Best of Music: January 2021

New Year, new music! Welcome to my brand new blog series – each month, I’ll be giving you an insight into the songs that I loved that month. If that’s not enough, you can also find me on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/mtutrbufty0z7aw39fcf8j0tn where you’ll find full playlists from each month, including January 2021. Alright, on with the show!

 

I Choose Lonely – Adam Doleac

Where has Adam Doleac been all my life? I’ve been keeping my eye on Adam for a few months now, and he’s certainly one to watch, with a voice akin to Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey and other great tracks including Famous and Whiskey’s Fine. I Choose Lonely is my favourite so far, and definitely deserves to be a hit. Like many great country songs, this one is fun of honest and relatable lyrics, covered with a beautiful country pop melody. Fans of Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett, this one’s for you. 

https://www.nashvilletv.nl/2020/04/17/adam-doleac-brengt-ep-famous-uit/

 

 

Talk Me Out Of It – Olivia Holt

Don’t write off this former Disney star – if the likes of Miley, Demi, Aly & AJ, and Jonas Brothers have taught us anything, it’s that Disney Channel stars have a habit of releasing some amazing music once they’re free of the network’s constraints. Olivia has done just that with Talk Me Out Of It, a track that starts off slow and buildings in a very danceable song with a catchy beat and playful lyrics. Like the first releases from the aforementioned stars after they left Disney, this song is an evident attempt to break away from her Disney image, but it works. If you like anything that’s on commercial pop radio, you’ll like this. 

https://soundcloud.com/oliviaholtmusic/talk-me-out-of-it

Grew Apart – Logan Mize feat Donovan Woods

There’s many reasons to love this song. 1) The content: here’s a song about getting hurt and still taking the high road. Thank you, Logan and Donovan, for being good role models. 2) The artists: it’s not all that common for a male artist to feature another male artist on a track, but I’m here for it. Two fantastic voices blended well together. 3) The lyrics: I was obviously in the mood for some great lyrics this month because this is another one full of them. Check it out: “Whenever somebody says your name, I don't break, I just say: It's for the best, it's over now, Wasn't anyone's fault, it didn't work out. She's a good girl, just wasn't the one, We wanted different things, we had a good run. She's better off, and so am I, It is what it is, yeah, it's alright. I don't tell 'em how you broke my heart, I just tell 'em that we grew apart.” More of this, please. 

https://www.amazon.com/Apart-Logan-feat-Donovan-Woods/dp/B08775JJ5Z

 

Hecha Pa’ Mi – Boza

And we already have our first surprise of the year. Reggaeton? I’ll be honest, for someone who claims to love music as much as I do, could I have told you the names of 5 reggaeton artists this time last year? No. Can I tell you the names of 5 reggaeton artists this year? You bet. I do speak a little Spanish, but not enough to understand the majority of what is being said at the speed in these songs, so this type of music is so easy to have on in the background for when I’m working, or to pay attention to when I practice my Spanish (although I’m sure some of the less PG lyrics in these songs are a little different from what I was learning at AS level!)

https://www.top40.nl/boza/hecha-pa-mi-36048

 

How Have We Never – Steve Moakler

Ladies and gentlemen, looks like we already have a contender for my favourite song of the year. I know, I know, there’ll probably be lots of competition still to come, but I honestly adore this song, so if there’s one song you check out from this list, make it this one. How Have We Never is everything you could want in a good country song, and I think that applies to both those who enjoy modern country and those who are more traditional. You’ve got some real country twang from Steve’s voice, really nice instrumentals, and those lyrics, my oh my. “How have we never been the last to leave on Friday night? Slowly killed a whole red bottle of wine,  Lose ourselves, run across that line, After all this time, how have we never walked out, leaned up against your car? Doesn't seem like it would be that hard.  Let our hearts beat a little bit faster, I gotta ask her, how have we never?” A must for fans of Jon Pardi, Midland, or just good music in general. 

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Jeans-Steve-Moakler/dp/B07ZL64FXL

 

Just As Much – Delaney Jane, Virginia To Vegas

Looking for some pop music with added spice? I’ve got you. Delaney Jane and Virginia To Vegas are just killing the game right now. Last year, I loved Delaney’s Want You Now and Virginia To Vegas Just Friends, and you’re telling me they’ve now joined forces? Delaney Jane has that indie girl voice that we all love nowadays, and Virginia To Vegas reminds me of The Chainsmokers both in style and vocal. And I know this isn’t even a country song, but I have to say I love the lyrics too: “I know I shouldn't put my hands on your waist, I shouldn't kiss you but I miss how you taste and I need it, 'Cause I still hate your f- guts, But I miss you just as much.” Same. 

https://soundcloud.com/delaney-jane/just-as-much-feat-virginia-to

Love Like We Used To – Troy Cartwright

Anyone who knows me knows that Taylor Swift’s Last Kiss is one of my favourite songs of all time – it talks about being caught off guard by a break-up, and ‘never [thinking] we’d have a last kiss, never [imagining] we’d end like this.’ That is about the closest I get to crying over a song, and always gets me thinking – is it better to know in advance that you’re going to break-up, so you can treasure those last moments, that last kiss? Troy Cartwright answered that question for me in Love Like We Used To, where he resigns himself to knowing it has to end, but maybe after just one more night – “Tomorrow we can say our goodbyes, but tonight can we love…like we used to.” Like some of the other songs in this post, it’s a beautiful song wrapped up in a digestible modern country song, and I have to say, it’s helped make my decision – I’d rather know. 

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Like-Used-Troy-Cartwright/dp/B07SZP71FQ

 

Down To One – Luke Bryan

Down to (the last) one. I love a good surprise. If you asked my opinions on Luke Bryan, I’d say I know of him, I’ve listened to his songs, but none of them would rank among my favourites. This song might make me change that statement – I really love Down To One. This song really makes you feel some kind of way. It’s relatable, has good lyrics, and a catchy melody, and I can’t get the rise and fall of Luke’s voice as he sings “Thinkin’ I want more than just one night out here with you alone,” out of my head.  You really can’t have a bad day with this on. 

https://www.amazon.com/Born-Here-Live-Die/dp/B084QLXFTP

One month down, and already so many good songs. I hope you enjoyed reading today’s post and finding out about some of my favourite songs from the month – you’ll find a full playlist of all the songs I loved right here: Ciara's Country Spotify, and I’ll be back with even more next month! I’d love to know what songs you loved this month, so feel free to get in touch on Twitter @CiarasCountry. Thanks so much for reading!