Julianne's latest blog:
Julianne Hough Gets Behind Her MusicFirst the news: Last night I had my hair back and Cody and I moved on. Hopefully the judges won't be so harsh on Cody next week.
I want to say thanks to Nicole, Kristin, Jess, Jon and the rest of you who wrote in to say you enjoyed watching me dance with my brother. Nicole called it "amazing," and I agree in the sense that it's always an amazing opportunity for me when I get to dance with my brother. I love it.
Derek's not one to hand out compliments easily, especially to his sister, but backstage, after we finished, he told me how much fun he had - and I felt the same way. We appreciated how much everyone seemed to enjoy the performance. I have to tell you, I'm glad the trip across the judge's table worked out. I slipped off a few times during rehearsal. It was scary. But I'm delighted with the way it turned out.
I'm also real happy that many of you have written in to say you like my music, so I thought I'd take you behind some of my music
In previous posts, I talked about performers who've inspired me, but I don't think I mentioned that I always wanted to sing and be a country artist. Starting when I was eight, I said to myself by the time I’m 19 I’m going to be a country artist. And I recorded my album when I was 19 and released it the same year. I guess if you really want something and put your heart and soul into it it can come true.
When I was living in London, my whole life was dancing. But I really wanted to sing. At 15, I decided I needed to go back to the States so I could pursue my music. Otherwise I’d just dance. So I went back home, finished high school, and then all of this sort of happened. Not too long ago someone asked me if I remember the first song I wrote, and I do since it wasn't that long ago.
It was called 'Daddy’s Little Girl'. I wrote it with my sister. It’s about my dad. He always called me his precious little angel from the day I was born to…well, he still calls me his precious angel. I promised him I’d never grow up, but ironically I was the one in the family who grew up the fastest. So I wrote this song to say that even though I grew up really fast I’m still your little girl.
As for the songs on my album, let me tell you a little bit about some of them:
THAT SONG IN MY HEAD: Everybody’s had that moment when they hear a song and get taken back to a memory. It’s amazing what songs and music can do for people. I remember when I just moved back from London I listened to Maroon 5 and every time I heard She Will Be Loved I think about driving up to the ski slopes where I snowboarded all day long for three weeks straight.
YOU, YOU, YOU: It’s one of my favorite songs. I think it’s a really good performance song live; people can sing along. But I love that feeling of being so vulnerable when you first meet someone; you remember everything about them; you’re so infatuated that you’d be willing to do anything just to let that person know you like them. I want to hold your hand. I’ll water your flowers in the pouring rain…
HIDE YOUR MATCHES: It’s one of the most romantic songs on the album. It’s interesting. To me, everyone sees me as this older girl in this younger body and some see me as thing young girl who hasn’t gone through anything. But I’ve gone through a lot and this song shows the older woman in me. Pretty much if a guy is going to get you riled up or whatever, he better watch out. I’ll go there with him. Don’t get me started.
MY HALLELUJAH SONG: I wrote about this the other day. But this is really about how my life is now. I feel blessed. Everybody has had their own hallelujah songs in life and I hope people will hear this song and feel lifted up. I think right now people need a positive song, and this is one of ‘em.
JIMMY RAY McGEE: This one’s great. I love this song. Kids seems to be getting younger and younger when they get involved in drugs, alcohol and guys. I know a couple of girls who were in high school and they loved this guy who was the catch, the Jimmy Ray McGee. He took advantage of all the girls. Once they gave in, he didn’t anything to do with them. This is kind of an anthem song for girls, letting them know it’s okay to say no and still feel good about it later.
DREAMING UNDER THE SAME MOON: My sister wrote this song with my producer, and it’s fun, though I didn’t like the music on the original demo. But it was a great song from the start. When she wrote it, my sister had in mind me and my whole family – and not necessarily just Derek, who sings on it with me. She was thinking about the whole family. We’re all so busy doing our own things and pursuing our own dreams, but no matter how far away we are from each other we’re there for each other. Whatever we want for ourselves, we also want for our families. My dad stopped by the studio in Santa Monica when Derek and I were recording it. It was a whole family thing; there’s a great spirit in that song.
Hey, I'm going to quit here. I'll do the rest of the album next week. I hope that's not too mean to keep you hanging. But let me know if any of these songs inspire stories or if you have any of your own Hallelujah songs.
Thanks for all the support (and your votes)!
Talk to you next week.
Julianne
Link: http://thebiz.fancast.com/2008/10/julianne_hough_gets_behind_her.html
