Diva Spotlight: Maren Morris

While she's still newish to the country music scene, Maren Morris has already made a name for herself. Her sound is different than a lot of the other country music ladies out there right now: a unique blend of country and R&B that's super easy on the ears and a lot of fun to listen to. And don't get me started on her voice - this little lady (for real, she's only like 5'1" but makes up for it with some really killer heels) has an insane set of pipes on her, and it's already easy even after just two albums to distinguish a Maren Morris song from another artist.

Here's a quick bio on Morris if you're unfamiliar (all information as of October 2020):

-30 years old

-Born in Arlington, TX

-Married singer Ryan Hurd in 2018 (they have 1 son together)

-Vocalist and guitarist

-Has won 16 awards, including 2 CMAs, 3 ACMs, and 1 Grammy

-Has released 3 studio albums (2 solo and 1 collaboration with country supergroup The Highwomen)

Morris's two albums have each been commercially successful in their own ways and I think each one has a distinct sound while still keeping her signature throughout the track lists. As usual, I'll provide overall information on each album while highlighting my top 3 songs from each.

Hero (2016)

Morris's debut country pop album was released June 3rd, 2016 by Columbia Nashville. With a run time of 37:49, it produced 4 singles: My Church (1/19/16), 80s Mercedes (6/27/16), I Could Use a Love Song (3/27/17), and Rich (2/12/18). The album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for selling over 1 million copies in the US. I personally think the album feels a little more R&B-ish than pop-ish, but the country part is undeniable without being obnoxious. The whole album is great from start to finish, but here are my three favorites.

Track 2: Rich (written by J. Dillon, L. Veltz, M. Morris)

This song is just plain fun. A definite clapback anthem, it's super relatable to just about anyone who's felt taken advantage of in any type of relationship.

If I had a dollar every time that I swore you off/And a twenty every time that I picked up when you called/And a crisp new Benjamin for when you're here then gone again/And a dollar every time I was right about you after all/Boy, I'd be rich, head to toe Prada, Benz in the driveway, yacht in the water/Vegas at the Mandarin, high roller gambling, me and Diddy dripping diamonds like Marilyn/No, I wouldn't be drowning in all your IOU's, every promise you made me would have some real value/'Cause all the little lies rolling off your lips is money falling from the sky/Shit, I'd be rich, la la la la la la la/I'd be rich, la la la la la la la

Track 3: My Church (written by M. Morris, M. Busbee)

Morris's debut single, and one of her best songs I personally think, is responsible for the Best Country Solo Performance Grammy that she picked up in 2017. She does not come to play vocally on this song, showing a lot of power in her voice with those sweeping gospelly stylizations.

I've cussed on a Sunday, I've cheated and I've lied/I've fallen down from grace a few too many times/But I find holy redemption when I put this car in drive/Roll the windows down and turn up the dial/Can I get a hallelujah, can I get an amen/Feels like the Holy Ghost running through ya when I play the highway FM/I find my soul revival singing every single verse/Yeah, I guess that's my church

Track 5: 80s Mercedes (written by M. Morris, M. Busbee)

This may be my favorite song of Morris's right now. It's a fun girl power anthem and the perfect driving song, especially with windows down and sun roof open.

Still runs good, built to last/Moves like a hula girl on the dash/She ain't made for practicality/Yeah, I guess she's just like me/It's Saturday night, about time to go/Got my white leather jacket and a neon soul/Once I turn on the radio, I'm ready to roll/Re-ready to roll/Feel like a hard to get starlet when I'm driving/Turning every head, hell, I ain't even trying/Got them Ray Ban shades, pretty in pink, call me old school, but hey/I'm a nineties baby in my eighties Mercedes/I'm a nineties baby in my eighties Mercedes

Girl (2019)

Morris's second country pop album was released March 8th, 2019 by Columbia Nashville. With a run time of 46:59, it has provided three singles since its release: Girl (1/18/19), The Bones (5/20/19), and To Hell & Back (3/30/20). The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 525,000 units in the US. This album is just as much fun as Hero, but in a little more lighthearted way. To me, Hero has a little bit of a darker sound, not in material but just in the texture and tone of the music. Girl is a little more on the lighter, colorful side while dealing with slightly more mature subject matter. I talked about this album on my Favorite of 2019 post, and it was a little difficult to narrow it down to my Top 3 but I was able to make it work.

Track 1: Girl (written by G. Kurstin, M. Morris, S. Aarons)

The more I've listened to this song over the last year, the more powerful I feel that it is. It's such a good message of self-love and worthiness to any woman who's going through a hard time of any type.

Draw your comparisons, trying to find who's lesser than/I don't wanna wear your crown, there's enough to go around/What you feel is natural, you don't gotta put up with this anymore/Pick yourself up off the kitchen floor, tell me what you waiting for/Girl, won't you stop your crying, I know that you're trying/Everything's gonna be okay, baby/Girl, don't you hang your head low, don't you lose your halo/Everyone's gonna be okay, baby girl

Track 2: The Feels (written by J. Robbins, L. Veltz, M. Morris)

This song kind of skated by me the first few times I listened to the album, but it's grown on me steadily over the past year and now I really love it. It's a sweet, fun, romantic song that reminds me of how much fun I get to have every day being married to my best friend.

From the second that we walk in, you kinda make me wanna leave/You let your eyes do the talking, it kinda makes me wanna be/Alone with you, home with you, little love drunk stoned with you/I need a minute, 'cause boy, you're giving me the/Feels, like the tickle of the bubbles in a bottle of cheap champagne/And it feels like I'm getting into trouble, but I'm gonna do it anyway/And it feels like love in the morning, so good it's gonna burn through my body all day/What can I say, hey, you're giving me the feels, baby/Head down to my heels, baby

Track 4: A Song for Everything (written by J. Robbins, L. Veltz, M. Morris)

I feel like Maren broke into my head and wrote down my feelings in these lyrics. I've been trying to explain this exact concept to people for years but was never able to do it coherently (at least before I started this blog).

My first lighter up was back when Coldplay still played clubs/My first real goodbye, damn, that second verse still makes me cry/When I was looking for the words, somebody said it first/Like they knew me, they were singing right to me/One danced you through love, one rocked you through lonely/Mix-taped your heartbreak and made you feel holy/For the hits and the misses, for the fire and rain/Close your eyes and listen, 'cause there's a song for everything/Yeah, there's a song for everything/There's a song for everything

I'm really looking forward to the music Morris puts out in the future, and I hope you take the time and listen to her stuff if you haven't had the chance to before. Happy listening, and see you next week!