Hello my name is Michele, with one L. I grew up down south and moved to New England back in 1996. Frequently, I say that I hated Country Music until about 2006, but I have changed my thoughts on this. In fact, I ADORED Olivia Newton-John as a child and her roots are in country, so obviously I didn’t hate country in the 1970s. Later in the early 80s, I saw The Oak Ridge Boys live… you know, when Elvira was taking the country by storm. So this country thing wasn’t foreign to my ears… but I always said I hated it. I remember having a conversation, with a girl that worked at Mother’s Records and Tapes back in the day, I told her “oh, I like all music, well except country.” How I think back to that and laugh now, since I primarily only listen to country anymore.
In 2006, I had helped repair a coworker’s iPod and, in doing so, I had to get some music off his iPod store it on mine – repair the iPod and then transfer the music back. I forgot to delete the music, so when I’d put my iPod on shuffle this “country crap” kept coming on… then I realized I kinda liked a couple of artists – Toby Keith being the one I most frequently would hear and wonder “who’s that?” and I began to take note that I really liked his voice. I remembered also seeing his “White Trash with Money” stuff at his Vegas restaurant 3 years before and his controversies… which I remember agreeing with him every time… I digress; a coworker really wanted to go to a show and she basically dragged me to a Kenny Chesney show in Boston. I remember complaining to my then boyfriend “why am I paying $100 to see some country music people – I don’t even like this stuff” and I stomped my feet around and was, dare I say, pissy. I went for a friend, because I’m frequently that friend you can talk into doing those “silly” things no one else will do with you… so I went. He had Sugarland, Brooks & Dunn, and others with him – 102.5 Country Fest. We tailgated, laughed, people-watched AND had a blast! I became a big Sugarland fan… Brooks & Dunn rocked the house and Kenny Chesney – well he puts on a great show though I still don’t own much of his stuff. I told my coworker “I really like that Toby Keith guy if he comes to town I’d like to go” she said “OK!” – Truthfully, I think she was just happy to have a friend to go to country shows.
We went to Toby Keith that summer… and a closet country music fan was born. I joined his fan club, just for presales - I wanted the best seats available and no risk, please, of a sell-out – hello! I still didn’t listen to country radio and I was still claiming “meh it’s ok I prefer pop”
In 2010, Joe Nichols was going to be performing at the Hard Rock Café in Boston… I somehow heard about it and went. Had the BEST time! It was sponsored by that Country 102.5 station… they were having more shows, so *gasp* I had to start listening. After all, the night I saw Joe Nichols he had James Wesley open for him – I had never heard of this James Wesley – but I really liked him. They announced David Nail was coming to the next show – who is David Nail? I felt so out of the loop. I bought his cd… listened to it non-stop til the night of his show and now I absolutely love him, 2nd only to Toby Keith. And if I am honest, I don’t think my radio has left Country 102.5 since that next day.
Enough about me… let’s talk about this site. I’ve really never blogged before, so I am sure there will be errors/typos. I’ve been social networking since before it was called “social networking.” I started with Prodigy then moved to AOL back in 1993/1994… I’m stating this because I do feel instant messaging and posting on message boards has taken away some of my grammar skills over the years, so apologize now for not always perfect punctuation.
If you choose to comment on things I write, that’s completely welcomed, but please no name calling. I’m not someone that is abrasive or confrontational and I don’t like to see it… even between others. I will remove rude/name calling type posts. I’m a person that loves harmony and happiness… sickening sometimes, but it’s me! If you wish for me to attend an event, please let me know and I will do my best to be there! I love going to shows and taking photos, so if I haven’t mentioned a specific show (or event) and you’d like me to be there… drop me a line!
I work a full time office job and this blog is mostly to give me an outlet and do something I enjoy. Hopefully, it will add some information and joy to any readers out there!
Be well & remember… life is only worth living if you are laughing, so get out there and live!
No comments:
Post a Comment