"Country Music Makes the World a Better Place"

...or so says Carrie Underwood last night after accepting her top female vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music. I agree. I love country music. I've previously posted about how my selection of music is quite broad in variety. From Jimmy Buffet to Destiny's Child, Keith Urban to T Pain, John Mayer to Tina Turner, the list goes on. Big fan of music in general. Therefore, I get really excited about music awards shows. Alas, I'm sure you read my distaste for the Grammys this year... we're not reliving that experience, but it seems to me that country music awards shows especially, never seem to disappoint. And last night was no exception.

After an awesome opening performance by Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood, I knew that the next few hours were bound to be thoroughly entertaining. And I was right. With performances by the majority of my favorites including: Lady Antebellum, Carrie, Sugarland, Reba, George Strait, and Kenny Chesney, I felt as if I couldn't be happier if I had been sitting in the MGM Vegas watching live. Okay, no doubt, I probably would've been a lot happier if I had seen it live, but the point is, it was a great show. Sugarland took home Best Duo, Carrie took home Top Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year, Rascal Flatts took home Best Group, and Brad Paisley took home Top Male Vocalist... all in all, the majority of the decisions made by the Academy, I was quite pleased with. I would've chosen Jake Owen's beautiful self over Julianne Hough for Best New Artist and I would've chosen Carrie's Carnival Ride over Taylor Swift's Fearless for Album of the Year, but I won't be picky. As I texted both IG and Roxie all throughout the show, I couldn't help but feel as if I were watching my friends perform and win awards. I can't tell you how many "Yay!" or "I hate her!" or "Really!?" text messages were sent back and forth. It was quite the enjoyable evening. I hope the rest of you had the pleasure of viewing.

I have quite the summer of concerts and weddings planned out this year. You already know all about the weddings... but, as it is my first summer working full time and not being a student on summer vacation, I have been slightly worried that it will.. well.. suck. However, I have a major concert to kick off my summer down south with IG including Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, and Miranda Lambert and another to wrap up the summer in late August with Sugarland and Keith Urban. Can we say SO excited?! Yes, yes we can. These events only added to the sentiments felt last night of watching my friends on television. Call me crazy, it's okay, it wouldn't be the first time. I probably had too much fun sitting at home watching my television on a Sunday night, yes, but I'm okay with it. It put me in a good mood to start another Monday. I'm still in a good mood on this Monday because I know it's a short week... Hope the rest of you have Good Friday off, too! If so, three and a half days til another weekend!



Note: While not a fan of either Taylor Swift or Miley Cirus and the ever-so teen dramatics that they bring along to their "country" performances, I will admit to enjoying SOME of their songs... even if I wish someone else would sing them. It really burns me, however, when the likes of the slightly talented Taylor wins out over the enormously talented Carrie. She can write songs, yes, good ones, yes, but Carrie could out sing her in a heartbeat. Just had to be said.

51st Annual Grammy Awards: Wow.

Can anyone say tragedy? Because as I sat through all three and a half hours of them (why? I'm not sure.), there were very few times when the look of utter disgust vanished from my face. No matter what your tastes in music include, most of the performances were lacking. Seriously.

Now, I'm not ready to slam the entire show. My favorite highlights include: Carrie Underwood's performace (of course) and her kickass lead chick guitarist; Sugarland and Adele's duo performance; John Mayer, BB King, Keith Urban and Buddy Guy together (Heaven.); and lastly, Jamie Fox and Ne-Yo singing Motown. Not all was lost. There were parts that I loved...

HOWEVER.

Can we please talk about the performance of a 9 month's pregnant M.I.A. with Jay-Z, Kanye, Lil Wayne and T.I. ?? Can we say CATASTROPHE? (Note: If anyone finds a picture of this disaster, please post it because I've looked and can't seem to come up with one as of yet) If you didn't see it, you need to. Just to believe it. Also, do the Jonas Brothers know that Stevie Wonder has been blind from birth? Because they danced around him throughout the entire performance like the man could see them ruining one of his most famous songs. And I recognize that there was pre-show drama that left both Chris Brown and Rihanna's performances out of the televised broadcast, but the collaboration of Justin Timberlake, Rev. Al Green, Keith Urban, and 3/4 of Boys II Men that was thrown together to kick off the show made zero sense. And I'm a big fan of all four of those artists... but together? What?

