• Home
  • About The Arners
    • Contact
    • FAQs
    • Arner Adventures Resources
    • Press
  • Blog
  • Podcast
    • Episodes & Show Notes
  • Wanderlust(ing)
    • Travel
  • Mental Wellness
    • Mindfulness
    • Self-Care
    • Anxiety
    • Grief

Arner Adventures

In music Music Monday ·

Music Monday: Kacey Musgraves- Star-Crossed

Kacey Musgraves
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Our Music Monday series was created during the lockdown of the pandemic. While we enjoyed creating it, and some of you expressed enjoying it as well, we have decided to put our efforts towards other creative endeavors within our blog. Even though the series has been archived, you may still peruse other Music Monday posts. Thank you for allowing us to create interesting content for you and hanging with us during the pandemic and beyond.

For this Music Monday post, I (Shannon) am stepping in for a turn, since I have been excited for this album to come out. Though I am not traditionally a country music fan, I don’t really consider Kacey Musgraves a country music artist. I know there are a lot of people who would disagree with me, maybe even the artist herself, but look, I like what I like, and Kacey Musgraves, I like.

This album, Star-Crossed, is Musgraves’ divorce album. All of the songs were written about her past relationship, going through the breakup, inevitable divorce, and the aftermath. It’s not an angry album at all, and not one that takes you to the depths of tragedy, though Musgraves describes it as a modern tragedy, comparing it to “Romeo & Juliet,” That comparison is a bit much. I think that sounds pretty good for PR purposes. The good news is that there are some really great beats and of course, Musgraves’ voice is as angelic and effortless as it ever has been. 

The writing and production team is the same that worked with her on Golden Hour and you can hear it throughout. Golden Hour is actually when I began being a fan of Musgraves, so it is no doubt that I would love this album as well. 

The story of Star-crossed is told in 15 songs, set in three acts, similar to a Shakespeare play. The album takes you through the early part of a marriage, the trouble, and the divorce/aftermath. The way that this album opens with the track, “star-crossed” is beautiful and haunting at the same time. I swear, it feels like something Quentin Tarantino would have in one of his films. Driven by a spanish guitar, and Musgraves’ singing, “let me set the scene”, you get the feeling that this story is going to be really good. 

“Good Wife” is a song that will resonate with a lot of women and those ideals that women have as being the stereotypical “good wife”:

Waking him up nice and slow, bring him coffee in bed
Listen to his problems, tell him that I understand
Touch him so he knows in his heart, he's the only one
Try to loosen up and be more fun
Yeah, I could be more fun

Another song that I think everyone can relate to is “Camera Roll” where she sings about going back into the camera roll of her phone (or past photos), reflecting on the good times. We never take photos of the bad times, so there are none of those to look at. 

Each track has its own message and uniqueness, but the song with the most artistic production is “Gracias a la Vida.” Not only is the song and the story behind it mindblowing, but so is the way it was produced for this album. 

Let’s start with the story: “Gracias a la Vida” was originally written by Violeta Parra, a Chilean songwriter, in 1966. In 1971 the song was popularized throughout Latin America by Mercedes Sosa, later in Brazil by Elis Regina, in the US by Joan Baez, and Canadian Michael Buble when he was helping fundraise for the Chilean people affected by the earthquake in Chile in 2010.  It is one of the most covered Latin American songs in history. The song may be read as a romantic celebration of life and individual experience, but Parra intended the song as her suicide note, thanking life for all it had given her. In 1967, Parra committed suicide via gunshot. 

On a much lighter note-the production: the track was produced to show the song traveling through various periods of time, perhaps since it has been recorded so many times since it has been written. It is all Musgraves’ singing and playing guitar, but produced to sound like she is in different time periods. The first part- a vinyl recording (you can even hear the crackling of the vinyl), the second is on radio, the third is on audio cassette (you can hear the hum from the cassette player), the fourth is television (the signal is lost for a moment in the middle where an old television would have also had this happen), the fifth is digital format (perfect sound) and the last is supposed to be a futuristic medium, yet to be used. Who thinks of this stuff? It’s art in its most amazing form. 

star-crossed the film

Speaking of art, Musgraves used the music from her album and put it to screen in a visual film that lasts about 45 minutes long. Star-crossed: The Film is available to stream on Paramount+. FYI, if you don’t have a Paramount+ account, the streaming service offers a seven-day free trial for new customers, which allows you to watch Star-Crossed for free online the same day. You’re welcome! 🙂

Golden Hour was written about Musgraves falling in love with her former husband. Perhaps it is suitable that Star-crossed, is a follow-up, though sad, if I think about it. Musgraves says that the album is full of love and gratitude, so perhaps it should be looked at that way.

In need of more #MusicMonday thoughts? Check our our Music Monday series.

 

Related posts:

MUSIC MONDAY: SPRINGSTEEN- GHOSTS
Music Monday: Ode to Joy
A Ghost Living in a Ghost Town- Using Quarantine to Get in Touch with Old Friends
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Leave a Comment

About arneradventures

Hi, we are Shannon and Gerry Arner, and our rescue, fur baby, Betty White. After owning our own business, working 24/7, we made a lifestyle change and decided to make the most out of life. We sold our house, downsized, and moved to the coast. We are wanderlusters; we live life minimally, but fully. We live each day as an adventure, and enjoy sharing them with you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Arner Adventures Free Travel Prep List

Looking for something?

Arner Adventures Declutter Challenge

Arner Adventures

Each year we set the intention of focusing on our Each year we set the intention of focusing on our wellness. #AD Despite planning adventures and travel, I won’t let anything block my path. New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies are there with me, wherever I go.
🛤️
New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies fill any nutrient gaps I may have in my diet, which is great since the nutritional value of many of the foods we eat is out of our control, especially while traveling.
🛤️
The best news? @newchapterinc Multivitamin Gummies are available at @wholefoods and are 25% off, this week only! LOVE that New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies AND Whole Foods are right on my wellness path!

#NCxWFM23 #WellnessWellDone
Some people make New Year’s resolutions, we set Some people make New Year’s resolutions, we set intentions. #AD One of the intentions we make is to stay the course of our wellness journey. Thanks to New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies, this is easy!
🛤️
When I am shopping for the best foods from @wholefoods I can grab my New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies at the same time.
🛤️ 
When we are on an adventure, camping, traveling, or on a road trip, I can easily take my New Chapter Multivitamin Gummies. Not only are they super tasty, but they also:

✔️Have up to 66% less sugar than leading organic multivitamin gummy (made with Organic Blue Agave Fiber† that replaces unnecessary extra sugar)
✔️Are nutrient-packed with 17 essential vitamins & minerals your body can absorb
✔️100% Delicious!
✔️Are available for Men’s and Kids!
🛤️ 
Going into 2023 is a cinch and is #WellnessWellDone thanks to @newchapterinc Multivitamin Gummies!

#NCxWFM23
It's #podcasttuesday and today's episode, we're ta It's #podcasttuesday and today's episode, we're talking about setting intentions for 2023 and leaving that negative sh*t in 2022.
👐 
We're sharing a story that is too crazy to make up, about something we were dealing with ALL YEAR LONG, and are thrilled to be walking away from!
👐
Don't miss this episode! Link is in the bio!
We're about to dip, 2022...You were pretty cool an We're about to dip, 2022...You were pretty cool and all, but we're looking forward to all the adventures 2023 will bring. Something to be said for momentum. 😉
#2022recap
Follow on Instagram

© 2023 ARNER ADVENTURES LLC | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Consulting

 

Loading Comments...