In the cutthroat music industry, a member leaving a band can often serve as the nail in the coffin to the whole group’s career. Critics, executives, even fans begin to doubt the staying power of a band that’s down a member—no matter how many hit singles or awards the group has. But, then there’s the band that proves everyone wrong, and this time, it’s Gloriana.
Rachael Reinhart and brothers Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin were blindsided last July when then-band member Cheyenne Kimball abruptly announced via Twitter that she was leaving the group.
“Fans, I’m no longer going to be a part of Gloriana. It’s been a great 4 years and thank you for all of ur support. See u soon,” Kimball posted July 9 of last year.
The news came after the original foursome had already recorded a significant portion of their sophomore album, A Thousand Miles Left Behind. In fact, the band sent the music video for the album’s lead-off single, “Wanna Take You Home,” to country music video stations shortly before the announcement. You can watch the music video featuring Kimball here:
“We were saddened and hurt. Bands are like relationships between two people, there are trials and tribulations along the way and you do your best to live and make music together and that’s what we were doing,” Tom Gossin told Nashville newspaper, The Tennessean, shortly after the incident. “It feels almost like being left at the altar.”
However difficult the change might have been for the group, Tom maintained that Gloriana wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “The main thing this means is that Gloriana is now three people who are absolutely committed to the band,” he said.
A year later, Gloriana is back and better than ever. Their latest single, “(Kissed You) Goodnight,” has climbed the chart since its February release and currently peaks at #3 on Billboard’s Country charts. The group’s long-awaited album, which had to be entirely rerecorded sans Kimball, hits shelves today. Now that this tumultuous chapter in the band’s four-year history seems—appropriately enough—A Thousand Miles Left Behind, Gloriana can’t wait to share a more intimate look into their lives with you.
So, how will Gloriana’s album fare when compared to the success of their latest single? Check out my track-by-track breakdown of the new album:
1. “Gold Rush” – The theme of abandoning one’s roots in pursuit of fame is somewhat exhausted, but this track’s down-home harmonics, which made their self-titled 2009 album so successful, are refreshing.
2. “Sunset Lovin’” – It has all the romantic appeal of the band’s first hit, “Wild at Heart,” set to just a little bit slower beat.
3. “Wanna Take You Home” – One sexy line-dance song, it definitely has staying power and the capability of being a strong country hit, but it never really got its chance since it was released shortly after Cheyenne Kimball’s departure from the band. The only song off of the record to have been released prior to her departure, Kimball’s absence isn’t all that noticeable in the rerecording.
4. “(Kissed You) Goodnight” – For a song with such a simple melody, it sure knows how to pull at your heart strings—every last one of them. Give it one listen (it should be playing on your radio again in, oh, about five minutes) and just admit it: You’re hooked.
5. “Carolina Rose” – An ode to Tom’s fiancé, the instrumentals are very stripped down, but the sentiments behind this song are anything but. Very beautiful.
6. “Go On…Miss Me” – An anthem for every girl who knows that-boy-who-gone-done-did-her-wrong will be sorry one day for his stupid mistakes.
7. “Can’t Shake You” – A favorite off the album for me—then again, I’m a sucker for any heart-drenched song in which a male artist and a female artist respond to one another (a la Lady Antebellum, Thompson Square…) This needs to be a single…now.
8. “Soldier Song” – While this song is a very patriotic, which I always love to see, it’s predominately lackluster until the bridge. The song ends on a clever note, however, with an allusion to purple mountains and amber grains with the sound of a military drum roll cast behind it.
9. “Turn My World Around” – An autobiographical account of Mike’s struggles to make it as a musician, the song is very strong lyrically. Rachael’s vocals, while on key, did not have as much emotion to them as they could have.
10. “Doin’ It Our Way” – Rachael, who co-wrote the song, told Billboard.com that she wanted the song to encapsulate the freedom and fun of being a young adult. With its fun guitar riffs and chanting, I’d imagine this song to be a crowd favorite, ideal for a live audience.
11. “Where My Heart Belongs” – Rachael describes this song as being one of the most personal for her on the album, and it definitely shows. She holds strong vocal authority over the song but also allows herself to become very vulnerable, particularly during the chorus. Her longing to go back to her simpler childhood days rings very clear for anyone who has ever been a child. So, everyone.
