Clint Black is a superstar, and he worked extremely hard to earn that status. He is a singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He is known and loved forfor his heart-wrenching break-up songs and inspiring love songs that stand the test of time.
It’s often interesting to hear an artist’s definition of country music and how they feel about today’s music compared to, in this case, the music of Clint Black’s era. In this episode of How I Wrote That Song, Clint discusses the importance of lyrics, poetry, and the high standard for calling a song “country.”
Black came onto the country music scene during a very exciting time. The music was changing thanks to artists like Clint, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. These five artists make up the storied “Class of ‘89.” As The Tennesseean wrote: “The Class of ‘89 … changed the face of one of America’s truest art forms, propelling country music to unprecedented commercial success and worldwide popularity.”
That class paved the way for today’s heavy hitters like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood; each of whom made his or her country music debut approximately 15 years later. How I Wrote That Song with Clint Black will take you on a trip back to when Clint was a young man with a record deal, a successful radio single, yet still only pulling in $50 a gig. He was chomping at the bit to finish his album and had a hard time “killing time” waiting for it to come together.
You’ll hear how fate brought the unmistakable voice of Wynonna to join Clint on one of the most emotional songs in his repertoire, “A Bad Goodbye.” And wait until you find out how long it took him to write it!
And, ironically, you’ll laugh when you hear Clint describe how he fooled his wife, Lisa Hartman Black, into joining him to sing what is still considered to be one of the most beautiful love songs ever written, “When I Said I Do.”
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Healthy coping and self-soothing strategies are often effective tools that help us manage the effects of stress and intense emotions. These strategies have also been shown to help moderate the relationship between stress and the development of more severe health problems, such as depressive symptoms and physical health concerns. Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health.
What is coping?
Coping commonly refers to an individual’s effort to regulate emotions, cognitions, physiology, behavior and situations in reaction to stressful events or challenging circumstances. In other words, coping is anything that one does in an attempt to manage stress. During stressful situations, coping skills can help to diffuse or “turn down the volume” of intense emotion, allowing for increased control over an individual’s response to the situation.
10 Coping Skills For Families:
Connect
Pro Tip: Connection with younger children happens less through direct conversation and more through play and shared activity, so be aware of when and how your child usually opens up
Move
Pro tip: Ask your child if they’d like to choose an activity to ‘move our bodies or if they’d like you to. This way, you can offer them some control if necessary or not if they’re overwhelmed.
Slow down
Pro Tip: Simply allow an open and unscheduled chunk of time for your child to navigate. Pretty easy right?
Play
Pro-tip: Push through your adult discomforts and don’t be afraid to get silly with your child! Allow them to direct the play and meet their needs for control and predictability.
Journal
Pro-tip: Use these engaging emotions flashcards for kids (fresh off the press!) to prompt them in writing how they feel and why.
Create
Pro-tip: Prepare an inviting surface (this might mean putting down a tablecloth, tray, etc) for your child, and set out a few different art tools for them to choose from.
Music
Pro tip: Spotify has tons of great playlists for relaxation or check out Nancy’s great collection of music for kids.
Nourish
Pro tip: Make a healthy recipe with your child and reap the benefits of a better mood, fun, and connection.
The death of a loved one – at any age, from any circumstance – is one of the cruelest blows that life has to offer. The journey through this grief is long and difficult. In the early moments, we may find ourselves in an all-consuming pain beyond description. It can be tough to live our everyday lives, challenging to think about anything other than our loss. Even happy memories may bring us pain for a time. People do not “get over” the death of a child, sibling, parent or grandchild, nor do they “snap out of it” as the outside world often thinks we should. This loss is not an illness from which we recover. It is a life altering change that forces us to build a new life for ourselves and our families in a world that no longer includes our loved one.
When a death occurs, you may experience a wide range of emotions, even when the death is expected. Some emotions and experiences you may encounter include: profound sadness, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, denial of the loss, inability to function at work, and anger with yourself, family members, medical personnel, God, even the deceased. Below are some ways you can cope with grief.
