R.A.F.T.

*I Will* Jimmy Wayne

R- Wife

A- Husband

F-Vow

T- Love


I promise that I will give up my life for you, ill give you my heart, even though you already own it. I'll do anything, I will go anywhere just for you. I look in your eyes and I see our life so full and happy.

If you ever need anyone to hold you.. I will...
If you ever need anyone to talk too.. I will...

If you ever choose to go your own way just remember that where ever you're going, whenever you turn Remember this, and remember these words..

I never want to weigh you down, if you ever feel like I am I want you to go free and just sail away, if thats ever what you need, I promise I will always love you.

Flooding in Tennessee

This picture reminds me of the song “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue, by Toby Keith. “American girls and American guys will always stand up and salute. We'll always recognize, when we see ol' glory flying.” This part of the song can really be related to this picture, it shows that no matter what pain America is going through our flag will always be there letting us know that we many people supporting us. It shows that when we see our flag fly!

Oil Reaches Louisiana

This picture reminds me of the song, “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones. The song doesn’t have to do with oil but I felt that these peoples world has been tarnished by oil, just like their world has been painted black, everything around them is gone and covered in a gross color. “I look inside myself and see my heart is black, I see my red door and must have it painted black. Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts, It's not easy facin' up when your whole world is black.”

Vietnam

This picture reminds me of the song “You Can Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac. This song comes from the movie Forest Gump which helped me to pick it for the picture. I felt it was an appropriate choice for the picture because it’s like the Americans are walking away from the hell that they have gone through. “You can go your own way, go your own way, you can call it another lonely day.” I feel like this is often how the soldiers felt after a long day of fighting, as well as long years of fighting and coming home, they felt lost and confused on how to start back up with life.

Cover Song, "Life is a Highway"

Now I bet we can all agree that the song “Life Is A Highway” is sung exceptionally well by both Tom Cochrane and the Rascal Flatts in different ways. Although Tom is the original artist it could be said by some that Rascal Flatts did an awesome job interpreting the song in a different manner. Tom is a Canadian Artist, from Canada. The song first appeared on Tom’s album “Mad Mad World” in 1991 and later hit the stands at #1 in Cochrane’s native Canada and peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1992. “Life Is A Highway” has been used in many different movies, one being “Cheaper by the Dozen”. It is an upbeat, feel good song, one that is good to listen too if you are in a bad mood or need away to get hyped up. Rascal Flatts also shows this through their own way of singing the song.

Tom Cochrane, a Canadian artist, must have had a lot of fun writing this song. It explains a lot about life and how is has its ups and downs but you really got to have fun living through it. There are many poetic devices that are used through out this song. Starting of with a simile, “I love you know like I loved you then”, this is him comparing the way he used to love to the way that he does now. There is also a good example of imagery, “Road so rough.” Another example of a poetic device would be a good example of a hyperbole, “You’re in my blood I’m not a lonely man”. This is a good example of a hyperbole because he is exaggerating the fact that someone runs through his blood, which it is obviously not possible.

The second version of this song was not changed that much throughout the music but it does sound much different. The only changes that were made were ones that were added to the ending of the song. The music/sound of the song, is much different then the original. Rascal Flatts sings the song in a more pop country sound. It is more up beat throughout the whole song where Tom’s version is really only that way during the chorus. The band was asked to sing this song for one of the Disney/Pixar movies “Cars”. This song is also a sound that has been heard on many different radio stations across the country and is enjoyed by many people that may listen to it.

As we can all agree there are many bands that create songs that can only be sung by them, while others try and take those songs and they don’t do a very good job recording it. As for this song, “Life is a Highway”, I believe Rascal Flatts did a great job “re-creating” it. It really takes a good band to take a cover song and make it into something that will not destroy the original artist’s points for the song. We can all learn through songs that have been re-sung that you really have to have great skill and a passion for music to pull off something as great as this song.

