Because I don't detest cheap sentiment,

unlike my beloved Margo Channing, I recommend to you the wonderfully maudlin video for "Teardrops on My Guitar," a new song by Taylor Swift, an 18-year-old country music singer. Taylor's love interest in the video is Tyler Hicks, another young singer-songwriter.

Study question: Who's prettier, Taylor or Tyler?

Taylor Swift: Teardrops on My Guitar [YouTube]

Comments

[Blogonaut]

This is going back way before your time, but in the lat 80's I went through what could be euphemistically described as a “blue period”. (Hint: a divorce and a lot of alcohol were involved.)

My musical tastes are pretty eclectic anyway, but I fancy myself to be pretty urbane, and I nevertheless discovered some amazing country music.

Now I will admit that the cute little beauty Taylor Swift has a sweet voice and spins out a compelling adolescent angst (and who in the affected group with ever forget what that felt like), but I am talking about hellacious life has kicked me when I am down then run a semi-truck over my body, hand me the razor blades it hurts so much soul wrenching country music.

We all know Riba McIntyre now as a TV personality, but her first album in the 80’s was achingly soulful, mournful, sad and cathartic. I drove the neighbors crazy (I am sure) night after night, but like all Korean people they feared lawyers and never said a word. Even with the Bose amplifier on “8” for sustained periods.

Form there I progressed to George Jones, OMG, (‘She stopped loving her today’; I’m not ready yet’), to Kris Kristofferson (‘Sunday morning coming down’), and other rip your soul out and put it back in country greats.

And you know what?

It helped me survive.

If you find yourself in that frame of mind, you could always sample the REAL country pathos on Napster or iTunes.

WARNING: You may have to attain a BA of at least .11 and be prone to depressive rumination to fully appreciate this musical genre.

[Blogonaut]

PS:

I just went back and listened to it again:

New Fool At An Old Game, Reba McEntire.

Wow.