Did You Have To Ruin Country Music?

"Jack and Diane" painted a picture of my life and my dreams

Suddenly this crazy world made more sense to me
Well I heard it today and I couldn't help but sing along
Cause every time I hear that song
I go back to a two ton short-bed Chevy
Drivin' my first love out to the levy
Livin' life with no sense of time

One of my favorite songs is Kenny Chesney's "I Go Back".  For those of you that aren't frequent country music fans, the song is basically about how there's songs that remind you of a certain place and time in your life.  I know I have those songs.  I'm pretty sure you do too.  Some of those memories are good, some not so much.

Like Tiny Dancer by Elton John.:  I heard this song on the way home from work today.  It made me smile.  This song reminds me of my senior year of high school.  I think about my friend Dedra, who didn't know the words to this song at all.  I remember three of us, at the Valentine's Dance, with the microphone singing "Hold Me Closer Tony Danza".  Good memories.

Or Strawberry Wine.  I remember listening to the song being 13 years old.  I was working at the concession stand at the ball park with my mom and my friend.  I had my first major brush on a guy.  He was a couple years older than I am and I probably crushed on him for 2 or more years.  When I head this song it reminds me of being young and carefree.


As Long As You Love Me by the Backstreet Boys takes me back to sleep overs with my best friend.  We would have a Backstreet Boys tape playing sometimes when we played Barbies.  We would sing their songs in parts (I'd sing Nick, she'd sing Brian).  We would watch their videos over and over again.  I'm not sure she knows, but I think of her when I hear most BSB songs (and shamefully I listen to them a lot).

Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band.  This song just makes me smile.  It makes me think about being at the beach with my friend.  Not a care in a world.  One of the best times of my life.


Not every song as a good memory attached to it though.  Some songs make me sick to my stomach.


I Love Your Love the Most by Eric Church was one of my favorite songs.  When I saw him in concert with my then boyfriend.  When the NASCAR race line came on the boyfriend's face lit up.  Now when that song comes on (or any country song about a NASCAR race) it just makes me think about him and how badly that went.


Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean is another one. Today was actually the first time in almost a year that I listened to that stupid song from beginning to end.  I went through a point where I all but broke the button to change the channel when it came on the radio.  This song was my ringtone for a boyfriend.  So naturally when that stupid songs comes on, it makes me mad.

Who Are You When I'm Not Looking by Blake Shelton.  Grrrrrrrrrrrr.....  This sappy, stupid, silly, corny, crappy song gets on my nerves a little bit.  Now, granted there was a time that I enjoyed this song.  That was when it was "our song".  Now it's just another song.  I don't like it.  Oddly enough I can still listen to the Joe Nichols version.

I love music.  I love the connection I feel to music when I hear it.  However I do not like the fact that men had to go an ruin most country music for me.


Sometimes I can't help but wonder if they hear a song on the radio and thing about me.  Secretly I hope, maybe I may have ruined a song or time for them. :)