Top Ten George Strait Songs

Editor's note: Blake Shelton was just one of the country music stars who honoured their musical hero during George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert, a TV special that aired Wednesday (May 27) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Blake's List

Taking my cue from Blake, here are my top ten George Strait songs and the reason why:

Love Without End, Amen During my last few years of high school I discovered that country music was good music to have on while I was doing homework. There were a few songs that jumped out at me. Love Without End, especially the line “When I became a father in the spring of '81” because I was born in the summer of ’81.

I Hate Everything Was the single during the summer of 2004 when I attended my first major concert. George Strait with special guest, Dierks Bentley, at the Commodore in Vancouver. That show changed my life in that I have been to countless concerts since and am a massive Dierks fan, all because George took him on tour.

You Look So Good In Love Dedicated to someone nameless who God has shown me, wasn’t right for me. Even if I thought we would have been good together. He really does “Look So Good In Love” and I wish them all the best.

You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody Dedicated to another nameless individual. This song just sums up my feelings exactly. Aside from leaving it up to God, one can’t “do” anything. And no, he's never proposed (or anything close to that) but the line "you can lead a heart to love, but you can't make it fall" is just so appropriate.

Heartland The shortest, best rockin’ George song evah.

Blue Clear Sky The fact that Dierks sang this song last night on the tribute certainly doesn’t hurt, but I’ve loved “Blue Clear Sky” for longer than that. I’ve “Given up on that little lie they call love” many times and I’m just waiting for something to come out of the Blue Clear Sky

Ocean Front Property I admit, this song bugged me for a LONG time. I just didn’t GET it When I finally stopped to listen and understood the sarcasm and subtlety, I fell in love. Not to mention that it’s one of the best sounding George Strait songs out there.

Amarillo By Morning By far the most overlooked GS songs, in that it didn’t go to number one. (I think it peaked at #4 or so). This is one of the best rodeo songs ever. It captures the heart ache and addiction that a true rodeo cowboy feels paired with incredible music. (By the way, this ties with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”)

I Just Want to Dance With You We do dance to this one at Square Dance…not often enough in my opinion. My favourite part is the whistling. It just seems so carefree. I love it!

Texas Cooking Literally, my Texas trip in a song. So fun!

Bonus: Murder on Music Row Dedicated to my mom. She’s a huge fan of the steel guitar and often complains that they don’t use it enough anymore. Plus this song just has it’s finger on the pulse of modern country music.

How did I do?

Well, that was one of the best award shows I've seen in awhile. Full of laughs and surprises...well, some surprises. I participated in a running commentary with Diane, Lisa, Melissa and a few others. CMT Canada finally got something right and broadcast the show twice last night. Once at 8pm Eastern and once at 8pm Pacific which meant I could watch it live with my friends instead of waiting for the world to turn.

So, how did I do on my predictions?

Entertainer of the Year
THINK: Anybody
WANT: Kenny Chesney
WHO WON? KENNY!!! Woohoo! and I must say, he did a fantastic job of kicking off the show and it was really nice to see Shania Twain there to present the award to him.

Top Male Vocalist
THINK: Keith Urban
WANT: I'd LOVE to see underdog Brad Paisley take it!
WHO WON? Brad took it!!! I am SO proud of him. He had one of the funniest speeches of the night too. "Thank you to the fans. I put out a song about two people drinking themselves to death, you buy it. I put out a love song, you buy it. I put out a song about stupid bugs, you buy it. Thank you" Interestingly enough, Keith was no where to be seen last night.

Top Female Vocalist
THINK: Watch your reaction Faith Hill. The last thing we need it to rehash it again for the millionth time. I think this one is Carrie's again.
WANT: I'm cool with Carrie taking it.
WHO WON? I was right. Carrie took it. I liked Paul McGuires comment on CMT Canada "It's Carrie Underwood's world, we all just live in it"

Top Vocal Duo
Somehow I missed blogging my prediction on this one. I would have said Brooks & Dunn even though I would have loved to see The Wreckers take it. B&D walked away with it again though. This was their 14th time!

Top Vocal Group
THINK: Rascal Flatts has this one sewn up
WANT: I'd love to see Canadians Emerson Drive walk away with this one. It would do my "Countrified Soul" good :D
WHO WON? RF took it. No surprise. You can't argue with their insane crossover popularity.

Top New Male Vocalist
THINK: Rodney Atkins, although it's weird that he's even nominated. It's not like he's *new* he's just back on the charts
WANT: I want Chris Young to win because even though he's a product of "Nashville Star" he's my favourite of the three (even if Craig Morgan was at Billy Bob's the night I was there)
WHO WON? Rodney Atkins. His singles have been too successful to overlook. I will also vote him for the most boring speech of the night :(

Top New Femal Vocalist
THINK: Taylor Swift
WANT: Miranda Lambert
WHO WON? Miranda! She has the most experience of the three nominees what with just releasing her second cd. I'm excited that she won though.

