Some people disqualify much of what is being released in Nashville from being defined as ‘true country.’ Yes, steel banjos are out in a lot of the songs and they use more than just three chords, but still the truth remains at the core of the music.
One such song that represents the truth is this track from Lauren Alaina that is as personal and truthful as they get. Proving again that Alaina is never afraid to shy away from the darker, more sobering aspects of life, this single documents her own personal struggles with her parents’ divorce. No generic lyric, it is clear that the song documents Alaina’s own life, talking about her father’s alcoholism and her mother leaving him for his best friend. The story though leads with cautious optimism, with Lauren coming out the other side, “I’m doing fine enough to know that everyone’s a little broken.” What is abundantly clear is that Alaina has a strong and positive message one that can be shared by her more mature audiences but with songs that will speak to the hearts of youth. This is female pop-country at its finest, with a powerful message that has enough grace and honesty to inspire and comfort many. Broken we may be but songs such as Alaina’s have the power to put us back together.
