Let's face it, Fall is quickly creeping up on us. And Fall to me means FOOTBALL, specifically College Football. College Football is one of my favorite things and Fall is my favorite time of year because of it. I love it and everything that comes with it- games, rivalries, traditions, tailgates, family & friends, the list goes on....
In attempt to gain experience and exposure with my writing, since this is a path I would like to see my career take, I will be sharing articles I write pertaining to sports. I plan to post once a week leading up to the season as well as throughout.
Some topics I plan to post about in the coming weeks:
The Best Game of Opening Weekend (Game to Watch: Week 1)
Heisman Trophy Prospects
National Championship Prospects
Who to Look Out For
If there's a topic you would like me to write about, please let me know.
As always, feedback is welcome and in fact, encouraged!
As promised, I bring to you, my favorite Country Music Summer Anthems!!!
Perfect for a day on the boat, at the beach, tailgating a concert or driving around with the windows down! :)
I know there are tons of other songs that qualify to be on this playlist (like pretty much every Kenny Chesney song), this is just my list of favorites!
I am still on cloud 9!!!! Yesterday was such an incredible day!
As most of you know, I've been working for Philadelphia's Country Radio Station for a year and a half. Every year the station throws a listener appreciation concert which is called the Anniversary Show and is well known to most people in the tri-state area. The concert is FREE to everyone. Yup, Free! You can't buy tickets to this concert, you have to win them! We hold events, called tickets run and x-stops, for months prior to the show with tons of opportunities for our listeners to win tickets.
Yesterday was the 29th XTU Anniversary Show! The show has been going on for 29 years. That's incredible in itself! Every year the show has a new headliner, no repeats! This year Brad Paisley was the headliner with Chris Young, Lee Brice, The Henningsens, Tyler Farr, and Chris Stapleton.
We run the show. All station employees work the event to make sure listeners, clients, artists, etc. are taken care of and having a wonderful time. We work all day. We set up, we break down, we do it all but we have so much fun doing it! Even a little rain couldn't stop us! One of my duties was to take pictures all day! I got to take pictures of our listeners' meet and greets with the artists and got my photo taken with Lee Brice and Chris Young too! :)
My favorite part of the show is when the entire staff goes out on stage and gets introduced to the crowd by one of the artists and then the whole arena sings "Happy Birthday" to us!! This year Lee Brice was on stage with us and it was so awesome!! It's unlike anything I've ever been a part of.
After our duties for the day are done we get to hang back stage and eat a catered dinner together- relax and hang out. This is great because artists will literally come back and hang with us too! Chris Young and Lee Brice were back there for a little bit as well as Tyler Farr and Chris Stapleton.
How could the day get any better, right? Well Brad Paisley invited the entire staff to come up on stage with him during his encore of Alcohol! You read that correctly!!! We all brought our drinks, and one for Brad, of course, on stage and sang with him!!! I was literally less than 2 feet away from him as he was performing. It. was. unreal. I could see my sister, who I had given Pit Passes to, from stage. Unreal isn't even the best word to describe it! We all had so much fun. I wish I could post some of the videos my co-workers took while on stage! I'll honestly never forget it!
NO ZOOM ON THESE PICS, FOLKS!! NO ZOOM!
Lee Brice and Tyler Farr hung out with us as we were all waiting to go on stage together for the encore!!! They're both awesome guys.
I got home at 2 a.m. and got up this morning at 7 to get ready for work. I'm exhausted today, but it was beyond worth it!!!!! People ask why I work 2 jobs, 6 or 7 days a week and this is why!!!! This night and all of the other perks that come along with working so closely with something you're passionate about makes all of the long hours, occasional slow gigs, sometimes needy listeners, crappy pay, minimal social life and every other mishap worth it (-trust me, it's not all luxurious)!!!! It was truly an amazing show and experience. I am so blessed to have been a part of it and love my XTU Family!! I can't wait for next year! :)
I know I'm a very inconsistent blogger... I just never know what to write about, what I am willing to share, and what others will want to read! While I'm still figuring that out, I figured I'd share some things I'm loving in the Country Music World!
The Band Perry :: DONE
I wish I dedicated time to write a whole post about this. This album is my favorite release of the year, by far. It have been on repeat for the past 2.5 months! If you haven't listened to the whole thing yet, you're missing out! For real, it's amazeballs! I love Kimberly's sassy voice as well as the lyrics, stories, tempo, and everything else of the album! Album of the Year? I think so!
My favorite songs from the album: (So hard to pick just three)
DONE
Pioneer
"Be careful of the careful souls who doubt you along the way"- my favorite line!
I'm a Keeper
Blake Shelton
I love Blake Shelton! And honestly, it may be for reasons other than his music. I usually like his singles, but not always his entire albums. Anyway, I love him on The Voice. He is hysterical and so entertaining. I also think he did a great job with Danielle Bradbery- that girl's gonna be a star!!! And I'm totally a fan! :)
So though I don't have many favorites off of his new album, Based on a True Story, I have some of Danielle Bradbery's songs on repeat, which counts, right? #TeamBlake
Sure Be Cool If You Did
Danielle Bradbery- Maybe It Was Memphis
Danielle Bradbery- Born To Fly
(this is one of my favorite songs, which Sara Evans sings. Danielle did an amazing job!)
Kenny Chesney
There are few things better than country concerts in summer!! I went to see Kenny Chesney when he came to Philadelphia at the beginning of the month and the man's still got it!! I got to watch the show from the "Sand Bar", which was amazing!!! Kenny still plays a lot of his old stuff, which I LOVE and runs around on that stage like a 5 year old boy that can't sit still. He also hits his cowboy hat down constantly (if you saw him, you'd know what I mean). He honestly looks like he's having the time of his life up there and truly enjoys it, which is always nice to see. I was so close that I could literally see the sweat dripping down his sexy, tanned body! I wasn't mad.
Kenny also released a new album recently called, Life on a Rock. I haven't listened to the whole thing, but I do like his current single: Pirate Flag
Stay tuned for more country music posts- including some great summer anthems!! :)
Also, in my attempt to become a better blogger and find my nitch (?), I have a few posts in the works regarding football season, aka my favorite time of the year. I know summer just started, but I can't help but be so excited for fall. Football means tailgating, so everyone wins! :)
