The Amazed Lover
Country music is, has always, and will always be king to me and my family. For as far back as the span of my memory can reach, country music was constantly being played in the car, at weddings, and basically everywhere else around us. I actually reached a point of belief where I truly thought I could feel the music flowing through my veins. Within all this country, however, there was one specific piece of country music that stood above the rest: Lonestar’s late 20th century love song “Amazed”. This song enlightened the hopeless romantic inside me and allowed me to show my true softer side. From the time I first heard this wondrous song through my raging hormonal days of high school until now, I have continued to relish in its almighty love song powers and discover new connections between the song and myself.
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“Amazed” is your typical 1990’s country love song with emotionally tear-jerking lyrics and a strong, yet somehow at the same time soothing traditional country sound.
Yet, it manages to break me down and envelop me with all of the love anyone could ever handle. Even that very first note manages to instantly capture my heart and play with its passions. As a younger child, this was truer with the concept of family. The themes of compassion, admiration, and togetherness shine bright throughout the course of the song and are all words that perfectly describe my views of my family. I care for them, I admire them, and I enjoy being with them. They hold a place in my heart no person or object or idea could ever come near. Hearing and listening to every word of “Amazed” as they are sung only deepens my love for
them. Nowadays, however, a new love has managed to sneak her way into my heart as well, which has lead me to realize new sentiments of this beloved song. As the words themselves say, I really cannot fathom how she does what she does or how she manages to touch every piece of my heart, but she does all of that and more with all of her gentleness. From the moment I met her, “Amazed” has served as a token of everything I think and feel about her. There is also a much larger, more significant representation of this song for the vast outside world that lies far beyond my own life. As society continues to evolve and expand at the immensely rapid pace it is now, people now more than ever tend to become trapped in its constant movement and forget some of life’s amazing wonders. Everywhere I look, I see people who don’t stop give a second thought to what amazes them. They just move on as if that one special person, event, or whatever will come around again and again. The reality is, though, that it just won’t. It will disappear, and as more of these marvelous items vanish, society as a whole will continue to lose its sense of amazement. I hope, however, that we will all come full circle and once again find that true sense of amazement. Now, it may seem from all of this that I am a sucker for sappy country love songs (which I most certainly am) and a belief in world happiness, but I truly do love and care for my family, relationships, and everyone around me. This song, as lovey dovey as it may be, still functions as a constant reminder of what is important to me and what should be my highest priorities no matter the situation. “Amazed” is my theme song for love and for life. It shakes me from confused and angry states of mind and brings me back to my real self. It holds a message I cherish and believe in with all of my core.
Times have changed, and along with the times so has country music. American country music lovers have went from Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings, just two of the many classic oldies, to Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, two very appealing country music artists. However, it is not only the tune of the music that has changed, it is the image, the appeal, and overall the type of icons the media is portraying these modern music stars as. Icons such as Lynn and Jennings had identifiable features within their music as well as their appearance that spoke sweet southern belle and rugged twang. Whereas Underwood’s and Bryan’s appeal now is much more sexualized than it was during the oldies. These changes affect the way modern day singers are marketed compared to former country music stars, instead of focusing on talent it is now looks.
Country music is “a branch of American Popular Music (Country Music)” that dates back to the 1920s. The music itself is a combination of folk music arising from the southern United States, with “cowboy” music from the Wild West. The beats, the harmony, and the flow are generally simple and allow for listening at ease. Lyrical analysis separates country music from mixing with other categories, as it is associated with ballads and stories – the songs are fit to tell. Any and all accompaniment is, in general, strings, fiddles, and harmonica. While modern music balances the artist with digital sound, country music remains true with unity of said instruments. When describing country, upon interpretation the term “twang” is used; twang can range
This song describes so many people at so many times in their lives. Music is one way of explaining how you feel especially if you have a hard time getting your feelings out to someone. Music speaks louder than words.
