Proud To Be Here (deluxe version)
15/08/11 21:58 Filed in: Trace Adkins
I first saw and heard Trace Adkins on CMT (UK) in 1996. (I do wish they would bring back Country Music TV to our screens again.) I was at once smitten by his deep rich husky voice and bought his album. Since then I have purchased another 9 albums of his.
He has had more than 20 singles in the Billboard Country Charts. His album “Songs About Me” (2005) sold in excess of 2 million copies. The song “Hillbilly Bone”, a duet with Blake Shelton, won Vocal Event and Video of the Year in 2010. He has appeared in films and television shows in the US. In 2008 he was a finalist in “Celebrity Apprentice” to raise money for research into food allergies, (his 6-year-old daughter, Brianna, suffers from life-threatening reactions to peanuts, milk and eggs). Trace was beaten in the final by Piers Morgan.
This album (deluxe version) contains 14 tracks. The title track “Proud To Be Here” tells of an entertainer starting out playing for tips and compliments. He has “A thousand dollar stereo / In a two hundred dollar truck / A screwdriver and some cussin’ / Always made her start right up / I would like to thank my guardian angels / Heaven knows they worked their wings off / Keeping whisky off my breath / When I think of all I would have missed / My wife and kids and all that I hold dear / And I’m just proud to be here”. This “count your blessings” song is appropriate, as recently, a fire destroyed Trace’s home. He was on tour, his Wife was out, but two of his children and their Nanny were rescued from the house. The fire started in the garage, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. His car and Harley Davidson bike were destroyed.
“Million Dollar View” is about a man who does not have to see the sun set on a tropical shore or view the world from the highest mountain, because he has the best view under his own roof, looking at his Wife and family.
“Days Like This” is a stress buster. This gentle ballad is enhanced by his rich deep voice. The song tells of a man enjoying the perfect day “Don’t bring me the paper / Don’t turn on the news / It may fire me up, keep it away from my fuse / So bring me your body, Baby let’s dance / You’re all that I want on my mind and my hands / On day’s like this”.
“Just Fishing”. This track is currently at number 11 in the Country Charts. It is a song about a dad taking his young daughter fishing, while she is still young enough to want to spend time with her dad, because in a few short years she will be all grown up with thoughts of boyfriends and parties, and then she will fly the nest. To her it is ‘just fishing’ and telling him about her kitten and ballet classes, but for him it will be a treasured memory. I have read that Trace chose to include this song as he is a family man with a young daughter.
In complete contrast “ It’s A Woman Thing”. This one is for the guys. A well written fun song, I quote “You got a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear / The whole day depends on the mood of your hair / There’s towels in the bathroom I better not use / Baby tell me again why you’ve got so many shoes / You go to Wal Mart, K Mart, Newman’s and Saks / You shop all day, and then take it all back “ She replies “It’s a woman thing you wouldn’t understand / Just adjust your mind cause’ you’re just a man” ….. Lots more fun lines to this song, a real winner.
“Love Buzz”. A bluesy feel. Trace does it justice with his deep sensuous voice. It is enhanced by a plaintiff harmonica. The lyrics tell of a man who does not crave alcohol or drugs as his only addiction is the woman he loves. She gives him that love buzz.
“Poor Folks”. This is not a song about people without wealth and power; it is about the poor folk who do not have the same love he shares with his wife. He is blessed with all the riches a man could ever want.
“Always Gonna Be That Way”. Traditional Country, a pleasant steel guitar accompaniment. It is about a small town USA, where they still believe in traditional values. Their way of life has not changed in years, and it’s always going to stay that way.
“More Of Us” . A politically controversial number, although the words refer to the USA, I am sure many folk in the UK will agree with the sentiments of this song, as we have the same problems here.
“If I Was A Woman”. Trace is joined by Blake Shelton on this amusing honky-tonk bar-room song which is about the type of man they would choose if they were a woman, leading to witty banter between them. An example.. “I'd want a man who had a sensitive side / I'd want a man who ain't afraid to cry / I'd love me a man who could love me all night long / I'd love me a man who had the guts to sing this song”. Both agree they want a woman that would love a man like me / them…(from a woman’s point of view, Trace or Blake would be easy to love!) “Semper Fi” . Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Faithful". It is the motto of the US Marine Corps, shortened to Semper Fi by the Marines. The UK city of Exeter adopted the motto for their Coat of Arms in 1660. This song is patriotic, it is sung with emotion by Trace Adkins. If you were moved by his version of “Arlington” and “Till The Last Shot’s Fired”, then you, like me, will be deeply touched by this song in similar vein.
