El compositor y guitarrista Joe South escribió la canción que hoy enfrentamos con sus versiones. Puede que su nombre no os diga nada, pero antes de escribirla, ya había compuesto para Gene Vincent, y más tarde ganó varios Grammys gracias a su espléndido y exitoso Games people play, versioneado después por multitud de artistas, desde Dolly Parton a Inner Circle, pasando por Johnny Cash & Lulu y Jerry Lee Lewis entre otros.

Joe South también fue músico de sesión de Aretha Franklin en su magnífico y premiado Chain of Fools y de Bob Dylan en el mítico disco Blonde On Blonde. Aunque él mismo se encargó de interpretarla como podemos ver en el video, (I never promised you a) Rose Garden se convirtió en un gran éxito pero no en la voz de su autor como veremos más adelante.

En 1970 la cantante Lynn Anderson fue la artífice de que se convirtiera en la canción más vendida por una artista country femenina y que este récord durase hasta 1997. Si hoy se recuerda a Lynn es fundamentalmente por esta versión (y viceversa) ya que no pudo igualar su repercusión ni en ventas ni en posiciones en las listas de éxitos, a pesar de tener una carrera extensa y fructífera.

El grupo donostiarra Duncan Dhu hizo una adaptación de la mano de Diego Vasallo a la que titularon Jardín de Rosas, que junto a Cien Gaviotas, Esos Ojos Negros y No Puedo Evitar (pensar en ti) conformaron un segundo disco Canciones (1986) que les llevó a vender cantidades indecentes de discos y a iniciar una carrera con un éxito que no les abandonaría hasta el final. Abajo tal como la grabaron aunque a lo largo de las siguientes giras la tocarían de forma más rockera y acelerada.

“Joshua” is a melodious name; a strong name; a name that in all forms—in its entirety and in abridgements—does not suggest, imply, echo, or rhyme with any colloquial or clinical term for genitalia.  The name’s resultant popularity is evident.  In 2008 alone, 18,924 boys were christened “Joshua.”  In comparison, 22,272 boys were named “Michael”—the year’s most popular name—but only 196 babies were dubbed “Cornelius” (rank: 998th most popular).

Though zero American presidents and only 41 NFL players have borne the name, “Joshua” appears unstoppable.  In the 120 years that the Social Security Administration has tracked the names of infants, “Joshua” has never fallen below the rank of 729th most popular name.  This historic low occurred in 1929, a year in which the otherwise-preoccupied nation fell back on old stand-bys like “John” (4.7033% of births) and lazy descriptors (“Guy”; 0.0740%).  There are “Joshua” trees (Yucca brevifolia), a Dolly Parton album named “Joshua” (RCA, 1971), and even a “Joshua,” Texas (population: 5,574).  “Joshuas” have been Nobel Prize laureates, as well as honorees in People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” competition.  Jesus of Nazareth himself was a “Joshua”—“Jesus” being a transliteration of the Greek, from the Hebrew “Yehoshua.”  Since 1953 the popularity of “Joshua” as a boy’s name has increased exponentially; by mathematical extrapolation, in the year 2547, 78.255% of the male population of the United States will be named “Joshua.”

Perhaps, millennia hence, when every baby, publication, and artificial intelligence created is named “Joshua,” our civilization will gradually forget all other words.  “Joshua” will become our entire vocabulary: both noun and verb, article and preposition, adjective and adverb.  “Joshua” will be the woman we love, the hovercraft we fly to work, and the loneliness we feel, late at night, surrounded by insensate holograms.  We will turn to one another and say, arms outstretched, “Joshua joshuas joshuaed? Joshua?  Joshua.”