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
THINK: The Wreckers
WANT: The Wreckers, I really think they've got a great shot at it.
WHO WON? Little Big Town walked away with this one. I am not a fan of theirs so I wasn't too thrilled but I know they've worked hard for it and probably do deserve it.

Album of the Year
THINK: Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood. Who can dispute over 5 million copies sold?
WANT: I won't cry if Carrie wins but I'd love for King George to take this one home. "It Just Comes Natural" is an instant classic
WHO WON? Some Hearts. I was right. Talk about pressure for her next one though!!!

Single Record of the Year
THINK: Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
WANT: Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood - it's a classic and SO well done
WHO WON? Amazing upset in both Song and Single of the year categories. George Strait won both with "Give it Away" and totally knocked Carrie out. I was very happy for the writers, Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson and Buddy Cannon. George was genuinely suprised too. Very cool.

The results of these next two categories wasn't televised.

Video of the Year
THINK: Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
WANT:Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
WHO WON? Carrie. That video was pure genius and even people who don't like country music comment on it and the song.

Vocal Event of the Year
THINK: Building Bridges - Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
WANT: Me and God - Josh Turner, Dr. Ralph Stanley and Diamond Rio
WHO WON? Brooks & Dunn

So there you go. I predicted six winners correctly and six that I wanted to win, did. I was only off on three categories. Single and Song of the year because I underestimated King George and Group of the year. Great show though!

~Heidi

So. Many. Things. To. Post!!!

This is what happens when you don't blog for a few days. A bunch of things happen and then you don't know where to start!!! I'm going to have to go with a brain dump style entry and see if I can capture it all.

The Heidi Show Part III aka the sad chapter
I was on the radio again on Monday. Doug, the morning show host, announced on Friday that he was leaving the radio station. I didn't actually hear the announcement on Friday but I heard a re-cap on the weekend so Monday morning I called to confirm it. It's sad because, as you all know, I really enjoy waking up to him every morning and calling him periodically. But, he had a great opportunity open up in Calgary so I'm trying to be happy for him.

The interesting part about this edition of the Heidi Show was that my mom actually heard it being broadcast! That was kind of cool.

Dierks is Coming
My boss doesn't quite get my love of country music but she tries. She knows all about the concerts and the fact that I got to meet Dierks in Everett (I've framed the picture of the two of us and it sits on my desk :D) Yesterday, in passing, she mentioned "By the way, your guy Dierks is coming to Vancouver in January" I laughed and said "Yes, I know, I have tickets already!"

Insider Info
Yesterday afternoon I made a mad dash to an LSS for some supplies I needed for a gift I'm making. On the way back I called the DJ who does the afternoon drive show. His name is Steve. At 5 pm they do the "Top Five at Five". Basically, each day, listeners vote for their favourite songs and at five o'clock the ones with the most votes are played. I wanted to suggest that they create a write in box so we can vote for songs that may not be listed. I ended up talking off air with Steve for at least ten minutes. He gave me a bunch of information on how the radio process actually works, what they can and can't do and why I can or can't request certain songs. It was f.a.s.c.i.n.a.t.i.n.g!!!

Horseshoes
Remember back in October when I found out that Dierks was coming to Vancouver? And how I found out? By checking the Doc Walker website for tour dates and seeing that they are opening for Dierks? If you don't, here's the link: Dierks Day As I mentioned in that post, Doc Walker was my first "concert" and the first artists that I met after the show. My first "real" concert was George Strait & Dierks at the Pacific Coliseum (where he'll be headlining in January, about two and a half year after opening for George!)

The radio station (the same one I mentioned twice earlier in this post) is giving away tickets to the show and everyone who wins tickets is entered to win meet and greet passes with the Doc Walker boys.

Guess who won tickets this morning?

Isn't that insane??? I mean I already HAVE tickets. General Admission ones at that but I'd really like to talk to the Doc Walker boys again and I knew the answer oh so difficult trivia question that Doug put out this morning. "What is Dierks middle name". Answer? "He doesn't HAVE one." Anyways, I tried calling and lo-and-behold, I got through. I haven't won anything since this summer when I got Leann Rimes tickets from the same station. Keep in mind that this is the same station that gave me the Dierks tickets in the first place.

Crasy isn't it? Oh and get this, I'm picking the tickets up this afternoon. Guess who I claim them from? Steve! The afternoon drive guy. I was going to email him this morning to say "thanks for talking to me yesterday" but I figure I'll tell him in person instead.

BTW my co-workers have decided that I don't just have lucky horseshoes up my butt but the whole stinkin' horse!!! (s'cuse the crude illustration :P)

~Heidi...aka Miss Lucky :D

"Murder on Music Row"

July 31, 2005 (My birthday) Dierks Bentley and George Jones recorded a duet called "Murder on Music Row". It was a re-make of the one that George Strait and Alan Jackson did. George & Alan's original version won "CMA Song of the Year" in 2001.

