Disclaimer: The validity of this post concerning Brent’s upbringing is solely an account from Brent. I have not verified his memories with facts from his parents. I guess this is similar to my memory of drinking powdered milk often, while my parents say it only happened once. ONCE? I don’t think I would have such a vivid recollection of powdered milk-like flakes if it only occurred once in my lifetime.
I love this man with every fiber of my being. I’ve known him since I was in 5th grade and we’ve been a “thing” since 2001. He has loved me unconditionally and selflessly for what seems like forever. I can’t remember a day in history that he has not treated me with Christ-like love. Regardless of how long I’ve known him, there’s just no way to know EVERYTHING about a person. Hence this post.
For anyone that knew him in his adolescence/early 20s, it’s no surprise that his hero was Garth Brooks. Brent was ALL THINGS country music, except for Rascall Flatts and Toby Keith. However, he wasn’t into the country look. Didn’t wear boots or a cowboy hat. Just jeans, New Balance shoes, a t-shirt, and an AU or FSU hat.
When Brent was in middle school his dad discovered Shania Twain, specifically “Any Man of Mine.” That song unleashed a whole world of music for his family, especially since up until that point all he ever heard on the radio was contemporary christian (think Sandi Patty) or easy listening (think Phil Collins). For you Birmingham folk, the radio in his car never shifted away from Magic 96. Once his dad heard Shania, there was no turning around. See you later Magic 96, hello WZZK.
ALL THE TIME.
Brent’s first Christmas present to me was a to-die-for light brown fleece jacket from New York and Company. Yes, people. It was the thing to have Winter of 2001, at least I thought it was. Along with that jacket he gave me tickets to see Creed, which is pretty much unbelievable considering his unwavering affection for country music.
They say it’s best to not try to change your man, but I like to think that I did. “Higher” was the key that unlocked the door to a different sound in music. GASP!
Growing up, I listened to it all.
{It drives me CRAZY when people assume I don’t know a song because it was “before my time”. The only songs I remember from my childhood were ones that were “before my time”.}
When Brent and I were dating he would occasionally let me take control of the radio. Naturally, due to my taste in music, I flipped all over the radio listening to everything but never settling on anything. I drove him crazy and we usually landed back on the honky tonk (not knocking the honky tonk, but I do appreciate other genres).
2001-2007 would have been prime time for Brent to broaden his music horizons, specifically pop music. He was in high school and college. That’s just what you listen to in that season of life. Top 40. The hits. The hot jams. Not married. No kids. No grown-up responsibilities. Who cares what you are listening to?
Brent has confessed that he never listened to that genre of music out of fear. Fear that he’d get in trouble. I guess I was a bad influence. I can’t blame the guy for wanting to please his parents and obey. That’s honorable. But I wouldn’t say that 30 years old with 2 kids in the backseat is the best time to crank up Sublime or Blink 182.
But that’s who he is, my friends. AND.I.LOVE.IT.
He created a playlist on Spotify of all the songs I learned every word to in middle and high school. He plays them for me like they are current hits. And then I start singing along and he gets a little flabbergasted that his “new” songs are old to me. Oldies but goodies, for sure! I give him such a hard time because he definitely missed his window of opportunity for this kind of music. He wouldn’t listen to it in his adolescent years. But now that he’s a responsible husband and father? Absolutely.
I guarantee that when we are in the car alone (like our recent 6 hour trip to SC without the kiddos), we are tearing up some late 90s/early 2000s pop and alternative music!
Brent recently found a playlist on Spotify of all the songs from those NOW That’s What I Call Music albums. What are we on now? Now 381? Anyway, that’s our jam.
But our real obsession? Justin Timberlake. Whether you like his music or not, you can not deny his incredible talent. We love us some JT! Hands down our favorite artist.
So what better way to wrap this up than to play you a little of our favorites?
A Merry Heart 
I love that Everclear song! And I love that he did not want to listen to things his parents disapproved of. I heard it all (sister six years older at the time of the emergence of rap in the mainstream…) when I was growing up but by middle school the gig was up. My parents discovered S. Patti in all her glory and that was that, LOL!