Carrie Underwood - Missed Opportunities

Carrie Underwood is hands down one of my favourite vocalists of all time. She has the power I look for and the country tone that takes me back to Nashville (I have never been to Nashville physically). She alone takes up most of my iPhone playlist; I have 372 songs that have all been meticulously chosen and Carrie is 39 of them! May not sound like a grand statement - but it is! She holds a very dear place in my heart, I can relate to a lot of her music and also it supplies the one thing I find necessary when listening to music - can I mime to it and pretend I am in a dramatic music video, and yes I can, she delivers like no one else.

However a lot of her songs do not got any attention and I find that incredibly sad, not just for the population, but for me aswell! I want to be able to watch live performances and see music videos for all of her songs; but just like the rest of the music world she only chooses to release around 5-6 of the songs from each album! I WANT MORE!

So as I do, I have a problem and I have found a solution. The missed opportunities compilation album. This can purely be a selection of her greatest non hits or even (and I type this with shaking excitement) a video album! I have selected the 10 songs for the album so Carrie doesn't have to - you're welcome. Also I have named the album 'Relapse' after one of my chosen songs. Also the latin definition for relapse is to 'slip back' - kind of perfect for this style of album don't you think. 

So let us get this track list underway.

1. Relapse - From the album 'Storyteller'

I may be jumping the gun here because this song is on her most current album so there may still be time, however this may be the push she needs to release this single! I can't lose. 

2. Lessons Learned - From the album 'Some Hearts'

An amazing motivational song. Basically every knock you get in life you should appreciate them, because they are (wait for it...) lessons learned.

3. Flat On The Floor - From the album 'Carnival Ride'

This is a toe tapper if I ever heard one! It is about trying to get out of a terrible relationship. Although if you want to get deep it could possibly be about trying to escape an abusive relationship - but I might be reading too much in to it, I do that sometimes. 

4. Forever Changed - From the album 'Blown Away'

This a tear jerker. Emotional doesn't come close to how this song will make you feel. It is a song about a loved one losing their memory as they gets older. I want to assume dementia but it doesn't mention anything. So sad, so beautifully sung.

5. Change - From the album 'Play On'

A nice song to make you feel guilty for not giving to charity. A real thinker to make you evaluate your life choices.  

6. Cupid's Got A Shotgun - From the album 'Blown Away'

A fun country ditty about avoiding Cupid basically. Love that she sings about shooting Cupid herself, that pure nugget just wants love in this world!

7. We're Young and Beautiful - From the album 'Some Hearts'

A beautiful little love song about enjoying life whilst they are young and beautiful basically. It is just a nice, easy listening, sweet song; and we don't get much of them these days.

8. Get Out of This Town - From the album 'Carnival Ride'

One of my favourite type of songs are ones about escape. I love the idea of one day packing my bag and just running. Not in a depressing way, more just to see what else is out there. This song hits that feeling on the head.

9. Starts With Goodbye - From the album 'Some Hearts'

A song about the pain of having to say goodbye, having to leave something behind or even been left behind. So sad, but uplifting at the same time - something Carrie is an expert at doing.

10. Someday When I Stop Loving You - From the album 'Play On'

A very typical country song (that isn't a bad thing), a nice simple music track with some beautiful vocals. Quite heartbreaking to hear her singing about trying get over a break up.

 

Bonus Track

Mexico - From the album 'Storyteller'

I just really love this song right now, up there with 'Relapse' as one my favourites from the new album. Made it a bonus track because she needs to release it as a single yesterday! She could also re-record it and release it as a sequel to 'Something Bad' with fellow country goddess Miranda Lambert. 

There you go Carrie, Carrie's management and Carrie's Record label; I have done all the hard work for you. You have your cover and your tracklist. You already own the songs so just put them together, make me 11 music videos and I will move on. I need to move on. 

My Picks for 2016 - Music!

Okay, so you might look at my top picks and say two things; these are all women, and I already know who they are. Well let me just say I make no apologies for my love of the female vocals and yes, you may know who they are but I am purely basing this on the fact that they haven't yet had chart success in the UK - which is where I currently preside.

Melanie Martinez

She first came to fruition on The Voice in America last year. I did not know this until a minute ago when I started looking into her so I would sound informed for this post. She came sixth - good for her. She was one of my discoveries whilst clicking through YouTube on one of my 'must find new music' tangents. I am really into her cartoon/Japanise Lolita style and her music is very much synth pop meets great song writing. Check out 'Pity Party' - that is my favourite, plus gives me a new birthday anthem. 

Halsey

I am kind of in love with her voice, she sounds a little bit Lorde - which is by no way a bad thing. Her song writing skills are killer, she talks about emotions and social issues with such beauty and wisdom beyond her years. She has made quite a stir in recent months with our American brethren. Now I am waiting for her to explode across the pond on our very shores. Particular favourites include 'Colours' and 'Ghost' - but please watch the video for 'New Americana' - amazing videography, storytelling and cinematography (I can't sell it enough).

CL

She is one forth of the amazing South Korean girl group 2ne1. Check them out. They are insane!! She has kept the same style and sound that made 2ne1 huge and added her own certain spunk to it. Her song 'Hello Bitches' is what Rihanna would have released a few years ago had she been Korean. She perfectly combines synth, hip hop, rap and pop in both Korean and English for this banger. I am obsessed, and the video is nothing short of Korean amazingness that we have come to expect from our Asian cousins. 

