Bueno, pues me di cuenta de no había puesto aún nada de Shania Twain. Siempre digo que es mi cantante favorita, y la verdad es que es LA cantante favorita (junto con Celine Dion), lo que pasa es que Keith y Bruce le superan, pero no son chicas En fin, y no veo día mejor que este para poneros la canción más bonita que tiene.

——– aviso, comienzo de un poco de ñoñería ——–

En fin, la ocasión especial es que hace 4 años y medio que salgo con Guille, y claro, se merece que le dedique una canción….. y hay alguna mejor que esta??

——– fin de la mini-ñoñería (así no os podéis quejar, que he avisado xD) ——–

Pues la canción, You’re Still The One,  supongo que ya la conocéis, después de “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”, yo creo que es la más conocida suya y la que, posiblemente, le hizo ganar más premios.  En USA seica la usan a veces en las bodas y demás, la verdad es que la canción cunde mucho. Sin embargo, a perdido la canción un poco de credibilidad. Básicamente la escribieron ella y su marido cuando todo el mundo decía que iban a acabar mal por la diferencia de edad que se llevaban y demás (también decían que se casaban solo por hacer paripé y porque estaba de moda casarte con tu productor-manager).  Lo de They said: “I Bet They’ll Never Make It”. Claro, ahora que se han divorciado, pues es como “te lo dije”. Pero obviando ese pequeño detalle… la canción sigue siendo preciosa.

Y bueno, como todas las canciones del disco Come On Over, tiene 2 vesiones, la original que se grabó primeramente, y una más “internacional” que se editó para cuando exportaron el álbum a Europa y demás. Yo, como no, os traigo la vesión original más country y la internacional para que veais la diferencia, aunque en este caso no es mucha, en la internacional hay menos banjo y pedal steel guitar. Se nota sobretodo en la parte que no canta sobre el minuto 2.20. (Otro día os hago un post con canciones que si cambian, que tiene bastante gracia ) Aparte de eso, de cada una, hay la versión con y sin intro (en este caso, la que tiene intro es la internacional) , la versión para la radio que es un poco más corta, y luego ya montones de remixes y mexclas.

En fin, a disfrutarla Y para hacerlo mejor, hoy con letra y traducción

Original

(When I first saw you, I saw love.  –  La primera vez que te vi, vi el amor
And the first time you touched me, I felt love.  –  Y la primera vez que me tocaste, sentí amor
And after all this time, you’re still the one I love.)   –  Y después de todo este tiempo, tú sigues siendo el único al que amo

Looks like we made it   –  Parece que lo hemos conseguido
Look how far we’ve come my baby   — Mira lo lejos que hemos llegado
We mighta took the long way   –  Quizá cogimos el camino largo
We knew we’d get there someday –  Sabíamos que llegaríamos algún día

BRIDGE:
They said, “I bet they’ll never make it”   — Dijeron: “Apuesto a que nunca lo conseguirán”
But just look at us holding on  –  Pero mira cuanto hemos aguantado
We’re still together still going strong — Seguimos aún juntos, y más fuerte si cabe

CHORUS:
(You’re still the one)  — (Sigues siendo el único)
You’re still the one I run to –   Eres el único hacia quien corro
The one that I belong to — El único a quien pertenezco
You’re the one I want for life –  Eres el único a quien quiero para toda la vida
(You’re still the one)  –  (Sigues siendo el único)
You’re still the one that I love  –  Eres el único a quien amo
The only one I dream of  — El único con quien sueño
You’re still the one I kiss good night  –  Eres el único a quien beso de busnas noches

Ain’t nothin’ better  –  No hay nada mejor
We beat the odds together  –  Fundimos las apuestas juntos
I’m glad we didn’t listen  –  Me alegro de no haber escuchado
Look at what we would be missin’  –  Mira lo que nos estaríamos perdiendo

BRIDGE

CHORUS

I’m so glad we made it   –  Estoy muy feliz de haberlo hecho
Look how far we’ve come my baby   –  Mira lo lejos que hemos llegado

E aew povo. Confira os posts mais populares da semana no CMB…

1 – Isso é Country?
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/isso-e-country/

2 – CMB Listas. Os álbuns mais vendidos da história do Country.
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/cmb-listas-os-albums-mais-vendidos-da-historia-do-country/

3 – CMB Filmes. Os Gatões, Uma Nova Balada.
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/cmb-filmes-os-gatoes-uma-nova-balada/

4 - Entertainer do Ano de Taylor Swift divide opiniões de grandes nomes.
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/entertainer-do-ano-de-taylor-swift-divide-opinioes-de-grandes-nomes/

5 - GTA San Andreas – K-Rose
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/gta-san-andreas-k-rose/

Watch Ricky Martin Superhit Hollywood English Music Video Album Song – She Bangs

by Ellen Brandt, Ph.D.

In these troubled times, readers seem to appreciate humor, the more off-the-wall the better. But they also like stories about villains, corporate and otherwise. And bad times or good, chocolate and babies sell.

While our results with the Faux Tabloid Ten experiment are based on a fairly small sampling of readers, they don’t surprise me at all. And I believe a larger sampling would yield results that were very similar.

Let’s start with the least successful headlines in the group and why they might not have attracted as many clicks as the front-runners did.

At the bottom of the pack were “Pet Hamsters May Spread Swine Flu” and “Transvestite Running For Mayor” – and readers were quick to tell us why. Both headlines, they said, were too much like what you might see in any ole newspaper, any ole day.

