Thursday, December 20, 2012

New Music: LeAnn Rimes - Borrowed

"Borrowed" is a true gift.

The measure of a great song, at least to me, is how deeply it grabs onto your soul and emotionally connects you with the artist. Authenticity is the highest compliment I can pay a singer, and when they can succeed at deeply moving me through their song, make me feel what they're feeling, then they've accomplished elevating music to the transcendental.

So, by that standard, let me just say that Borrowed by LeAnn Rimes is one great fucking song.

I watched LeAnn perform Borrowed live on Jay Leno Tuesday night, and was completely blindsided by both its tender beauty and raw honesty. She leaves every ounce of her soul fearlessly exposed and vulnerable, for everyone to see and hear, for better and for worse, and quite frankly I couldn't respect her more for it. Other than Crystal Bowersox, I can't think of another female artist who has both the courage to sing such mature, complex and deeply personal subject matter, and also have the incredible vocal gifts to deliver it with such tender beauty.

Stylistically, it's a folk-country ballad, and would fit nicely in both adult contemporary and country formats. Of course, whether or not country music radio is mature enough to embrace Borrowed remains to be seen, but shame on them if they don't.

There are those who will hate LeAnn for being the "home-wrecker" who broke up two marriages with an illicit affair.. In fact, you get the sense through Borrowed that LeAnn is herself still dealing with a lot of self hate from what happened and how it happened.

Look, I think what she did was dead wrong myself. A tremendous trail of hurt was created from her and Eddie Cibrian acting on their impulses. However, doesn't the fact that she has a tortured conscience only make her more human? How else should she be dealing with it?  After the divorces, they married. LeAnn's ex-husband remarried, too. Despite this, I don't think she has any easy answers on how to cleanse her soul, but she needs to move on, heal her wounds and try to live a happy and meaningful life.

My parents had infidelity issues and divorced when I was 14, and I bet nearly everyone who reads this post has either experienced infidelity personally or has had loved ones who have gone through it. While we rightly condemn the behavior, let's not be hypocrites with LeAnn and act like this doesn't happen. She deserved the subsequent feelings of guilt and conflict, but she didn't beak into an elementary school and shoot up a classroom of children, so let's keep perspective.

Anyway, in our plastic music world of formula dance pop and cartoonishly stereotypical country, it's so refreshing to get a strong dose of unfiltered truth from a truly adult perspective. LeAnn wrote and performs Borrowed without any thought of catering to commercialism, and because of that it just might become a big commercial success.

So, LeAnn, thank you for giving us the gift of your heart and soul with this song.. I hope you find peace moving forward, but maybe keep a tiny little pang of hurt in your gut that reminds you of how important it is to make the right decisions.

~Kenny Poo

36 comments:

  1. Summed it up perfectly, Kenny Poo. Love this song! Makes me cry every time.

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  2. LeAnn is disgusting. I cannot even watch her after how she stole a married man and wrecked the lives of those kids. I also heard she was a drunk mess at X-Factor last night. What a skank.

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    1. Anna, wow...you're pretty brutal on LeAnn. Just curious, do you feel this strongly about everyone who cheats on their spouse or just celebrities?

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    2. Anna is just one of those internet bullies who spend hours trashing Leann's every move, that's all.

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    3. I think you're right, Anonymous. You start destroying anyone who has ever come up short on the monogamy pledge and you're going to right off the majority of the population as skanks and scumbags. LeAnn is far from perfect, but aren't we all in some way? At least she's honest enough to show her flaws before the world. I bet Anna would crumble to bits under such a microscope examining her every shortcoming.

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    4. Remember that recent Sandy Hook tragedy? People were STILL hating on LeAnn that day. Makes you realize how sad humanity really is.

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    5. Well there are always dumbasses. That's life. I just appreciate the music LeAnn created from her internal strife. Borrowed is such a moving song.

      *NOTE: Meant "write" not "right" in my previous comment.

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    6. It is not the affair that makes me dislike Leann Rimes. It is her crazy behavior on a DAILY basis. No song is going to save this woman's badly bruised career especially about a song where she borrowed someone's husband....BARF!

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  3. Women are cheating all over the place, nowadays! (Leann Rimes/Cibrian, Coco/IceT, Kristen Stewart, Suzy Favor Hamilton the Olympian & Vegas call girl, Rita Ora/Rob Kardashian, Petraeus women).

