I'm Loving Every Minute of It...

     I didn't realize until this weekend that I was in desperate need of some new music. In the midst of Christmas songs and country radio, I was yearning for a new sound. I found it yesterday. John Mayer world premiered his new song on Facebook live this weekend and as the lyrics say, "...I'm loving every minute of it..." The simplicity of Love on the Weekend is just that, it's about squeezing more time in with your main squeeze... on the weekend. That's it, just a sample love song. The song is the perfect mix of the ethereal beauty of  Heartbreak Warfare (2009- Battle Studies) and the breezy nonchalance of Wildfire (2013- Paradise Valley), I'm excited to see where Mayer's new sound will take us in 2017. 

A Note About You and I

Lady Gaga's been the buzz the last few days, since showing up to her MTV Video Music Award performance dressed up as her male alter ego, (and apparently former lover) Jo Calderone. As she plunked the piano (very entertainingly) and belted out one of my favorite Gaga songs, You and I, there seemed to be more than a few disconnects. For one thing, she calls her love interest in the song, Nebraska. When I'm listening to the song, I hear Nebraska, and I think something like this:




A man like this looks like he is from Nebraska. He looks like the kind of man that will tell you, "Sit back down where you belong, in the corner of my bar with your high heels on. Sit back down on the couch were we made love and you said to me, something. Something about this place..." A man like this looks like he means business. Plus, he has a cowboy hat. He can probably kick someone's ass, then tenderly kiss his lady. So, I was a bit surprised when Gaga appeared like this for the song:

Am I seeing a My Cousin Vinny -era Joe Pesci here? At least in the strange music video for the song, she looks like she's sitting in a cornfield. Yes, note that our new buddy Jo, also taking Gaga's Sept. issue of Japanese vogue interview, is in the video (as Gaga's love interest?) Please note the doctor guy trying to bring Gaga back to life in the video looks much like a cool Nebraska guy. And during a few points, she is all over him, and vice versa, plus she marries him. Is he the Nebraska guy? Who is "Jo" really? And why does Gaga look like a mermaid? Color me confused.

But, I'm getting a somewhat country-themed vibe with the video. Not so much with the performance. Plus, Gaga dances in a barn, wearing high heels. This element was completely lacking in the VMA performance, which was ironically, in my opinion, very "New York."

To further shock my heart, NY's Z100 played the song tonight, with "New York" subbed in for Nebraska. This completely changes the meaning of the song. Yes, "Jo" looks very new work, and in that vain it works. But this song is about loving a strong, sexy, country man. And for all the costumage in the world, Gaga cannot be that man, but she will be the powerful woman singing about him.

Real Men Sing About Their Love

The Spice Girls empowered us with the relationship-starting anthem, "Wannabe." So we expect the men folk to get it together. Here are 6 men that make it blatantly clear in their music they want to be your man.

6. Love Soon ~ John Mayer
chorus:
so come and face it
You can cross the line whenever you want to
I'm calling it love soon
close your mind and waste some time if you have to
I'm calling it love soon
it's not about you now
it's what we are

5. I'm Yours ~ Jason Mraz
chorus:
I won't hesitate no more, no more,
It cannot wait, I'm sure.
There's no need to complicate,
Our time is short,
This is our fate,
I'm yours.

4. I'm Your Man ~ Michael Buble
chorus:
And I'd fall at your feet,
And I'd howl at your beauty,
Like a dog in heat.
And I'd claw at your heart,
And I'd tear at your sheet,
I'd say please, please,
I'm your man.

3. Our Story ~ Ryan Cabrera
chorus:
Its a good day for me,
Its a good day,
To take a chance and let you in to see,
Exactly who I am,
and if you understand me,

And if you can roll with it,
I will be your man.

2. Your Man ~ Josh Turner
chorus:
Baby lock the door and turn the lights down low,
Put some music on that's soft and slow,
Baby we ain't got no place to go.
I hope you understand.

I've been thinking 'bout this all day long,
Never felt a feeling quite this strong,
I can't believe how much it turns me on,
Just to be your man.

1. I'll Be Your Man ~ James Blunt
chorus:
Slide over here let your hands feel the way,
There’s no better method to communicate.
Girl stop your talking words just get in the way,
I’ll be your man.

So baby come over from the end of the sofa.
I’ll be your man, I’ll be your man!