That’s despite the fact that the two titles fit into different categories of tabloid headlines. “Pet Hamsters” is what I call a Plausible-But-Somehow-Off headline. It seems reasonable on first glance, but is based on a glaring logical flaw, in this case, the sound-association of “hamsters” and “ham.”

“Pet Hamster” was rejected, though, not because it was “off,” but because readers have been inundated with swine flu stories lately, to the extent that they will only click on a title that is way more shocking – or perhaps humorous – than this one is. In the county where I live, for instance, some high schools have been temporarily closed because of suspected swine flu cases, which means this topic is the hardest of hard news, immediate and local.

But Rene suggests a way the topic could be made sufficiently humorous to persuade her to click: “I’d rather see . . . College Son’s Laundry Source of Swine Flu,” says the New Jersey mom and editor.

Readers thought “Transvestite Running For Mayor” was just too ho-hum, too. It falls into the Big Statement category of tabloid headlines, those based on news that might be true but is shocking to a portion of the population.

In this case, maybe not all that shocking anymore. One reader, an insurance broker from California, wrote me privately that in the Golden State, there are possibly dozens of transvestite politicians. Although he may be exaggerating, there are probably at least a few. On the other hand, a revelation about an existing Mayor or Congressperson discovered to be something the voters didn’t think he/she was would probably be not only clickable, but the lead story at every media outlet in town! I could come up with examples – “Michael Is Michelle!” - but I don’t wish to be sued until the Blog-Off is over.

Scoring slightly better in our reader poll – with results somewhere in the middle range – were “Are You a Cheetah Or a Crocodile?,” “Swimming Pool Features Underwater Computer,” “Women Want Men Who Smell Like Fresh Peaches,” and “7 Out of 10 Blog In the Nude.”

Interestingly enough, three of these titles have a behavioral – some would call it psycho-babble – slant, popular not only in the tabloids, but in many other kinds of consumer publications. So these are familiar kinds of headlines, with which most readers are comfortable.

“Are You a Cheetah or a Crocodile?” falls into the well-liked Idiotic Quiz subcategory, part of the greater What-the-Heck-Is-That-All-About? category. If you’re human, you probably love such quizzes and are happy to take them – and some of our readers did, imagining their own quiz to correspond to the headline. Michigan writer Rowena, for instance, told us that “It pains me to say so, but I think I’m a crocodile. I lurk . . . patient, tenacious . . . I might even be a bottom dweller.”

But Art, a healthcare executive from Tennessee, wondered if this one might be more than a mere quiz. “I think this is an adjunct to the reality show for bankers and lawyers,” he told us.

“Women Like Men Who Smell Like Fresh Peaches” and “7 Out of 10 Blog in the Nude” are not only both Big Statement titles, they both fit into the very popular Strange Research subcategory. Like Idiotic Quizzes, titles like these are familiar to anyone who has ever read a newspaper or magazine, not to mention the average scholarly journal, and our readers jumped right in.

Re the fruit: Scott, an architect from northern California, confessed, “If I had some fresh peaches and wanted a romantic night, I would definitely read this one.” Ann, a business coach from Missouri, said, “I like peaches, and I like men, but maybe not together.” While Jamie, a designer from Florida, remarked, perhaps too revealingly, that “I love that my husband smells like cinnamon after a shower!”

Re the naked people: One anonymous respondent said he’d “like to blog in the nude, but it might upset my co-workers.” Cheryl, a Texas entrepreneur, thinks someone should form a new Linked In or Twitter group called the Buff Bloggers, which might be well-received, particularly among fitness-oriented writers.

“Swimming Pool Features Underwater Computer,” which falls into the Plausible-But-Somehow-Off category, may have gotten only about 1/5 as many page views as the top-clicked title, but it got the second-highest number of comments of any of the ten headlines, about 1-in-10, a terrific ratio of interactive responses for an Internet-based page.

This is the classic “double-take” headline, which sounds fabulous until you think about it. One Californian said, tongue-in-cheek but bathing suit-clad, “I’m very interested in not only working from home but working from my pool, so an underwater computer is exactly what I’m looking for.” Lawyer Michael from Florida mused, “What’s so funny about that? Sometimes I’m in the Jacuzzi, connected to my office by two different computers, with an I-phone on one side, non-alcoholic beer on the other, HD-exterior TV mounted in front and a music system giving me good sounds.” Sounds like my kind of guy! But New York marketing guru Cindy, again meshing two of the titles, asked, “Will there also be crocodiles in the swimming pool? That could make focusing on the computer challenging.”

Murder, Sex, Sushi, and Bankers: The Top Four

Neck and neck for third and fourth place in our Clickability poll were the headlines “Thailand Swallowed By Giant Clam” and “New Reality Show to Feature Laid-Off Bankers, Lawyers.” While only about half as popular as the Number Two headline, “Kinky Sex, Chocolate Truffles, Adorable Puppies,” these two had quite a few adherents, especially, for some reason, among Southerners and Ivy Leaguers, not to mention Southern Ivy Leaguers.

“Thailand Swallowed By Giant Clam” is the kind of Purely Ridiculous headline one of my former clients, the Weekly World News, used to specialize in, and commentators on both the blog and at the Linked In Groups got into the spirit of things. Alabamian Butch quipped that “I thought it was a lobster.” Several others had the same idea, saying they heard it wasn’t Thailand, but Laos or Malaysia or maybe Indonesia. But one of my sorority sisters believed it was Thailand, commented on her happy days working in that country, and commiserated with former friends and colleagues who had to relocate because of the Evil Mollusk.