    My latest book, "I Steal Wives: A serial adulterer reveals the REAL reasons more and more 'happily married' women are cheating" is a powerful look at this EXPLOSIVE topic of female infidelity. And the REAL reasons aren't the typical blather you hear on talk-TV or read in the SECOND-HAND information of some psychologist's self-help book. It’s now in the top 1% of books selling on Amazon!

    The book is the FIRST BOOK EVER WRITTEN on female infidelity from the FIRST-HAND, insider experience of a serial adulterer, who cheated with the wives/girlfriends of over 25 married men (and a few women), and who also happens to be a therapist (never cheated with clients)! "I Steal Wives" is a salacious, self-deprecating, at times funny, and penetratingly insightful look into what is now the very cutting-edge of relationships.

    It's the relationship version of "How to Secure Your House, as told by a professional burglar!" This is no joke, the raw truths of “I Steal Wives” will forever change how you do relationships and understand women, especially if you are one!

    Check it out now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble!! It's selling FAST!


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  4. sorry, I've listened to the song and I've followed the Leann/Brandi saga because I to have been through this.. I know people cheat and make mistakes... but, I find Leann completely DISGUSTING! We all can move on and forgive but when you have someone that continues year after year to do the despicable things she's doing since meeting Eddie no one can "forget & move on" I think many people take it way to far in the things they say to her... but, she's brought most of it on herself.. I do have to give her a TINY bit of credit the last couple of week since her X-Factor debacle... she seems to be some what listening and hasn't posted pics of the boys, hasn't called them her sons or her "bonus boys" and she's laid pretty low... she needs to keep doing that... honestly I think she needs to disappear from the spot light for a LONG time and make a come back in 5+ years... however, until she makes some MAJOR changes will NOT buy any of her music or support her in any fashion!

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    1. Anonymous,

      I see... well, since you are the epitome of virtue and wholesomeness, and are disgusted beyond forgiveness at the adultery of LeAnn, perhaps you could share with us the perfect people you're following in music so we can make sure your world is truly sin free.

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  5. I never, ever said she was unworthy of forgiveness, try reading what I said... "We all can move on and forgive but when you have someone that continues year after year to do the despicable things she's doing since meeting Eddie no one can "forget & move on"" I said no one can FORGET & move on... NO ONE is perfect & I'm far from it... I don't agree with what she did, nor do I Eddie... her public behavior is what causes all the continued public hatred... I don't hate Leann... I think she's handled this situation horribly and she should follow suit with Ed and not talk about it and most definitely not make an album about their affairs & expect to be well received

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  6. I also just LOVE your sarcastic and RUDE response... if you don't like people leaving there opinions on your blogs if they don't agree with you.. maybe you should allow comments ;) have a great day :)

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    1. Using rudeness and sarcasm to complain about my alleged rudeness and sarcasm? lol. Seems you have some pretty heavy personal anger problems. I guess you think she should sing about sunshine, daisies and mom's apple pie, but I think it's courageous she's baring her soul in her music knowing full well unstable, angry, hostile people such as yourself will attack her for it.

      I've seen no reason to believe she's mocking her affair or the situation. To the contrary, she's honestly sharing her painful story, warts and all, as the unsympathetic character, and that takes guts.

      You, on the other hand, don't even have the courage to use your first name on a blog while ranting your self-righteous disgust. Think about that.

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  7. It's very admirable that you think what this selfish narcissist did "was dead wrong". But what makes you think that writing a song about her self-absorbed shitty conduct means that she has a tortured conscience? She does not. She has no genuine remorse because if she did she would not behave the way she does, she would not constantly be looking for sympathy for herself and bleating on about HER feelings. If she had an OUNCE of integrity or care, compassion and respect for the people she hurt, she would STFU. She is NOT 'human', she is a monobeing who thinks she is omnipotent. She is a POS.

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    1. Liberty Freedom = Hatred and Intolerance. Who knew?

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    2. Yes, Leann Rimes is full of hatred and intolerance towards anyone who disagrees with her, criticizes her or refuses to kiss her arse like you do :))
      In fact, your obvious inability to accept posts on your blog that disagree with YOUR opinion without you getting pathetically defensive, reveals why you admire the histrionic Ms Rimes. :))

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  8. My name is Mandy... has nothing to do with courage... I have no problem putting a name or a face to my words... I thought it was a very good blog and that you are an excellent writer... I didn't attack YOU as person I was giving my opinion on a person you wrote... you gave yours and I gave mine with insults to you... however, you don't seem to be able to handle anyone with a opinion different that yours...

