The first 10 days of 2021 have already been a wild ride, don’t you think? Not sure I’m a fan of this new year yet…how about you?
Meanwhile it’s Monday, and of course Monday means music! This week is a freebie week, so feel free to grab your favorite tune(s) and come dance with us, won’t you?
Let’s start with the perfect parody to sum up this first week in 2021 – who better to do that than our favorite parody family:
Get ready for some laughs, here’s Penn and Kim Holderness with “One Week In 2021”:
Next up is another brand new song from this favorite artist – the lyrics have fans speculating about a falling-out between this artist and one of her oldest friends:
“When the words of a sister come back in whispers that prove she was not, in fact, what she seemed / Not a twin from your dreams, she’s a crook who was caught.”
The artist set the record straight on those rumors though. (Well, kinda.) On her Instagram, she wrote about the deluxe tracks on her record and said this song is about leaving something that no longer serves you. The post, in full:
“The Evermore deluxe album with two bonus tracks, ‘Right Where You Left Me’ and ‘It’s Time to Go,’ is now available! The first is a song about a girl who stayed forever in the exact spot where her heart was broken, completely frozen in time. ‘It’s Time to Go’ is about listening to your gut when it tells you to leave. How you always know before you know, you know?”
Here’s the ultra talented Taylor Swift with “It’s Time to Go”:
Next up is a new song that is a fit-for-pandemic rallying cry from the Australian-raised, Nashville-based duo, joined by two more artists, Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly, along with thousands of those affected by the pandemic to show what it means to be TOGETHER during these unprecedented times in this moving video. The duo was quoted as saying:
“We are so grateful that ‘[this song]’ has finally found its way from our hearts to your ears. Thank you to Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly for your extraordinary spirit, and to all of you who lent us your stories and voices to make this music video possible. We hope that this video offers a bit of light and ‘togetherness’ during this time.”
With each artist filming in isolation, the four join together with thousands of those directly affected by COVID-19 to share personal messages of struggle, perseverance, and optimism. Those messages of hope, paired with expertly crafted pop melodies and harmonies, turn this duo’s latest video into a siren song for those struggling during this time.
Without further ado, here’s for KING & COUNTRY featuring Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly with “TOGETHER”:
Last, but certainly not least, the lead from a favorite group has released his first solo single from a debut full-length album set to arrive next year.
This pop rock track boasts a message that’s all about staying optimistic:
“I get knocked down, but I just keep my head up high, high, high / Stuck on the ground but I just keep my head up high, high, high.”
The track arrives with a music video that uses animation and green screen technology to fly the artist to the moon, send him speeding around a seaside highway and turn him into a statue that bursts apart. The artist was quoted as saying:
“I wanted to do a tune centered around the acoustic, which is very different from Fitz and the Tantrums. We’ve only used an acoustic guitar on one song in four albums! The chords and lyrics spilled out of me. [Producer/co-writer] Ryan [Daly] and I logged into the Zoom session, and you could read the weight we were carrying on our faces. Collectively…not as a city, community, country, or even continent… the whole world is carrying the weight of what the global pandemic has meant. We’re all experiencing it at the same time. So, the statement rang out, ‘You’ve got to keep your head up’. The message feels so relevant. Life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. I needed to hear that message and express it in a song to rally everybody to keep their heads above water.”
About making his solo debut this late in his career, the artist said:
“I didn’t even get my first break until I was 38 years old. By that, I mean I could sell a bunch of tickets to people other than my friends! It wasn’t until I turned 40 that the band experienced any real success. I busted my ass and faced so much rejection for a good 15 years. I put down this dream more than once because I was so heartbroken and devastated by the industry. However, I had this monkey on my back that said, ‘You’ve got to try again.’ To have the opportunity to make what will be my fifth album overall is mind-blowing. It’s already an incredibly unusual path. To make it even more usual, my wife and I were lying in bed and laughing once we finished the contract. I was like, ‘Can we take a moment to appreciate the fact I’m a 50-year-old man who just signed his first record deal?’”
Get ready to dance, here’s Fitz with “Head Up High”:
That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! I’ll see you on the dance floor, keeping that social distancing – hope you all are continuing to stay safe and healthy.
Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:
I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!
Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!
Stacy,
King and Country is a fabulous band! The Holderness family are talented parody writers and they always make me smile with their witty spin on popular songs. Let’s keep the boogie going. Have a funtastic week, my friend!
I agree, Cathy – I just love for KING & COUNTRY – not just their sound, but the messages they impart through their music. The Holderness Family are so very talented and always great for a much-needed laugh! 🙂 thanks for coming over to dance with me! Hope you’re have a great weekend! 🙂
Super cool songs. Thanks for sharing it with us. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thanks, Patrick, and thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Maybe I’m just “that jerk” who wants to be different but I am, so far, a big fan of 2021. But then again, I didn’t dislike 2020 as much as some. I realize that is born out of my good luck (or maybe that’s the wrong word) that my husband and I did not encounter financial hardships during Covid. But either way, I am glad we’re already one year into the virus because eventually they fizzle out. The next few years might be interesting as a country but for me, personally, my happiness is made by me so I guess all I am saying is, I am happy no matter what! LOL. If you knew me 10-15 years ago, this kind of positive attitude would have been shocking, to say the least.
I’m glad you’re a fan of 2021, Claire – someone has to be! LOL! Plus, maybe some of that positivity will rub off. 😉
I love love love Penn and Kim
Oh me too! They are such fun, I always laugh out loud when I watch their videos! 🙂
Other than the first one, these were kind of bleak, but it all fits together….
I agree, John – it’s been difficult finding upbeat songs as the pandemic wears on and on and on – might have to revert to not trying to find ‘new’ songs and just find some happy ones! 😉
Well, I guess the only one I know here is Taylor Swift and the tune is cool, but I’m not a really big fan of hers, but there are a few… So, on that note and not feeling great I shall say ado. Have a great week. HUGS
Hope you’re feeling better, Marie! HUGZ!
The first song gave 2021 a ray of sunshine, something it is sorely lacking. I tried to cancel my one week free trial, too, but I just couldn’t. Now I’m stuck. The other songs…well, King and Country was a good one. Right now my manager is in quarantine (her college aged children came home, visited a friend, and the rest is sad history) so far they have tested negative. I work from home, so I wasn’t exposed. But another co worker’s elderly mother tested positive today – just happened to be with a nephew being tested to go back to college and she decided to get tested, too. And my co worker had taken her to a doctor’s appointment on Monday so she and her husband are getting tested tomorrow. Cross fingers! So, 2021 has lost its charm for me, whatever charm it had to begin with.
Thank you, Alana! If only we’d been able to cancel our one week free trial, eh? 😉 Here’s hoping all the people in your orbit that have tested positive for covid recover fully! 2021 has definitely lost it’s charm right out of the gate!