Talk about Evil – or at least currently unloved – various readers said they can’t wait to see an actual contest between Wall Street Bankers and Wall Street Lawyers, which would move our “New Reality Show” headline from the Plausible-But-Off to the Big Statement category. Mr. Burnett, are you listening?

One said, “This is a reality show I might actually watch. Winner gets their job back, but has to pay 50% of salary and overpaid bonus to losers.” But Art said, “One group will be made up of timid souls laid-off because they were too conservative . . . They will never get out of the starting gate. The other team will be the group that was so aggressive, they either burst the bubble or got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Good luck getting this group to form a team!”

Neither clams nor laid-off executives can compete with decadence and baby animals, of course. Such has it ever been, and such shall it ever be. “Kinky Sex, Chocolate Truffles, Adorable Puppies,” our number two-clicked headline, also succeeds because it falls into the What-the-Heck-is-That-All-About? category, which lures you in, because it could fit a wide range of possible topics. Dashing Breeder of Siberian Huskies absconds to Belgium with Ingenue Judge he met at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. Well – could be.

Kim, a physician from Florida, liked the headline trio, but thinks we should have added in a good champagne. Sherry, a publicist from Massachusetts, was OK on the kinky sex and candy, but Adorable Puppies “took the imagination, for me, down a slippery slope to a dark place.” Wow, Sherry! You should get in touch with Jeff, a sports producer from New York, who joked that he “prefer(s) barnyard animals, a midget, and a taser.”

Personally, I am a sucker for baby animals and am prone to click on any story that features them. When the German magazine Der Spiegel was running their never-ending daily series about Knut, the mega-adorable baby polar bear, I visited their on-line site nearly every day to Ooh and Ah over baby pics of the white, furry cutie-pie.

But even babies and chocolates couldn’t compete with Dire Foul Play – at least in our little survey. The number one Faux Headline by far was “Corpse Found in Internet Guru’s Gym Locker,” which received over ten times as many eager clicks as the lowest-ranking headline.

This is clearly an example of a Big Statement tabloid headline, based on material that is actual news, but shocking or intriguing to many viewers. Just as I understand the impulse to seek out stories about baby animals, I empathize totally with the impulse to click on stories about Love Triangles Turned Tragic, Postal Workers Going Berserk, Cowboys Fighting Indians, and Corpses Found in Gym Lockers. In other words, Blood, Gore, Fury, and Passion appeal to me – and to many, many other readers.

Jan, an executive trainer from Arizona, thinks “a corpse in a gym locker would get a click from just about anyone.” But the fact that an Internet Guru was a principal in this (faux) saga seemed to attract people even more – although some seemed to hope the Guru might be the Corpse, instead of a possible Murderer. As a viewer from one of the Linked In groups said, “Those Internet guys are so full of themselves, he probably got what he deserved.”

Others were intrigued by the locker side of the equation. “How does one get a locker big enough to hold a body?” asked Ann Lia, a healthcare executive from Washington, D.C., whose fitness club must be stingy with their space. But Bob, a marketing manager from Florida, took it one step further, into the realm of political favoritism. “Who in the Administration,” he complained, “did the Guru know to get a gym locker that big?”

As these responses show, the vast majority of readers found our Faux Tabloid Headline project both useful and amusing, encouraging them not only to click, but to get creative themselves with some delightful – or downright hilarious – comments.

There were a handful of dissenters – none on the site itself, but some who posted at Linked In groups. A couple of them were the garden-variety crazies you seem to find all over the Internet today, and whom I intend to write about in a future blog.

Others were thoughtful – although to my mind, dead wrong – dissenters. Their essential argument is that there’s Serious Journalism way over heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere and Tabloid Journalism way over theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere, and Never the Twain Shall Meet – a conclusion which the famous Twain – Mark – would have disagreed with vehemently. (Probably Shania, too.)

If this opinion were ever true – and I doubt it – it is certainly not true in the creative flux and cacophony of voices which mark the Brave New World of Internet Journalism right now.

The best-written, most thoroughly-researched and intelligently-reasoned article or blog may not get the audience it deserves just because it’s there. That audience often has to be brought to it, to find out it exists.

By Fair Means or Foul Play – like a Corpse in an Internet Guru’s Gym Locker – it is a legitimate exercise to seek out readers and bring them into your authorial fold.

Part Four of this series will suggest some topics for further discussion. Please comment. Your cacophonous voice is important, too!

For Part Four, New Reality Show to Feature Laid-Off Bankers, Lawyers, please click on: http://wp.me/pycK6-2o

To return to “Corpses, Mollusks, and Kinky Sex-How I Won the Blog-Off,” go to: http://wp.me/pycK6-2s

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity (Eccl 5:10, ESV).”

One of my favorite songs by Shania Twain is “Ka Ching”.

It is very well written, and would make a great sermon just being read aloud.  The video and lyrics follow — enjoy!  Oh, and be careful on Black Friday!

“Ka-Ching”

We live in a greedy little world–
that teaches every little boy and girl
To earn as much as they can possibly–
then turn around and
Spend it foolishly
We’ve created us a credit card mess
We spend the money that we don’t possess
Our religion is to go and blow it all
So it’s shoppin’ every Sunday at the mall

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Chorus:]
Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
It’s such a beautiful thing–Ka-ching!
Lots of diamond rings
The happiness it brings
You’ll live like a king
With lots of money and things

When you’re broke go and get a loan
Take out another mortgage on your home
Consolidate so you can afford
To go and spend some more when
you get bored

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Repeat Chorus]

Let’s swing
Dig deeper in your pocket
Oh, yeah, ha
Come on I know you’ve got it
Dig deeper in your wallet
Oh

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Repeat Chorus]

Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
You’ll live like a king
With lots of money and things
Ka-ching!

