was Star Wars (1977) created with the feedback of focus groups, I can’t remember

Unless you’re just a lyrical genius like Mary Chapin Carpenter or Joni Mitchell. I remember reading the entire booklet to MCC’s ‘Stones in the Road’ before listening, but I think we can agree that’s an uncommonly high watermark

My hot take is that lyric videos are often cringe experientially bc lyrics aren’t meant to be processed visually. The impact is too blunt for a “first listen” experience. Same reason it’s often a disservice to quote lyrics in text— the power is often dulled by lack of context

I think there was a lot of wine happening

Mandy is such a goddess. My best friend and I saw her at the Bluebird during promo for her second album (I think) and got to hang out by the stage for a while afterward. She was so kind and enthusiastic to speak with us, and her mom was there being casual too.

Operating within one’s capabilities is so key. I dare say I actually *enjoy* what TS does with her voice now, yes Some people just aren’t warblers. They can’t hang it all out there and stay on key. But it seems like they all want to be 😅

We grew up on good singers. The *women* of country music were the vocal standardbearers, right? It is hard to take after being drawn into the genre on the strength of vocalists like Trisha, Reba— even Allison Moorer. It’s hard to settle for scraps when you’re used to the good stuff, that’s all

(Of course I consider myself a fantastic singer who doesn’t need pitch correction but some feel otherwise 😇)

True story: I worked with a guy who was a great musician but couldn’t hear vocal lines quite right for whatever reason, he actually autotuned me to the slightly wrong key one time and didn’t even realize it. Frustrating stuff. I’m rambling now lol

I have to think her producer is as tone-deaf or hates her, a quarter tone should be easy to tweak on AutoTune