For this week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt, I decided to feature ten songs that I wish were stories (or better yet, ten songs I imagine as stories each time I hear them). As a lover of so many different genres of music, this list could have been a mile long. I decided to focus on just country music today, though. Being from Texas, country music has been in my blood since I was born. I go through phases where I love it, or I want to turn it off. But every once in awhile I'll hear a song that really grabs me, causing me to slip inside its lyrics, and imagine a story that I'd want to read.
I've embedded the songs for you to listen (hopefully spotify player works on your end). If not, feel free to look up the song tracks. Each one is a definite listen!
1. Stay A Little Longer by Brothers Osborne - the first time I heard this song, I immediately started picturing a New Adult romance I'd want to read. The lyrics mention fighting temptation, wanting something you probably shouldn't, but then realizing maybe it's something you need. Definite material for a New Adult romance, if you ask me.
Have a listen...
2. Cop Car by Keith Urban - this song is every bit a contemporary YA romance, if I ever heard one. It begins with these two teens sitting in the back of a cop car, the boy trying to figure out how they ended up there, yet realizing he's not quite regretting it if that means he gets to spend more time with her. Yup, a story in the making...
Have a listen...
3. Springsteen by Eric Church - this particular song was actually the inspiration behind one of my writing projects. I heard such a definite story in its notes, that I felt compelled to write my own. Will it ever become something more than just words written on my computer screen? Who knows. But when I hear these chords, those lyrics, I can't help but imagine a certain beachside town.. a boy and girl.. and that long, yet oh so quick summer they were seventeen.
Have a listen...
4. Talladega by Eric Church - there is something about that summer, just after high school, before the "real world" begins that holds so much purpose, so much yearning, and so many untold stories. When I hear this song, I think of those stories and all the what if's...
Have a listen...
5. Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean - I'm all about settings in the books I read, and this song has always taken my mind to a story about a dirt road in the middle of the country.. late night bonfires.. breaking rules.. all while falling in love.
Have a listen...
6. Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Eli Young Band - oh how I love this song. It embodies two of my loves, great story-telling + music. When I hear it I've always imagined a story about a young guy, having a dream about becoming a professional musician some day, putting in his dues, working hard, and hoping to one day find himself on that stage.
Have a listen...
7. Sounds of Summer by Dierks Bentley - because my heart is with summer romances, no matter what the medium is, I had to include this song. Plus, wouldn't this make a great book title too??
Have a listen...
8. Crazy Girl by Eli Young Band - this is another song that made an appearance behind the inspiration of a writing project of mine. I kept hearing it as I wrote a particular moment in my story and it set the scene blazing.
Have a listen...
9. Strawberry Wine by Deana Carter - how can I make this list and NOT include this song??! Pretty sure it's one of the first country songs I heard and immediately saw a story. I was about 17 years old when it first became popular, and my teenage heart, even then, longed for her own strawberry wine story.
Have a listen...
10. Watching Airplanes by Gary Allan - I always thought it would make a great scene in a romance to see a couple sitting out on the hood of the car beside an airplane runway, wondering where they're going, imagining it's taking them to far off places. But then later in the story, after drama and heartbreak unfolds (because it usually does), he returns to that same runway field, longing for those memories with his girl.
Have a listen...
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
YAY, Strawberry Wine. I do like country music but I tend to love the 90's stuff I grew up on best. Country songs would make some great novels. I love this topic! I often think of story ideas based on songs. :)
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I'm most definitely not from Texas, but country music runs through my veins as well ♥
ReplyDeleteThis post is EVERYTHING and holy moly a big ol' yes to all of these songs. There's just something about country music that translates so, so well into a story. I would read every one of these!
I had a summer where I was completely addicted to country music, and many of these were on my daily playlist! I completely agree about Springsteen, Dirt Road Anthem, and Crazy Girl. Great picks!
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