Welcome to Music Monday! Yes, I know it’s not Monday, but I was out of town yesterday, so I’m breaking the rules…Yeah, I’m rebellious like that.
This past weekend I went to Aspen for the JAS Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience. And it was awesome! Not only did I have a great time with my mom and sister, but I was able to kick back, relax, and bask in some beautiful Colorado scenery while listening to one of my favorite musicians, Carrie Underwood.
To be honest, I’m not a huge concert fan. I always seem to get stuck next to the drunk idiot dancing, screaming, and grabbing at everyone around them while exhaling fumes of cigarettes and beer (Grrrrr…and BARF!). But the JAS music festival was surprisingly organized and tamed. It had a pleasant family/community vibe to it, and those who were on the crazier side kept to themselves and respected the rest of us.
It’s the best concert experience I’ve ever had.
As for Carrie Underwood’s performance, it was amazing! Upbeat, energetic, entertaining. My sister wrote down all of the songs she performed to make a CD later, and she counted 22 by the end of the night. That’s crazy! Carrie Underwood definitely doesn’t waste time during her concerts. She sings her booty off.
I also have to give Carrie Underwood extra props for handling Aspen’s high altitude. Only once during the show did she appear winded. It happened during the early part of the night. She made a joke about the altitude before trying to set up the next song. Just a few breathless words in she stopped, laughed, and turned to her band. “Oh, forget the setup,” she panted. “Let’s just do this.” It was funny. And totally understandable. I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life and I can tell you: it’s not easy to breathe here, especially if you’re not used to it. In fact, I’ve heard most artists who come to town need oxygen tanks to get them through their performances.
Now, although I love all of Carrie Underwood’s songs, there were two I couldn’t stop listening to during the four-hour drive home yesterday. Both gave me oodles of inspiration for my manuscript: “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Somethin’ Bad” .
I flipped a coin and went with “Somethin’ Bad”, Carrie Underwood’s latest hit with country star, Miranda Lambert.
This song has so much energy and attitude, it makes me want to stand up and dance around with a “Whatcha ya lookin’ at punk?” expression. Don’t worry, I don’t do that…Well, unless I’m alone and nobody can mock me for acting like an idiot 😉 But, seriously, I love taking the badass emotions I feel while listening to this song and pouring them into my characters. It makes writing their rebellious, “whatever” moments easier, more enjoyable, and a lot of fun.
I also love the lyrics, “…somethin’ bad about to happen”. I’ve been working on some of the climatic chapters in my book recently, and “somethin’ bad about to happen” is definitely a theme. There’s lots of suspense, lots of dread, and lots of “dun, dun, dun”.
So, if you’re looking for a song that’s full of attitude, check out “Somethin’ Bad” by Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert!
What song(s) are you in love with right now? Which one(s) offer you inspiration? Let me know! I’m always searching for songs that motivate my writing.
Photo credits:
http://photos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2014/08/2014_nys_fair_concert_carrie_underwood_7.html
http://popdust.com/2014/06/24/carrie-underwood-miranda-lambert-somethin-bad-music-video-teaser/
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