That's My Girl

I was watching Grey's Anatomy about 2 years ago and I heard this song that was so captivating and the voice melodic in a non-showy kinda way. I remember googling the song, seeing the name Brandi Carlile and thinking she is one of those random artists that I would not bother myself with. 

At the time I was madly in love with Vanessa Carlton's Harmonium, Louise Carver's Saved By The Moonlight and Adele's 19. These albums were my favorite and no artist could take their place, then. Little did I know that a year later Adele will reintroduce me to Brandi and a love affair ensued. 

Two years later Adele released a follow up album to 19 and she took over the world to a point of even annoyance as everybody just had to "love" Adele and not forgetting the gays who just had to make sure you know they love her. 

Adele and Zahara were the A to Z of music in 2012. 

On Adele's 21 only three songs caught my attention, One And Only, Hiding My Heart, I found A Boy and If It Hadn't Been For Love. It so happens that, with the exception of One and Only, the songs do not appear in the original album release but are bonus tracks. Two are actually covers of other people's songs. If I hadn't Been For Love was originally sung by The Steel Drivers. 

When I read that Hiding My Heart was actually a Brandi Carlile original I knew I just had to find out who this Brandi Carlile woman is. Boy am I glad I did. 

Seeing as Brandi came first and Adele covered her song and has the same kind of sound as her, I could go on a limb here and say Adele borrowed a lot from Brandi. 

Upon listening to many of Brandi Carlile songs you can hear a lot of what Adele sounds like from them. While Adele is a prolific singer in her own right and I love her to death, it was interesting to learn that she is not as unique as I thought she was. 

Brandi might not have achieved the same level of success as Adele but like someone like Janis Joplin, who died at 27 in the 70s but her music influenced a generation, Brandi may very well have influenced of a re-emergence of appreciation for substance over hype in music which Adele embodies so immaculately     

Brandi has released 5 albums since 2005 but it is her 2007 release that has garnered her some recognition in mainstream media and I have to admit it also happens to be my favourite. 

The Story was released to moderate attention in the US but the usage of the single "The Story" in tv adverts and tv shows gave the album the exposure it needed.

In South Africa, the song The Story was featured in a Tracker tv advert. 

My favourite track from the The Story though has to be "Turpentine" . I love this track. 

The song goes: 

I watch you grow away from me in photographs

And memories like spies

And salt betrays my eyes again

I started losing sleep and gaining weight

And wishing I was was ten again

So I could be your friend again

These days we go to waste like wine

That's turned to turpentine

It's six AM and I'm all messed up

I didn't mean to waste your time

So I'll fall back in line

But I'm warning you we're growing up

I heard you found some pretty words to say

You found your little game to play

And there's no one allowed in

Then just when we believe we could be great

Reality it permeates

And conquers from within again

These days we go to waste like wine

That's turned to turpentine

It's six AM and I'm all messed up

I didn't mean to waste your time

So I'll fall back in line

But I'm warning you we're growing up

We're OK I know we're OK

These days we go to waste like wine

That's turned to turpentine

It's six AM and I'm all messed up

I didn't mean to waste your time

So I'll fall back in line

But I'm warning you we're growing up

I am a huge fan of Brandi Carlile and am happy to introduce her to you if you had never heard of her before. Like I said The Story (released 2007) is my favorite album of hers but she has 4 others.

• Brandi Carlile (released 2005) 
• Giving Up The Ghost (2009)
• Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony (2011)
• Bear Creek (2012)

While the music of the Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Zahara continue to rely on our music lovers' insatiable need for instant gratifications that relies heavily on hype and fizzle out when that hype fades, one can rest easily knowing that there are people who are still making timeless music that manages to influence a movement and reinvigorate a dying appreciation.   

Guy Adams of The Independent wrote of Adele;

There are two approaches to the business of being noticed by today's record-buying public. The first ... revolves around oodles of hype and ever-more preposterous wardrobe selections. 

The second ... requires ... the confidence to let your music do the talking... Amazingly, given preconceived notions about America's supposed preference for style over substance, it is the second of these two sales techniques which appears to be working better.

I could not agree with Guy more, in a worldwide context. Nobody will go back and buy a Beyonce or Lady Gaga CD 5 years after its release. These pop-culture artist have to rely on the hype and gimmicks to stay relevant. The Brandi Carliles, Adeles, Amy Winehouse and Zonkes of our generation will remain relevant for as long as their music still exists even even long after they are gone from this world. 

For that I am grateful for their talent and show them all the appreciation I can give because for some of them they might not get the red carpet glory that the mainstream popular artists get. 

Brandi Carlile, you are my girl and thank you for your beautiful music that has become a major part of my life.