-Sara Joy Culver

Abrams Falls

Appalachian Trail


Cades Cove

Clingmans Dome

Dolly Parton Sings at Park’s 75th Anniversary Rededication Ceremony

Explore the Wonders of Cataloochee Valley

Hike to Mount LeConte


Laurel Falls


LeConte Lodge

Mingus Mill


Ramsey Cascades


Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail


Traveling Newfound Gap Road

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A thought occurred to me today when I was gazing out of the kitchen window waiting for the kettle to boil and, of course, for a big wedge of cash to fall from the sky.
Why do I pay all this money to be stressed, poor and ultimately approximately £25,000 in debt?
It’s not for the social aspect, surely? I have met about 4 or 5 people through uni who are worth staying in contact with after I graduate. That’s if I graduate.
I don’t live on campus, I live with my parents so… it isn’t for the ‘experience’. Although I think living with my parents at the age of 21 does contribute somewhat to my stress-levels.
The 6 months that I actually spent living in a house with half a dozen girls sent me in to a deep depression which solely conduced me into dropping out of second year.
It took 3 weeks of living in the Middle East that Summer to make me realise how lucky I am to be able to wear shorts and t-shirts, let alone receive Higher Education and consider heading back the following September.

I should spend almost 10 hours a week learning but the rest of the time I usually just worry about implementing what I’ve learnt into something useful. However, during those 10 hours, I’m fully aware of steely eyes boring in to me and hellish glances that survey my every move and choice of clothing.
Why do I bother? I have grey hair and a twitch in my eye already. Who knows what I’ll be like when/if I ever get out alive with a degree.

Yesterday was a wholly bon day though. Those gruesome twins were voted out of the X-Factor thanks to Danni Minogue who, I shouldn’t say this but, is gradually catching up with Cheryl Cole on my scale of likability.
I also won an essential auction on eBay which I was sure would solve all of the world’s problems. Now I’m just worried about integrating the item in to my wardrobe.
Before you say anything, yes I have just been moaning about money issues but, you see, I am due a very small but very final paycheque from my former employer. And I would like it known that I don’t want their money. Therefore, the eBay item will forever be remembered for that reason.
It’s like exorcism by eBay.

Somebody told me this yesterday – “Life is just a series of peaks and troughs. And you don’t know whether you’re in a trough until you’re climbing out, or on a peak until you’re coming down. And that’s it you know, you never know what’s round the corner. But it’s all good. ‘If you want the rainbow, you’ve gotta put up with the rain.’ Do you know which “philosopher” said that? Dolly Parton.”
Granted, it was followed by, “And people say she’s just a big pair of tits.” But it’s still poignant.
And yes, I know it’s a quote from The Office, but it’s stuck in my mind since yesterday. And you know what? Dolly’s right. I’ve just been in a trough. Maybe I’m climbing out.

Pessoal, hoje começa um novo especial no CMB. Vídeos antigos, classicos, das lendas do country, reunidos aqui. Para começar, temos 7 dos maiores nomes na história da música country em 2 vídeos. Confira:

1 – Os participantes desse vídeo dispensam apresentações. Falam por si só. As 3 maiores lendas vivas do country, JUNTOS em um Medley de seus clássicos!

Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton e Kenny Rogers no especial televisivo “Kenny, Dolly, & Willie: Something Inside So Strong“  em 1989:

2 – Nesse segundo vídeo, 4 das maiores cantoras country de todos os tempos, no especial “Reba Starting Over” de 1995.

Martina McBride, Linda Davis, Trisha Yearwood e Reba McEntire cantando On My Own:

E aew povo! O CMB Listas de hoje chega com a parte romantica da música country. Veja os 10 melhores duetos romanticos!

Clint e Lisa Black

10 – It´s Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

9 – To All The Girls I´ve Loved Before - Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias

8 – In Another Eyes – Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood

7 – Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man - Loretta Lynn & Conay Twitty

6 –  The Heart Won´t Lie – Reba McEntire & Vince Gill

5 – Love Can Build a Bridge - The Judds

4 – Golden Ring - George Jones & Tammy Wiynette

3 – Fron This Moment On - Shania Twain & Bryan White

2 – Islands in the Stream - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

1 – When i Said i Do – Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black

Quando eles disseram “Aceito”, era 1991. Sete anos depois, Clint e Lisa levaram esse musical de namorados ao topo dos Charts. E não muito tempo depois, o casal deu as boas vindas a uma filha…Fica com eles, o casal Black, o topo dessa lista.

