper order .

Maren Morris - " My Church "

fr Self Titled EP

 

I am starting our return to normal with Maren Morris . Maren was apart of Miranda Lamberts " Pink Guitars and Road Side Bars " all female , girl power tour earlier in the Winter . She will be on tour this summer with Keith Urban on his " Rip Cord " tour along with Brett Eldridge . Maren is apart of the " Next Women of Country " and is currently the Apple Music artist to watch with her single , " My Church " . She performed last week with Chris Stapleton , her debut performance at the Ryman . I can not begin to imagine how unreal that felt . Your first Ryman performance and with Stapleton none the less . I wouldn't have been able to speak . Right now everyone is talking about Morris' debut single , " My Church " . While I absolutely love " My Church " and am of course going to share it with you here via Vevo , the song I am obsessed with right now is called " I Wish I Was " .

" I Wish I Was " opens with a beautiful , sweet , warm electric guitar and stays the path of a bluesy old country vibe both musically and lyrically . I am in LOVE with these lyrics . Y'all know I am a lyric kind of girl . These lyrics are our hearts verbalized when in a situation of being loved by someone so wonderful , but not being able to love them back . It is the , " It's not you , its me " set to music . I have been listening to it on repeat . If you have been wondering who to add to your play list , its Maren Morris .

Maren Morris - " I Wish I Was "

fr Self Titled EP

 

 

Kacey Musgraves cover " Yellow "

Royal Variety Show @

Royal Albert Music Hall 2015

I am sharing this cover of Coldplays , " Yellow " by Kacey Musgraves because it is so beautiful all the world should hear it . Not that all the world reads my blog , but you know what I mean . You all know I want to be Kacey when I grow up . This performance did not help that any . It is so simple it's perfect . She seems all kinds of nervous in my humble , what do I know , music lover , viewing opinion , but I feel like performing for the Royal family would probably do that to anyone . I follow Musgraves on Instagram and she posted a pick of her with Prince Harry post show and let's all be real , we would be a fluttery bunch of nerves too . I don't know that this version of " Yellow " is available anywhere for purchase so , for now this will have to do . Give it a listen . It's perfect .

Cam - " Mayday "

fr debut EP

" Untamed "

Next is Cam with her second radio single from her debut EP , " Untamed " , titled " Mayday " . I got " Untamed " for Christmas and think it is a beautiful debut album . I genuinely love every song on this EP and think each is something different from what is currently on Country radio . There are several songs that I could see being singles and I have my fingers crossed that " Cold in California " and/or " Village " see radio time at some point . While we wait to see all that will end up being released from " Untamed " we have " Mayday " that was just recently released to hold us over . Cam just finished touring , literally days ago , with Brad Paisley on the " Crushin' it Tour " . She will tour independent with her band up until she joins Dierks Bentley and Randy Howser on the " Somewhere On A Beach " tour this summer .

This has turned into a girl power post unintentionally , but hey , why not ?! I am gonna close this weeks #NewMusicMonday with Jennifer Nettles , " Unlove You " . Nettles recently switched record labels and I feel like , from where I sit , she is ready to release some new , beautiful , solo tunes . Nettles released her first solo album just over two years ago after taking a break from her duo , Sugarland . I am unsure after the success that Sugarland has had that it was possible for a solo project to feel " successful " no matter how it charted . I have the album and love it , but I believe only one of its tracks actually made it to main stream , " That Girl " , which charted well and did well on video charts . Since becoming a musical solo Nettles has also starred on Broadway as Roxie Hart in  " Chicago " , stared in Dolly Parton's , " Coat of Many Colors " on NBC as Dolly's mother Avie Lee Parton , hosted CMA Country Music Christmas variety show on CBS for what I want to say is the third time , maybe , all this along with working on a upcoming album . She is also currently touring with the lyrical fire cracker that is Brandy Clark and several other up and coming female artists on the CMT's Next Women of Country tour . I mean , sister is busy . I have no idea how she does it all , but am totally impressed by it . I look forward to hearing what the rest of this album ends up being . I haven't seen any prospective release dates , that may be me missing something , but at least we have " Unlove You " to hold us over . Those of you that follow me regularly are accustom to my sometimes odd way of speaking . So , the following sentence shouldn't sound out of place to you , but this song hurts in all the right ways . It's the feelings/emotions of a break up you knew had to happen , wouldn't have done it different , it hurts , your heart may even be broken , but it still feels right . Decide for yourself and give it a listen . There isn't an official vid yet , so this audio will work for now .

