Interpret That Tune, Vol. 2

Continuing our discussion of abstract lyrics …

Mary Chapin Carpenter kicked off the series, and I can’t think of a better artist to continue on with.  My track this time is ‘The Last Word’ from her Stones In The Road album.  I really loved this song as one of my favorites from the CD from the first listen to the album.  But, Carpenter never really specifies what the ‘it’ is in the song.  She leaves it up to the listeners to interpret.  What is it?  Is it another lover?

Being a child of the 90s and the CD age, I became acquainted with the song as track 7 from my favorite Mary Chapin Carpeneter CD.  I never really thought about the title of the song much.  It wasn’t until actually ripping my songs to Windows Media Player some years later and I had to click on the song by its title that I finally realized that ‘it’ was exactly what the title of the song says it is – the last word.  

Fighting and bickering that goes on and on has worn on the nerves and emotions of the narrator until she comes to the conclusion that:

Sometimes we’re blinded by the very thing we need to see
I finally realized that you need it more than you need me

… and an epiphany washes over her as she realizes she’s free.  I always understood that part of the song.  She was free of this chained-down relationship where harsh words were part of the package.  But, Carpenter’s approach was to let vagueness tell the story.  And more often than not, I believe that makes for a better song.

So what’s your take on this song?  What is your favorite abstract song?  Or what songs took you several listens to fully understand?

Listen to Mary Chapin Carpenter – ‘The Last Word’ and decide for yourself.

Poll – Grammy For Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

This is the category I completely forgot about, so I apologize for cramming so many polls in this week, but I promise, I have a plan. Remember, if you haven’t voted for the Duo/Group poll, please do so here! The results of these polls will be used very soon for a special purpose, so make sure you vote!

First of all, since 3 of these tracks are more obscure, here are links so you can listen to them:

“Killing The Blues”
“House Of Cash”
“Let The Wind Chase You”

I’m sorry, for the Yearwood/Urban track, it wasn’t on last.fm, so I had to use a youtube fan video for Law & Order SVU. (On a completely unrelated note, SVU is such a great show, I just finished watching an amazing episode.)

Make sure to post why you voted for who you did: I love to see the reasoning behind the choices people make!

Barbara Mandrell to be inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

“I was listening to the Opry when all of my friends were diggin’ rock-and-roll and rhythm and blues …”

More than any line in any country song, I can relate to that one. In the early 80s in the northeastern US, there were hardly any country music fans, especially among my age group. Music was, therefore, mostly a solitary experience for me. More than any other performer, Barbara Mandrell is responsible for nurturing my passion for country music, since it was through her variety show that ran on NBC from 1980 to 1982, that I was first exposed to many country stars. Among the guest stars that joined Barbara and her sisters every Saturday night were Johnny and June Carter Cash, Marty Robbins, Dolly Parton, Ray Stevens, Conway Twitty, and Mel Tillis among others. The first time I heard the name Patsy Cline was when Barbara and her sister Louise sang a medley of her hits.

I was immediately impressed by this multi-talented lady, who was the first person to win the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award twice. The first album I bought with my own money was a cassette of The Best Of Barbara Mandrell. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for most of my life, so it was welcome news when it was announced today that Barbara is one of the 2009 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with the great Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy.

Congratulations, Barbara and thanks for all the happy musical memories.

You’re Still Here…

Sad country songs are not a rarity. Most all country songs were sad or at least depressing back in the day. That provides a stark contrast to the happy-go-lucky songs of today’s country radio environment, but even Jessica Simpson and Rascal Flatts listeners hear sad songs, no matter how sappy they might be.

Now, almost all my favorite songs are sad ones, but once in a while there comes along that one song that completely takes your breath away. “You’re Still Here” by Faith Hill was one of them.

The final track of the Cry album, “You’re Still Here” shocked me like no other song. Cry is an album that I love and appreciate very much now, but when I first heard it back in 2002 I brushed the album off as “pop crap”. The huge Faith fan in me did however force me to listen to it all the way through. Cry was a very serious album throughout, and even had it’s sad moments. As the track before the the last one, “I Think I Will”, was finishing up, I thought to myself:

“Thank God! Only one more track”.

The albums’ previous songs suggested a slow, sappy love ballad as the final cut, and the title “You’re Still Here” didn’t help to suggest otherwise.