there might be Thorns while i’m Waiting On You at a Dinner Party, but maybe you got a problem

Hello, my favorite Monday peeps! Whewie what a busy weekend this was! In fact, I ended up working quite a few hours yesterday (Sunday), which I typically don’t do, but a couple of clients know that if they absolutely need me, I’ll be there. So I was. 😁 

Meanwhile, since it is Monday, you know that Monday means music! This week is a freebie week, so grab your favorite tune(s) and come dance with us, won’t you?

Let’s start with a favorite three-time GRAMMY winner who released this music video for his new single on March 8, International Women’s Day, as a tribute to his wife. The video features the couple together and closes with a slow dance, a visual embodiment of the gratitude at the heart of the song. He announced the song on social media:

“To my beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, graceful wife, and newly New York Times best-selling author, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for making me complete. You truly saved my life. Today is International Women’s Day. They say behind every good man is a great woman, and I know thats damn true for me, y’all.”

The song originally debuted just in time for Valentine’s Day, it’s cool he made sure to have the official video premiere in time for International Women’s Day. The song lyrically contrasts the country star’s turbulent past with the life he now shares with Bunnie Xo, centering on her role as a source of light and redemption.

The two met in 2015 backstage at a show he was performing at the Las Vegas Country Saloon. He has often recalled the moment with characteristic candor:

“We hit it off. She said she fell in love with the saddest eyes in the room. I’m not going to act like I shot my shot. She kind of shot hers. We had mutual friends. She said, ‘Yo. Just plug me in with Jelly.’ And I hit her on some other s–t. I was like, ‘Yo. I’m going to be coming out to shoot some content and video stuff. She was like, ‘Yeah! C’mon!’ I was like, ‘Cool, well I’m living in my van, so I’ll leave now.”

The two married in Las Vegas in 2016, returned to the same chapel to renew their vows in August 2023, and have discussed plans to welcome twins via surrogate.

Give a listen to Jelly Roll with “Thorns”:

Next up is a song from this favorite artist who recently came back into the spotlight – he never gave us up, and he never let us down. 😉 He celebrated his 60th birthday with the release of this new single. A landmark birthday is the perfect time for reflection, and he can certainly look back on some enviable achievements.

From his iconic global breakthrough with Never Gonna Give You Up to an unexpected career resurgence as he returned to No.1 with 50. But it’s also a time to look ahead towards what comes next, and that starts with intent as he shares his new single. He said:

“The beauty of having a guitar older than I am is that it makes me play, write and feel everything differently. This track has a feeling of a decade long ago, lyrically and style wise. It’s been great to jump into new music but with an old heart at the center of it.”

Here’s the one and only Rick Astley with “Waiting On You”:

Last week, this 32-year-old solo star—and One Direction member—just dropped a new single this past Friday (March 20), and this one comes with a pretty personal backstory. The song is inspired by a real moment from 2020 that changed his life—and kicked off his now six-year relationship with his girlfriend.

“This song is about a really happy and big moment in my life. An evening at a simple dinner party that changed the course of my life… that once in a lifetime moment that I am grateful for, and for everything that came after that night.”

He wrote the track during a creative trip to Surrey last summer with his usual group of collaborators. After days of writing without much sticking, this one finally clicked.

“You spend a lot of time writing, and nothing is coming… then this was the one that I was like, ‘okay, this is where the album starts from here.’ Because my relationship started on the night that this song is about.”

What started as just a casual night ended up meaning a lot more:

“I realized that that dinner party became a bigger thing than just sitting around, getting drunk and having a bit of food. It’s become the next six years of my life and hopefully the rest of it.”

Give a listen to Niall Horan with “Dinner Party”:

Last but certainly not least is a song I heard on the new series I love, Boston Blue (Donnie Wahlberg!) that caught my ear, so I had to look it up and find it to share. This artist has been quietly building something really special, blending folk, rock, and experimental sounds into a style that feels totally her own, and she’s become a standout voice in Nashville. Her music reflects her roots:

“I grew up in church, but I also grew up playing in and listening to a lot of rock bands… we’re playing everything live, and it’s really fun and visceral.”

Her voice is soulful and a little fragile in the best way, and her goal is bigger than just telling her own story: 

“How do I… make it human?… I think my work as an artist is to bridge that gap.”

Get ready for goosebumps, here’s Joy Oladokun with “if you got a problem”:

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!