My apologies for my long absence. I am in the clutches of my second semester of sophomore year, arguably the busiest and most challenging of my semesters here at Carolina. When I haven’t been studying, working at one of my two part-time jobs or volunteering, I—well—that’s pretty much all I have been doing. As much as I enjoy my time here, I am looking forward to all the simple pleasures and exciting adventures summer will offer a month from now. I am ready to get back to leisurely writing and crossing things off my bucket list.
Given my sporadic nature of my blog posts, here is a gallery of pictures I took during spring break in Florida to tide you over until next time. Enjoy!
I feel like anyone who has ever known me for at least five minutes could pick up on my deep love for films that feature some small town girl (most likely some ambitious journalist who later finds love in the most unlikely of places) navigating her way through the Big Apple. Grant it, the story lines all begin to run together after a while, yet I never get tired of them because I someday want to be that girl.
You’d think that with such a deep fascination with NYC, I would’ve already made a point to visit this city. I’ve been to Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC–heck Alaska–but never to New York. I really can’t say what’s delayed my visit to The Capital of the World, but I am not going to lie when I say the syrupy anti-North rhetoric that exists south of the Mason-Dixon had me a little scared. My mom, who grew up in a town where the number of cows outnumbers the number of humans and where the Sweet Corn Festival is considered the premier social function every year, was once guilty of saying that New York is the place where you go to “get peed on, yelled at, and then mugged.” She made her first trip up there this fall and actually really enjoyed it.
While grabbing the usual Monday lunch with Jocelyn Burney and crew at UNC, I mentioned in passing how I wished to be there in person to witness the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve (#10 on the bucket list!). It was then that Jocelyn, proud New Jerseyan and lover of all that is Bruce Springsteen and authentic diner food, said “Okay, come visit me. I’ll show you around the city, and we’ll have a great time.” Gotta love that girl–so straightforward and always down for adventure. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse…so I booked my flight.
Prior to my trip into the city, I got familiarize myself with what locals colloquially refer to as the “Dirty Jerz”. While there, I learned several life lessons:
1) Going 70 mph in a posted 45 is not only acceptable but encouraged.
Otherwise, you might get run over. And die.
2) Do not ask to change the radio station to one that plays country music.
They don’t exist.
3) Disco fries (fries covered in beef gravy and slices of American cheese)
sound disgusting but are actually delicious.
4) Pizzerias in the South claim they make pizzas. They lie.
5) Do not try to pump your own gas. You will be yelled at and fined.
6) Authentic cannolis are God’s gift to earth.
Prior to departing for New York City, I received a series of mixed (and very humorous) thoughts on what my first trip to the city would be like. Some told me I would die–apparently my bubbly personality could not survive in a city many Southerners deem as an unfriendly. Others claimed that The City That Never Sleeps is the very essence of my being: crazy, ambitious, and unique. Jocelyn even commented that the second I took to the streets, I would scream “I’m here!” in sheer delight, prompting many New Yorkers peg me immediately as a newbie. I always thought that my first time in NYC would be somewhat reminiscent of that of the loveable, gullible Buddy the Elf (sans the whole picking-gum-off-city-railings thing).
Dec 31 quickly arrived, and I couldn’t have been any more excited. Jocelyn, Ashlynn, Alex, and I all woke up early to take a train into the city from Jersey. And, just like all my favorite NYC-based Rom-Coms, my first-ever day in the city had more than just a few humorous moments–the first one occurring before I even stepped foot in the city. You know how that aspiring journalist girl helplessly falls flat on her face just as a movie’s plot begins to thicken? Well, I think I took that part of the plot a little too literally in my own adventures. Shortly after we got of the train at Penn Station and as we were making our way up the steps onto 7th avenue, I tripped on the very last step and fell face first on the street of NYC. My first glimpse of the Empire City was the ground. Solid. I think that whole incident was just a friendly reminder that I, in fact, did not know what I was doing. At all.
After that comical mishap and without a New York minute to spare, we made our way to the Museum of Modern Art to cross off a very important bucket list item: #89 See Van Gogh’s ”Starry Night” Painting in person. If I could conceptualize God’s love and protection and paint it on a canvas, it would look like this. Of course, my painting would not actually resemble a masterpiece at all–or even be worthy enough to be put up on the fridge. Seeing this painting in person was a spiritual experience. The colors are unimaginably rich, and Van Gogh’s intricate brush strokes serve as great proof as to how long he must have ruminated over this piece while painting it. It sent chills up my spine.
