Category: Song of the Week

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Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: “I’m Alive”

I’m sure you all know by now I’ve become a huge country music fan after attending the CMA Music Festival last year. One of my current favorite tracks is Kenny Chesney’s “I’m Alive” featuring Dave Matthews. A little pick me up for those days that have you wondering where you’re headed, Chesney and Matthews put life into perspective with light guitar strumming and moving lyrics.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLgLfD3wElQ]

All you country fans, be sure to tune into the ACM Awards broadcast live from Las Vegas Sunday, April 18th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS. Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band are up for Entertainer of the Year. You can vote for Entertainer of the Year here.

Related Links:
• Q&A; with Taylor Swift
• Q&A; with Lady Antebellum
• CMA 2009: Six Artists To Watch
• Hundreds of Fans Camp Out to Meet Taylor Swift

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Song of the Week Videos

Video Wednesday: Featuring Cage the Elephant, J Lewis and Theresa Andersson

I’ve been receiving numerous emails debuting new videos from artists. Rather than hold off until the end of the week, I figured I’d feature some of my favorites today. There are plenty more out there, so if I missed any you’ve been diggin’ lately be sure to leave them in the comments!

I interviewed Theresa Andersson during CMJ back in 2008 and was truly impressed by her performance. The one woman band plays multiple instruments throughout her set with the help of loop pedals. Watch her perform “Oh Mary” below. The video is the newest clip from her soon-to-be-released DVD, “Theresa Andersson: Live at Le Petit” due out April 24.

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J Lewis blends pop, hip-hop, and R&B; throughout his debut video “Dancin’ For Me” featuring Flo Rida. His soulful vocals are sure to be a hit on the Billboard charts. Except his first album release later this year. Check out his music video below.

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J Lewis Feat. Flo Rida – “Dancin’ For Me” OFFICIAL Video
Uploaded by thatsfunny. – See the latest featured music videos.

Cage the Elephant sure know how to party. You can find them jumping from school buses, lighting fireworks and crowd surfing at a house party in their latest video “In One Ear.” It may even inspire you to have your own house party…hopefully with minimal damage.

http://www.vevo.com/VideoPlayer/Embedded?videoId=USZM21000003&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded

What did I miss? Which videos can’t you stop watching? Leave them in the comments and maybe I’ll feature some on the blog.

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Song of the Week

Song of the Week: “Dying Day”


This week brought new single releases from several talented artists, providing music lovers with plenty of tunes for the weekend. CMT just premiered Brandi Carlile‘s latest music video, “Dying Day” off her phenomenal album, Give Up the Ghost.

With live tour footage mixed into the video, viewers get a feel for what a typical day of life on the road entails. To watch the music video for “Dying Day” click here.

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Song of the Week

Song of the Week: “American Honey”

Lady Antebellum have been taking over the airwaves with their chart-topping hit “Need You Now.” The Nashville-based trio just released the second single off their sophomore album, Need You Now and it’s bound to reach similar success.

Reminiscing of days gone by, on “American Honey” Lady A sing, “Nothing’s sweeter than summertime and American honey.” I couldn’t agree more. Watch the video below for a taste of summer.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSOaAaZZyqk]

Related Links:
• Q&A; with Lady Antebellum
• CMA 2009: Six Artists to Watch
• Friday Song Addiction: Country Music Edition
• You Sing I Write’s Top 5 CMA Week Songs
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Festivals Song of the Week

Song of the Week: “More”

Earlier this week, Tyrone Wells debuted the music video for single, “More” off his album, Remain. Named one of You Sing, I Write’s top five concerts of 2009, I was lucky enough to chat with Wells last year right before one of his showcases at SXSW. A powerful performer, he filled me in on his songwriting process, whether he’d rather someone witness him live first or hear his record and the inspiration behind some of his songs, including “More.”

A track that almost didn’t make the record, of “More,” Wells said, “It’s really the age old search of mankind to find more meaning, whether it be faith in God or faith in humanity or hope for a better day and hope that we can see people loving each other in this world and coming together instead of always separating. Less selfishness and more togetherness.

“I think everybody who hears that song plugs their own life into it and whatever is more for that person is what they draw from it. I met a girl who really wants to write screenplays and she adopted the song as her mantra. For me, it was the age old search for God and connecting to him and finding more meaning in that.”