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    1. with OUT insults to you! lol I should proof read before I post - Mandy :)

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    2. Thanks for the compliments on my writing, Mandy. I'm expressing my opinions just as you're expressing yours. Being married for ten years, I assure you I'm used to hearing opinions that are very different from my own. ;)

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  9. I don't hate LeAnn Rimss or think she's evil as others do, but have to say that LeAnn's behavior after the affair is what has caused the backlash. Not every relationship starts and ends in a pretty way. That's just a fact and people can choose to accept that, or they can choose to not accept it. LeAnn has no control over what people feel about her, but she seems to want that control and is making a lot of mistakes when it comes to regaining the goodwill of the public. Borrowed and her other latest offering, What have I done, did not sell and have not resonated with the public. In fact, people seem taken aback at the fact that she says her husband's ex should "move on", yet she herself has written an entire album about her feelings during the affair and aftermath. I've heard people describe the lyrics as "disgusting" more than once. It comes across as very hypocritical and narcissistic. It isn't just some small group of 'haters" that aren't embracing LeAnn and her new husband as a couple and reacting negatively to them. In fact, it seems that only a small group of hard core, longtime LeAnn fan's are supportive. It's the staged photo ops, constant tweeting and her apparent need for attention that has put so many off. It is like she has something to prove and won't stop until she wins everyone over. If LeAnn had just laid low, another celebrity cheating scandal would have overshadowed hers a long time ago. She's talented and it would be nice for her to be known for her current musical work, rather than being someone who peaked as a teen and has a messy personal life. Borrowed does not seem to be the song that is going to do that for her. I hope she can get it together and make people remember why she was once so successful. I know it's not a popular opinion, but I kind of feel sorry for her.

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    1. You know, I gotta admit I don't follow any celebrity magazines or paparazzi TV shows, so her relationship drama with her husband's ex isn't on my radar. To be honest, is it really that unusual for ex-wives to hate each other? I could care less about that crap.

      All I know is I found her song moving, liked it, and from what I've seen of her performances on video she seems to be genuinely agonizing inside. Her music is sincere, I feel the song, and that's the bottom line.

      That said, I don't necessarily feel sorry for her or her strife, she made her bed, but I do feel her pain if that makes any sense. It's obvious she's hurting, and I'm sure the musical outlet is a cathartic experience for her.

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    2. Most of us have lives and don't follow a celeb's every move. Leann's haters, on the other hand...

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  10. It's nice to know Leann Rimes haters are without sin, isn't it?

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    1. Hope they live in hurricane glass houses with all the hate stones they're throwing. ;)

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    2. None of us are without sin but some of us learn from our mistakes and try to 'sin no more'. Mistakes are forgivable when lessons are learned. Ms Rimes has NOT learned from her mistakes. Narcissists rarely do. She continues to flaunt her infidelity, taunt the betrayed ex-spouses, endlessly seeks pity, 'cries' without tears and blatantly uses someone else's children for PR.

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    3. Liberty, get over it for God's sake. It is NOT YOUR LIFE. How hard is that to understand? You've clearly not learned anything from YOUR bullying. No wonder more people dislike Brandi now.

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    4. Anonymous - if Leann Rimes wants her life to be HER private life, then she should not invite constant comment by incessantly putting her life (and that of her Borrowed husband and someone else's children) on public display. If she and her minions don't like that, she could choose to keep her life private. She doesn't. When she does, then I'll stop exercising my freedom and right to comment. Got it? Now get over it.

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    5. Liberty, you're the one who has issues getting over the past, remember? Her fans don't focus on her personal life, but her haters do.