The remainder of our few hours at MoMA was spent looking at masterpieces created by the likes of Picasso and Kahlo and trying to make sense of some of the more abstract pieces in the building. It was delightful.
I wish we could’ve spent more time at the MoMA, but mid-afternoon was approaching, and we had to start making our way to Times Square. However, what’s a trip to NYC during the holidays without a trip to Rockefeller Center?! Despite being seasoned city slickers, Jocelyn, Alex, and Ashlynn humored my tourist-y whims by taking me to see the tree and landmark ice skating rink. The line to go ice skating was incredibly long, so that’ll just have to be something I do during my next winter visit to the city! Not going to lie–I thought it’d always be cute to be proposed at Rockefeller Center (again with the walking clichés–I know, I know).
It was after that when we headed to Così and fueled up on delicious wraps and melts in preparation for the long evening ahead. Prior to leaving the café, we all went to the bathroom for the last time in 2011. That’s right. You can’t go to the bathroom once your in Times Square due to security restrictions. Severe bladder pain? Leggo. We took bottles of water, one for each of us, and then made our way to the Mecca of unabashed advertising and all that’s glitzy.
Despite having no navegational knowledge of the city, or in general for that matter, it wasn’t hard for me to figure out how to get to Times Square - I just had to follow the thousands of people heading in the same direction! I was so giddy – it was ridiculous. So giddy, in fact, I may have skipped and ran in the streets, and it was beautiful, and I was enchanted.
When we finally made it to Times Square at 3 PM, we were quickly packed in like sardines. I mean, you could’ve let your knees buckle out from underneath you, but you still wouldn’t have fallen because there were so many bodys around to hold you up. I couldn’t move my arms. That hour we were standing there before the police broke up the group into sections was probably the most difficult. I personally found it hilarious. It was just like mosh pit…with one million people in it. I was actually hot in that crowd. The weather was very mild that entire day, but not knowing what to expect, I wore so many layers of clothing that it was quite toasty.
Once we finally got a little breathing room (well, enough breathing room to move our arms 90 degrees), the fun began. We began to talk to other revelers who were in our vicinity - our barracade buddies for the next 8 hours! It was like a mini-United Nations! Just the people next to me were from Mexico, Canada, Norway, and Germany! I also met many people from the states, from California to South Carolina.
Apparently, it was many other people’s first-ever day in the Big Apple too! Those were the kind of people I wanted to be around – gotta love the “go big or go home” mentality. They must’ve enjoyed our company too because they invited us to be honorary members of their cool club and to be in their pictures. BAM! That’s what ya get for breaking out the karaoke skills on the spot to entertain people. Choice song? Gunpowder and Lead – Miranda Lambert. Get on my level.
We also danced, took ridiculous pictures of ourselves, philosophized, and did the wave to pass time. I’d say we did a pretty awesome job of entertaining ourselves because once we reached that 6 PM point, time went by quickly. Since we had to ration the amount of water we drank, we began to take shots of it on the hour as a way of celebrating the ringing in of the New Year in each subsequent time zone.
Adventures of a Photo Bomber
As those time zones became closer and closer to the eastern one, the excitement in the crowd began to build. This was partially due to the different musical acts making their way to the stage (Drake, Pitbull, Justin Bieber, etc.), but I think it had more to do with those iconic blue Nivea hats brand representatives were handing out. People would fight to the death for those things. All my years of watching the ball drop on TV, I never thought I’d actually want one of those hats; I always thought I was above advertising ploys. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe it was the gleam of the bright Broadway and M&M World signs that made me act in the way that I did, but suddenly commercialization was my friend. I tried to snatch one of those hats up as best and as instrumentally I could, but after one overzealous German woman with multiple eyebrow piercings practically threatened to punch me in the face if I didn’t let go of the last hat in the pile, I sorely resigned from the hat-grabbing madness. Luckily, Alex, who managed to claim a hat for himself, was kind enough to give me his.
