Happy Love Week, everyone! Not too long ago, I put a survey up on my IG to see which YA couple of mine you all wanted to hear from this Valentines Day and surprise!! It was too close to call between ALL of them. Rather than writing four different love stories, I decided to let Vada do the honors in a style a la Love Actually… So without further ado:
BEHIND THE MUSIC
by Vada Carsewell
Let’s be real, March 2020 feels a lot longer than eleven months ago. We’ve all lived a figurative lifetime since then. My reviews have been relegated to mostly album critiques (hello, TWO brilliant Swift efforts AND The Chicks came out of retirement?!) but I have something real special cooked up for you all this week. I had the pleasure of watching two socially distant performances and no, they weren’t from my hot boyfriend, Luke Greenly (I get those for free) (I know, you can yell at me in the comments section and maybe I’ll even read them) (Just kidding, OF COURSE I’ll read them).
First up, on Thursday night, I was treated to rare Opry performance by the reigning King and Queen of the country airwaves, Jefferson Clay Coolidge and Annie Mathers of Under the Willows. If you’ll recall, I basically lost my mind over their lock-down collaborative hit All My Time a few months back. And if you don’t recall, the sweet prose “my heart fell straight out of my chest and landed somewhere in the place where Coolidge’s whiskey tenor and Mather’s smoketastic soprano meet and have babies” was included. You’re welcome. I know y’all are here for my glorious visuals. Anyway, hearing the adorably smitten duo belt their hit as live and in person as is possible, was a literal dream come to life. Annie Mathers is my best friend and I’ll not accept otherwise. Her brand of sassifrass is contagious and her vocals make me weep. After this is all over, and I’m vaccinated up, I’m buying a pair of fringe-covered Tony Lamas and fully committing to my new lifestyle. Jefferson Clay Coolidge could sing the dictionary to me and I’d fall at his feet BUT WHEN YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER? It’s basically grounds for spontaneous combustion. The pair also covered their hits, Coattails (preach it Mathers), Some Guys Do and Better Man but it wasn’t until I heard the opening chords of You’d Be Mine, that I quite honestly turned into a blubbering fangirl. I know, I know, I’m supposed to be all cool and cynical and professionally impartial EXCEPT I dare you to hold onto that front when faced with the sunshiny pure love-vibes between Mathers and Coolidge. Listen, I don’t typically advocate for young showbiz marriages, but as far as I’m concerned, their vocals are those kinds of soul mates that meet up again and again through the centuries and bless the world with unrealistic romantic expectations.
(Not me, obviously. If a certain Greenly is reading this: ilu)
So yeah, 11/10 you should tune in this Valentine’s Day for the pre-recorded treat that is Live at the Opry featuring Coolidge and Mathers, playing on CMT at 8/9 central! Gather your favorite person, your favorite take out and your heart strings and prepare to swoon.
SPEAKING OF SWOONING, if you’re a regular reader of BTM, then you already know how obsessed I became with a certain televised talent show during lock down. American Famous hooked me in and 110%, it’s newcomer (and mask aficionado) Judah MacKenzie’s fault. Dude waltzed into the hearts and homes of bajillions of people last spring with his crooning vocals, sick new takes on old standards and lethal charm. If I had a pinch of the magic MacKenzie holds in his talented pinkie, I wouldn’t be bothering with distance college credits. Or maybe I would, because it’s the smart thing to do, but I digress (Hi, Phil. Just kidding, Phil). Judah is the full package. After his cover of Taylor’s Delicate went gangbusters on every single song downloading app, he basically danced into the final four and took home the gold. He’s since been zoom-ing (geddit?) his way onto every chart, a feat unparalleled in (say it with me, now) these unprecedented times.
This past week, he conquered a new stage: an empty auditorium. Well, nearly empty. Vacant with the notable exception with his now equally American-famous, and fellow mask icon, girlfriend Gray Archer. Wearing a star-spangled custom jacket (which, sidebar: I know I usually stick to music, but this is for charity– Ms. Archer MADE and will be auctioned this Valentine’s Day all proceeds go to Michigan Covid relief), MacKenzie first reprised his freshly remixed version of Delicate, before playing a handful of catchy original tunes and wrapping with the BEST version of Miley’s Midnight Sky I’ve ever heard. I said what I said. (Again, comment below to yell at me!)
Moving on.