Lista Retirada do The Boot: http://www.theboot.com/2009/02/11/best-country-love-duets-no-10/

Who is whom?? The similarity between Katy Perry and Dolly Parton’s dress sense is uncanny. Actually, even their make up bears resemblance too – both leaning towards the ‘heavier’ side. I guess more is more in their cases. At least they are both great singers!

Can you imagine Dolly in that Victor & Rolf dress??!

Waithera, my long lost friend. Haven’t seen you for years, since we left secondary school. What a surprise it was, to bump into you last weekend, and what a pleasure it was to have you join us for Sunday lunch. You were good company – it was nice of us to catch up on the days gone by, and my man was mesmerized by your intelligence. Oh, cheeky girl, still the same ol’ you. Appears we have all grown from the little girls we were, me with my man and child and you with your career and good looks. How do you make it to still look eighteen ten years on? Your even light complexion and long straight hair that makes many mistake you for an Ethiopian, shapely legs with not a single stretch and a well rounded African bossom… You need to share the secret with me, girl.
However, I didn’t realise that you and my man had exchanged numbers and, despite your busy schedule, you did manage to spare some time for lunch with him. He did mention it, though you asked him not to. You told him you wanted ‘manly’ advice on afew life’s issues, though by the end of your lunch there was nothing of importance you discussed. And now you want to meet him again tomorrow, in my absence, if he could. Waithera, I appreciate that you find my man’s company worthy of your valued time, and not many women are able to resist his charming smile, but I do hope I mentioned that he is my man, and I hope he reminds you the same thing (well, I did hear him tell you on phone this morning that it would be better for you to meet him tomorrow in my presence, a request which you turned down).
Waithera, I admit hands down that you have got the looks, your beauty is beyond comparison, your voice is like that of a nightangle and your smile is brighter than the rising sun and I cannot compete with you. I am begging you, that you please don’t take my man. You are all he talked about yesterday, he called out your name in his sleep, and now I can’t stop crying when I think of it. With your kind of looks and brains, you can have any man you want, so why go for mine yet he is all I have got. Waithera, I can see that he has charmed you, but please don’t take my man. He is all I have got, so please don’t take him just because you can. I beg of you, Waithera, for old times sake.
(Adopted from Dolly Parton’s song, Jolene. Love that piece of work!!)

 Dolly: Live From London by Dolly Parton

2009 (15 tracks, 1:00:45)

country

I read something today that just made me smile…. Singer Dolly Parton decided to voice her opinion on the subject of one particular homophobic pastor in Houston Texas…. The singer had this to say when asked about the homophobe:

‘I don’t want to talk about him,” she said with a laugh. “I think God made us who we are and how we are, and I don’t think if [Osteen] was a religious person, he would be judging people.”

Very well put Miss Parton….And we all know her legacy will go on much longer then Pastor whoever over in Houston spreading hate!Make sure you read the ENTIRE article. Its worth reading and it makes you happy to be gay

Click HERE

Dolly Parton is a hugely successful and prolific songwriter, having written over 3,000 songs.

Dierks Bentley revelou recentemente planos para lançar um album inteiro em bluegrass no próximo ano durante seu tempo “fora da estrada”. E para não desapontar seus fãs, Dierks também lançará um album country em seu estilo tradicional.

“Nashville é meu lar, eu estou aqui á 15 anos, vivendo em meio ao bluegrass e muitos compositores e artistas desse estilo.” Explicou Dierks ao The Boot. “Todos os meus álbuns possuem uma musica Bluegrass (ex, Last Call do Fell That Fire) então não é nenhuma surpresa meu interesse em um album inteiro desse tipo. È uma coisa legal pra mim.”

Pra quem não sabe, bluegrass é  um estilo de country mais antigo, mais tradicional…Vários artistas como Willie Nelson e Dolly Parton já gravaram álbuns em Bluegrass.