A few more rounds of water shots and one very strange Lady Gaga performance later, we arrived at the final hour of 2011. I couldn’t help but reminisce on all my favorite (and not so favorite) moments from the year. On the whole, it was a beautiful one. It’s funny to think that when I was ringing in 2011 with my family back at home, I didn’t have the slightest idea of what my life would turn into this year. It was the biggest year of my life, and looking back, there wasn’t a single thing I would’ve changed about 2011. Sure, I made plenty of mistakes, got hurt, and failed more than a couple of times, but I am happy with the year, and that’s the best thing you can ask for. So, here’s to 2011: The Year of No Regrets.
Before we knew it, a giant “60″ appeared on the central screen. The countdown started and the light-up ball began its descent. 60…59…58…57…It’s difficult to explain all the emotions and energy that ran through crowd in that final minute. Of course, the screaming and cheering among all the revelers was loud, but something in that crowd was much louder. 45…44…43… Maybe it was all the thoughts, regrets, hopes, wishes, and dreams that resounded among those one million people and within the confines of Times Square that made the loudest sound of all. 20…19… A million crazy, optimistic forward-thinkers all in one place on one night celebrating the magic new promises a new year brings. 3…2… Beautiful. 1… Happy New Year.
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot, and never thought upon…
Strangers hugged strangers and all delighted in one another’s company. We made it for 9 hours without going to the bathroom (Score!). I overheard quite a few people saying that they were so caught up in the moment that they forgot to keep a constant eye on the ball. I must admit–I did the same thing. The whole experience was so euphoric, and in case you had forgotten, there was over a ton of confetti falling from the sky to remind you of the magnitude of what you were witnessing.
Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” began to play overhead – a kiss goodnight from the Big Apple. With that, we all began to shuffle out of Times Square to return to our separate lives in different places all around the world, but I think the emotion from that night will carry on in our hearts forever. Until next time, New York City. Until next time.
That’s #10) See the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s off the bucket list.
I am not quite sure if it’s just a result of getting older or if my life is actually becoming crazier and crazier because I’ve recently taken a liking to the whimsical and nonsensical–both departures of the humdrum we have the tendency to fall victim to. If it’s the latter of the two reasons, you can blame it on the bucket list (Were you surprised?).
List-making and planning has always been my muse–just ask my Type A, neurotic 8-year-old self who made Excel spreadsheets with schedules regimenting (what were supposed to be lazy) summer days in 15-minute intervals. Yeah. I was that kid. I also alphabetized my 64 pack of crayons. Judge me. That’s what happens when your parents don’t let you buy Britney Spears or Spice Girls CDs. Somehow I managed to get past that whole borderline OCD stage, but my love for list-making never escaped me.
After having an official, tangible bucket list for about two years now, I have come to value the ideology behind the bucket list more so than the 115 list items themselves. I constantly think to myself ‘Okay, how can I one-up myself today?’ ‘What can I do to make an impact?’ ‘What are my flaws?’ Having a bucket list, I’ve learned, teaches humility, self-awareness, appreciation for new experiences, and the patience for when things don’t always go according to plan.
Some of my favorite list items I crossed off in 2011 are most exemplary of such aforementioned virtues. Not to write off some of the first items I crossed off my list, such as #80: Witness a falling star or #90: Catch a guitar pick at a concert, but many of the list items I crossed off in 2009 and 2010 were mere happenstance, products of a lil’ intuition and being in the right place at the right time. 2011′s items were no small feats; they definitely tested my limits and took me to new heights. Now, as we close out one year to ring in another and as I pack my suitcase to do so in Times Square in NYC (#10 on the list!!), I can’t help but smile about what all I’ve accomplished this year. And, I look forward to making 2012 the year of the bucket list–can’t have those pesky Mayans gettin’ me all distracted and worried about the supposed impending apocalypse!
So, here is yet another list with some highlights of my favorite bucket list items I crossed off this year! (These highlights are by no means listed in order of importance – they all mean so much to me that it would be nearly impossible to quantify the enjoyment I received from crossing each of them off my list)
1) #22: Meet Taylor Swift
This list item taught me the importance of delayed gratification more so than any other bucket list item I’ve ever wanted to cross off. 4 years in the making, that #22 was. Taylor is just the sweetest, sweeter than you’d ever imagine her to be. It’s funny to look back to when I first started listening to her–10th grade. To think about all that’s happened since then. She helped me navigate the difficult terrain of the cliquish high school hallway with “The Outside”, made me reckon with my mistake of rejecting that one sweet guy in high school with “Back to December”, and gave me courage to walk away before a philandering creep got the chance to break my heart with “Dear John”. Most importantly, her music taught me the beauty of words and the importance of having dreams, and meeting her only reaffirmed my own life goals. She is a true role model. Click here for my entire Taylor Swift concert experience story.