Don’t sleep on Mackenzie, friends. Don’t you dare. I realize we self-proclaimed music nerds can get a bit uppity about what we consume, but it’s short-sighted and would be a DAMN SHAME in this instance. Judah is a breath of fresh air, a cool drink of water and a warm hug all rolled into one and his ear for remixing beloved hits is going to earn him all the industry gold stars and accolades in the coming years. Not to mention, his clear adoration for the philanthropic Ms. Archer gets my heart beating a little faster for what’s to come. Don’t take my word for it though! Tune in to Love Across America, this Valentine’s eve at 9/8 c on NBC to see for yourself.
So that’s what I have, friends! Go forth and comment! What are you listening to this week? What new obsession has brought you through these banana-pants times and when this is all over, *what* will be your first live show?
Peace out eagle scouts!
Vada
COMMENTS (728)
THELUKEGREENLY: What if I told you I could play “Some Guys Do” on my keyboard?
BehindTheMusic_VADA: *dies* Be right there.
The Other CULLEN: You’re going soft, Carsewell. I blame my brother.
ZACKATTACK: It’s the Valentines issue, Dearest. Go easy on them.
MEG <3: I think it’s romantic! My favorite Under the Willows hit is “You Jump, I Jump”. *sighs*
BehindTheMusic_VADA: THANK YOU, MEG.
MEG <3: But Annie Mathers only gets to be your SECOND best friend. Behind me.
PHILtoCHILL: I told you that MacKenzie kid had chops.
BehindTheMusic_VADA: Still got it, Old Man!
GRAY ARCHER: AH! Thank you so much! Here’s the link for the auction!
TheReal_JUDAHMACKENZIE: Wow. I am honored! I’m a long-time Behind the Music fan, Vada! I’ve dreamt of being featured!
BehindTheMusic_VADA: *blushes*
The Other CULLEN: DIBS! I call dibs on the sequins jacket!
ZACKATTACK: I’m sure this has nothing at all to do with your crush on Judah Mackenzie.
The Other CULLEN: *cough* Jesse Colter *cough*
ZACKATTACK: Touche.
BehindTheMusic_VADA: ???
The Other CULLEN: Zack’s taken a new interest in rodeos.
THELUKEGREENLY: GUYS. How many times do I have to tell you this is Vada’s blog! A public forum! Take it to the group chat!
The Other CULLEN: Salutes
ZACKATTACK: Sorry, Dad.
MEG <3: My comment was actually about the post, so.
BehindTheMusic_VADA: Says the aforementioned mentioned hot boyfriend while sitting two feet away from the author…
THELUKEGREENLY: Gotta go!
(DID YOU CATCH ALL THE EASTER EGGS? *wink wink*- Erin)
Order You’d Be Mine, More Than Maybe or preorder Never Saw You Coming, here!
Order the YA anthology about love during lockdown, Together, Apart!
About Never Saw You Coming, releasing September 7, 2021 from Wednesday Books:
"BOLD. IMPORTANT. BEAUTIFUL.” - Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
In Erin Hahn’s Never Saw You Coming, sometimes it takes a leap of faith to find yourself.
Raised by conservative parents, 18-year-old Meg Hennessey just found out her entire childhood was a lie. Instead of taking a gap year before college to find herself, she ends up traveling north to meet what’s left of the family she never knew existed.
While there, she meets Micah Allen, a former pastor’s kid whose dad ended up in prison, leaving Micah with his own complicated relationship about the church. The clock is ticking on Pastor Allen’s probation hearing and Micah, now 19, feels the pressure to forgive - even when he can’t possibly forget.
As Meg and Micah grow closer, they are confronted with the heavy flutterings of first love and all the complications it brings. Together, they must navigate the sometimes-painful process of cutting ties with childhood beliefs as they build toward something truer and straight from the heart.
Isn’t the cover STUNNING? So much to obsess over! Meg’s pink hair! The swoony tag line! Meg’s two piece bathing suit! Micah’s grumpy eye brows!
What I’m into these days:
Reading: I’ve recently begun reading Beverly Jenkins historical romances and WHEW!! I’m a sucker for wild west stories, but often find them to be problematic or one-sided. Jenkins’ stories are a master class in engaging casts and hella STAKES.
Listening: Basically two songs on repeat lately…
Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
It Was a Sin by The Revivalists
Eating: I’m on a health kick, but I’m treating myself to something special for Valentines Day and that is these Sweet Loren’s Gluten Free Vegan Fudgy Brownie Cookie Dough. Don’t let the (long) title fool you, THEY ARE DELICIOUS.
Watching: The Derry Girls are everything my 90’s Catholic schoolgirl heart didn’t know it needed! I laugh so hard I cry through every episode. And every night our family has been enjoying old seasons of Survivor. Jeff Probst is getting us through it!
Have a fantabulous Valentine’s/Galentines Day, friends! <3 Erin