August 25, 2019 – How many times in the past few months have I said I am one week out from things calming down? I can’t remember, but a lot. And every time I say that, I get yet another bunch of hard things to deal with coming at me. This week will be another of those. It makes me appreciate Sunday night for what it is – the last few hours before another of those weeks.
But I do have something to look forward to. Lana Del Rey’s new album is supposed to be out on Friday, the 30th, or so the news says. And Taylor Swift, who I generally look forward to releases from too, released her new album Lover this past Friday. Taylor released the full album to YouTube, so I listened to the full album on Friday. Taylor’s record is very much a pop record, but at the same time, it has a lot of human elements, similar her album called Red, the transition record she did before her breakout pop record, 1989. I want her to find her way back, back to country, but I guess that’s something best done in baby steps. The new record has a duet with the Dixie Chicks, which is definitely a nod to country. The record is a happy thing, mostly, songs even hinting that Taylor might get married. I haven’t listened to it long enough to have a favorite, but on first listen I thought this song stood out.
Taylor was interviewed this morning on CBS morning show. The interview was filmed in her Nashville home, and frankly I was more interested in seeing her décor. We have a similar taste in furnishings; I truly love everything she has in that room. If she ever has a garage sale, I hope I know about it!
The interview is typical Taylor – Taylor giving playfully sarcastic answers in really good make-up, but I did find the end interesting. The interviewer asked Taylor what she will be doing in 20 years. I don’t think a music star volunteers a response to that question, and Taylor is no different. But she was quite extreme in her non-answer. She said she doesn’t think beyond six months in the future, and only that much time because you have to plan a tour; she said thinking in terms of 20 years freaks her out. Taylor said in her business she can’t take the future for granted, but is grateful the fans have given her what she has.
That kinda matches something Lana Del Rey said this past week too. Lana said something to the effect of she wanted to go do nothing. People took it as a statement that her upcoming album might be her last. It seems to be a reference to a lyric in her pre-released song, a song which I’ve decided not to listen to until the whole record is out. I think the songs are better heard together; certainly Taylor Swift’s are on this record. I didn’t like the early releases from Taylor, but enjoyed listening to the entire album, even those early-released songs. I
think I’ll take a cue from these ladies. I think I’ll stop trying to think that any particular week is the last week of hard things before I get to do nothing, at least for a little while. And in the meantime, I’ll enjoy the music, because, thankfully, music is coming at me too.