Birds Flying Over Head

Walking down the beach,
Staring at the sand,
All the shells and crabs passing by,
Birds flying over head.
I look at the bright sun shinning off the water,
The fish jumping all around,
Waves crashing everywhere,
Birds flying over head.
I pick up a sea shell and look at the colors,
a tiny crab comes crawling out,
It drops to the ground and scurries away into the water,
Birds flying over head.
In the distance a storm moves in,
Everyone runs for cover,
it states to rain,
As the final bird flies over head.

Legend and Myth in Music

#1 Robert Johnson sells his soul to the devil.

Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil? can that really happen? This is a question that many people ask when they hear his name. he is famous for this event and known around the country for it. This legend consists of a crossroad, Robert Johnson, the devil, and a guitar. According to this legend Johnson was playing his guitar at a crossroad trying to play his guitar when a large colored man walked up to him (the devil), he took the guitar out of his hands a tuned it for him. He then played a few songs for him and handed the guitar back to Johnson. This is what they say was the deal with the devil and exchange Johnson got the talent from the devil playing it and tuning it.

"Robert Johnson (musician) - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .


#2 Ozzy Osbourne's taste for doves and bats

Ozzy Osbourne's taste for doves and bats, this myth maybe true. The story comes from Ozzy's concerts when people would throw dead animals and raw meat up on the stage. One of his concerts however went a little farther than expected. This myth consists of someone throwing a live bat up on stage, the bat was stunned by the light but Ozzy picked it up and bit its head off! He was later sent to the hospital and had to be tested for rabies. The story of the dove was along the same lines. He was in a meeting with CBS records went he did this.

"Ozzy Osbourne The Rest of the Story." Dial-the-Truth Ministries a Christian Resource and Tract Ministry. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .


#3 The mythology surrounding the Abbey Road cover

On August 1969 the photo of Abbey Road was taken outside of the recording studio. The photo was taken by Iain Macmillan and the designer was Apple Records. It is said that this picture is supposed to represent the funeral of Paul McCartney; they had to have a lookalike contest to find his look alike to put into the picture. In this picture John Lennon is where white in order to represent the Church, in the eastern cultures white is the color of mourning. Ringo is dressed in black to represent the undertaker. George Harrison was dresses in work clothes to represent the gravedigger. The imitator of Paul is out of step with his eyes closed and barefoot. In some places the corpses are buried without shoes.

Polidoro, Massimo. "A Myth That Rocks: The Premature Death of Paul McCartney | LiveScience." LiveScience | Science, Technology, Health & Environmental News. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .


#4 Bob Dylan goes electric

Sunday July 25th, 1965 at Freebody Park, in New Port RI, Bob Dylan shows everone that he is going to play electric guitar. At the opening of his section of the concert he brings out an electric guitar rather than an acoustic guitar played or even lasted for only latest for about 15 minutes with no one on his side. Some say that after this much unexpected reaction Dylan left the stage crying and was very shocked. It is said that this was the first time that Bob had played electric guitar since his high school days. After this "great" event the folk scene was never the same and Bob new it was all because of him.

"Bob Dylan Goes Electric - Newsweek.com." Newsweek - National News, World News, Health, Technology, Entertainment and More... - Newsweek.com. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .



T#5 The Devil Went Down to Georgia

This song is a narrative about the devil who comes to Georgia to procure a soul. As he goes he is trying to “make a deal” but instead comes across a young fiddle player named Johnny. Johnny is minding his own business and just playing very well. The devil walked over to him and told him that he could also play the fiddle quite well. He then decided to challenge Johnny to a fiddle-playing contest that he may be more skillful then the boy. The catch however is that if Johnny wins he will get the devil’s shinny fiddle mad of gold, but if the boy looses the Devil gets his soul. As the perform Johnny wins and the devil gives up his shinny fiddle and Johnny reminds him that at any time he is welcome to come back for a rematch.

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .


