Miranda Lambert One Ups the Rolling Stones
Like a lot of people, when I heard Miranda Lambert's first single off her forthcoming album was called "Dead Flowers," I assumed she was covering the Rolling Stones' tune from the early '70s. An odd choice, I thought, but whatever. I knew she'd put her own spin on it.
But then she sang it on the ACM awards. It is nothing like the old song, which I think is about a heroin addict telling an ex to go ahead and send him dead flowers. And I know Stones fans won't agree, but I think Lambert's is better.
Better because I get hers. She starts off singing about flowers dying in the kitchen, then about Christmas lights still hanging in January. So, to me, that's about a relationship that's kind of past its prime. One where the water has turned gray and the bulbs have burned out. She says she wrote it from a love-gone-bad point of view. "I had some flowers that I got for Valentine's Day in a vase on the kitchen table," Lambert explains on her Web site. "I was going on the road, so I had to throw them in the yard. They were just laying there, and it was a really sad image. The song came to me right away and was one of those ones that kinda wrote itself."
There must've been a long line of clueless bastards in her life to lead to lines like these: "He ain't feeling anything/My love, my hurt or the sting of this rain/I'm living in a hurricane/All he can say is, 'Man, ain't it such a nice day?'" The robotic marching beat behind the story only adds to the going-nowhere feel of the song. And I mean that in a good way.
I realize this is not the best song for summer barbecues and tailgating parties and such. It's a thinker -- and a bit of a downer. But so are a lot of solid country songs. And in this genre, there's room for them all.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Tom says:
I love Miranda, and this song is great. I hope to hear it a lot on the radio this summer.
Eva Brazil says:
this new single is amazing and just another one of Miranda Lambert’s magnificent example of her writing skills as well as her ability use her vocal with such emotion. A perfect fit for country radio.
Alison W says:
I love this song, can’t wait for it to be available to buy.
Chris D. says:
This is a fantastic song, it really has me excited for her new album!
CJT says:
Miranda is a true country Star. She sounds country and writes country. I wish we had more like her. Not to mention she is cute as a button. I Can not wait for her new album.
Livewire says:
I totally love this song, especially the lyrics and the adding of steel guitar.
Slant Magazine has an exellent review of this song on their mainpage !
the only thing I may not like totally is near the end the whole lot of drums & wistles. I cannot wait to hear a stripped down version of this !
Patti says:
Off and on during the day I always check what is showing on CMT. I love the music videos and the insider show. I only wish you would show more of this (country music and info about various artists) and less movies, nanny shows, redneck weddings, home makeovers, etc. and get back to music.