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/

The international men’s magazine Maxim has come out with its list of the hottest women in country music, as voted on by the readers of Maxim and Maxim.com.  In no particular order, some of the women who made the list include Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Gretchen Wilson, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Karen and Kimberly of Little Big Town, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Miranda Lambert.  You can see the complete list by clicking here.  (This is not a nude publication, but it is risqué, so use caution if you decide to click the link.  Some of the photos on the site may be a little provocative if you’re at work or the kids are around.)

Lyric and chord
shania twain-
You’re still the oneSpoken:
When I first saw you
I saw love
And the first time
You touched me
I felt love,
And after all this time
You’re still the one
I loveIntro: F Am Bb C
F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Am
Looks like we made it

to download this file,
please click link below.
16.Shania twain–You’re still The One

Shania Twain’s rep has shot down reports that the country star is dating Billy Joel.

According to the National Enquirer, Twain and Joel enjoyed a string of top secret dates, suggesting that they’re an item.

However, Twain’’s rep has dismissed the reports, insisting, “the story is not true”, reports Contactmusic.

Twain has been romantically linked to Frederic Thiebaud since splitting from her husband Robert “Mutt” Lange last year.

Joel, on the other hand, has been introducing Deborah Dampiere as his girlfriend since breaking up with wife Katie Lee recently.

The following was shared with me recently and I wanted to share it with all of you as well:

Why Can’t I Own a Canadian?

October 2002

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It’s funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? – Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted fan,
Jim

I hope my friend doesn’t mind but for literary sake, I’ll refer to him as “Bill”—which is not anything close to his real name but shorter than “my friend”.

So Bill, thanks for sharing this.  I found it amusing to start with.  You see, it shows the shallowness of some Christian thinking and I agree in part with the subtle point Jim is making in this letter.  Whether the letter is real or not, the point is still valid in some ways.  Christians do a good job of picking out or picking on one or two points in the Bible.  It becomes a banner under which a Crusade is fought.  Not cool.

According to some accounts, there are 613 Jewish laws or Mitzvot.  And for some reason, Christians pick 10 of them—no, 11—no 12 of them to hold up today as standards.  There are the Ten Commandments that most have heard of and few can recite.  Then there’s the one pastors love about tithing—and they say it’s not about the money.  And then there’s the one about homosexuality.  The other 601 simply don’t matter anymore to the Christian.  And that’s how we get to Jim’s letter.

So why can’t I own a Canadian?  I was going to be first in line for Shania Twain.  I’d settle for Alanis Morrisette but either way, my wife would have a problem with it.  Besides, there’s that 9th commandment.  Oh well.  Who needs to own anyone anyway!

Back to the point:

Jim, the problem with Dr Laura’s position and your assertions is that the Law is not understood and taken in context.  These laws were not given to the world, but rather to the Jews as a nation.  These were to be their laws within the borders of the land which God gave them.  He never told Moses to go enforce these laws for the Egyptians or Babylonians, but these laws prescribed how the Jew should act or behave if traveling in those lands or in dealing with those people.  These are not laws that necessarily transfer to other countries, peoples, lands, etc.

The laws give us insight into God’s character though and tell us what he finds acceptable and pleasing.  If one chooses to love God and to serve him—if ones focus is to please God—how better to do so than to understand how he feels about human interactions.

Some laws were ceremonial, others had to do with righteousness, while other laws have to do with health and hygiene.  Regarding the latter, there were laws regarding touching dead things, dealing with mold and mildew, and eating certain foods.  Relative to today’s food hygiene standards, I doubt many of us would want to have eaten shellfish or pork back then anyway.   And would we have E.Coli outbreaks today if we followed kosher guidelines for slaughtering an animal?

Lives would be more peaceful and healthy if we followed the ancient guidelines but today, we know better.  We risk eating shellfish and even then, raw!  We eat meat with the blood still in it (rare) and wonder at our health problems.  We have relationships with people at inappropriate times and in inappropriate ways and struggle to stop AIDS and STDs.  Indeed, there are people engaging in acts with animals—and society worries about getting H1N1 from eating pork???  What are they getting transmitted sexually???

I don’t accept that these laws apply to Christians today unless one chooses to live under them.  Not sure why they would.  However, knowing and doing what is right based on these laws is another thing.

In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourself.  And he challenges us to change our thinking as to who that neighbor is.  He tells us to do to others as we would have them do to us.  Paul tells us to consider others better than ourselves, or rather, do not think of ourselves as being better than others.

Frankly, if we do these things, what commandments do we need?  Do we need to be told not to murder?  Who would we hate to the point of murder if we loved our neighbor as ourself?

As for the homosexuality issue, if God says something is an abomination, then that’s what He says.  Not me.  But I’m in no position to contradict him.  One of my best friends EVER is gay and I care about him and love him.  Do I agree with some of his actions or choices?  No.  Do I accept him?  Yes.  So let’s consider this:  I have heterosexual friends where I can say the same things—some of their actions and choices I disagree with also.  And if you knew me better, you would probably disagree with some of my actions and choices.

But this friend of mine—the gay one, not “Bill”—is also a Christian.  Is he headed to Hell because of his lifestyle?  I don’t think so.  You see, even if I thought so, I cannot pronounce judgment on him and I have no idea what his relationship with God is.  I stand in judgment over no-one.  Based on what scripture tells me, I believe he is saved and will be with Christ one day. 