10 WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF WITH GRIEF
1. Let Others Help You • Tap bonds with friends, teachers and counselors • Trust others to help • Share feelings and pain
2. Remember It’s Normal To Feel What Seems Abnormal • It is common to feel that you’re ‘going crazy’ • Personal disorganization is common • Anger and fear will be present
3. Express Thoughts and Feelings • Words are most helpful and least harmful • Crying is healthy – it is ok to cry • Do not fear losing control
4. Do Not Try to Avoid Grief • Avoiding grief adds misery • Lean into your feelings
• Grief postponed is acceptance postponed 5. Reach Out • Sharing is our responsibility • Do not assume others know what you need • Choose to be healed
6. Help Others • Memorialize • Do more than expected • Volunteer
7. Rise Above Bitterness • Bitterness displaces blame • Grudges deplete energy • Forgive self and others
8. Expect to Regress • Grief is erratic • Special times can be hard
9. Maintain Physical Strength • Have healthy eating and sleeping habits • Run, play, and participate in sports • Find ways to relax
10. Deal With Your Needs and Immediate Problems • Decide what your needs are • Seek healthy ways to meet your needs
Remember that you are not the only one who has gone through profound loss and grief. The grieving process can be made a little easier with support. A variety of grieving support resources are available, many of which are online. Below, you’ll find the best grief-related resources in the nation. Vitas Healthcare VITAS provides bereavement services including support groups, newsletters, national bereavement events, brief phone support & Facebook Bereavement Group to caregivers, family members & friends of VITAS patients and members of the community experiencing grief. All services provided at no cost. 239-649-2300 | VITAS.com
Cribs for Kids-Healing Hearts The Healing Hearts Infant Bereavement Group is a private group for those who have experienced the death of a baby. It is a place where invited members can share stories, and other information about their precious child. We welcome members to provide support to others and seek support during difficult times. Meetings occur first Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm through an online format. If you are interested in joining our online meeting on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 pm. [email protected].
Bereaved Parents of the USA This national, non-profit self-help group offers many resources for bereaved parents to help them rebuild their lives. bereavedparentsusa.org
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation Families don’t have to face childhood cancer without support. The Childhood Cancer Foundation provides emotional, educational and practical assistance for families in need. candle.org/family-services
CJ First Candle This organization provides bereavement support to families who have suffered the loss of a baby from SIDS, SUID or stillbirth. firstcandle.org
Parent Grief Support Directory Find a wide array of local, national and international grief support resources for grieving parents. live-evermore.org
MISS Foundation For families who have experienced the death of a child, find grief resources and online support forums which are fully moderated for safe, caring interactions with others. missfoundation.org
Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care Resources for Parents These resources are for parents who have been told by medical professionals that their unborn baby will likely die before or after delivery. perinatalhospice.org/resources-for-parents.html
The TEARS Foundation This non-profit organization offers compassionate financial assistance to grieving parents who have lost a baby and need to make final arrangements. thetearsfoundation.org
The Compassionate Friends – Supporting Families After a Child Dies This non-profit organization exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process. www.compassionatefriends.org
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. About 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually. It’s not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Sudden cardiac arrest is usually an “electrical” malfunction and it comes without warning.
Could you save the life of someone in cardiac arrest? According to the American Heart Association, every second counts because without immediate CPR, the heart, brain and other vital organs aren’t receiving enough oxygenated blood. For every minute without CPR, the chance of death increases by 10 percent.
Have a plan for emergencies. Memorize these easy steps that anyone can take that can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.
First, check for responsiveness. Shout, poke. A person in cardiac arrest will lose consciousness and have no pulse. They will not respond to you.
Now is when you take action! Call 911 for assistance. Getting medical support fast is key to recovery and most operators will be able to coach you in first aid. If others are nearby, ask them to call and send someone to locate an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Use it as soon as it arrives!
Begin chest compressions. Place your hands, fingers interlocked – in the center of the chest and begin pumping. Hard. Remember the beat to keep is the same as “Stayin’ Alive.”
If an AED is available, use it. This easy-to-use medical device will not only guide you through the steps, but analyze the victim’s heart rhythm before it delivers an electrical shock.
If there’s no AED, continue with the Hands-Only CPR until help arrives. Ask bystanders to help if you tire, but keep pumping!
Be prepared, know what to do and then follow through. The American Heart Association is a great source of emergency response information and training, wherever you are. Learn more at HEART.org.
In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack. Of these, 605,000 are a first heart attack. 200,000 happen to people who have already had a heart attack.
Not all of these are treated: the CDC says that about one in five heart attacks are silent. In other words, the heart has been damaged but the victim is unaware of what happened. But what is a heart attack? According to the Mayo Clinic, a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries. The fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits are called plaques. The process of plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis.