Jennifer Nettles - " Unlove You "

Oh my stars it feels so good to be writing and talking about music with you all !!!!! Two weeks away was two weeks too many for me . I hope that you enjoy this weeks #NewMusicMonday offerings and show these ladies some support by downloading their albums , buying the actual in hand copy , and/or start voting for them on radio and video charts . Yes , that one call a day/week/month truly makes a difference . Tweeting , Facebook-ing , Instagram-ing , e-mailing , calling and even snail mailing in your requests to radio is one of the quickest/easiest/inexpensive ways of supporting your favorite artists and songs . Online voting for video countdowns literally takes seconds . Time yourself and see . You have a say in radio/video play !!!!!

For past #NewMusicMonday posts you just type " New Music Monday " in the blog search bar and it should provide you with a list of past posts . What are you listening to this week ? Please feel free to share in the comments !!!!


Happy Listening !!!!!

~ New Music Monday ~ On Sunday ~ The Grammys ~ To Be Continued ~

I had plans of recapping the Grammys and comparing who won vs . my predictions (click here to see predictions) , but that did not happen . Any of you that follow me on instagram know that I have been man down for several weeks and am trying to return to my version of " normal " . It has me feeling so far behind on everything . Any who , I am doing my best to catch up and do still plan to do a Grammy recap about the predictions and what actually happened . I have some beautiful , thoughtful , amazing friends who recorded it for me and we will watch it together soon .

Until then , I have watched the Bowie tribute by Lady Gaga and wanted to share that with you . Personally , I loved it . I thought the arrangement was perfect . I could see no one doing as good a performance as Gaga . Especially considering Bowie's stage theatrics and style . He was known for being different than everyone else in basically every way and I feel that Gaga is one of the few artists who could truly tap into that emotion for this kind of performance . I also think Bowie would have seriously dug the multi-media approach of the opening of the performance . I know I did . I thought it was perfectly creative and yet so very Bowie .

Lady Gaga - David Bowie Tribute -

2016 Grammys

Post Grammy's David Bowie's son posted on Twitter that he was not impressed with the tribute . I was kinda shocked , but ya never know what is going on in someone else's mind . Maybe it was too soon for him ? Maybe he isn't a Gaga fan ? Maybe he just didn't like it . This last week Lorde did a Bowie tribute and he tweeted out his support . The performance was fiercely different and very simple in comparison to Lady Gaga's so , maybe it simply an aesthetic thing ?! Maybe he is just a less is more type of fella . Who knows ?!

Either way , I give Lady Gaga props for this tribute and think it was one of her finest performances to date . I have watched the video several times and kinda wish it was a track . That's how much I loved it .

RIP - Goblin King - May your creative bravery forever be an influence in music .

~ Insta Blog ~ My Health May Fail ~ February 2016 ~

After a week of being super sick , getting a flat tire on my way to get prescriptions , having my debit card called in as stolen , by someone not me , and dealing with a few other things I am truly feel as though I am leaning on the Lord every minute that passes . I have felt His presence in each challenge and watched Him come to my aid and provide . Through #insta's and #pinterest pics like the ones below as well as through loved ones words and actions He has continued to remind me that His word never fails and that the Lords character does not change with our circumstances . The same God that promises to provide for us in the good times is the same God that actually provides for us in the needy / difficult times . He continues to prove this to me over and over . I'm starting to wonder if I am just THAT hard headed that He would have to put one barrier in front of the other in order for me to catch on , or is that He is building me up for something ?! Preparing me . Either way , I'm making mental notes of things to do , say , write , etc . when I return to my version of  " normal " . Until then and even after , I know I will be clinging to these verses . In the good , He is with us . In the bad , He is with us . In the painful , confusing , most helpless of times , no matter who else is or isn't with us , He IS with us . I am very grateful for the friends/fam the Lord has sent me to remind me He is with me and to show me His love , encouragement and support in the times I need Him most . He is with us . Take a breath , say a prayer and find peace in the truth that is His word . He is with you . No matter what else is going on , He is with us .

When our bodies fail us . When people fail us . When "systems" or "protocol" fails us . He remains . He is our only true strength . He is the only faithful . I'm grateful His love extends past me and who I am in a moment . I am grateful He continues to be WITH me in all situations .

