In the 1990s,
country music incorporated a wide
umbrella of excellent female performers, verging on folk (Nanci Griffith),
bluegrass (Alison Krauss), confessional singer-songwriter (Lucinda Williams,
Mary Chapin Carpenter) and pop (Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride).
Suzy Bogguss
falls into the latter category, and I enjoyed her videos regularly featured on CMT.
By 1993, and the consummate "Hey
Cinderella", she was already on to her fifth studio album, firmly
established as a mature Nashville star with country hits such as "Aces",
John Hiatt's "Drive South" and "Outbound Plane".
"Hey Cinderella"
was co-written with Gary Harrison and Matraca Berg. The latter, seemingly a
songwriter of choice for all female country artists, but also an excellent recording
artist in her own right.
The premise
considers what happens in "happy ever after" of a romantic fairy
tale, and it sounds like it isn't that happy after all.
The narrator first
reminisces on her friend's picture perfect wedding, with the champagne, music,
an aimed bouquet and mustang departure. Pondering the flurry of subsequent
years of jobs, kids and dashed hopes, she concludes there is a settling in
settling down ("We're older but no more the wise / We've learned the art
of compromise").
The dreams
can still be recalled, but the song's images are the decay of rusting bikes,
dusty dolls and aging. Reality hits hard, as she muses "Does the shoe fit
you now?" in the biting chorus line. Harsh, but realistic.
Bogguss'
vocals are powerful and clean, punching the "Heeeey-yyy !", accompanied
by the modern country sleek sheen of drums, pedal steel guitar and keyboards.
"Something
Up My Sleeve" was probably her commercial peak, but she managed to sustain
a lengthy career, including a series of
releases on her own Loyal Duchess label. "Hey
Cinderella" is an abiding memory of a vibrant Nashville scene, from one of
its superior entertainers.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjVbi-nUGgA
Hear Next -
Bogguss had some great singles, so " 20 Greatest Hits" is great
place to start.
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