This album has been a pleasure to review. It is a splendid album, one of the best I have heard recently. I hope I have done it justice.
Rita
He has had more than 20 singles in the Billboard Country Charts. His album “Songs About Me” (2005) sold in excess of 2 million copies. The song “Hillbilly Bone”, a duet with Blake Shelton, won Vocal Event and Video of the Year in 2010. He has appeared in films and television shows in the US. In 2008 he was a finalist in “Celebrity Apprentice” to raise money for research into food allergies, (his 6-year-old daughter, Brianna, suffers from life-threatening reactions to peanuts, milk and eggs). Trace was beaten in the final by Piers Morgan.
This album (deluxe version) contains 14 tracks. The title track “Proud To Be Here” tells of an entertainer starting out playing for tips and compliments. He has “A thousand dollar stereo / In a two hundred dollar truck / A screwdriver and some cussin’ / Always made her start right up / I would like to thank my guardian angels / Heaven knows they worked their wings off / Keeping whisky off my breath / When I think of all I would have missed / My wife and kids and all that I hold dear / And I’m just proud to be here”. This “count your blessings” song is appropriate, as recently, a fire destroyed Trace’s home. He was on tour, his Wife was out, but two of his children and their Nanny were rescued from the house. The fire started in the garage, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. His car and Harley Davidson bike were destroyed.
“Million Dollar View” is about a man who does not have to see the sun set on a tropical shore or view the world from the highest mountain, because he has the best view under his own roof, looking at his Wife and family.
“Days Like This” is a stress buster. This gentle ballad is enhanced by his rich deep voice. The song tells of a man enjoying the perfect day “Don’t bring me the paper / Don’t turn on the news / It may fire me up, keep it away from my fuse / So bring me your body, Baby let’s dance / You’re all that I want on my mind and my hands / On day’s like this”.
“Just Fishing”. This track is currently at number 11 in the Country Charts. It is a song about a dad taking his young daughter fishing, while she is still young enough to want to spend time with her dad, because in a few short years she will be all grown up with thoughts of boyfriends and parties, and then she will fly the nest. To her it is ‘just fishing’ and telling him about her kitten and ballet classes, but for him it will be a treasured memory. I have read that Trace chose to include this song as he is a family man with a young daughter.
In complete contrast “ It’s A Woman Thing”. This one is for the guys. A well written fun song, I quote “You got a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear / The whole day depends on the mood of your hair / There’s towels in the bathroom I better not use / Baby tell me again why you’ve got so many shoes / You go to Wal Mart, K Mart, Newman’s and Saks / You shop all day, and then take it all back “ She replies “It’s a woman thing you wouldn’t understand / Just adjust your mind cause’ you’re just a man” ….. Lots more fun lines to this song, a real winner.
“Love Buzz”. A bluesy feel. Trace does it justice with his deep sensuous voice. It is enhanced by a plaintiff harmonica. The lyrics tell of a man who does not crave alcohol or drugs as his only addiction is the woman he loves. She gives him that love buzz.
“Poor Folks”. This is not a song about people without wealth and power; it is about the poor folk who do not have the same love he shares with his wife. He is blessed with all the riches a man could ever want.
“Always Gonna Be That Way”. Traditional Country, a pleasant steel guitar accompaniment. It is about a small town USA, where they still believe in traditional values. Their way of life has not changed in years, and it’s always going to stay that way.
“More Of Us” . A politically controversial number, although the words refer to the USA, I am sure many folk in the UK will agree with the sentiments of this song, as we have the same problems here.
“If I Was A Woman”. Trace is joined by Blake Shelton on this amusing honky-tonk bar-room song which is about the type of man they would choose if they were a woman, leading to witty banter between them. An example.. “I'd want a man who had a sensitive side / I'd want a man who ain't afraid to cry / I'd love me a man who could love me all night long / I'd love me a man who had the guts to sing this song”. Both agree they want a woman that would love a man like me / them…(from a woman’s point of view, Trace or Blake would be easy to love!) “Semper Fi” . Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Faithful". It is the motto of the US Marine Corps, shortened to Semper Fi by the Marines. The UK city of Exeter adopted the motto for their Coat of Arms in 1660. This song is patriotic, it is sung with emotion by Trace Adkins. If you were moved by his version of “Arlington” and “Till The Last Shot’s Fired”, then you, like me, will be deeply touched by this song in similar vein.
This album has been a pleasure to review. It is a splendid album, one of the best I have heard recently. I hope I have done it justice.
Rita