For more of my interview with Tyrone Wells, click here and watch the music video for “More” below. Currently on tour with Tony Lucca and Roy Jay, be sure to visit his MySpace for dates. I’ll be catching his show this Wednesday in NYC, so be sure to follow me on Twitter for live concert updates!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98YyCqPVYHE]

Related Links:
• Q&A; with Tyrone Wells
• Better Than Ezra, Tyrone Wells Bring Surprises At Sold-Out New York Show
• SXSW: Day Two Recap
• Jason Reeves and Tyrone Wells Entertain Crowd with Intimate Tales and Stellar Performances in Hoboken
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Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: “Heads/Tails”

Earlier this week, Hotspur debuted the music video for their newest single, “Heads/Tails.” An emotional ballad on deciding the outcome of a relationship, the video strikes a chord between the soaring piano accompaniment and moving vocals.

“So let’s let fate decide for you and me tonight/If there’s half a chance we’ll make it/Then it’s not too late to try/Call it in the air heads or tails/Heads we go to London and try to save the queen/Tails we go to Paris and try our hand at romance/Either way we’re flying and at least I’ve got a chance.”

The video leaves the viewer wondering what the outcome will be. Watch it below and for more on the band, visit them on MySpace.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRIBtPGbWMM]

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Song of the Week

Song of the Week: “Hurricane”

I received an email about NeedToBreathe a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with their music. Reminiscent to Kings of Leon, the band blends emotional acoustic folk rock with a hint of country.

NeedToBreathe will be hitting the road next week for The Won’t Turn Back Tour so be sure to visit MySpace for tour dates and watch their latest video for “Hurricane” below. I’d love to know what you think!

Watch an acoustic performance of “The Outsiders” below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6xvpQYA94Y]

Categories
Song of the Week

Friday Song Addiction: Country Music Edition

If you don’t know by now, I’ve become a hardcore country music fan ever since attending the CMA Music Festival last June in Nashville. While chatting with up-and-coming country singer Erica Nicole today (check out her breathtaking version of “Hungry Eyes” on her Web site), we both agreed on how country music has this addictive quality where you can completely feel the pain, happiness, tragedy and sorrow within the song. Maybe that’s why I love the genre so much.

Yesterday, Taylor Swift’s music video for “Fearless” debuted on CMT.com and I’ve had Josh Turner’s latest single “Why Don’t We Just Dance” on repeat all week. Listening to Lady Antebellum is always a good time too, so rather than choose one of my country favorites this week I have three for you to check out. Enjoy!

Taylor Swift “Fearless”

Taylor Swift More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

Josh Turner “Why Don’t We Just Dance”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxo1CkMwBI]

Lady Antebellum “Lookin’ For a Good Time”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OQ8NmhE4jM]

Related Links:
• Q&A; with Taylor Swift
• Q&A; with Lady Antebellum
• CMA 2009: Six Artists To Watch
• Hundreds of Fans Camp Out to Meet Taylor Swift

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: “Valentine”

As Valentine’s Day approaches (this Sunday for those of you that need reminding!), I’ve been receiving endless emails of Valentine-related MP3’s and EPs artists are releasing in the upcoming days. I reached out to my Twitter followers as to what some of their favorite Valentine’s Day songs are and received some great suggestions!

My favorite was from Joseph Bayot — “Valentine” by Kina Grannis. With beautiful airy vocals that recall Colbie Caillat and soothing guitar strumming, I’ve had the song on repeat all night. Listen to “Valentine” below. Love to know what you think!

What are some of your favorite Valentine’s Day songs? I’ll post an entry Sunday with your suggestions and maybe a few of my own.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=840NbiFF1zM]

Categories
Song of the Week

Song of the Week: “Dreams”

If you haven’t listened to Brandi Carlile yet, you should. After seeing her phenomenal performance last night at Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre, I walked away in complete awe. Not only is she a pitch-perfect singer, she can rock the guitar and her onstage banter with the audience is always comical.

Whether she was telling the crowd her stories of working with Elton John (he turned her onto Kings of Leon) and her mother’s love for the band (“One of the top 5 things you never want to hear your mom sing is ‘Sex on Fire'”) or covering impeccable American standards like Patsy Cline’s “You Belong To Me,” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” she captured the crowd’s attention wholeheartedly.

This week’s song of the week is Carlile’s first single off her latest release, Give Up the Ghost. For all of you wondering what “Dreams” is about, she filled me in last night: “It’s a song that’s inspired by sex dreams. That’s basically what it is. They can be really inspiring.” I have to admit, I’ve never been told that in an interview. Watch the video for “Dreams” below and be sure to catch Brandi on the road and touring with Lilith Fair this summer!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSBl8zD9J_M]