When we were young, my wife and I listened to a lot of what was then current country music. Now she doesn’t often stretch her vocal cords in public these days, not under usual circumstances, anyway. I could tell you a story of a karaoke joint in Tokyo, late one evening when we’d had more than a few drinks, but if I told you, she’d shoot me. Even so, my wife still has a great singing voice, in a kind of smoky, Janis Joplin sort of way – even though she never smoked.
Back in those days, on road trips, while doing housework with the stereo on, or any other time we had music playing, she often sang along. She still does, but in those first few years of our marriage, we went in for a lot of inexpensive entertainment, like playing music on the stereo. My wife had some country songbirds she favored, and the six songs that follow I remember as some of her favorites. And, in all honesty, if I played them today, she’d probably still sing along.
Here, then, in no particular order, are some of her favorites.
Miranda Lambert – New Strings (2005): This is a fun song, off of Miranda Lambert’s first studio album. It’s touching, a tale of a girl spreading her wings, heading out on her own, with nothing but a guitar – and a brand-new set of strings. I’m not sure how autobiographical it is, but I’d be a bit surprised if it wasn’t partly inspired by her own life.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With Five Great Outlaw Country Songs
Faith Hill – This Kiss (1998): Another fun song, with joy and romance. Faith Hill was good at these kinds of songs. It’s a love song, but upbeat, happy, and best of all, you can let your kids listen to it without worry. We did; our oldest was 16 when this song was released, and our youngest, a toddler. We played this and a lot of Faith’s other songs around them with no worries, and the kids loved to hear Mom sing.
Shania Twain – That Don’t Impress Me Much (1998): Shania is, of course, Canadian, but given her personification of Heinlein’s Law of Least Action, in which Shania combines beauty and talent, I think we can overlook her Canadian status.My wife always assured me she wasn’t singing about me when she joined Shania on this one. I’m pretty sure she was telling the truth.
Read More: Start Your Weekend Right With Four Great Canadian Acts You've Never Heard of - and One You Have
Tanya Tucker – Two Sparrows in a Hurricane (2005): Tanya started early in music, and this is one of her very best songs. It’s a story of a lifetime of love, and a young couple that just keeps on beating the odds, loving each other, and living their lives. That refrain: “The world says they’ll never make it, but love says they will,” well, that’s just wonderful.
Deana Carter – Strawberry Wine (1996): Now this one had some more suggestive tones, but only mildly so. It’s mostly a song about coming of age, of a first love, and how we all outgrow these first steps, but never forget them.Sarah Evans – Perfect (2003): Sarah Evans has a voice in a million. She can sing mellow songs, or, as in the case of this one, she can really belt it out. This song came out the year I started my old consulting business, and our family was on the “peanut butter and ramen” plan while I built my business from the ground up. That spell didn’t last long, but we stuck it out together, knowing that, like Sarah sings, it didn’t have to be perfect.Now, a bonus: This isn’t really a country song, more of a smoky southern rock tune, but this was and is my wife’s very favorite; she can’t resist the urge to let fly the voice trained by singing in a choir as a child and strengthened by eight years in the Army. This one, she really sings her heart out, and I love to hear it, even after all these years.Alannah Myles – Black Velvet (1989)
Oh, and remember what I said in the beginning, about her still singing along? I tried it out, playing these over the last evening or two while she was making supper. She still sang along.So, over to you, readers. Do you have any great sing-alongs? The comments, once more, are all yours!
