Feature Story: Two Shots of Whiskey
By Janelle Landauer
Most of you have realized that the topic of two recent singles involves whiskey. "Whiskey Girl" by Toby Keith shows a girl who just absolutely loves her whiskey over beer and wine. "Whiskey Lullaby" by Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley shows the defined reality of the consequences of whiskey. The thing that throws me off the most with this topic is the sequence that the radio stations have been playing them. More times than not, "Whiskey Lullaby" comes on the radio first. Within a couple songs, it seems as though "Whiskey Girl" follows shortly thereafter. I don't know if the radio stations want to leave on a better note than the reality of whiskey or if it's just coincidence.
Below are the choruses for both singles:
WHISKEY LULLABY:
Until the night:
He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away her memory
Life is short, but this time it was bigger
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees
We found him with his face down in the pillow
With a note that said: "I'll love her till I die"
And when we buried him beneath the willow
The angels sang a whiskey lullaby
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
WHISKEY GIRL:
She ain't into wine and roses
Beer just makes her turn up her nose an'
She can't stand the thought of sippin' champagne
No Cuervo Gold Margaritas
Just ain't enough good burn in Tequila
She needs somethin' with a little more edge and a little more pain
She's my little whiskey girl
She's my little whiskey girl
My ragged-on-the-edges girl
Ah, but I like 'em rough
The story within "Whiskey Lullaby" is so vivid that Brad & Alison were not even going to make a video for it because they felt that it would be too hard to depict the story line of a man and a lady who commit suicide and the whiskey is to blame. They eventually decided to do a video for the song which is now being shown on both GAC and CMT. Then there's "Whiskey Girl" who is a wild woman who has to have her whiskey. I think that the radio stations do not want to leave off on the consequences on the reality of whiskey and addictions. Would they play "Whiskey Girl" and then play "Whiskey Lullaby" and leave you with the stark reality of whiskey? Not that I have heard so far. It's hard for people to admit the truth about any problem including that of whiskey. If they end on a good note, then it is like that "truth" of the matter is hidden by a fun up-tempo song than a sorrowful ballad. "Whiskey Lullaby" comes on the radio and you are almost mesmerized by the actual detail that the song. It is almost so vivid that you can imagine yourself or those in the hard situation.
Then "Whiskey Girl" comes on the radio. It's such a fun song and it makes you want to just crank up the radio. I'm not saying that I don't like "Whiskey Girl" because I do admit that it has a great beat and I do admit I turn the radio up every time it comes on, but what is the message in this song? The consequences are shown in "Whiskey Lullaby" and I have heard many say that they don't like the song because it shows the act of committing suicide and they are so against that. But, then you look at it and its okay for someone to go out and drink their life away as in "Whiskey Girl?" More than likely, Toby Keith's song would be the one that would make it all the way to the top and "Whiskey Lullaby" would be denied the top spot because of the message. Nobody wants to hear about the truth, but I think it's time that they do. "Whiskey Lullaby" is an amazingly written and sung song. The message is as plain as day and although it does show about a man and woman committing suicide, it is the message showing the consequences of whiskey that they want you to realize. Both songs are great songs - I just look at the meanings behind them a little more than most.