But based on what scripture says, I also have to believe that his lifestyle is not in keeping with God’s perfect plan for humanity.

A few more points:

The Bible teaches that if we break one law, we break them all.  No sin is better or worse than another.

The Bible says that ALL have sinned and fall short.  That’s why Jesus came.

The Bible says that Jesus died for “whomsoever would believe would be saved”.

And the Bible teaches that for the Christian, there is no condemnation, but it also teaches that we are no longer under the Law.

MORE:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/drlaura.asp

http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/WhyCantIOwnACanadian_10-02.html

http://cavmom.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/why-cant-i-own-a-canadian/

#187 – Shania Twain – “That Don’t Impress Me Much” – (1997)

Come On Over might as well be Shania Twain’s greatest hits album. “Man! I Feel Like A Woman,” “Honey I’m Home,” “Come On Over,” “You’re Still The One,” “From This Moment On;” these were all good, solid cross-over hits for Shania. I pick “That Don’t Impress Me Much” because it’s the one I remember hearing most often back when it could be heard on the radio.

Garth Brooks

If an alien came to earth inquiring about country music and they watched the Country Music Association Awards, what would they report back?  If this production told them everything they needed to know about country music – what would they gather?  They could learn a lot by looking at the Entertainer of the Year category.

They might start by reviewing the list of entertainers that have been crowned Entertainer of the Year for the last 42 years:

Eddy Arnold

1967 Eddy Arnold

1968 Glen Campbell

1969 Johnny Cash

1970 Merle Haggard

1971 Charley Pride

1972 Loretta Lynn

1973 Roy Clark

Barbara Mandrell

1974 Charlie Rich

1975 John Denver

1976 Mel Tillis

1977 Ronnie Milsap

1978 Dolly Parton

1979 Willie Nelson

1980, ‘81 Barbara Mandrell

Alabama

1982,  ‘83, ‘84 Alabama

1985 Ricky Skaggs

1986 Reba McEntire

1987, ‘88 Hank Williams, Jr.

1989, ‘90 George Strait

1991, ‘92, ‘97, ‘98 Garth Brooks

1993, ‘94 Vince Gill

1995, ‘02, ‘03 Alan Jackson

1996 Brooks & Dunn

Kenny Chesney

1999 Shania Twain

2000 Dixie Chicks

2001 Tim McGraw

2004, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08 Kenny Chesney

2005 Keith Urban

Looking at sheer numbers, 6 out of the 28 recipients have been female. Maybe men are at the top because women drop out for their family.  If this title is driven by tour sales and popularity, that could mean that women are the major consumers, thus pushing men to the top.  If these people have been successful, one has to come to the conclusion that it has something to do with money.  Country music must be about raking in the dough and seeing who can make the biggest profit at the end of the year, right?

After some investigation one would find the actual roots of country music.  It all seems to have started in the Southern United States as an outpouring of the people who enjoyed traditional folk, Celtic, and gospel music.  Compare this beginning to the award shows of today and what is found to be entertaining seems to have evolved a great deal.  The genres of folk, Celtic, and gospel are woven throughout but not strongly represented.  Today the top performers seem to mimic rock more than folk.  If it isn’t money and sounding like traditional country – what makes someone Entertainer of the Year?

To answer this you have to investigate the term entertainer. “Culture relates to objects and is a phenomenon of the world; entertainment relates to people and is a phenomenon of life,” Hannah Arendt.  The performers we see on stage and listen to on our ipods relate to us.  They say and do things we need to hear.  This being the case, the Entertainer of the Year must be able to relate the most with his or her fans.  They need to be able to move the feet and touch the heart of their listeners.  While this may very well relate to higher tour sales, the greatest entertainers don’t seem to be in it for the money.  The ones that last the longest tend to be in the music industry for the love of music and how it moves the listening world.

Along with being relate-able, an artist needs to provide agreeable occupation for the mind; diversion; amusement (or so says dictionary.com).  Words like pleasure, diversion, and amusement accompany entertainment.  So of course the winner of entertainer should be able to do those things while performing their music live or on the cd/mp3.  Musical taste is always subjective – you can’t please everyone.  But the artists in the category ofEntertainer of the Year tried their darnedest to!

Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks currently hold the most titles for Entertainer of the Year with four titles each.

• Kenny – 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 17 of which reached Number One
• Garth – 11/5/07 named the best selling solo artist in US history, surpassing Presley (but still #2 after the Beatles) after audited sales of 123 million were announced.

Kenny is on the ballot for this year and if he wins, he will have the most awards as Entertainer of the Year.  These two men in particular have definitely covered all the categories of what makes you qualified to be Entertainer of the Year. Between soaring tour sales, multiple number one hits, and a highly devoted fan base they continue to keep crowds on their feet and in line for their music.  Garth has actually been noted for conducting a twenty-three hour marathon signing autographs at an unannounced visit to Fan Fair in 1996. Anyone that does that is dedicated to his craft and the people that make a musical life possible.

Until those aliens come to investigate the deeper meaning of what it takes to be an entertainer in the Country Music Business – we will continue to learn from those that have come before us.  Taking notes from past award winners gives us insight into what it takes to be successful in this industry.

Tune in to the 43rd Annual CMA Awards tomorrow night to see musical history in the making.  Weigh in with your votes here on the Nashville Music Buzz… who do YOU think should win???

