Many of y’all know that one of my primary objectives in life (okay. maybe not “primary.” perhaps I’m overstating it. but still.) is to find great music that I can listen to even when there are kids in my car. And it’s certainly not that I have any objections to music that features the song stylings of high-pitched puppets, but I hit sort of hit my limit with that stuff when the young’un was around three.
So, if I had to succinctly state my musical goals, they would be as follows: 1) great music 2) no puppets 3) family friendly lyrics 4) good beat, can dance to it.
I’m not even kidding about number four.
About a year ago I heard a guy named Matt Wertz for the first time. I found him to be oh-so-enjoyable, but for whatever reason, I never transferred his music from iTunes to my iPod, which means it wasn’t getting any playing time in the car. Playing time in the car is critical to entering our family’s music rotation since that’s when we do the majority of our listening and singing and dancing.
Yes, I said “dancing.” I can flat-out break it down at a stoplight, y’all.
Anyhoo.
Back in June I finally put the Matt Wertz tuneage (totally a word) on my iPod, we listened to him all summer long, and we are officially fans. No, we’re Fans. FANS. Love his music so much.
Last week the talented Mr. Wertz released a new CD called “Under Summer Sun.” It’s not only safe for little ears, but it’s also a perfect soundtrack for a date night with your fella. In fact, it’s especially perfect for a date night with your fella, and if you’ve ever headed out for a date night only to have the Veggie Tales blare at you when you turn on the CD player, then you understand why appropriate music is a critical component of the date night process.
Because “O Where Is My Hairbrush” doesn’t really add a whole lot of ambience to a romantic night on the town.
So.
If you’d like to win one of five signed copies of Matt Wertz’s oh-so-excellent “Under Summer Sun” along with a free t-shirt (FAYYYYYYYYN-CEE), here’s all you have to do:
2. Listen to the song previews.
3. Come back here and tell me which clip you like the most.
4. The end.
I’ll leave this giveaway open until noon Thursday, September 25, and at that point I’ll turn over the proceedings to the fine random number generator over at random.org.
Happy music, y’all!
This giveaway is now closed.
What a voice! I love the feel of summer sun. And I like the beat of the way I feel. He’ll definitely be in my next playlist!
Back in June.
Back in June
Love it! I also like “Back in June”. Thanks for the giveaway! And yes, unfortunately, many times has Larry and his Hairbrush started out our dates.
I like #5 – Carolina!
I LOVE Keep Faith! Pick me! Oh! Pick Me!!
Carolina…and not just because I’m partial to the Carolinas. Or maybe that has a little to do with it.
Listening to him right now. Thanks for the recommendation. And how come when a hairbrush goes AWOL must the whole family sing the song in their best Larry voices? A peanut butter song if there ever was one. (You know…sticks to the roof of your brain.)
Kate
Keep Faith
I would never have found him without your blog. But I do like what I hear. I enjoyed Waiting and Everything’s Right, but really they all had a good beat and sounded like music we would enjoy listening to.
Thanks for th recommendation!
keep faith!!
The Way I Feel!!!! I love this song! My cute hubby and I have seen Matt a few times in Nashville… He is always amazing, and he has a serious shoe fetish. The last time we saw him he was wearing bright orange high tops with red laces! I’ve been waiting for this album to come out!!
That summer sun number reminds me of a BeeGees song.
I like Keep Faith, the others are good,too.
Keep Faith is a keeper! Thanks!
Back in June, or at least the little bitty part I heard…..nice tone
Carolina… definitely Carolina!
“Waiting” is my favorite preview….
I’ve heard his name before and I can’t remember where or why or how or when.
But..I liked Keep Faith and I liked Summer Sun. Actually, there wasn’t a clip I didn’t like….Good music. We can always count on you to steer us to it!
I liked Keep The Faith.
Thanks for sharing this music find!
Definitely Keep The Faith!
Just downloaded the CD plus all the others he has out there. Thanks for the shot music tip! I enjoyed With You Tonight.
Red Meets Blue or With You, Tonight. Nice tuneage! ;)
I loved 5:19, but really, I loved all of them. Kind of Jack Johnson-ish with a splash of John Mayer…
I think Carolina is sweet.