2) #48 Write for a major publication
Writing for Seventeen Magazine was one of the greatest blessings I’ve ever received. Breaking into journalism is no small feat, and having written at the age of 19 for a major publication that has over 13 million readers still leaves me dumbfounded. I got to interview Kellan Lutz, my blog post “The College Guy Bracket” served as inspiration for a radio show broadcast out in California, and I received letters from girls across the country. Umm…what?! How? Why? Even though my tenure is up with Seventeen, I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world. My writing is actually one of my greatest insecurities simply because I vest so much emotion and thought in it, and for Seventeen to recognize it as good enough to put in their magazine…just wow. Ironically enough, it leaves this journalism student speechless.
3) #55 Become an ordained minister
Oh boy, I get some weird looks from people about this one. Yes, I am an ordained minister as of this past March. It wasn’t the most challenging list item to cross off (I became ordained online), but I love it because it captures the true essence of what a bucket list is supposed to be: ridiculous shenanigans that make your mom nervous. I’ve yet to marry a couple, baptize a child, absolve someone from their sins, etc…etc…but I am open for business! Read: All you newly engaged lovebirds out there as of Christmas–hit me up!
4) #109 Stay up for 24 hours straight
As surprising as it is for some to believe, I have never pulled an all-nighter for school-related purposes, but I did pull the most epic all-nighter of all time this past February at UNC’s Dance Marathon. Standing on my feet for 24 hours straight to benefit the North Carolina Children’s Hospital tested me mentally, emotionally, and physically in ways I never thought possible. While I walked away at the end of the marathon with sore feet, I also walked away with a smiling heart and an affirmation of my own life’s purpose. Those children at the hospital have more courage than I’ll ever know, and that’s why I’ll continue to fight for them this February as a moraler and dancer team captain for 85 dancers of my own. When you see firsthand the daily struggles of hospitalized children and their families, all of your own problems suddenly become trivial. Click here if you’d like to help me reach my fundraising goal for this year’s marathon!
5) #115 Audition for American Idol
This has got to be the most absurd thing I have ever done in my life. Really, I can’t sing. Nevertheless, I’m probably most proud about this list item because I chose to do it despite the high stakes of televised humiliation. If there is one legacy I would like to leave behind, I hope it would be that I challenged people to do (and conquer) the things that scare them to death. No one should have to reckon with the formidable “What Ifs” later on in their lives because they simply didn’t try. If helping people take more chances in their lives means becoming the sacrificial idiot and risking all dignity in the form of a singing competition, well then, color me an idiot. Click here for my entire auditioning story.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
2011 certainly lent itself to some great country music. While I embrace practically all genres of music, there is just something about the honesty and storytelling that exists within country music that truly speaks to every bit of my soul.
Having taken a class on country music at UNC this spring, my knowledge of the genre has expanded greatly, and I now find myself spending hours talking about the mysterious nature of Hank Williams death, the particularly humorous turns of Garth Brooks’ career, and the post-9/11 rhetoric that existed within the genre’s songwriting.
I was fortunate enough to spend a week of my summer at this year’s CMA Fest and CMT Music Awards in Nashville. While there, I really got to expand my tastes all while hearing and meeting not only country music legends but also various up-and-coming poet laureates of an emerging generation of country music lovers.
Without further adieu, here is representation of what I have found to be the best in country music this year. Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive–let’s face it–this is was a really amazing year.
1) Best Alternative Country Single
You gotta love the Civil Wars. The dark horse runner of country duos, Joy Williams and John Paul White bring such a surprise folk element to their act. Their summer hit “Barton Hollow” is very Bonnie and Clyde-esque and every bit addicting both lyrically and sonically. White’s steel guitar virtuoso and Williams’ haunting vocals are very reminiscent of country music’s past and good enough to send chills up your spine. While I have yet to see them perform live, I caught a glimpse of them at the CMT Music Awards, and that alone sent me in a tizzy (check out my favorite song of theirs, “Poison and Wine”). Thus far, they have been nominated for numerous CMAs, AMAs, CMT awards and most recently two Grammys. They have yet to win any award for which they have been nominated, but here’s to hoping that the odds are in their favor for February’s Grammys.