Practically since the day Dierks & George re-recorded the song, I have been waiting for it's release. The original story was that it was coming out on a "Song of the Year" compilation that was going to be distributed by Starbucks. Over a year later, the story changed and an official announcement was made stating that the compilation would now be marketed by Cracker Barrel. Here's a link to the press release: clicky

The cd was released on October 3rd as promised. Unfortunately the closest Cracker Barrel to me is in Idaho. I want a copy of the cd but I am not willing to pay $17USD for shipping (and that's the cheaper option!). Instead I've been biding my time figuring I'll get it at some point. (Maybe someone will take pity on me and mail it out ;)).

Today I was on dierks.com and noticed that as a special feature for the fan club members they are playing acoustic versions of some of the tracks from his Long Trip Alone CD (the new one). I listened to each of the three tracks and then expected it to start them again. Instead, I got to hear "Murder on Music Row"!!! Dierks & George's version is just as great as I had hoped it would be.

I still want that CD but at least I don't have to wait to hear the song!

~Heidi

Why I Like Country Music Part 2

After a week of almost continuous George Strait I’ve realized another reason I like country music...true, traditional country music. It’s the fiddles! One of my all time favourite George songs is “Heartland”. It starts with “When you hear twin fiddles and a steel guitar..."

My paternal grandfather used to play the fiddle. In fact he was a champion fiddle player and has many trophies and plaques to prove it. As he got older the hardest part for our family to come to terms with was the fact that he couldn’t play his fiddle like he used to. I have great memories of family reunions where Grandpa would pull out his fiddle and Uncle Tony his accordion and they’d have a jam session. Under the stars, in the basement, where ever they could find room.

The fiddle music in a lot of country music reminds me of Grandpa and those special times.

~Heidi

Heartland
When you hear twin fiddles and a steel guitar
You're listenin' to the sound of the American heart
And opry music on a Saturday night
Brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye

Chorus:
Sing a song about the Heartland
The only place I feel at home
Sing about the way a good man
Works until the daylight's gone
Sing the rain on the roof on a summer night
Where they still know wrong from right
Sing a song about the Heartland
Sing a song about my life

Merry Christmas Strait To You

George Strait says it best.

Merry Christmas to ALL my friends :)

God bless you,
~Heidi

Merry Christmas Strait To You

It's christmas time
I see the lines of people everywhere
Tryin' to pick out the gifts
That show how much they care
It makes me wish that I could see my friends
On christmas day
And fill my list with lots of gifts
But I can only say

[chorus]
Here comes a merry chritmas strait to you
I hope it cheers you up when you are down and feelin' blue
Right or wrong I'll sing my song
And you will know just who
Sings a merry christmas strait to you

There's lot of ways to share the days
Of christmas with your friends
A christmas card, a tree that stars
And gifts that make you grin
I'd like to share this song with everyone who came our way
Without a doubt the fires not out
It burns for you today

[chorus]
Here comes a merry christmas
And to all who might of missed us
A very merry christmas strait to you

Country Music

So Veronica and I were sitting in Earls Cove on the Sunshine Coast waiting for the ferry. She was knitting and I was reading while listening to Dierks Bentley's Modern Day Drifter CD. V is not a country music fan but she was good about putting up with it. I started getting funny looks when "Cab of My Truck" came on though. I'll be the first to admit that it's not exactly the best song to win someone over to country music ;) How is this for stereotypical lyrics?

"Cracked windshield, that I super-glued, Cumpled-up cans and a beat up bag of Red Man chew, Fix-a-Flat, Johnny Cash box set, Half a dozen parking tickets that I ain't paid yet, And sittin' on that cloth bench seat, I got my shotgun girl ridin' next to me"

Hey, it actually sounds like my previous post! Anyways, about half way through the song she asked me "What made you start listening to this type of music anyways?" Good question! (and an appropriate place to start my first blog post specifically about country music). In grade 11 I stopped caring about what other people thought about the music I listened to and the things I "liked". I found that I could concentrate on my homework best if I was listening to either classical or country. My uncle and cousins (from Alberta) all listened to it and I had some exposure through them. Mostly it was just from listening to the radio and deciding I liked what I heard. I remember writing down the chorus from George Strait's "Love Without End, Amen" I loved the fact that his son was born in "the spring of '81" (I was born in the summer of '81) and I thought the lyrics were so clever. That's probably where my love of country music got started.

Like Trace Adkins says. They are "Songs About Me". I love what country music represents as an industry and what most of the artists stand for. Plus, there's the whole cowboy thing which is another post entirely ;)

When I got my car in 2002 it came with a CD player (my first). The first CD's I bought were Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson's Greatest Hits. I've been building my CD collection ever since. I prefer male voices over female and I like the "traditional" country sound.

Currently my top five favourite artists are: George Strait, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson. So far I've seen George and Dierks in concert and I'm going to see Brad on January 18th.

Yup. I'm a country music fan :)