As you can plainly see, as a majority, I was disappointed. Some of the crazy collaborations were fantastic. Others... not so much. And don't get me started on Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift. 

Dear God.

If you watched, please let me know your thoughts! Tell me I'm not the only one who enjoyed what our Music Industry now calls "Music" last night! Let me know!

Side Questions: 1) Where was Beyonce?... Not only was this the first year in forever she hasn't performed, but her new husband was up for Rap Album of the Year. Hello? 2) Not really a question, as more of a statement for Island Girl: Kenny's date-- skank.

Not Used to This Life Quite Yet..

Yes, I'm a fan. A big fan of music. A big fan of country music. A big fan of local bands who are on the brink of hitting it big. A big fan of members from hit bands of my past conjoining with local bands on the brink of hitting it big. This was my night last night.

Isn't he beautiful? I think so. There were many more pictures like this one taken. Don't you worry. This is the lead singer of a not very well known, but soon to be very well known, KingBilly. I was asked yesterday afternoon to attend their show with one of my city girls who had seen them before and was also excited to see Mr. Richard Marx along with the lead singer of Vertical Horizon perform in the same show. Of course my answer was, sure, live music? Perfect.

Matt Scannell (from Vertical Horizon) took me back to a very special place in my life. The late 90s. Although in the late 90s, the Captain and Cokes that I was inhaling while listening to some old favorites were not a part of my agenda. Richard Marx also performed some of his own and some that he had written and others had made famous such as Keith Urban's "Better Life." I was more than satisfied with this show before KingBilly ever took the stage. So the picture you see above was just icing on the cake. And what a cake it was. It's so exciting to see these shows and these people you never thought you'd be less than ten feet from. Turns out, they're right in my back yard now. And. I. Love. It.

Not too shabby for a Friday night. Good entertainment was needed in order to keep me going. I'm so ready for my Christmas at home. Especially since it's about this time that I'm used to being able to head home for the holidays after exams are over. Oh winter break... Not this year, unfortunately. Although, I am blessed to have a week off at Christmas. It's not quite the month I'm used to in between semesters. Life goes on I suppose. I'm still adapting. Still not used to it just quite yet...

Concerts, Movies, Shopping, and Cocktails

Sounds like a pretty exciting weekend already, wouldn't you agree? I would. 

My boring yet, quite enjoyable Thursday off turned into quite the eventful evening after receiving a few messages from one of my new city friends who obviously knows me all too well. She claimed that she would not be attending our Thursday Night Out (2 for 1 at my favorite bar), because she had a free ticket to a concert down the road. Upon asking what concert in the area, I received a response of "Just the CMT tour this year, Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum. I really don't even know who Jason Aldean is and I know like two songs from Lady A, but it's free..."

Excuse me? Okay, maybe it's being new to this city and not exactly used to this free concert here, free concert there, who really cares who it is, let's just go because it's live music mentality, but these are people/bands I know all too well! I want to go! ... And what Classy wants, Classy gets. I ended up in the middle of the show with two fantastic friends singing along to great music. There's just something about a man of 6'3 singing southern rock/country in tight jeans and a cowboy hat. Don't judge me. 

Friday night consisted of more entertainment. As many of you probably know the new James Bond released this weekend and Mr. Perfect and myself along with five others felt the need to make a night of it. After the viewing of 007 at his finest, we then moved through the city to a local bar that I had not been to before. Two Captain and Cokes and a bottle of my favorite beer later, we headed home. I loved the movie. Some in attendance of our party did not, but then again, I also realized that my movie tastes differ so drastically from theirs, it is time to simply see movies for the first time without them, compare notes, and only then, if they have the same opinions and I'm not going to be mad by the end of their rants, will I be viewing them again in their presence. End. Of. Story. 

James was just fine for me. I recommend it if you're in the mood for your typical action packed, women throwing themselves at him, rebel with a cause trying to escape death at every turn of scene, 007 movie. 

Today is shopping day as yesterday was payday. It's difficult for me to not go on at least one shopping event after this day comes and goes. Therefore, happy weekending and wish me luck on spending money that I shouldn't!