2) Best Cross-Genre Collaboration
Cross-genre collaborations were all the rage in country music this year, from Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5′s “Out of Goodbyes” to Rascal Flatts and Natasha Beddingfield’s “Easy”. However, there was no country artist who spearheaded the movement quite like Jason Aldean did. Taking a risk, Aldean ventured in the relatively untouched territory of rap with his collaboration with rapper Ludacris on “Back Road Anthem”. The staying power of this “Anthem” though paled in comparison to that of Aldean’s mega-hit with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”. While released late last year, the duet still persistently finds its way onto radio airwaves–and with good reason. The catharsis that exists within this piece is phenomenal. The bittersweet melody makes it seem as if Aldean and Clarkson’s voices were made for each other.
3) Best New Artist Single
When an up-and-coming group’s chart success can rival that of country music legends, it serves as a testament to the talent that exists within the group, and Thompson Square is no exception. A duo consisting of husband and wife Keifer and Shawna Thompson, Thompson Square has had a rapid rise to fame and now has a few chart-topping singles to boot. “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” has fairly simplistic lyrical and chord progressions, but it is still entirely emblematic of all those giddy, unsure feelings you have when you’re falling for that one special person. While perhaps a little too sugary for the hardened critic out there, its sweet storyline is completely irresistible that just makes you want to put the song on repeat.
4) Best Comeback Single
Not only did 2011 see a splash of new country artists, but it also saw the reemergence of some of the most beloved artists who we thought had hung up their hats for good. Big & Rich reunited; Ronnie Dunn released his own solo album after Brooks & Dunn was no more; and Sara Evans returned to the Nashville scene after a 6-year hiatus. Her wildly successful “A Little Bit Stronger” serves as lasting proof that Evans is back and here to stay. Every bit of this uplifting song speaks to the heart of any woman who has ever been played by love and lost. Having seen her perform it live twice this year, once at a local country bar and once at CMA Fest, it’s easy to see how singing this song is just as much of an emotional performance for her as it is a technical one. As she belts out the chorus, you can see the sadness that exists within her eyes as performer and protagonist are synonymous–a rare quality to find in most music today.
5) Best Summer Single
Let’s face it, country music and summer go together like Louisiana and Mississippi, like wine and whiskey, like…well, you know what follows if you listened to the radio even for just five minutes this summer. Amidst the standby, surefire summer hits that can be found somewhere between those loveable blue sky breezes and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night[s]“, Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee” provided a very refreshing twist to the typical summer single. The song’s changing chorus demonstrates a lyrical mastery that is often otherwise lacking in prototypical summer hits, as much fun as they are to sing along to. I still smile whenever I hear this song, and it just makes me want to go sip sweet tea on the front porch and put on some old Loretta Lynn–even if it is December.
Bonus: Author’s Pick
I tried my hardest to find a way of incorporating this song into an appropriate category to include in my list, but it was nearly impossible. Regardless, this song deserves unduly praise. It’s phenomenal. I’ve been obsessed with it since I first heard it while watching Country Strong, and I am still obsessed with it. For whatever reason, “Me and Tennessee” has never been released as a single, but for some twisted reason, that’s okay with me. It’s this hidden gem that I get to keep all to myself (and to my faithful blog readers, of course). If this there’s a song to change a negative opinion about country music, this would be the song to do so. Betcha didn’t know it was written by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, did ya?! Gwyneth Paltrow (married to Martin) and Tim McGraw’s voices are amazing together and provide a classic “he said, she said” scenario. The protagonists’ relationship in the song is nothing short of a beautiful disaster, yet “then that old song comes on, together [they're] singing, forever [they're] singing, that old country song.” Powerful.
I think I’ve finally come to the realization that God has quite the sense of humor, as I have 19 years of anecdotal proof He does. They say “coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.” I realize now that if you counter all of life’s disappointments with a positive attitude, things have a tendency of working out for the better. Cheesy, I know. I didn’t use to think that way, as I always got caught up in life’s ominous what-could’ve-beens. But, with all the doors that have opened up in my life recently, I am unable to arrive at any other conclusion.