 

 

So , this may sound far reaching , but try to hang with me for just a moment . The Lord is always teaching , showing and proving things to me as His daughter about His character , promises and His Word . As mentioned before it would seem those lessons are coming more frequent and in heavier doses . Through the thoughtfulness of good friends  , God reminded me that He knows my needs before I do . Not only does He know them , He has already made a plan . I've been super sick and when I finally took some time to disinfect the house with Lysol and toss the things that can't be disinfected , i.e. m'chapstick , I told you to hang with me. As I tossed my chap stick I looked over to the kitchen table where one of my Valentines sat displayed . I'd forgotten about it in the midst of feeling so down & ill . Looking into the super cute pink box there sat not one , but two brand new , not infected with sick germs , tubes of chaps tick . Chap stick ! Not one , but two !!!! The very thing I had just thrown away . The thing I "needed" to give up because that's what is best for me . You can't keep toxic/infected things , people , or habits in your world and expect to remain well . He knows what we are going through , He wants to go through it with us . He knows who & what surrounds us daily and He wants to help us discern . He knows our simplest and our greatest of needs , He already has a plan to supply those and in some situations to multiply His provision .

 

Through a tube of chap stick , God spoke all that into my heart and mind . WHAT IN THE WORLD ???!!!! Blame it on dehydrated delirium if you like , but I believe I serve a God who is cool and clever like that . I believe I serve a God that knows exactly how to speak to me specifically in ways that I'll understand . Sometimes our God speaks with a whisper not a roar .

Long story even longer , LOL !!! What has He been showing you lately ? Has He spoken with a whisper or a roar ?! No matter where you are right now , what I would like for you to walk away from this post with is that He IS with you . He IS for you and He has a plan for you . Keep on keeping on loved ones .

~ New Music Monday On Wednesday ~ Coming Soon ~ Charles Billingsly's "Right Here" ~

As I mentioned several weeks ago I am very excited to be apart of the launch team for the upcoming album from Charles Billingsly titled , " Right Here " . I have been so excited to hear some of the tracks that will be on the album in advance and as expected , they are fabulous .

We are just around two weeks away from the official release date of March 4th . If we are FB friends or you follow me on Instagram then you have gotten to hear some of the sound bites shared . I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you on the entire album , but until then I wanted to share this quick promo vid . Charles is not a difficult person to support or promote and I think after watching this video you will understand why .



And before you start second guessing yourself , yes , that is Meredith Andrews helping out on the female bgv's and cameo-ing in the vid . I love when two talented , like minded / hearted artists collaborate . Meredith just dropped her most recent studio album a few days ago titled , " Deeper " . I wanna say this is her fourth studio album , but I may be off one . My mind is not at 100 % this week . As with Charles , I expect nothing , but excellence from Meredith and her team . I have only had the time to listen to " Soar " the first single off the album so far and I LOVED it . It is so spot on for my world right now . I am really looking forward to hearing the entire record soon .

As I shared with my social media followers , skip a couple Starbucks or fast food meals this week and use the money to down load or order both " Right Here " and " Deeper " . I can assure you that these albums will do far more for you than the caffeine boost will . And I am saying that as a serious lover of coffee so , you know I'm serious . LOL !!!

The " regular " #NewMusicMonday posts should return this coming Monday . Until then , I hope to get some catching up done so that we are up to date and back on track for our regularly scheduled music discussions . For past #NewMusicMonday posts you can type " New Music Monday " into the search bar and it should bring up past posts .

~ Valentines 2016 ~ #InstaLove ~ The End ~

I was not able to update the blog for the last few days of the Valentines 2016 posts due to a variable of circumstances . M'bad folks ! M' bad . Anyway , here is a quick catch up/ over view of the last few . I hope you had a wonderful Valentines !

So my #Valentines2016 posts are about to come to a close . I am sure many of my friends are grateful for that , lol!!! But I hope that they have lightened the load , brought some perspective , showed you a little insight to my heart , encouraged you and made ya laugh . Valentines is hard for some people . Even folks in relationships struggle w the day , I have noticed . While it is by far not the toughest thing most of us deal w it is tough and you deserved a little help getting through it . I hope I've done that . Two more left until next year . Know that this Valentines Day and EVERY day you are special , thought of and loved !!!!!

~ Valentines 2016 ~ #InstaLove ~ Day 10 ~ Soulmate ~

Currently .

~ New Music Monday....on Tuesday ~ ACM Nominations 2016 ~

How I currently feel about the 2016 ACM noms .

I'm still sorting through my disappointment

so, expect future posts on the topic .

" Find something you love and ya never gotta work for pay "

 (....or awards) . 

Kip Moore - " Truth Don't Always Sell "

Not Currently on a Album

Video fr YouTube