In 1919, Cecil Sharp introduced this genre to the world by releasing "English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians" which would open the door for future country singers and songwriters. (1) Unlike the deep
I memorized Don Mclean’s American Pie in grade school, before I fully understood its relevance or who it spoke to. The haunting lyrics fascinated me and left a trail of inexplicable shivers down my arms. How could music die? I couldn’t comprehend the wistful look on the adult’s faces when they talked about that day. It’s hard for children to grasp that look or the deep place where it originates. I vaguely knew of those three but not really, so I just nodded my head along. I didn’t know about Waylon Jennings or that a spot on
Country music can be defined as a unique music genre. ”The songs often have repeated sections or refrains, and the words, are clear and prominent” (Yudkin 274). This helps not only get a song stuck in someone’s head, but makes it become more popular. There are so many voices, origins, and instrumentation that can be used to make pop country original and meaningful. “As one listens, the basic core formula, which consists of a straightforward chord progression, a resonating chorus or bridge, and a memorable story, will most often be the foundation of country music songs” (Turcotte). There are so many themes love, drinking, values, working, and loneliness. The artist also has to make it authentic with intimacy, and heart-felt songs. You hear a lot of different instruments during a country pop song. Mainly acoustic guitar, steel guitar, bass, and fiddle. Artists do not have a good ole country song with out powerful lyrics. Then it is up to the listener to interpret the song. Even with all the other genres out there these day country pop still finds a way to keep it characteristics
“Cash’s music stood for simple values: dignity, compassion for working people and the conviction that music has the power to make our world a better place.” Though Johnny Cash had his demons throughout his life, he lived with a purpose to uplift the spirits of people who listened to his music. With the help of his raw gospel sound and tenacity, he ultimately became a game changer for the history of country music. Some specific setbacks and experiences of Johnny Cash’s life such as his childhood through his time in the Air Force, his drug addiction, his Christian faith, his spousal relationships, and his outlaw image have influenced the painful and sense of hardship messages that resonate in the songs he performed.
...s on "sex, drugs, and other forms of license" by offering morality in "tales of love, heartache, family ties and middle-aged renewal" (Feiler 426). So, whether the music has conformed to values of the people or the people have realized the need for country values in their lives, the result is the same: the country music culture has paralleled the changing culture of America, and that bond will now be difficult to break.
“My life’s been a country song; it’s been the words when I couldn’t find ‘em. A friend when I’ve been alone. It’s been the toast to remember, the strength for moving on...” — Chris Cagle. The thought might run across your head, what is exactly is country music anyways. According to Dictioray.com country music is defined as “a style and genre of largely string-accompanied American popular music having roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy music of the West, usually vocalized generally simple in form and harmony, and typified by romantic or melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica.” Everyone has their different imputation of country music. People who do not like country music thinks it just talking
Throughout John Denver’s music career, his song “Country Roads” was the one that most exemplified the ideals of country music as a genre. His instrumentation demonstrates the acoustic guitar that is prominent is several notably country songs. More importantly, his lyrics are inspiring for many of his listeners and fans, who may also be going through emotional hardships, such as the struggle of missing home. The melody, harmony, and dynamics, were combined in the 1970’s in such a way that the song is still in enjoyed more than forty years later.
There are a handful of love songs that have been written. One of the most famous love songs written is by the king of rock and roll. Elvis Pressley, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” has been a popular wedding and love song for several decades. Released in 1961, Elvis debuted the song in his movie, Blue Hawaii. Over the years, artists have been recording this hit love song, giving it their own twist. In an article that was printed in the Telegraph, “the devotional words to the song, which featured in Presley's 1961 film Blue Hawaii, describe the mood of love better than any other, according to respondents” (Swaine, 2008). Along with Pressley’s original version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, we can consider studying the covers performed by The
Clugston, R. W. (2010). Country lovers (p. 3.1). San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://content.ashford.edu/books
...ake speeches about the necessity of families to build society, but does the family unit actually have a truly important effect on society at all? I would argue yes, but not just on an idealistic level. If we accept what research is showing us, then we know that the destruction of families is raising up a generation of psychologically unstable, dependent, undereducated, crime-prone children who will soon become the America of tomorrow. I can only imagine what society will look like when it is filled with people like that. How can we leave them to their own self-destruction now by saying that the decline of the family is not important? The Last Song may be chalked up as a mere romance novel, but the perspective it gives on different kinds of crippled families and how they heal is a valuable viewpoint from which to observe the plight of the family in our society today.
In 1992, singer, musician, and composer Erik Clapton released "Unplugged", a cd recorded during his tv special on MTV. This program was part of a series of programs performed by different artists, playing almost no electrical instruments. His cd won the Grammy Awards for best album of the year, best pop male vocal, best rock song -- Layla, and best rock male vocal, and best song of the year -- Tears in heaven.
Glad you find it appeasing! We always love it when someone appreciates our music from their own perspective. We want our listeners to take in our music as they wish to perceive. We believe it gives the song a more personal identity.