Country Talk

Taylor Swift’s “Safe and Sound” Goes Viral

Hunger Games Fans Largely Love the Film’s Theme Song

Fans of The Hunger Games have been eagerly awaiting the film for months, and even though we’ve had several trailers to hold us over until the movie gets here, we haven’t really been able to get a feel for the type of mood established within the movie. While Taylor Swift’s theme song for the movie, “Safe and Sound” featuring The Civil Wars is not directed by Gary Ross, I think we can expect the mood from the film to be similar to the one felt within her music video.

The video of “Safe and Sound” went online this week, and the single has already sold more than 500,000 copies. Some have compared it to Loreena McKennit, some say it has a country feel while others maintain it’s more of a slow southern rock ballad; I, however, think the drum beats featured in the song, along with the various pauses throughout the song, help create a very post-Apocalyptic ballad that sounds a bit like the dandelion in the dust—the hope within the desperation and bleakness of the world.

When I saw the mockingjay pin in the video, I must admit that I found myself breaking out in goose bumps! If you are a fellow fan of the series, did you spot any other references to the book in the video? The location was obviously the woods behind the Seam, in which Katniss hunts, including her lake—though I did wonder for a little while if they might have been the actual arena. There are also berries in the video, representing, perhaps, the very berries that Katniss and Peeta defy the Capitol with during the very last arena scene.

What about the home in the video? Could it be Katniss’s home? I thought so at first, though it seems bigger than I pictured it. I was also wondering if it could be the abandoned home in the woods that she and Gale know about, though that’s not present until the second books, so I doubt they would include it in this video for the first film.

What was your take on the video? I really enjoyed it. It was my first time hearing The Civil Wars and I look forward to more, but not as much as I look forward to the film itself. We only have a month left, and tickets go on sale at noon on the 22^nd of February!

When Did “Country Girl” Become Synonymous with “Pole Dancer”?

I blinked, and dusty leather turned into scant lace...

When I was a tween, I liked all kinds of music—my mom’s country, Motown, and oldies, my dad’s hard rock and classics. When it came to country music, I liked it pretty much as country as you could get—from Merle Haggard to Reba, Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks, I loved most of it all. During this time, most of the people my age did not like country music; it was considered old people music, and definitely one of those guilty pleasures you kept to yourself at age thirteen!

And back then, the only singer who showed a bit of skin and cleavage was really Dolly Parton, and that was just her trademark. Most other country songstresses had lots of modesty and, dare I say it, self-respect. I don’t believe on judging people by what they wear, no; but I also think that something has shifted in our culture, something dark and scary, and it has to do with how women make it as performers in the entertainment industry.

Everything seems to be porn-ified these days. With the exception of Taylor Swift—who very well may have it demanded of her when she is older, I must sadly admit—nearly every female country singer I’ve seen on my mother’s CMT channel dresses very revealingly, with lots of cleavage, short shorts or skirts, and futuristic layers of hair coloring.

And it’s not limited to the singers themselves. Even their songs are pornish. “Country girl, shake it for me, girl,” I hear one man sing, while another sexually croons about his whiskey girl. Being drunk in the middle of the night and needing someone now has replaced the oddly more feministic, “Is There Life Out There?” Riding a cowboy is now the anthem we play for young love, rather than declaring that such love is “deeper than the holler.” Really? If this is musical progress, I hate to hear what it’s like in another ten years. There may be country-rap genres by the time my little girl is grown, and while I don’t even want to think about what kind of woofers you’ll need for that, I can already imagine the 99 kinds of problems that Lady Antebellum is going to have.

Other than eating locally and growing food, I don’t usually call for a sentimental return of yesteryear; in fact, I think many people who do are just those with hateful thoughts hoping to return to days when they held power as a class or race. But in this case, I really do miss what country music used to be—something to enjoy at barbecues with my family rather than booty dancing ballads for the club.

Making the Choice: Living In the Country

"I like the country. In my opinion it has more benefits than drawbacks."

Choosing where to live is always a personal choice. Some people choose to live in cities because of the convenience or cultural atmosphere while others choose to live in rural areas because they prefer the wide open spaces.

I prefer to live in the more rural areas; not quite backwoods but here is a bit of a drive for serious shopping. Making the choice to live in the country requires a little forethought about how it will affect your lifestyle. If you are looking for a slower pace, a little more peace and quiet then the country could be the place for you. Often home prices in rural areas are cheaper and offer a lower monthly mortgage payment. While smaller payments are all well and good, you do after to consider what costs may rise. Will you have to travel further to get to work? If so, you gas consumption may go up negating some of the savings.

Owning a home always comes with responsibilities; property taxes, yard work, home maintenance, etcetera. Owning a home outside of town can potentially add a few more like well and septic systems.

There are also issues of weather when selecting a country home. Is the climate prone to snow? If so, are the local roads maintained by the county or you? Will you have the ability to get to work after a snowstorm? Or will you have to take the day off and hope to make it up later? Will your budget accommodate having to by a snowplow or snow blower to make a path? Or are you going to be outside shoveling away? Is the home in a flood zone? Will severe rains leave you camping out on the roof? These are little things that can have a big impact on the choice to live countryside.

I like the country. In my opinion it has more benefits than drawbacks. I can elect to grow my own food. My pets have more space. I can go for days without seeing the neighbors but when I feel like chatting I’m always welcome. My water supply is my own and is untouched by the chemicals cities use to make the water drinkable. The air is clean and just keeping up with the lawn and trees provide me a forced fitness routine.

Yes, there are definitely good things to say about living in an out of the way green oasis.