Love in a Country Song

Well, I’m going to break with the week’s autumn musings (guess I'm a rebel that way). My autumn musings will be next Friday, when I have a special guest to host. How's that for a teaser?
Today, I’m pondering a new infatuation, and no, it's not pumpkin flavored :-) I have a confession to make: I’ve been listening to Country Music these last several weeks. You may not think it's a big deal, but for those who know me, it is a bit of a shocker. In my defense, I get easily bored with the same genre of music and have to mix things up. Hence the Country these days. I’m so new to the scene, I don’t even know the names of the bands or singers, and so have to wave my hands ineffectively and say “oh, you know, the song with the twang” or “the one with the steel guitar” as if that more accurately describes which song I mean.
http://fotonin.com/956039.html
with some editorial comments by me.
Audible twang and steel guitars aside, my current attraction is two-fold. First, there are the male country singers. Sigh… Sorry, Adam Levine and Ed Sheeron. You guys are nice enough to look at, but there’s just something about a bright-smiled country guy in tight pants and t-shirt with a muscular bicep (and other lovely bulges) tipping the brim of his hat up so I can catch the rogue twinkle in his—

Okay, sorry. Got a little distracted with the mental picture for a moment. In my defense, I was describing a cowboy. There must be something in a woman’s DNA which makes her slightly weak in the knees at the thought (Or there is something in the cowboy’s jeans… HAHAHA! I’m so punny). Anyway, they are simply too yummy for words, so go ahead and fan yourself… like me, you know you want to.

Back on topic, the second attraction is often the words to which these singers give voice, especially words of love and attraction. Guess I’m over the recent onslaught of hip-hop artists singing about “bitches” and “booties” and demeaning sexual acts, and pop stars singing about… well, not much of anything. And to the local alternative radio station: I love the Beastie Boys as much anyone, but every hour? Really?

As a romance writer, I naturally gravitate toward romantic songs, even when they have a swift dance beat. I love songs about relationships and allure and warm emotions which end in a Happily-for-Now. You can well imagine Country Songs are filled with these themes, often with a pleasant turn of phrase.
Take, for example, Blake Shelton’s “Sangria” (admittedly, my love of wine makes this one extra special): We fall against the door, we fall into a wild warm kiss… You skin is begging to be kissed by a little more than the sun…”

Or Big & Rich’s “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”... Well, no lyrics needed. The song is a hoot and I’m a fan of its title concept.

Then there is Eric Church’s “Like a Wrecking Ball,” which might possibly qualify as “country erotic” for some: Crash right through the front door, back you up against the wall… I wanna rock some sheet rock, knock some pictures off the wall…”

And even A Thousand Horses’ comparing a woman to a cigarette (I never imagined such a caustic habit could be sexy, but the yearning in the singer’s voice is addicting): I’m breathing her in, breathing her out, once I pick her up I can’t put her down…

All this, plus the fact they can make nearly any word rhyme (that would be the twang working). So, yeah, I’ll be listening to Country for a while longer. ‘Cuz it’s completely sexy. As I’m always looking for musical inspiration, regardless of genre… What are some of your favorite “sexy” songs? (please, don’t anyone recommend “Truffle Butter”)

Comments

  1. I am seriously old. Sigh. Were these songs written after 1970? Thought so. :-) Great post, Ava!

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  2. Liz, I am right there with you, although I love anything George Strait sings and Brooks and Dun (are they even a duo anymore??). I love Norah Jones for pure inspiration--her version of "Turn Me On" (the one from the Christmas dance scene in Love Actually) is pretty darned inspirational for a romance author. And, Lizzie--what about Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" or basically anything by Rod Stewart? His Great American Songbooks CDs were my soundtrack for ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP, along with a couple of classical pieces that took on a whole new dimension when you pictured a tall, brawny, very sexy symphony conductor on the podium... Super post, Ava!!

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  3. There are so many! I love love Eric Church's wrecking ball, but Sam Hunt's take your time is a close second...and then there is Dierks Bentley's riser or say you do ... fun post, Ava!

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  4. Looks like I'm going to be expanding my musical repertoire... Thanks for the suggestions, ladies!

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