Monday has arrived yet again with no fanfare – is it just me, or do the weekends go by way too fast these days? Since it is Monday, that, of course, means music!
For this week, the theme is: “Songs that make you think of your mother”. Sadly, my mother and I do not have a close relationship, since by my dad’s own confession (and apology) when I was 17 or 18 and preparing to move out of the house; I was the unwanted child, so that explained the lack of affection and bonding growing up and into adulthood. It is what it is. That means there really aren’t any songs that make me think of my mother, so I’m going to simply share some great tunes I ran across this week instead.
Let’s start with a brand new song from this favorite artist that represents a reunion for the artist and an Oklahoma native and acclaimed songwriter: Audra Mae. The artist said:
“Audra Mae and I were writing songs and talking about our past and talking about things we’d gone through in our life. And she sent me that song a month later. She was like, ‘I songed it, some of the things we talked about.”
The song marks the artist’s first new solo music since her Grammy-, ACM- and Country Music Association-nominated 2022 album. It also is her first release under her new deal with Republic Records.
Here’s the inimitable Miranda Lambert with “Wranglers”:
Next up is a brand new song by this artist, serving as the first preview of his new album, to be released on June 14th. The song is a poignant reflection on the special memories we keep of our loved ones. These memories bring us back to cherished moments in our lives and provide motivation and hope when needed.
The artist is celebrating a second chance at life and a newfound appreciation for everything he does. After the unprecedented chart-topping viral success of “The Git Up,” which achieved 11x Platinum status and garnered over one billion streams, he was on the cusp of realizing his dreams. But in an instant, a drunk driver changed everything for him. The drunk driver hit him head-on while riding his motorcycle.
He broke multiple bones in his body, required 12 blood transfusions, and needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. Despite the lengthy and challenging rehabilitation process, he made a full recovery, relearning fundamental skills like walking and holding a microphone.
The artist is dedicated to raising awareness against drunk driving as well as the recent increase in accidents caused by impaired drivers. He said:
“It’s hard for me to understand why with all the education and knowledge we have acquired and the options for ride share companies, how we have numbers on the rise. I am aligning with charities against drunk driving to help spread the word and continue educating the public. Nobody cares how much you drink or smoke, just don’t drive for the sake of yourself and others.”
Give a listen to Blanco Brown with “Snapshot”:
Next up is a brand new song from this group from their upcoming 16th studio album, set to be released on June 7th. The frontman’s story is one of longevity. Forty years since the release of his namesake band’s debut album, he is not only still standing, but thriving. He’s stared down the toughest decade of his career — one beset by a global pandemic and his own harrowing vocal injury — to emerge with a timeless new album and a life-affirming discovery: he is happy again.
“For the first time in 10 years, I have joy. I had lost touch with it for a number of reasons, and I’d set out to find it while writing and making this record. At the completion of the project, I realized I was at peace. I really found joy.”
The song is a rousing testament to the enduring relationships with his family, both those at home and in the band:
Got what I want / cause I got what I need / Got a fistful of friends that’ll stand up for me
“I’ve come to realize in this chapter of my life that what matters is that handful of people that truly stood by your side. It’s not just my band, but my wife, my kids, my longtime engineer and friend. Out of all this pain and suffering that I’ve been through in the last decade, I’ve wrapped my arms around all of these moments and learned that what matters is what you’ve got. And what I’ve got has been pretty good.”
Here’s Bon Jovi with “Living Proof”:
Last but certainly not least, this is the time of year when the fact that life is short becomes all too palpable for parents. Yes, it’s graduation season and people all over the country are looking at high school seniors and asking, “How did it go by so fast?” This award-winning Christian singer/songwriter wrestles with those emotions in his poignant new song.
“It’s like a prayer for family. Don’t stop praying for your family. Don’t stop praying for your kids. It’s not written in the form of a prayer. It’s more written in a form of just that aching feeling you get as time flies by before your eyes, and you wish you could get it back. It’s about making most of the time you get with them.”
About the inspiration for this song, he said:
“I talk a lot about the power of story, but this song is literally written in real time in the exact chapter of the story that our family is in right now. It’s graduation time. My oldest daughter is getting ready to graduate from high school, and my wife and I are both just in our feelings about that.
We’re dealing with all the heart feelings and emotions of, like, ‘Wow! How fast did it go? This is unbelievable.’ We just had her graduation party last night. We’re cleaning up after the party today — I can’t believe how fast it’s gone.”
The song’s title was inspired by a conversation with another father as they were musing about the passing of time.
“When you measure time in different forms, it can highlight the brevity of life,” he says. “I was having a conversation with another dad, and he said, ‘Yeah, I heard it said once that we only have 18 summers. When you think about it, not as 18 years, but 18 summers, it all of a sudden it feels so much smaller and so finite.
I thought ’18 Summers’ was a great title for a song. So as I was thinking about my daughter getting close to graduation, that title kept popping up to me. Right now is the perfect time for me to write that message, because that’s what I’m living.”
Get ready for major goosebumps – and you might want to have some tissues ready while you’re at it – here’s Matthew West with “18 Summers”:
That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!
Now onto 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!
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!
Bon Jovi!
Our relationships with our mothers matter so much in our lives, whether we got love, abandonment, no understanding, or never even knew our birth parents. But music is a refuge and a way to express ourselves and I enjoyed your playlist. Bon Jovi is still rocking so strongly. His was the favorite for this week although the lyrics of 18 Summers was a close second.
Any list with Miranda Lambert is a good one…
Really nice music Stacey…all of them different.
Sorry about your mother that’s hard but life makes us what we are. Have a good week 💜
Life circumstances don’t have to define us. It’s certainly a difficult walk to find oneself when parents favor one child over another, emotionally detached, abandoned, or taken too soon. You’re a good person despite what your mom couldn’t give you and I know you’re a great mom to your kids. I’m sorry this theme wasn’t one you could connect with but you brought some great music to the dance floor and I really enjoyed Bon Jovi, my friend!