Thursday, August 22, 2013
All Things Considered...
With the changes in my life over the past year and the changes to be coming in the next few months or so, I am not looking for a serious, committed relationship right now. What I want is a friend with benefits. That's not complicated. It's great for those involved. I'm not making this post into a personal ad or anything, it's just something I needed to get out there because not many people really know that is for what I am looking. Now it's here and people that know me can find it if they look hard enough.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Musical Guilty Pleasures: Cowboy Troy
First off, let me say I don't like using the term "guilty pleasure" for Cowboy Troy. I genuinely like his music. What I am hoping is to convince those of you who have not heard his music to give it a chance and maybe add some of his tunes to your iPod. So read on as I tell you a little bit about the creator of hick-hop, Muzik Mafia member and the master of Tae Kwon Flo and Tongue-Fu.
Let me start with "I Play Chicken with the Train". This song has jamming country-rock music led by hip-hop style vocals. Wild and crazy country duo Big & Rich, who have played big roles in Troy's career, join in on the fun with this song and it is one to play loudly. By far, the line "I'm big and I'm black, clickity-clack, and I'll make the train jump the track" is the highlight of the song. CBT's song "Hick Chick" is a rowdy and fun song expressing a love of the America's good ol' girls. The album version of "Hick Chick" featured 2007 Nashville Star winner Angela Hacker. An even bigger guest joins Troy on the track "Buffalo Stampede" and it is an unexpected one, to say the least. M. Shadows, vocalist for heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, provides accompanying vocals to Troy's hip-hop lyrics.
Cowboy Troy isn't all fun and partying though. He tackles some serious issues as well. The track "Man with the Microphone" addresses everything from world hunger to child abuse to the perpetual violence in the Middle East. These are all issues so many ignore day in and day out. Troy is not a multi-platinum artist, but if he can bring the attention of even a handful of people to these issues, it's a victory. Big & Rich join CBT on the track "Wrap Around the World" which simply asks us all to put our differences aside and be nice to each other. Troy even busts out his Mandarin Chinese for "Wrap Around the World" which is beyond impressive. And then there is the tear-jerking duet with Sarah Buxton, "If You Don't Want to Love Me". I can't really relate to falling out of love or not feeling loved, but I know there are many out there who can.
Cowboy Troy also uses his personal experiences in some of his songs. "How Can You Hate Me?" highlights those songs. First off it is an in-your-face assault on those who wanted Troy to fail from day one. It also brings to light the racism that still exists in America as Troy raps about the death threats he received from the less tolerant and enlightened folks in America. But none of this ever deterred Troy. Instead it motivated him. As he says in this song, "Wanna put out the fire? Better bring more water!"
Troy discusses the trials and tribulations he faced and overcame during his time in the music industry on "Paranoid Like Me ('Tis the Season of Discontent)". Basically he lets us know the music industry is shady and while people are smiling and shaking your hand, they are holding a knife behind their back with the other hand. So basically you have to have the Stone Cold Steve Austin attitude: don't trust anyone.
Cowboy Troy also co-hosted the fifth season of Nashville Star, performed on the finale of the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars and performed at the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Cowboy Troy's music is both fun and serious and a great yawl-ternative to everything else. He brought together two styles of music which destined to stay apart forever. I ask you all to check out some of his songs with an open mind. You may just find yourself adding him to your iPod and tapping your feet along with the beat.
Thanks once again my loyal readers for giving me a few minutes of your time. I truly appreciate it. As always, if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.
"Like" my page: www.facebook.com/JTLovecraft
Follow me on Twitter: @JTLovecraft
Let me start with "I Play Chicken with the Train". This song has jamming country-rock music led by hip-hop style vocals. Wild and crazy country duo Big & Rich, who have played big roles in Troy's career, join in on the fun with this song and it is one to play loudly. By far, the line "I'm big and I'm black, clickity-clack, and I'll make the train jump the track" is the highlight of the song. CBT's song "Hick Chick" is a rowdy and fun song expressing a love of the America's good ol' girls. The album version of "Hick Chick" featured 2007 Nashville Star winner Angela Hacker. An even bigger guest joins Troy on the track "Buffalo Stampede" and it is an unexpected one, to say the least. M. Shadows, vocalist for heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, provides accompanying vocals to Troy's hip-hop lyrics.
Cowboy Troy isn't all fun and partying though. He tackles some serious issues as well. The track "Man with the Microphone" addresses everything from world hunger to child abuse to the perpetual violence in the Middle East. These are all issues so many ignore day in and day out. Troy is not a multi-platinum artist, but if he can bring the attention of even a handful of people to these issues, it's a victory. Big & Rich join CBT on the track "Wrap Around the World" which simply asks us all to put our differences aside and be nice to each other. Troy even busts out his Mandarin Chinese for "Wrap Around the World" which is beyond impressive. And then there is the tear-jerking duet with Sarah Buxton, "If You Don't Want to Love Me". I can't really relate to falling out of love or not feeling loved, but I know there are many out there who can.
Cowboy Troy also uses his personal experiences in some of his songs. "How Can You Hate Me?" highlights those songs. First off it is an in-your-face assault on those who wanted Troy to fail from day one. It also brings to light the racism that still exists in America as Troy raps about the death threats he received from the less tolerant and enlightened folks in America. But none of this ever deterred Troy. Instead it motivated him. As he says in this song, "Wanna put out the fire? Better bring more water!"
Troy discusses the trials and tribulations he faced and overcame during his time in the music industry on "Paranoid Like Me ('Tis the Season of Discontent)". Basically he lets us know the music industry is shady and while people are smiling and shaking your hand, they are holding a knife behind their back with the other hand. So basically you have to have the Stone Cold Steve Austin attitude: don't trust anyone.
Cowboy Troy also co-hosted the fifth season of Nashville Star, performed on the finale of the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars and performed at the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Cowboy Troy's music is both fun and serious and a great yawl-ternative to everything else. He brought together two styles of music which destined to stay apart forever. I ask you all to check out some of his songs with an open mind. You may just find yourself adding him to your iPod and tapping your feet along with the beat.
Thanks once again my loyal readers for giving me a few minutes of your time. I truly appreciate it. As always, if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.
"Like" my page: www.facebook.com/JTLovecraft
Follow me on Twitter: @JTLovecraft
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