Começar assim: tenho minhas dúvidas sobre o que Emile vai achar desse post

Completando um ano nos charts, Fearless da cantora Taylor Swift provavelmente terminará a década de uma forma memorável. O álbum ficou 11 semanas não consecutivas no topo do Billboard hot 200, teve a maior estréia feminina do ano de 2008 nos EUA e sua estonteante longevidade garantiu, num mercado fonográfico físico cada dia mais reduzido, a marca de 5x Platina nos Estados Unidos, e, sem demonstrar cansaço, pulou de 7 para 3 no Billboard hot 200 em sua 52 semana com o lançamento da Platinum Edition!

Ok, critérios a se observar: Fearless foi composto por uma menina de 18 anos, na esteira do seu quase homemaid debut, que foi lançado quando a garota tinha 16 anos e ainda continua no hot 200 a mais de 150 semanas, embora Fearless tenha sido lançado com bem mais orçamento por trás. A música em Fearless é tão country quanto o cd Up! Red de Shania Twain (pra qm não sabe, Red era o pop mix das faixas, o Green sendo o country e o Blue world music (?)). Por fim, há o fator mídia, já que a garota está na boca do povo após o incidente no VMA (no fim das contas, responsável apenas por um dos melhores internet memes of all time).

Então como falar sobre esse álbum? Primeiramente com os fatos: a garota, assim como no debut, participou da composição ou, mais costumeiramente, compôs absolutamente todas as faixas do álbum. E se ela conseguiu carta branca pra driblar o estrangulamento artístico comum dentro da música pop e praticamente incontornável para novas caras, isso se deve ao fato de a Big Machine ser uma gravadora independente de Nashville, já que a RCA tentou um contrato quando Taylor tinha 15 anos, mas teve a proposta recusada. Compondo com violão e guitarra, influenciada por artistas do quinhão de Dixie Chicks e Shania Twain, Taylor tem a seu lado a juventude. Sim, pois graças a essa característica Taylor manchou as fronteiras do country e bluegrass com o teen pop, fator que suas influências forçaram pouco a barra, mantendo a atenção no mercado adulto mesmo (embora Shania tenha feito avanços sensacionais com seu Up!). Em faixas como Breathe e Love Story isso é mais que claro, com mandolins e violinos trabalhando a serviço da sonoridade na extrutura estrofe-ponte-refrão mas tendo seus momentos instrumentais iluminados em pontos específicos, deixando os vocais a serviço destes. Claro que tudo fica tão radiofônico que a necessidade de um pop edit para Love Story foi quase um tiro no pé, e a facilidade de chamar essa música de pop rendeu críticas prematuras de quem julgou diretamente como lixo redneck para adolescentes.

Fato é que Fearless é um enorme guilty pleasure sim! Da primeira à última faixa a menina mostrou um talento para composições de fácil assimilação que, lapidado, poderia soterrar essa década e meia de produções pop vindas de laboratórios suecos (estou olhando pra você, Max Martin), sem deixar de trazer a tona um preciosimo nas suas composições que não é apenas raro no nicho pop da música, famoso pelo descuido e preguiça. Sua voz, claro, ainda tem o que desenvolver, mas não é irritante como a das suas parceiras de idade (que aparentemente foram promovidas a cantoras num processo, não mais recente, onde fazer parte do cast da Disney torna alguém cantor profissional). Não é um álbum estupendo, mas consegue se destacar por méritos que vão além dos gritos de “Ela é linda/estilosa/insira-aqui-seu-adjetivo-não-relacionado-à-música” que surge como defesa desse tipo de produto por sua fan-base, por vezes midiática. Taylor não tem um grande arsenal, mas tem um arsenal interessante e já demonstrou saber quais notas quer atingir.

Isso fica ainda mais claro com as 6 novas faixas da sua Platinum Edition, que por sinal iniciam o álbum. Levemente indulgente e de atmosfera mais carregada que as faixas originais no total, há uma mensagem sutil (até demais) por trás das novas faixas: crescimento. E se toda a leva de artistas teens tá em constante desenvolvimento dessa mensagem, a diferença aqui é que Taylor está por trás da sua. E agora ela dá comandos (“Cause I’mma stay through it all/So jump, then fall”) enquanto navega por uma gama maior de instrumentos que antes, monstrando mais confiança em sua voz mas a mesma vulnerabilidade nas letras e sem tirar o pé do mix de pop rock/country/bluegrass que tem conquistado audiências diversas. Taylor tem toda uma mídia agora prestanto atenção em si depois de dois anos sendo a artista que mais vende álbuns nos EUA, mas já vão 4 anos de carreira em 19 anos de vida. Façam a matemática e poderão entender que para a moça é bastante, e a impaciência com o correto reconhecimento de sua obra borbulha sutil pelos instrumentais rendidos ao orquestral por vezes over e pelas interpretações ligeiramente viciadas por Dolly Parton-ismos. Pra quem gosta deve ter os seus encantos, mas o sacrifício da naturalidade suave do Fearless original por 5 faixas seguidas (o novo single Jump Then Fall contém a mesma atmosfera que consagrou a versão original) custou um pouco. Não é um constraste entre melhor ou pior, apenas um contraste de óticas que as músicas sugerem, e essas 6 novas faixas talvez fizessem bem melhor num outro lançamento ou até mesmo em outras ordens dentro do Fearless, mas da forma como foi lançado ficou um pequeno embate, com uma primeira metade engordada e uma segunda metade cansada.