Many of you know about my absolute adoration for Taylor Swift, her poignant songwriting, the way she carries herself, her new kitten Meredith. I admit I’m obsessed…only slightly. Honestly though, her music has inspired me in so many ways, so much so that it was the reason I’ve taken my passion for writing to turn it into a career.
Needless to say, when I found out that I won tickets to her Oct 1 show, I was absolutely floored with excitement. And also needless to say, when I found out that my tickets were never dropped off for me at Will Call and that I couldn’t go to her show after I drove all the way to Atlanta, I was more than a little disappointed. I mean, I convinced my mom to wear a top hat and a fake mustache to the concert while I wore a very Taylor-esque frock and flowery headband, all inspired by her music video for “Mean”. It was a big deal.
This wasn’t my first failed attempt at meeting/seeing Taylor Swift since I first became a fan during her “Teardrops On My Guitar” days in 2007. Below is what I now find to be a humorous timeline of my (numerous) failed endeavours. Now, let me preface this by saying that I am so grateful for even having the opportunity to go to all these concerts in the first place because I know many adoring fans haven’t even gotten the opportunity to see her live once. And that’s exactly how I can laugh at the following and not get frustrated by it.
July 29th, 2008: Taylor and I were both in the audience for the same concert. She sat about 20 feet away from me. Screamed her name and waved my arms frantically with excitement. 10,000 other girls were doing the same. She didn’t notice.
June 12th, 2009: First Taylor Swift concert. Tried schmoozing with the sponsors of the concert to see if I could get backstage passes. No avail. It’s okay. You’re not my phone service provider anyway. Sucks to suck.
September 5th, 2009: Second Taylor Swift concert. Came to the concert prepared with homemade T-shirts and an incredibly glittery apron to present as a gift to Taylor, the baking enthusiast. Talked to Taylor’s mom, who was about to give us backstage passes. Manager said ‘no’. She didn’t think our signs were creative enough. Boo.
June 12th, 2011: Went to Nashville. Saw her at CMA Fest. Absolutely swept away by her performance. 50,000 other people felt the same.
July 8th, 2011: What was supposed to be another concert: postponed. Taylor had bronchitis. Had to resell tickets.
July 9th, 2011: Won tickets to this concert. Also postponed.
October 1st, 2011: Concert rescheduled to this date. Drove to Atlanta. No tickets to be found at Will Call. Turned back around.
You’d think that I’d give up all efforts at meeting her by this point. Maybe it was just never in the cards for me. Maybe despite my phenomenal luck in other areas of my life, my luck had run out in meeting this 4-time GRAMMY winner. With this being #22 on my bucket list, however, it wasn’t that easy of a goal to give up.
As I turned away from that fateful concert in Atlanta, knowing that Taylor was about to hit the stage and that I wouldn’t be there to see her perform, a strange, calm feeling came over me. My mom even commented on how well I was handling the situation considering how much I was looking forward to the show. I couldn’t really explain what it was. Sure, I was upset for about 30 minutes or so, but then started thinking about how comparatively blessed I am in my life, and I tried to put into perspective all the other things that are going right in my life that aren’t in the lives of others. I go to an amazing school and have wonderful friends. And hey, I even have a mom willing enough to wear a fake mustache to a concert. Pretty blessed. I wasn’t going to worry about it, and I didn’t on that entire drive back to Chapel Hill.
Then – a breakthrough – one better than I would’ve ever imagined. Upon finishing class for the day, I noticed a voicemail left by a phone number with a mysterious area code.
“Hi Katie, we’re really sorry about what happened this past weekend in Atlanta, so we’re going to give to tickets to Taylor Swift’s Raleigh show on November 17th AND meet and greet passes so you can meet Taylor.”
I couldn’t breathe. The company I won tickets from that forgot to drop them off at the arena was making it up to me by allowing me to meet Taylor Swift–and on the 17th of November, of all dates. I knew there had to be some significance to this. When tour dates were released earlier this year, I noticed that Taylor planned to stop in Raleigh on November 17th, and I distinctly remember thinking that date could possibly be my best chance to meet Taylor, considering my unbelievably lucky number 17 has never done me wrong. However, since I had already bought tickets to her Charlotte show, I didn’t think about it anymore. Now it seems as if this was meant to happen all along.
