Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

Got ya. I’m just kidding. I just wanted your attention. Box drivers are OK, I guess. Again, just kidding. Hey, you know flatbedders, we’re always climbing on top (of loads) and using our arms, legs and toys, I mean tools – to tarp and secure, of course. Watch it VGrumpy. There are impressionable minds reading this. There are? Who knows.

ANYWAY. I love – love – but that’s not exactly what I want to talk about. Let’s talk about country music. Yup, I said country music. A new topic for ‘ole VGrumpy. Do you know who the man in the photo is? If you do, you’re a fan, if not, that’s OK. More about him later.

Do you enjoy country music? Most truckers certainly do.  Nascar, country music, fried chicken and beer – right? Personally it depends on my mood. I also love Sinatra and the standards. A little Elvis sometimes. Maybe some 50′s stuff. Chicago, the Beatles and others on occasion. The Eagles and Bon Jovi. But recently I’ve been “hooked” on country music via the “Highway”,  Sirius Satellite channel 60. I’m sure there’s an XM equivalent. 

I’m still kind of turned off by the whiny bouncing fiddley ”my dog done got run over and my girlfriend wants to drive my pickup to WalMart” kind of nonsense. But have you heard the song by Jamie O’ Neil? “Shiver, tremble, I never – no I never once felt so00 (my emphasis) much – it shakes me – how you take me – deeper than I’ve ever been – it’s to the core – under my skin – I shiver – I’m overwhelmed – you smile I melt – and somewhere inside, oh baby, I.”  Holy moly!

How about her other hit song (Feel like a Woman) –  Baby, lay me down on our bed – touch my body like only you can – kiss me softly & take away my breath – slow it down and make it real – cause tonight I want to feel – like a woman. For the guys out there, can I get a “rebel” yell. Come on, nobody’s look’n. “Saaa-looood.” Thanks.

This song is sizzlin hot! And it ain’t Brooks & Dunn or George Strait, for darn toot’n sure.  I almost drove off the interstate when I first heard it. If this is “country”, well I’m stick’n around a while to listen to more.  It is a prime example of the second wave of  ”new” country music. Far from Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Heck – even actor and Academy-Award director Kevin Costner has a touring country band. I heard one song and I had no idea it was him. It was good. I was surprised. As Alan Jackson sang in one of his songs “He’s gone country!” Because of what I call this new “tweek” in country music, I like it better now than ever, whether Costner or Kelly Pickler sings it. It’s sexier and “edgier” and a real nice change from the traditional stuff. And wouldn’t you agree we all need a lot more lov’n, kiss’n and a hold’n this New Year?  Right ladies? Ok, so who is that guy in the photo?

Darious Rucker.  Did you get it? Cool. The newest addition to the “He’s gone country” star roster. A star because his new album is a clear best seller. “Don’t think I don’t think about it”  became the first number one hit by a solo African-American artist since 1983.  ”It won’t be like this for long” is a fav of mine. It’s a great tune. 

And where did he come from? He, over a two decade period, was the lead singer for the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which sold an estimated 20 million albums. When I first heard him on the radio, I said wait a sec, this dude sounds real familiar. He’s got a highly distinctive voice quality. Naw, it couldn’t be him. I never bothered to look at the display on my Sirius. Even if I had I wouldn’t have made the connection. Darious Rucker. Just this weekend, I heard an interview with him and the light went on. He’s awesome, and so’s Jamie O’Neill. Give country a try, again. Enjoy. 

To hear his songs or read more about him go to: http://www.myspace.com/dariusrucker

To hear more Jamie O’Neil go here: http://www.myspace.com/jamieoneal

For more Jamie O’Neil lyrics go to: http://www.metrolyrics.com/like-a-woman-lyrics-jamie-oneal.html

The photo credit is: http://www.dariusrucker.com/