Para quem já conhece o trabalho da moça, essa Platinum Edition deve agradar, já que sem sair da assinatura da moça aponta para novidades sonoras interessantes que podem render, enfim, trabalhos diferentes dos ingênuos trabalhos já criados pela loirinha. Mas para quem não conhece, infelizmente, essa Platinum Edition pode se tornar cansativa e arrogante no total, sendo realmente salva pela deliciosa faixa nova Jump Then Fall, que sem dúvida alguma é uma faixa de começo de álbum, com um vocal bem estudado e pequenos detalhes que deixam tudo mais leve (escutem aquele violino no refrão pra entender o que estou dizendo), com o pedido da guria pra se lançar no álbum vindo com tanta docilidade que resistir é inútil e pelo resgate do feeling original do ábum ao chegar em Fearless, que sozinha com seu refrão grudento, do flerte com as produções Dixie Chick-ianas que mesclavam rock ao bluegrass (lembrando bastante o clima do fantástico álbum Fly) e letra banal, mas com boas escolhas de imagética considerando o público alvo, é fresquinha, enérgica e justificadamente a faixa título de um dos álbuns mais bem sucedidos dos últimos anos.

Notas:

Fearless: 7.5

Fearless Platinum Edition: 5

Faixas novas: 6

Fearless 2008 (senha: minte)

Faixas novas (senha: minte)

John and I spent most of yesterday cleaning house and pulling out each others hair (what little either of us have).  What will become the child’s bedroom was once an office and room for where the dogs stayed in their carrier when we weren’t at home.  We had already moved the dogs out a few weeks ago.  Yes, that’s right, even our dogs are having to adjust!

John packed up most of the clutter he had accumulated, tidied up his desk (tidied is a very friendly way of putting it), and unloaded his book cases and moved them out to make room for a dresser we’ll eventually buy for our kid.  His desk will stay in the room for our kid to use too.  I love saying “our kid,” can’t you tell?

Meanwhile, I tackled the basement, a task that just needed to be done despite our basement being unfinished and not really a living space we use. I began by plugging up my old CD player and putting in some Shania Twain.  Never gave much thought to Shania before outside of hearing her on the radio, but lately I’ve been in the mood to hear her.  And wouldn’t you know it, John had all of her CD’s which he pulled off his bookshelf and gave to me.

I wish I had taken a before and after picture of the basement.  Over the years, we had accumulated a lot of large furniture which we weren’t using in the house but didn’t want to get rid of either when we bought the house.  So, those surfaces had become “catch alls” in the basement for paint, vases, cleaning stuff, tools, half burnt candles, and empty boxes. I began by opening a window and tossing boxes and plastic containers outside onto the driveway which could be recycled.  I then brought in one of our empty trash cans from outside.  It didn’t stay empty for long. I unloaded a buffet table and a closet at the bottom of the stairs which we had used for miscellaneous storage. Dusting and vacuuming commenced!

Meanwhile, Shania sings…..”Man, I feel like a woman…”

John brought down his two bookcases for me to use as storage for paint, cleaning supplies, and tools.  I reorganized the closet. John joined me and began tackling the bulk storage in the basement and dividing it into trash, yard sale, donation, recyclables, and stuff to stay in storage. I soon took over the reorganization of the storage part.  Yes, it’s all just boxes of stuff but somehow restacking them into a new and neater configuration made me feel better.

Shania says…”That don’t impress me much….”

John scrubbed the basement floor while I took out the trash.  Both of our trash receptacles and the recycling container are now full, by the way, and we still have empty boxes and stuff to throw out. John then vacuumed the rafters and dusted off the hot water heater and air unit. BUT…after all is said and done our basement is so clean and tidy (and I do mean tidy this time) that you could sleep down there.

On top of all of this, John also reorganized his closet in our bedroom.  We bought some large plastic containers to store blankets and sheets in which we have now moved to the basement.  My main clothes closet is in the spare bedroom, so I’ll be giving up my closet eventually.  By then, I hope to utilize more of the basement space by possibly having some closets built in and get the basement on its way to be a finished living space in the process.

While John was killing dusty bunnies in the basement, I had to reorganize the book shelf in our dining room to make space for John’s books. Now, for those of you who know me, you know what kind of task this can be.  I love books!  I have lots of them!  Not nearly as many as I had when John and I first met though.  I’ve parted with many of them over the years, but still have quite a collection. Having to give up one single book shelf for John’s books was not a task I wanted to tackle, but I did and the books are now shelved two deep on three shelves.

Overall it was a rough day but well worth it when you look at everything we accomplished.  I was exhausted, and still angry, and overcome with emotion in general so I crashed and went to bed at about 8:30pm. But after all is said and done, I look back at why we are doing this, and despite any words John and I say to each other out of anger, it’s still so worth it when I think about “our kid” who will be living with us by this time next year.

Shania says….”(John) You’re still the one I love….”

Today we have some light vacuuming throughout the rest of the house to do and some dusting, but I think we are ready overall for today’s first home assessment at 4pm. On Saturday, we bought the fire extinguisher that is required, a carbon monoxide detector, and another smoke detector. I can’t help but wonder what the social worker will find that we’ve missed though.  Oh well, wish us luck!

As a friend said to me in an email, “It’s funny, you have to do all this stuff to adopt a child, but you don’t have to do a damn thing to prove your sane and worthy to give birth to one. Seems backwards doesn’t it?”

So true! But in the end, when I think about “our kid”…

Shania says….”I give my hand to you with all my heart. Can’t wait to live my life with you, can’t wait to start . You and I will never be apart. My dreams came true because of you.”