Hayley Kiyoko

you may recognise this beaut from the Disney Channel a few years ago. She was in the made for TV movie 'Lemonade Mouth' (it is actually quite great, I recommend it) and also she had guest spots on shows like 'Wizards of Waverly Place'. She appeared as Velma in one of the straight to DVD releases of Scooby Doo - a bit of a sore spot for me as they made Fred have dark hair in the movie - I mean, what the fuck?! Also right now she is staring in 'CSI: Cyber'. She has this sound that I describe as easy listening synth pop. It has the heavy beats but set to a slower speed, allowing the music to take a more dream like state. I personally recommend 'Girls like Girls' and 'Cliffs'. Sit back, smoke something your mother wouldn't approve of and allow yourself to be transported.

Maddie and Tae

I am clutching at very short straws when I say a country act could make it big in the UK, but I have high hopes for these ladies. They blew up on the country scene with a song that was dangerous. The slated country music, in particular the male dominated country chart. Asking simple questions about why girls are portrayed the way they are in videos. Reasonable questions I think. They could have gone down as a novelty one hit wonder, but they capitalised on their instant success and released songs that show their powerful vocals and amazing writing skills. I have high hopes for these ladies because they will resonate with a lot of young-uns here. It is easy listening, deep and inspiring. Come on England lets give country a chance!

Dolly

Dolly is definitely the woman of the moment right now, she is on the front cover of every paper in England, she just stormed the stage at Glastonbury and became the most talk about act of the weekend, just released a new 32 track album and announced a world tour. And can we please remember that she is 68 years old! Dolly is truly a living legend that deserves all the respect in the world. From humble beginnings living in the mountains of Tennessee she has gone on to have 41 top 10 albums and 110 singles that all charted. She has starred in 12 movies and countless TV programmes. She has won 7 Grammys and been nominated for a further 45 (currently the record amount by a female artist - level pegging with Beyonce).  Dolly is the Queen of Country and below I will list some Dolly facts that you may or not know, but you surely will love her for.

1. Dolly was only 7 when she wrote her first song and was appearing on radio from the age of 9. Her first record ‘Puppy Love’ was recorded when she was just 13 years old.

2. She has been married to her husband (Carl Thomas Dean) for over 50 years.

3. Dolly once entered a Dolly Parton look-a-like competition. She came second - to a man.

4. Dolly has her own theme park - Dollywood. She refuses to ride the roller coasters though as she is deathly afraid. 

5. She is Miley Cyrus' God Mother.

6. She supports gay marriage. On gay marriage, Parton said, “I always say, ‘Sure — why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do!’”

7. She refused to sell Elvis Presley the publishing rights to her hit ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Elvis’ manager called Parton the day before the recording session and told her that he and Presley wouldn’t record any songs that they didn’t have at least half of the publishing rights to. “It had nothing to do with Elvis, because hopefully he was disappointed too, but I just wouldn’t let him have the publishing,” said Parton.

8. Famously said of her distinctive appearance: "It takes a lot of money to make a person look this cheap."

9. She has donated 45 million+ books to her own child literacy organisation.

10. Reportedly written over 5000 songs.

I love Dolly and I know everyone has a special place for her in their hearts; and who doesn't know the words to 'I Will Always Love You' or '9 to 5'?! She never seems to stop; she either has a movie, a CD, a tour or an appearance somewhere. Long live Dolly Parton.

“I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren't in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets.” 

― Dolly Parton

“I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb - and I'm not blonde either.” 

― Dolly Parton

“People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there.” 

― Dolly Parton

“I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out.” 

― Dolly Parton

“Figure out who you are. Then do it on purpose.” 

― Dolly Parton

Just a Country Boy

I love country music. There I said it. I am not ashamed. In England the country fan is hard to find, well at least one that is willing to admit it. Unfortunately country music is not considered 'cool'. I do not know why. When I tell people that I like country its as if I told them I like knitting little wool friends. 

The beauty I find in country music is that every song is like a story. There is an emotion that is pushed through that connects you to the song. Okay that might have been a bit deep for a description of a music genre, but I don't know how to describe it. I am a huge fan of depressing music and country is all over it like white on rice. There is a certain twang that country singers have and I love it and often try to copy, pretty sure I'm close to nailing it. 

Some of my favourite country songs are :

Miranda Lambert - Over You

Pistol Annies - Hell On Heels

Hunter Hayes - I Want Crazy

Lady Antebellum - Wanted You More

Carrie Underwood - Too many to mention (2 Black Cadillacs, Temporary Home, Before He Cheats)

Sugarland - Stay

Kellie Pickler - I Wonder

Kacey Musgraves - Blowing Smoke

The Band Perry - Better Dig Two

Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice

Taylor Swift - Any song she has ever sang

Martina McBride - Concrete Angel (Prepare to sob)

Rascall Flatts - Stand, What Hurts the Most

Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colours

Fleetwood Mac - Songbird, Landslide

Give them a listen, I'm not saying its the definitive list but they are some of my favourites and some of the more current ones. If you are unfortunate to have the stereotype of country music listeners in your mind, I'll just let you know now - I don't own any cowboy boots.