Keep Faith and 5:19
I couldn’t choose between them — liked them both very much. The words/tune of Keep Faith and the beat of 5:19.
Thanks for the introduction!
Hard to pick! I think I like, “Like the Last Time” best.
I think I may have found me some new music! Thanks BooMama!
This boy is GOOD. I listened to them all, and I think The Way I Feel is my favorite. And Waiting.
Thanks, Boomama!
OOh, hard pick, but “The Way I Feel” wins it for me.
My little bro has been friends with Matt for a while & he seems like a really quality guy. Glad to see his music appreciated by someone else I admire! Thanks BooMama!
Defintely “Back in June”…and you can still pick me even though your beloved bullogs lost bad to GT on Saturday.
The Way I Feel.
The Way I Feel
I like him. I often find myself listening to the Curious George soundtrack, because I love Jack Johnson, and I know my kids won’t learn anything in particular that I’d rather they didn’t.
Oh wow. I can see why you love him! I’d have to say either Summer Sun or With You, Tonight would be my first picks, but after I listen to a great CD over & over again, my favs always change.
Caroline!! :)
Haven’t listened yet, but had to comment. First off, any Veggie Tales song is just a classic and therefore perfect for a night out with the hubby. Let me qualify that by saying that my husband has been gone since August 11th and our next date night is scheduled for approximately 2 minutes after he gets back; sometime in late December.
Beth
I love Matt but don’t have his new album. I think my favorite is Everything’s Right…oh wait. It’s Carolina. Umm…No I changed my mind again…it Everything’s Right. Final answer (today). :)
With you, tonight is my favorite.
‘I will not take my love away’ was my fav. Thanks for the recommendation, too – I haven’t listened to him before. He sounds great!
Carolina is awesome!!!
I liked 5:19. This is great music!
i am down with some 5:19, dude.
Thanks for the new music tips! I loved “I Will Not Take My Love Away”
I will not take my love away. Beautifully simple.
Everything’s Right and Keep Faith are my kind of sound…thanks for introducing some new tunes!
Everything’s Right!
Everything will be even more right whenever I win!
It’s so hard to pick just one. The harmony is amazing on Back In June, so I’d probably go with that one for now…
Ooh, I’ve liked him since I first heard him on a Psalms CD a few years ago! I think I like “Keep Faith” the best, from the little clips I’ve heard.
love it!
i liked everyone i clicked. but, i’ll choose “with you, tonight” as my favorite.
I like Everything’s Right, but I think if I heard more of it I would really like Back in June, too!
“Keep the Faith” or “Waiting”
Thanks for introducing us to his music! All the previews were great :)
New artist to me ~ nice stuff! My favorite is “I Will Not Take My Love Away.” ThanX
The Way I Feel.
I like the bluesy bee-bop meter to it. And I started dancing in my seat which is generally a good sign that it will be EXCELLENT for my car dancing.
I really liked “5:19” and “Keep Faith”. I love his sound…waaayy better than John Mayer. But maybe that’s because he doesn’t have the personal/tabloid issues with starlets. :-)
If I don’t win, I’ll definitely buy his CD!
Really liked I Will Not Take My Love Away. The whole thing sounds so good, though, that I just gifted it to my daughter who’s away at school in Jacksonville. Now I need a copy.
Summer Sun (the song) sounds like it’s pretty cool – I want to hear the whole thing! I hope my number will come up this time. Thanks.
The Way I Feel is my fave. He totally reminds me of Dave Barnes. LOVE IT!
I like keep faith. Although, they are all good.
5:19. Brilliant.
Can I pick two? I am required by the law of friendship to pick “Carolina” in honor of the birth of precious Carolina Joy last Thursday to our youth pastor and his wife. However, “I will not take my love away” brings tears to my eyes. I can imagine singing it to my grandbabies one day. Sniff.
So hard to pick, but I settle on “Keep the Faith.” Thanks for the tunes tips!
I had never heard of him but really liked the samples. I liked Carolina. I hope I win.
Red Meets Blue–but I don’t think it’s fair to only pick one. I really hope I win.