I’ve been to a lot of great country shows: Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, McBride, Trailer Choir, Keith Urban, Shania Twain and a WHOLE LOT MORE! I’ve been to a ton of shows at the Rodeo Club in San Jose, put on by local country station 95.3 KRTY.

But this year’s show with Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne has to rank up there near the top. I first saw Brad Paisley live at the KZLA Country Bash in Irvine, California, back in 2001 about a month after the terrorist attacks on America.

Back then, Paisley was still an up and coming talent. Today, he is one of the best in the industry.

The night started off with a short set by Jimmy Wayne. Too bad it was only 6 songs because I’m pretty sure that this guy is going to be huge. He has a stage presence that puts him at a much higher level than his billing and its shows as he plays the crowd during his entire set. After the show, I got the chance to meet him. He was really nice and took the time to sit and talk for a minute with each person during the meet and greet. The photo can be found below.

Jimmy Wayne and I

Here’s the set list:

Cowboys and Angels

Stay Gone

Kerosene Kid

Trespassin’

Smile Sara

Do You Believe Me Now

Next on the bill was one of my favorites, Dierks Bentley. For most concerts, Dierks Bentley would be a headliner and he proved it during his set which include most of my favorites (how could you leave off my all-time favorite “Tryin’ to Stop Your Leavin’”). There was so much about his set that I loved. “Sideways” is a great song to start with because it really gets the crowd going. Others such as “How Am I Doin’”, “What Was I Thinkin’” and “Feel That Fire” were crowd favorites.

Great music, great voice and, like Wayne, Bentley really played the audience. I love the way that he was able to mix in his standard party songs with his great ballads and he never lost touch with his emotion. This is clearly demonstrated in each song he performed during his one hour set.

I’ll admit, I would have loved a little longer set but you can’t complain when you get nine of his best! I think if he had been the headliner, the set list would have included a few additional songs. The crowd was really into the set but I really enjoyed when he took the time to slow down a bit for “My Last Name”. Very emotional and showed his softer side.

Dierks Bentley

Here’s the set list:

Sideways

Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do

How Am I Doin’

Settle For A Slowdown

Come a Little Closer

My Last Name

Feel That Fire

What Was I Thinkin’

Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

About 9:20, it was time for the main event of the evening: Brad Paisley. Paisley is an entertainer at heart and really knows how to put on a show. Multiple times during the show, he thanked the audience for coming out to show, knowing that we are in difficult economic times and still paid to see the performers that night. Yes, the show’s are pretty expensive, but I’ll continue to pay to see my favorite artists live.

Paisley played all of his hits and the audience was eating out of his hands from the opening number “Start a Band” (minus Keith Urban of course). It was a great mix of old songs, and new. Ballads and rockers. And of course, lots of guitar solos. Paisley is an incredible guitarist who demonstrates his talent throughout.

Brad Paisley

I loved the videos that played on the screen in the background throughout the show. Good stuff! Loved the parodies and everything. It really made the songs come to life even more.

“Welcome to the Future”, Paisley’s latest hit was the opening song of a three song encore. This song has fast become my favorite song that Paisley has ever performed. Not only does it have a great beat and just makes you want to turn up the radio when it comes on, it has a great message of hope and making you realize that the future is here, now!

During the encore, Paisley brought Wayne and Bentley back out for a great rendition of “Alcohol” which capped the night! , a great cover of Don Henley’s classic “Boys of Summer” was the final song of the evening, but seeing these three talented musicians on stage together was a real thrill, and a perfect song!

If you ever get the chance to check out Brad Paisley (and Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne) live, I suggest you do! It’s definitely a 5 star show!

If I can get some video of the show up, I’ll be sure to do so! You can always check out my Facebook page which has the videos there.

Paisley and Bentley

Here’s the set list:

Start a Band

American Saturday Night 

Mud On The Tires

Wrapped Around

Celebrity

Waitin’ on a Woman

Water

Feel Like Makin’ Love (Bad Company Cover)

I’m Still a Guy

Catch All the Fish / I’m Gonna Miss Her

She’s Everything

The World

Letter to Me

When I Get Where I’m Going

Ticks

Online

Then

Encore:

Welcome to the Future

Alcohol 

Boys of Summer (Don Henley Cover)

Essa música é linda, e é cantada por cantora renomadas como Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Carole King. Show de Bola.

Acesse a Comunidade Universal:

www.comunidadeuniversal.com.br

Ta aí povo…Os posts mais populares dessa semana no CMB:

1 – CMB Listas: Os álbuns mais vendidos da história do Country. (terceira semana no topo): http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/cmb-listas-os-albums-mais-vendidos-da-historia-do-country/

2 – Isso é Country? (Gloriana) (terceira semana em segundo)
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/isso-e-country/

3 – Especial CMA Awards
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/especial-cma-awards/

4 – Lançamento Hoje! (Brooks and Dunn)
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/lancamento-hoje/

5 – Ouça rádio Country ao vivo!
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/ouca-radios-country-ao-vivo/

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Veja oque bombou no CMB essa semana!

1 -  CMB Listas: Os álbuns mais vendidos da história do Country (segunda semana no topo):
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/cmb-listas-os-albums-mais-vendidos-da-historia-do-country/

2 – Isso é Country? Com Gloriana. (segunda semana em segundo. o.O)
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/isso-e-country/ 

3 – Garth Brooks de Volta?
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/garth-brooks-de-volta/

4 – Novo álbum de Shania Twain?
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/novo-album-da-shania-twain/

5 – GTA San Andreas – K Rose
http://countrymusicbrasil.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/gta-san-andreas-k-rose/

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