February 12 - My First Rodeo

Phillip scored awesome tickets to see Hot Chelle Rae at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo today, so we drove down around 11am to catch the 1pm performance. What I didn’t realize (and truthfully, neither did he) was that the show wasn’t actually starting at 1pm, but rather, would take place after the PRCA rodeo - which started at 1pm sharp. Consequently, I had my first rodeo experience today. :) Glad I wore my boots!

I’ve always thought it would be fun to watch the rodeo live, and the real thing lived up to my expectations. My favorite events were the Mutton Bustin’ (where the little kids would hang on tightly to rambunctious sheep), and the Bareback Riding, (where adult cowboys would hang on tightly to rambunctious horses…) - which I just now realized are quite similar events. When Phillip and I entered the AT&T Center and found our seats, we quickly noticed the lack of a stage and the presence of horses, which challenged our assumption that the concert started at 1pm. Thankfully, we stayed to watch the fun and I gained an education in rodeo. (I think he did, too, even though he’s a born-and-raised Texan.)

Truthfully, Phillip and I both expected to see some of the rodeo before the concert, but it was great to be able to experience the entire thing. Around 3:30pm, the rotating stage was setup and Hot Chelle Rae came out to the stage in the cab of a pick-up truck to start their set. The band was a lot of fun to watch, despite the fact that probably 1/3 of the audience was made up of screaming teenage girls. I was thoroughly impressed with the lead singer, who had an incredibly wide range and strong voice, and I was more-than-pleased when they whipped out this Kelly Clarkson anthem. Who knew I’d hear Since You’ve Been Gone performed live twice in one week?

Despite my initial surprise that I was, in fact, going to the rodeo, I had a great time experiencing this great Texas tradition. Yeehaw!

*Update: Tumblr decided to upload the video upside-down, and I don’t know how to change that. Awesome.

February 8 - Thankful

We just returned from watching Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger tour, and I am completely blown away by her talent! Kelly has LONG been my all-time favorite artist - I mean, my car is named after her - and I had never had the opportunity to see her live until tonight! Shawn and Marianne bought me the ticket as an early birthday present, and the three of us went with Phillip to the concert.

Matt Nathanson opened (I mean really, could it GET any better?!?), and played ALL of my favorites, including the gorgeous duet of Run. He is so incredibly funny, and really has a blast on stage. He’s also wicked hot, which always helps. ;)

Kelly’s performances were incredible - that woman has PIPES - and I am always so impressed by the depth of her lyrics and the emotional quality behind the performances (aside for Einstein, of course… which appeals to the nerd in me, but is also completely ridiculous.). Along with many of my favorite KC classics (How I Feel, The Trouble With Love, Mr. Know-It-All, Miss Independent, and Because of You, among others…), Kelly also belted out three AMAZING covers, including Carrie Underwood’s I Know You Won’t. I am still completely on a high from this concert, and probably will be for weeks. :)

The ONLY song from her newest album I wish she’d sang was You Can’t Win, which is a strong contender for my all-time-favorite Kelly songs. The lyrics are brilliant, and the song is very motivating, in Kelly’s typical in-your-face fashion. Enjoy!

If you go, they’ll say you’re following
If you don’t, then you’re too good for them
If you smile, you must be ignorant
If you don’t, what’s your problem
If you’re down, so ungrateful, and
if your happy, why so selfish?
And You Can’t Win, no
You Can’t Win, no

The one who doesn’t quite fit in
Underdressed under your skin, oh
A walking disaster
Every time you try to fly
you end up falling out of line, oh
You can’t, You Can’t Win, no

If you’re thin, poor little walking disease
If you’re not, they’re all screaming obese
If you’re straight, why aren’t you married yet?
If you’re gay, why aren’t you waving a flag?
If it’s wrong, you’ll never hit
If it’s right, you’ll always miss
You Can’t Win, no,
You Can’t Win, no

The one who doesn’t quite fit in
Underdressed under your skin, oh
A walking disaster
Every time you try to fly
you end up falling out of line, oh
You can’t, You Can’t Win, no

And you try, you try so hard
But it’s wearing out your heart
And you play, you play the game
But you pay, you pay for it
You Can’t Win, no,
You Can’t Win, no

If you speak, you’ll only piss them off
If you don’t, your another robot
If you stop, they’ll just say you quit
If you don’t, you might lose your sh..
You Can’t Win, no
You Can’t Win, no

You Can’t Win, no

The one who doesn’t quite fit in
Underdressed under your skin, oh
A walking disaster
Every time you try to fly
you end up falling out of line, oh
You can’t, You Can’t Win, no

I can’t win

The one who doesn’t quite fit in
Underdressed under your skin, oh
A walking disaster
Every time you try to fly
you end up falling out of line, oh
You can’t, You Can’t Win, no

You can’t, you can’t, You Can’t Win, no
You can’t, you can’t, You Can’t Win, no
You can’t, you can’t, You Can’t Win, no
You can’t, you can’t, You Can’t Win, no

Thanks, Drea, for highlighting one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists!

Enjoy!

dailycrack:

Kelly Clarkson - Beautiful Disaster (Live)

I know some beautiful disasters. I know some not so beautiful disasters. But you know what? Sometimes you just can’t help yourself. You KNOW when you shouldn’t be with someone…you know when someone is so self destructive that they will never let your relationship work…but sometimes you just have to get out of your system. And hopefully, every once in a while, those beautiful disasters turn themselves around.

Did I mention beautiful disasters don’t only occur in romantic relationships?

There are not very many artists who I am willing to listen to live because, let’s face it, most artists now a day reek like week old garbage when singing live. Alicia Keys, John Legend, Prince, Kelly Clarkson, Shakira - all have wonderful live cds out there. For most of the rest…I’ll stick to their studio albums. But this…one of the few songs I prefer the live recording to the studio one. Go on with your bad self Ms. Clarkson.

-CaliDre

Kelly Clarkson - Beautiful Disaster (Live)

He drowns in his dreams
An exquisite extreme I know
He’s as damned as he seems
And more heaven than a heart could hold
And if I try to save him
My whole world would cave in
It just ain’t right
Lord, it just ain’t right

Oh and I don’t know
I don’t know what he’s after
But he’s so beautiful
He’s such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Lord, would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster

He’s magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
But do I try to change him
So hard not to blame him
Hold me tight
Baby, hold me tight

Oh and I don’t know
I don’t know what he’s after
But he’s so beautiful
He’s such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster

I’m longing for love and the logical
But he’s only happy hysterical
I’m searching for some kind of miracle
Waited so long
Waited so long

He’s soft to the touch
But frayed at the end he breaks
He’s never enough
And still he’s more than I can take

Oh and I don’t know
I don’t know what he’s after
But he’s so beautiful
He’s such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster

He’s beautiful
Lord, he’s so beautiful
He’s beautiful