Fonte: UrbanCountryBlog

Yes it is because I like it!!
The other day on the radio, I heard the ad for Kenny Rogers and my immediate reaction was I want to go to that…which is remarkable becasue I am generally too lazy to go to concerts…I’d rather buy the cd and listen at home! Anyway, to further discourage me, I was unable to convince anyone to go along with me…it would appear Country Music isn’t cool??!! Well, I missed that memo. See, I like all sorts of music-Afrobeat/R n B, blues, jazz, pop, and country does have a soft spot in my heart. I remember I used to like to listen to them becasue they always seemed to be telling a story…some of my favourite include:Coat of many colours, coward of the county, Gambler, I believe in you…these all bring back some memories…
While we are talking about concerts, Anyone going to Whitney? Was talking about her album with a pal and I have not heard the full thing but every song on it is really good I am told…
On another note,lights go on on Grafton street today and the Brown Thomas window display is revealed…l love going around the shops this time of year just to see their christmas displays. Will take a few pics over the next while…hoping to replace my trusty old phone first as the pics from my current one are not great as seen in previous posts.

Mondoo and I like each other very much, so you may have been surprised to read about our differences on candy corn and vampires.  Worry not though, these things (surprisingly) do not get in the way of our friendship, so also do not despair over the recently uncovered disagreement between us on country music.  Almost all of my feelings on country music fall under the “Love” category.  Maybe it’s because I grew up here where country music is kind of a big deal, but I love cheesy new country (Carrie Underwood, Jo Dee Messina) and classic old country (Jerry Jeff Walker, Lucinda Williams) and even new old country (Freakwater, the Everybodyfields).   I also think cowboy boots are really cute.  I do not own a pair but I hope to someday.

Two things today brought about this urge to express my love for country.  The second one was a Drive By Truckers concert I went to with my dad tonight.  We sat in box seats (a first for me) like Statler and Waldorf looking disapprovingly over all the mightily bearded fans with my dad reminiscing about all the cool concerts he went to when back when he had long hair and fought The Man.  The show was fantastic and it reignited my appreciation for southern rock.

The first thing was an interview with Dolly Parton in the OK Magazine that magically appeared on my coffee table this morning.  During the show tonight I was thinking about that interview and all the other things I’ve heard and read about Dolly that make me love her and I came up with a pretty good list.  Here is that list.

-       She gets her acrylic painted on the outside and inside of her nails to make them like guitar picks.  How hardcore is that?

-       When she was little her parents use to point to the town floozy and call her “trash,” but Dolly Parton thought all that makeup and sassiness was so fabulous that she though “trash” was a good thing and went around telling people she wanted to be trash.

-       She says “It costs a lot to look this cheap.”

-       She sneaks her dog into Motel 6.

-       Dollywood is the largest employer in Tennessee.

-       9 to 5, I Will Always Love You, and Jolene are great songs, and she writes her own stuff.

-       9 to 5: a great movie too.

-       Dolly the Sheep was named after her.

-       She gives a ton of her money away for causes like child literacy and saving bald eagles

-       She once tried to polish the toenails of her statue.

Razor X over at My Kind Of Country often provides a vehicle for the, um, ill-educated to gain some insight into the more traditional facets of country music. I will admit that while living amongst the Taylor Swift’s and Carrie Underwood’s of the world, it is often rather effortless to get caught up in the whirlwind of modern pop country. Because of this, it often feels like a constant struggle to delve further into the endless foundations of the genre itself.

Obviously my interest in the history of country music is enough to spur on twelve months of self induced academic discontent. With that said, I felt it rather fitting to provide my rather limiter readership with some minor insight into what is the driving force behind this.

This video is a prime example, though she is not necessarily what I credit as the  ‘foundation’ of country music, Miss Dolly Parton is darned sure a major contributing factor.

Dolly Parton – Coat of many colors

Dolly Parton has published a little video encouraging us to use Internet Explorer 8.

Despite not knowing “a gigabyte from a snake bite”, she enthuses about IE8’s web slices feature. (OK as a Firefox user, I had to Google to find out what web slices do. Apparently IE8 will notify you when a site you visit often has updated. RSS anyone?) I wondered why MS would have someone who, by their own admission, is clueless about computers promote Internet Explorer, but when I thought about it a little more, it made complete sense.

You know, I’d have thought that someone who likes, um, enhancements as much as Dolly does, would have preferred the customizable Firefox browser!

File under bizarre.