How do you know if you, or someone around you, is having a heart attack? The symptoms can vary in severity, and some people have no symptoms. But some of the more common symptoms include chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching. There could be pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly. There might be cold sweating, fatigue, heartburn or indigestion, lightheadedness or sudden dizziness, nausea or shortness of breath. If any of these happen to you, or to anyone around you, call for emergency medical help as quickly as possible.
If you suspect that someone is having a heart attack, the Mayo Clinic advises that you first call 911 or your local emergency number. Then check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If the person isn’t breathing or you don’t find a pulse, only then should you begin CPR. You can do CPR, according to the Clinic, even if you aren’t trained. They say, “If you’re untrained in CPR, do hands-only CPR. That means push hard and fast on the person’s chest — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute. If you’re trained in CPR and confident in your ability, start with 30 chest compressions before giving two rescue breaths.
The How I Wrote That Song limited series gives music fans a front-row seat for conversations with songwriters behind some of the biggest hits of yesterday and today. You’ll learn the stories behind the songs from the people who wrote them. New episodes will be released every other Monday through December 12. How I Wrote That Song is produced in partnership with Beasley Media Group, XPERI (HD Radio), and BMI.
Warren “Oak” Felder is one of the most successful writer/producers that you’ve never heard of. He keeps a low profile, and doesn’t have a sonic imprint that identifies songs as his productions. But his discography includes songs by Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, among others. In this excerpt from our conversation, he discussed the journey in taking Alessia Cara’s first single, “Here,” to number one.
He worked on the song with his occasional songwriting/partner Andrew “Pop” Wansel. They both had different ideas for a sample that they wanted to use in the song: Pop wanted to use Issac Hayes’ “Ike Rap II” from his 1971 album Black Moses, Oak, meanwhile, wanted to use Portishead’s song “Glory Box”… which samples “Ike’s Rap II.” Oak told us the whole story. Check it out below, and beneath that watch or listen to our podcast episode with Oak.
“You know, sometimes they are projects that you come across, that people have tried, people have made an attempt to do things… and just nothing gets off the ground. And that doesn’t say anything about the artists themselves and whether or not they’re viable.
But most of the executives involved, the production companies and the other label people and management people, and there’s all these other people that are kind of involved and they’re telling me, ‘We want her to sound like Lorde meets Taylor Swift.’ And so in my mind, I’m rolling my eyes a little bit because I’m like,'”OK, you want her to sound like the two largest artists out here.’
I understand shooting for the Moon, though, because a lot of people can only see things in those terms. But my response to them was, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you said that. You know what? I was striving for mediocrity today, but since you said that, now I’m going to try to give you a big hit!’
And so the whole week we’re in and she’s playing us, these different songs that she’s partially written and we’re kind of picking the ones we like the most. ‘Here’ was the first one we picked. And they immediately shut us down and they said, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no. This one’s a little too weird. We have this other one that is a smash: ‘Seventeen.”
So, I sat down and did the production and finished writing it with them, and when you listen to that production, it very much does sound like a Taylor Swift meets Lorde production. It’s a great song. I love the record. And so during the week, that’s pretty much how it progressed.
Saturday rolls around all the executives take the day off. So now it’s me. Sebastian Kole, Alessia Cara, and Pop was with me that day. I’m like, ‘Let’s work on ‘Here.’ Let’s just do what we want. I got the perfect sample for this. It’s a Portishead song.’ Pop is like, ‘No man, that ain’t it! I got this other sample, it’s an Isaac Hayes record [‘Ike’s Rap II’ from Black Moses].’
Now, mind you were saying this to each other without actually playing the samples. So we go back and forth about it for about 20, 30 minutes until Pop plays the Isaac Hayes sample, I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, this is Portishead!’ I had never heard Isaac’s version up until that point, I’m ashamed to say. And Pop had never heard Portishead. So he’s like, ‘Oh my God: we came up with the same sample at the same time for this production!’
Then we did the track. We cut that record and we almost kind of hid it after we did it. It was like, ‘Let’s put it away, because we might get in trouble!’ That’s almost what it felt like. Did another week [in the studio] with Alessia, recording another songs, including ‘Scars to Your Beautiful’ and everything else that was on the first album. And then when when it came time to pick the single from what I understand, I think the label really wanted to go with ‘Seventeen,’ because they were very focused on that record and Alessia kind of put her foot down, and said, ”Here’ needs to be the first record.’ The label pretty much said, ‘OK, we’re going to go with your recommendation.’ And that song had a nice, beautiful, slow climb to number one over the course of almost a year. It eventually got to number one, I was so proud of that fact.”