Well, I totally fell in love with the little snippet of I Will Not Take My Love Away! Beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity, BooMama.
You should totally check out my friend, Marcy Priest. Her link is on my site.
Gurl can sang.
And all the kiddos in my morning carpool want to hear song number 1 so they can jam out on their air electric guitars.
Good times.
Will not take my love away.
Your musical taste is far more current than mine. I’ll catch Phil Collins on the radio (easy listening station) and shout, “Phil! It’s Phil!”
Love Caroline!
Thanks for the giveaway.
mnatherson at comcast dot net
All the songs sound good to me, but I especially liked With You Tonight. Sounds romantical. Like you, I heart music little ears can hear in the car with me and my boys LOVE to dance so that is also a HUGE requirement. Thanks for the giveaway. So hope I win!
Rachel in Columbus, MS
Summer Sun
Everything sounds terrific from the little bit I heard. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love “Carolina.” Thanks for the giveaway!
Hard to pick just one! I like Everything’s Right and Keep Faithl
Ok, this will show how “un-hip” I am- that was the first time I have ever gone to Amazon (or anywhere for that matter) and listened to music. I never knew you could do that. I also have no idea how an mp3 player or an ipod works!! But my husband and I always joke that we still use our Walkman!!
Anyway, now that I have been enlightened, I must say that I really liked I Will Not Take My Love Away.
And why does that kind of music have to be so elusive, I ask you? Wertz is beautiful, you’re right. “Faith” is my favorite. If I don’t win the CD I think I’m going to buy it anyway.
‘The way I feel’ love that one.
Love With You tonight!!!!!!! Love it, Love it, Love it!
Thanks for a great contest.
I love Everything’s Right and Red Meets Blue – although it truly goes against my MSU Bulldog maroon and white blood!
Would never have known about him without your recommendation. Thanks!
Dial up porhibits me from listening to the music online. Can I enter anyway??? :) Pretty pretty please? With a cherry on top? Thanks!
Summer Sun is Great! Please pick me. I never win anything!
Red meets Blue…
And as far as Veggie Tales songs go…. maybe you should be listening to “Sport Utility Vehicle” A true love song and totally danceable!!
Though it looks like I didn’t even listen past track #1, Everything’s Right is my fave of the day.
I would have to pick Carolina… of course, being a Carolina girl, I am a little biased…
I knocked off my rearview mirror dancing in the car at a stoplight once. Oops! Don’t try that one at home. :)
MARIANNE
I pretty much love the whole thing – but I really liked Waiting and Everything’s Right
I like Carolina, but they are all good.
I really like 5:19- love the fact that it’s kid friendly. That’s getting harder and harder to find these days.
So good so good SO GOOD. Have to say my favorite was 5.19. Loved the mellow beat he had goin on.
The Way I Feel – love it!
I can’t hear it yet…..I’m at school.
I will have to play them when I get home….
but count me in, to win!
I want me some dancin music!
I like The Way I Feel, but when I turned on the first song my 18 month old starting dancing around, so you know it’s good for some dancin!
My favorite is a tie between I Will Not Leave You and Keep the Faith.
Keep Faith is a real car dance tune for me.
In high school, I was doing my car dance at a stop light and this guy pulled up beside me with such a look of concern. I think he thought I was having a seizure. It would have looked the same. I don’t claim to be a fine dancer, just a dancer. Thank you.
I’m digging Carolina and Everything’s Right. I can never decide. Very nice slightly smokey sexy voice. Can I say sexy on this blog?
The Way I Feel. Thanks for getting me up with new music.
Hard to pick… I Will Not Take My Love Away and With You, Tonight would have to be up there.
P.S. Nice to know I am not the only one dancing while driving :)
“Waiting” gave me chills. And let me just say, I have strong love for new, fresh music. Especially when it is free. Because I am cheap.
It’s hard to tell with the little sound clips that you get on Amazon… but I’m going with “With You, Tonight.”
I like “Back in June”–wonderful lyrics!
Back in June
I liked all the cuts he has a very pleasant voice,but my fave is 5:19.
“I Will Not Take My Love Away” is very pretty.