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  11. I just wanted to say; Kenny I applaud you for what you wrote...It's the truth... This song is hauntingly beautiful, and absolutely she is bearing her soul, in this song & "What Have I Done"... I follow LeAnn because I absolutely LOVE her music! I always have... Do I agree with the infidelity, NO! But who am I or anyone else to judge them for their mistakes when I have made plenty of my own thru the years. My family has judged me almost all the days of my life and it has left a mark on me and my life... SO I have a problem with bullies & passing judgement. I say screw-you to all the LeAnn Rimes Cibrian haters... Get a freakin life & stop the bullying because that is all you are is internet bullies. The affair happened, NO ONE can change that & it was 3 years ago & they are married now... How pathetic that you LeAnn haters continue to beat a dead horse. Has it affected your life, your family, NO it has not so get over it. YOU should be ashamed of yourselves. LeAnn has every right to post, tweet, call her step-sons bonus-boys, take pictures & post them and show off her lovely family, and she has every right to be happy. All you bullies are truly pittiful & have NO business in LeAnn's business! Kenny thanks for your honesty!

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    1. Thanks, and appreciate your kind words! Just checked out "What Have I Done", which is gorgeous, and I think even more gut wrenching than "Borrowed". Damn, that album of hers is gonna be something else.

      Here's the link to "What Have I Done" on YouTube for those who haven't heard it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGBeDiXCbJ8

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  12. Having read your review and listened to the song itself I agree that it's a heart felt tale of the experiences she felt at that time but I highly doubt it will be a commercial success because the subject of the song and the way she conducts herself in public isn't exactly favourable to the mainstream public. And to be honest isn't it a bit of a slap in the face to the people involved in the two marriages that sufferered due to Cibrian and Rimes's infidelity. No one is perfect and no one claims to be, people cheat and people get hurt but the hurt party's don't have to listen to their situations being sung about on radio and tv. Shame for her because she has a good voice.

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  13. Shame on her, that's laughable; what about all the other singer/song writters that wrote songs about infidelity that were HUGE hits! Like the song by Sugarland "STAY". Jennifer Nettles got a standing "O" when she performed it live on TV @ the CMA's. Or Amy Whineshouse's BIG hit "Between the Cheats". Let's see there is also: "Frankie And Johnny" by Sam Cooke; Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye that was a HUGE hit & still is, oh and let's see there is: I Know A Little by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' by Journey, It's Not Right But It's Okay by Whitney Houston, Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul, Ooh Baby Baby by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town by Kenny Rogers, Sacrifice by Elton John, Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston, Second Chance by .38 Special, She Ain't Got by LeToya, She Don't Have to Know by John Legend, Should've Said No by Taylor Swift, Sin for a Sin by Miranda Lambert, Unfaithful by Rihanna, Wake Up Call by Maroon 5, Who Is He (And What Is He To You) by Bill Withers,
    Who's That Girl by Eurythmics, Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? by Shania Twain, Why Would You Stay by Kem, Womanizer by Britney Spears, Would I Lie to You? by Eurythmics...

    I can continue my point that LeAnn's songs are not any way more of a slap in the face than the songs listed above which is only scratching the surface. There is probably thousands of songs thru the years written & sung about cheating that were HUGE songs. If you don't like it then why the hell are you on a blog posting about it? Are you just another LeAnn Rimes Cibrian internet bully that is obssessed with her life. Move on will ya & stay out of LeAnn's business. Her decisions have no affect on your life or your families. Get a freaking life & do something constructive other than bullying, bashing & casting judgement on others!

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  14. Kenny, kudos to you for your poignant review of LeAnn's song and for supporting her as a person. I think her song is beautiful and courageous. I think LeAnn is a very caring person and only wishes so many people wouldn't hate her. I see her behavior as heartfelt and sincere, never bitter or unkind in any way.

    Love is not always black and white. Sometimes people find themselves undeniably drawn to someone else. I'm happy that LeAnn and Eddie found each other. The circumstances surrounding their romance and subsequent divorces from their exes is no one's business but theirs.

    Sadly, there will always be haters. It seems most of them are women. I think a lot of women have a deep-seated, insecure, and irrational rage. They target any women who've 'stolen' men from other women and attempt to destroy her. The hate seems to go on forever, just as their internal rage does. I don't think these women are capable of admitting THEY are the unkind ones. I also don't think they are capable of being more open-minded and compassionate in regards to this situation.
    It is best not to bother with haters...they are looking for attention.

    I'm so happy LeAnn has so many loving supporters...men and women. I hope she can feel peace, love, and joy always. I hope she can see how common her situation is...most people don't have to go through it publicly.
    I hope she can love herself fully. She has touched my heart. Beautiful woman.

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