Flash forward to November 17th, the day I had been waiting for for years. I couldn’t be any more nervous, but thankfully Jocelyn, Melissa (check out her hilarious reaction to being told that she’s meeting Taylor Swift here), and Alex were there to keep me calm. After picking up our passes from Will Call, writing Taylor’s lucky number ”13″ on all of our hands with sharpie, and checking out the merchandise stand, we were ready to go line up to meet Taylor.
After waiting for quite some time in line, we were ushered into the illustrious T-Party room, the Holy Land of Taylor Swift fandom. The room looked as if it came straight out of an Antrhopologie catalog–there were beautiful couches, antique claw foot chairs, and flowy, bright drapery that covered the walls. Dresses that Taylor wore during the Fearless tour lined the entry way. We soon began to dream up all the cool things one could do in the T-Party room, and we laughed over the proposition of planking there. With all the security guards, we were too scared to try it–bucket list item for next time, I suppose. I was most excited when I discovered a table covered with catered goodies: pot stickers, chicken tenders, and chocolate fondue. I was too nervous to eat all that much, but I resolved to eat at least one thing from the T-Party room, so I settled for a lil’ grape tomato. It. was. the. best. grape. tomato. I’ve. ever. had. Just look at my face. I was completely enchanted by it.
As we approached the front of the line, we were able to catch a glimpse of Taylor behind the curtain. I was actually able to calm my nerves since we had gotten to the arena, but they all resurged once Jocelyn gave me a nudge forward and said “Okay Katie, here we go.”
And there we went…
Taylor smiled warmly, took a few steps towards me, gave me a hug, and asked how I was. She greeted Alex, Jocelyn, and Melissa all in the same manner. She then proceeded to tell us how pretty all of us were, to which Alex responded “No, you’re pretty.” We posed for a picture, and then I handed her the sparkly plaque I made her that had her initials on it. She thanked me and said how beautiful it was.
It was at this point that I began to get choked up. “I just wanted to let you know that you’re so inspirational and wonderful, and you’re the reason I decided to pursue writing as a career. Your song writing is so poignant. Thank you so much,” I exclaimed. I still can’t believe that I actually was able to say all that, let alone throw the word “poignant” in our conversation. Score. I showed her one of the SeventeenMagazine issues I was featured in as part of my tenure as one of last year’s ”Freshman 15″ college gals–the issue also happened to be the one she was the covergirl for. She responded with an “Aww, that’s awesome! You’re so sweet. Never stop writing, okay?! Honestly, good luck with everything, I mean it. Thank you so much for coming out to the show!” I then continued to thank her a billion more times, exchanged a few other words with her I don’t remember, and exited the room.
Jocelyn, Melissa, and Alex were all waiting in the concourse–they didn’t get to say much considering the length of the near-dissertation I had prepared for Taylor. Thankfully, they didn’t mind my unceasing Chatty Cathy-ness. Our entire walk back to our seats, we marveled in the magnitude of what just happened, said ”Oh my goodness” approximately 49458723242754.34 times, and squealed uncontrollably. Did you expect anything less?
The concert itself was an amazing four hours. Upon being asked the following day about my thought’s on the concert, I was (for the first time in my life) speechless. Even if I were to describe how wonderful the concert was in minute detail, I wouldn’t have been able to do a justice. That girl can rock it. And, did I mention Bruce Springsteen was in the audience? All I can say is there was a lot of glitter, fireworks, and a greater degree of crying on my part (I lost it during “Never Grow Up”).
Photo Credit: Alex Ellis
So here I am, three days after the concert, writing to you from the comforts of my dorm room. Writing, writing, writing, just as I promised Taylor I would do. It may sound silly, but now I feel even more resolved to pursue my dreams and goals after meeting her. That’s what kind of impact Taylor Swift has on people. To those of you who are doubtful of her talent, I dare you to open your ears and your heart and realize just how truly incredible of a human being she is.
I guess this just goes to show that things are only impossible…until they’re not. That’s #22: Meet Taylor Swift, off the bucket list.
Dream more, dare more, and listen to Taylor Swift…more,
