It’s Country Music, Y’all
I was first introduced to Country music in the 80s. My boyfriend at the time was a music critic, so our doorstep was always piled high with LPs. I believe it was a Randy Travis album that caught my ear and introduced me to the genre. Considering it was the era of New Wave, it felt odd that I kinda liked Randy Travis. If I remember correctly, my boyfriend also recommended Reba McEntire.
What really drew me in was the simplicity of the songs, but even more so, the storytelling.
Throughout my life, I’d always circle back to Country music. The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) have been a staple for me and still are today.
After moving back to Austin, I’ve found myself listening to New Country pretty much non-stop. With all the streaming platforms out there, it’s easier than ever to discover new artists. And somewhere along the way, I became a legit Country fan.
It was Megan Moroney’s quick rise that really sparked my interest in writing Country songs. Not the stardom part, but her openness about her songwriting process. I’ve listened to interviews where she talks about how she got started and where she finds inspiration for her songs.
Like Taylor Swift, a lot of her songs are about heartbreak—something we know all too well. Unfortunately, those experiences also provide endless songwriting possibilities.
When I decided to try songwriting, I knew I wanted to focus on Country. Now, I’m happy to say I’ve got about half a dozen songs under my belt. I even put together a playlist on Spotify called Original Country, and who knows—maybe an album is next.
Here are the songs:
We all do it—cyber-stalk our exes, especially the one who got away. Well, this song led to an interesting discovery: Turns out, I was wrong.
This one’s based on one of my favorite short stories from the 80s. The original story packs more of a punch, but the song captures the essence of rejection just right.
True story: My doctor once showed me an EKG and said, “Looks like you had a small heart attack.” Uh, what? I had to correct him real quick.
Being in the friend zone isn’t great, but it’s better than being in no zone at all. This song is playful and upbeat, giving girls and women of all ages a positive spin on an otherwise frustrating situation.
This one was inspired by a night at the bar. I was observing something unfold, but I layered in my own experiences to add some drama to the story.
When I found out the “Perfect Life” guy wasn’t actually living his perfect life, I didn’t hesitate to ask him to come visit me. Impulsive? Definitely. I’m working on that. (The “worm” reference is a current cultural touchpoint that stems from a poem I wrote him.)
Hey Handsome
The caption on this song is: “Divorce is not the end; it’s the beginning.” For so many of us who’ve endured brutal divorces, may we all have a caring friend who writes us a song to cheer us up.
Let’s just say this one’s a bit of retributive justice. That’s all I’m going to say about it.