#6
Albert Einstein was a very smart man; he went very far in life for what he did. Many people remember him from his crazy hair. He did most of his work in the United States. He worked a lot among the government and was also offered any positions, such as the Presidency of state in Israel.
"Albert Einstein - Biography." Nobelprize.org. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .
Paul McCartney is still alive today; he used to be one of the 4 players in the Beatles and is best known for that. Paul still has many tours around the world singing and entertaining. He is an English singer-songwriter.
PAUL McCARTNEY.COM . HOME. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .
W.C. fields was known for his great comedian acts that he would perform all around the world. He was also an actor, juggler, and writer during his time. He played in many shows and movies and had many friends that loved him, cared for him, and supported him in all that he did. He was married to a young lady named Harriet and they had a son together.
"W. C. Fields - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. .

Craig Morgan, "Love Remembers"

Craig Morgan’s song “Love Remembers” is arguably one of his top songs. This song is part of the album “That’s Why.” Craig Morgan is your “typical” country singer that has had many other great hits throughout his career. He has been named on top of the billboard over fifteen times. Craig is also a typical southerner from Tennessee; many of his songs often consist of living the good life. This particular song “Love Remembers” is however a great example of a song that has both love and loss in it. A lot of the song tells a story of a relationship after it is over, amplifying the pain that one goes through and how they never forget the memories that two people share. Craig uses many poetic devices through out the song including hyperboles, imagery and tone.
As one analyzes the song “Love Remember” many poetic devices can be picked out, like hyperboles. A hyperbole is when a statement is exaggerated for effect. Throughout the song the tone of the song and the way he uses hyperboles helps the song move along. He uses tone through the hyperboles to make the feeling sad; when the reader listens to the words of the song the tone is clearly shown. “You can forget what love was wearing, when it walked out your front door” This part of the song is a major example of a hyperbole, the reason for this is because love cant actually walk out your front door. It over exaggerates the love that he has lost, also making the tone come out by making the reader almost feel the loss.
A second example of a poetic device that one may find in this song would be imagery. Imagery is more of an opinion may of looking at something, the reader must find if for themselves and be able to picture it, one can’t be told to see something unless they really try. Imagery is supposed to be a way to make someone picture the actions that are being sung or said. “The smell of a summer day, lying in a hammock over fresh cut grass” this is a perfect example of imagery because one would picture a beautiful summer day, smelling the summer laying in a hammock. This can be easily pictured if the reader really puts their mind to it.
As one reads or listens to this song they might find different examples of many poetic devices. However, these ones may seem to be the ones that really standout. The way they are used throughout the song really brings out the feels that Craig is trying to get across. Yes, it is a sad song but it shows how one can love someone. Through his poetic devices he really gets his point across.

Josh Tuner, Why Don't We Just Dance

Josh Turner is extremely blessed with a great strong voice, the way he sings and the songs he sings really brings out his natural sounds. Over the past four years Josh Turner has written many new songs which were made up into his six consecutive twenty singles. His newest song “Why Don’t We Just Dance” is from his new album Haywire created last November. This song has been known as “the more energetic cousin” to Neal McCoy’s song “They’re Playin’ Our Song?” They are both very up beat song but Josh’s song happens to be just a bit more in this song he tries to stimulate an exciting and hyper manner.

This song is catchy and inspires people to want to get up and dance, “This little bitty living room ain’t gonna look like much/But when the lights go down and we move the couch it’s gonna be more than enough/For my two left feet and our two hearts beating/Nobody’s gonna see us go crazy/So, baby, why don’t we just dance.” His voice and the tone of it makes you want to have fun. This song is now known for being a turning point in his career because its such a nice thing to listen to it will catch peoples ear’s know matter what kind of genre of music someone would like to listen too.

Declaration

I chose the title Love & Loss in Country because country is one of my favorate genres. I felt that picking this was going to be one of the easiest subjects. All of the songs that I have looked up for the subject have been generally related to it in some kind of way. Pretty much ever single country song I have listened to has to do with love, and in some way I can get loss things out of it. I could have easily picked just love in country but I thought loss would add some kinda twist to it.