Well, it’s now Saturday, February 12th. I’ve been staring at this computer screen since late Friday night… Should I write about resisting oppressive governments in the Middle East… or country music at the upcoming Grammy Awards… or Valentine’s Day? OK, why not all of the above? Like the man said, “Life is like a box of chocolates…”
Hmmm… Two days left until the big lover’s day. No pressure… Let me think… A dozen roses? Nice, but maybe it’s been done before. How about a heart-shaped box of chocolates? Isn’t your love trying to lose those last five pounds? Naw – you know what might really do the trick this Valentine’s Day? Some good ol’ American country music. And if there’s one thing country music knows a thing or two about – it’s love. And (to quote a Grammy-winning composer) “it’s the only thing, that there’s just too little of.”
Back in 1965, composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David wrote “What the World Needs Now (Is Love)”. Its message still needs to be heard, because here we are in 2011, and this year the Iranian regime has outlawed Valentine’s Day. I’m not joking. “Symbols of hearts, half-hearts, red roses, and any activities promoting this day are banned,” announced the state media. “Authorities will take legal action against those who ignore the ban.” Considering that 70% of the population is under the age of 30, it appears that any social activity (especially Western) that doesn’t fit the state’s official philosophy must be ended as soon as possible. They aren’t alone; Saudi Arabia has banned the color red from being sold from the beginning of the year until Valentine’s Day is over. No red cards, flowers, candy, or nail polish. On the eve of the holiday, they raid stores and seize any symbols of love. Which, of course, results in one thing – a black market on red.
The Iranian government has taken an official stance against a growing list of unauthorized social activities: mingling of the sexes, too-bright nail polish, laughter in hospital corridors and even the mention of foreign food recipes in state media. Would I joke about that? It was officially announced by a state-run website on Feb. 6, 2011. But most of all, they’ve banned western music: rock, rap and country. Sounds crazy – but there might be some justification for it. Let’s not forget that rock music has been credited with bringing down the communist system as much as anything else, because it came from an unforseen source for which the politburo theorists had no prepared answer. (OK, that theory might uniquely belong to playwright Tom Stoppard, but it sounds better and better as the years pass.)
Not that I wish the people of Iran a total transformation into our culture which sometimes seems to celebrate “holidays” on a regularly spaced calendar cycle, born out of the desire to create a monthly consumer spending event… but it’s always nice to have the choice to do so. An oppressive government enforcement is no match for the sheer fun of enjoying music in the long run. If “America” = “love of freedom,” then I wonder – where was President Obama last year when “the people” of Iran rose up against Ahmadinejad? If he had been as supportive of him as he was of Mubarak, maybe Ahmadeinjad would be retired and Iranians would be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year.
Luckily, we live in a country where we are free to celebrate (or not celebrate) so many things. And if having that freedom doesn’t make your American heart want to play a country love song for your Valentine, I don’t know what would.
So how about downloading a new tune that says in music what can’t quite be printed on a Hallmark card? And what couple in country music is more in love these days than Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert? The engaged couple will be celebrating Valentine’s Day a little early this year, when they appear on the Grammy Awards Sunday night. Blake will join Miranda as a presenter, and then she will perform for the first time on the Awards. Most likely she will sing the hit that will earn her a few Grammys of her own – “The House That Built Me.” Miranda is nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “The House That Built Me,” Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for “Bad Angel” (with Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson), and Best Country Album for her album Revolution.
Blake shared his thoughts on being in love with Miranda Lambert. Here’s what he told me (click to listen to Blake)…
Blake Shelton (being in love w Miranda): “Being able to look at Miranda, and know everything about her — know the good times, the bad times, every habit she has, and everything she does, and I don’t have a problem with one thing about her. I can find something in everything she does and says that is awesome. She’s something that I’m constantly in awe of the things that she does and she says and the way she looks. It just doesn’t get old to me. I don’t get tired of it. I know that’s a lame way to talk about love, but when you talk about being in love with somebody, I think as I’ve gotten older, once you get past those early days when you cry when they go to the grocery store and you don’t want to sleep so you can stare at them. Once you get past that and you still feel the way I’m talking about, to me, that’s when it gets good.”
As for Miranda, she says that she’s not what most people would call very romantic: “I’m really not. My romantic side is more simple. I don’t like care really about flowers, you know. Bring me some chocolate and that’s a different story.” Well, we all know that the Oscar statue is chocolate inside, but I don’t know about those Grammys. We’ll have to see Sunday night.
But if you’re looking for the perfect song to make your Valentine swoon – how about “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking?”, off of Blake Shelton’s recent Greatest Hits album? It doesn’t get much more head-over-heels than this one.
Or how about a love song from Miranda’s point of view? Here she is singing one she wrote titled (what else?) “Love Song.”
Or you could always write your own song. After all – it’s a free country.
And Blake, if you’re reading this — if you’re really feeling patriotic, you might even throw in some “too bright” nail polish… And don’t worry – with all the shiny, gold Grammys Miranda will be carrying home, it can never be too bright.
