Summertime and the music's on the way

With the installation of my car stereo in May, I've been able to listen to all the new summer releases on our local country stations, and I'm pretty impressed with a lot of the songs.

Darius Rucker's new one, "I've got nothing," is one of my favorites right now.  Who would've thought the frontman for Hootie and The Blowfish would've had so much success as a country singer?  He does, though, and he is probably one of the best transition artists I've heard in a long time (Kid Rock, take note).

As a lover of all things Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, their new duet tickles me pink.  "Remind Me" captures the beginning of a relationship, that passion that we forget when we get so comfortable around someone, or maybe that passion that you used to have with that one who got away.  Actually, Brad has a couple singles playing right now, including "Old Alabama", a duet with Alabama that really showcases his writing and musical arrangement talents.  Brad Paisley has always been so unique in his writing and guitar work, it's nice when a song of his brings that to the forefront when so many other artists are losing their signatures.

George Strait, "Here for a Good Time," album release set for the end of the year...need I say more? It's George Strait.  It's me. I actually refuse to dance with anyone at the bar when a George Strait song comes on, and tell my boyfriends that George is off limits unless they mean it (only one has EVER played me George Strait.  Ever.) I don't mess around with my King George over here. (OK, maybe I'm a little type-A about this)

"Honey Bee" by Blake Shelton and Ronnie Dunn's new singles round out the big names so far this season.  I love Blake, but something about Ronnie Dunn has always rubbed me wrong, even as a part of Brooks and Dunn.  His new singles are great for a fan though, and he definitely has the talent to have a successful solo career.

Some of the recent talent such as Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, and The Band Perry have some new singles out.  Jason Aldean's has a weird hick-rap segment in it that ruins an otherwise great song for me, Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" is being SO overplayed up here that it's getting old, and the Band Perry delivers greatly with "The Way You Lie."  Maybe it's just the fact that their first single was an extended reference to one of my favorite poems, The Lady of Shallot by Tennyson, that made me fall in love with them, but I love the lead (Kimberly) vocals: in a world dominated by high sopranos, a husky southern voice is amazingly refreshing.

And of course, with the Greeley Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days in progress and on the horizon, a lot of old favorites are coming back on the radio.  A lot of Kenny Chesney (including a wonderful new duet with Grace Potter), Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Merle, and Shania have made it a good season for country music radio so far...

Oh, and Luke Bryan's new one, "Country Girl"...country meets club like in HonkyTonk Badonkadonk (voted my anthem by my friends?) makes you want to get up on the truck and shake what you've got.  Or have an overabundance of.  http://youtu.be/7HX4SfnVlP4

And of course, the song that makes me tear up every time I hear it, Scotty McCreery, proving once again that America's Idol is a country star: http://youtu.be/IzlkfTHvBow

So maybe I haven't totally given up on love since I'm crying to this song, and to Darius Rucker's and the Paisley/Underwood duet, cursing Currington's "Love Done Gone", and sniffling to Lady A's "A Kiss Goodnight".  Yet, for the first time in my life, I can look forward 10 years and I don't see myself married.  I didn't see myself having a boyfriend.  I see me coming home to my Ziva, throwing off my office clothes and slipping into my running shoes and shorts.  I see a career and weekends given over to the Reserve.  I was never the little girl to plan out my wedding, but it's still weird not seeing that endpoint when I look at my future...and I'm strangely OK with that.

DD'ing for my over 21's for Tea's birthday at the Sundance tomorrow, and Friday night again.  Ziva and I used my George Foreman grill to have hotdogs between my work shifts today for the fourth, and ran during all the fireworks (LOVED running to that!).  Miss Ziva was such a good girl in the crowds and didn't flinch once with the explosions.  Or people whistling/yelling at the runner...or barking at Ziva, courtesy a very drunk lady.  Bite me, it's 95 out and I'm a shiftworker so I don't get to run at normal hours bucko's.

Denver-bound for Wednesday and Thursday, heading down right after I pick up Z after the Sundance so I can get her to Mom and Dad's and get me across town to my Dr. by 10am.

Quasi-ready for school to start already.  My mind needs deadlines.