City Slickers - no...not the movie

Ok...I have to get something off my chest. I really hate "city slickers", but I love the movie (if you really want to know). I am not speaking of the movie though. I am talking about the term that country folk use on people who are trying to "act" country.

City Slickers are the people who show up at country music concerts, rodeos, and county fairs wearing their country attire that they just bought at the store the week before for the special event. I can not stand these people...honestly. I know these people think they are just trying to fit in...but they really just stick out like a sore thumb if you ask me. I know people like this actually. These people are the ones who never grew up doing 4H, FFA, never sat in the pig barns on a hot summer day during the fair, and don't know what part of the pig is used for bacon, ham, or sausage. I was not in 4H or FFA, but I have sat in the pig barns on hot summer days during the fair and at one time I did know what part of the pig was used for what kind of meat.

I grew up in a small country type of town...but I lived in town. So I do consider myself a country girl...but I do not go around dressing like one since I lived in town. I had many friends who lived outside of the town limits...and so they wore the boots, felt and straw hats. I loved every minute of it. I miss the country way of living actually. I miss the slowness of it but yet at arms reach of the big city amenities.

I will get back to the country way of life one of these days somehow. But for now I will just be irritated at the City Slickers all dressed up at the fairs, rodeos, and country music indoor and outdoor concerts.

Country music...

No this post is not going to be a list of the songs that I have randomly selected off my iPod that I tend to only listen to when I am sitting on an airplane. *gasp* I know...you are now in shock that I do listen to my iPod as much as you or anyone else that you know. 

Anyways...some people are under the impression that I am just getting into the whole country music scene. Guess you all don't know that I grew up listening to country. My childhood to early adolescence I listened to the Christian music with artists of AMY GRANT, SANDI PATTIE, and MICHAEL W. SMITH. Now don't look away...this is my roots...and I still like listening to these artists to this day. Amy Grant was the first person who I saw in concert when I was 10 years old. She has always been my favorite. Listened to her really old albums until the tapes would become extremely warped. I am excited to hear that she will be releasing a new cd with new songs later this year. Good for her! I have seen Michael W. Smith in concert many many times. 

In my teenage years to my young adulthood (which I am still in for another five years) I have listened to a variety of music. Christian, country, classical, rock, show tunes, alternative. I just go through my phases. I listen to one genre for awhile until I get tired of it, then I move over to one of the other genres that I like, and so on. Lately it has been country. I like the country from the 90s and some of the current stuff. So one would say that a friend converted me to enjoying Jason Aldean...but what this person would not know is that I liked Jason Aldean back in 2005 when he debuted with the songs Amarillo Sky and Big Green Tractor. 

So who are the artists that I have liked and currently like?? When I was in high school I listened to John Michael Montgomery (saw him in concert a couple times with a friend), Clay Walker, Lori Morgan, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks (this was before they spouted off, and ruined their career), Tracy Bird (saw in concert in the pouring rain), Mark Chestnut (have seen several times, once in the pouring rain at the same concert with Tracy Bird), Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw. After high school the country music was really booming. This was when Shania Twain had came into the light and changed what country music was. I loved her music and will probably always love it. She made country music fun to listen to but still had the passion and roots that country music is all about. After high school I enjoyed listening to Shania Twain (who was amazing in concert), Trick Pony, Martina McBride, Clint Black (boring in concert). Currently I like all the artists that I have mentioned before in addition to Zach Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lady Antebellum to name a few. 

If you have not heard of any of these newer artists...I encourage you to check them out.

You have to listen to this!!!

Ok...so late last night or maybe it was this morning, I was scanning a friend's facebook page to see what he had been up to. Yes I will admit, I tend to be a facebook stalker when it is late and when I get bored. Anyways...he is a huge fan of the new country artist Jason Aldean. Anyone else heard this guy?? Well he is amazing! His big hit that is out right now is called The Truth. Youtube the song after you read this...cause this blog is not about that song in particular.

Anyways...CMT does a special every so often called CMT CROSSROADS. This is when they pair a country artist with a pop or rock artist. The two groups or artists will sit down and sing with each other on the songs that made them "popular". Well Jason did a CMT Crossroad with one of my favorite artists, Bryan Adams. In middle school and high school I loved listening to Bryan Adams. Jason and Bryan do a rendition of Bryan's song called "Heaven". I clicked on my friend's link to watch the video to see how the song would be. Wow oh wow!! If this rendition was out when I was getting married, this song would have been played in my wedding. I almost like it better than the original. Yes I did say that even though I love Bryan's original version. Anyways...since I speak so highly of this song I will post the video below in this blog so that you do not have to google this song on your own. When you are done and are interested in more of Jason Aldean's episode on CMT Crossroads go to this link here. You will be able to sit and watch all six videos which is basically the whole episode...but you will not be disappointed!! With out further ado....here is the video, please enjoy!