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It probably comes as no surprise that I, along with millions of others, have been swept away by country darling Ella Langley.
I first heard her hit single, “Choosin’ Texas,” at a bar I frequent. It became a bit of a joke how much the bartenders would play it, and within just a few weeks, the entire bar would be singing along.
Not only is it an earworm, but I noticed (and appreciated) how clever the lyrics were.
I started listening to more of her music and watched a few interviews (I really liked her sit-down with Theo Von), and she is so likable — she seems incredibly down-to-earth, and you can tell she’s really worked hard to put out her second album, “Dandelion,” and see the success she’s seeing.
After listening to the album several times through (mostly on my walks), I wanted to highlight my favorite songs on the album:
Dandelion – The title track is a hazy summer song that cleverly explains who Ella Langley is: a dandelion in a bed of roses. The lyrics say, “Born to live free, ridin’ on a breeze / On a summer night / Tucked back in the weeds, guess that’s just me.” This is a slower song, but it’s so pleasant to listen to (and will also get stuck in your head).
Be Her – This is a catchy BOP that tells a story I think we’ve all felt; a little bit of envy for someone else’s life, or at least, the part of their life we think we know. I love the opening lyrics, “She drinks wine by the glass, not by the bottle / She ain’t stuck on the past, ain’t worried about tomorrow.”
Lovin Life Again – This is my favorite track! I saw a snippet of an interview in which she said she felt she needed to write this song during a darker time. As the song explains, she recalls favorite memories from her life that lift her spirits. I relate to this song SO much, which is why it’s my favorite; especially lately, I’ve noticed how simple things like getting outside or enjoying a nice meal can help me gain a new perspective or turn a bad day around. The opening lyrics explain it perfectly: “Seasons come like seasons go, I guess / Ain’t it just like me, making all this mess of my head again? / I got memories I like to think of / When this big old world gets a bit too much.”
Bottom of Your Boots – In an interview with Theo Von, she shared that the idea for this song came from her dad, who tells her he loves her from the bottom of her boots to the top of her hat! Aw! I love the song origin, but it’s also a fun way to sing about dating. I think many of us can relate to the lyrics: “If you’re gonna love me, lay it on the table / Tell me how you really feel, give it a label.”
Last Call for Us – This one is a little sad, as it talks about the end of a relationship, but it does so in such a clever way (a clear pattern with Ella), comparing it to a bar’s last call.
I’ve enjoyed country music for years, and I know it has its place in pop culture, but it seems like it’s truly having a moment this summer!
I am excited to keep listening to this album, but I am also curious to see where Ella Langley goes in the future and the kind of artist she becomes.
Admittedly, I’ve been streaming the album, but it’s on my list to buy it on vinyl so I can listen to all the tracks in their original order.
I also wanted to note that Ella has spoken about how she came up with the concept for this album as she was wrapping up her previous one, and I think it’s so impressive to have the restraint to keep an album within a specific concept. I know she’s not the first artist to do it, but the songs on this album, along with the album art and all the marketing, are so aligned… I just love it!
Have you listened to this album? I’d love to know which songs you like, if so!
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The Bitter Lemon 