Friday, January 11, 2019

Music Friday: 'Loving You Is Like Finding a Diamond in a Rhinestone World,' Sings Dallas Smith

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you new song with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Canadian country music star Dallas Smith finds the girl of his dreams in his brand new release, "Rhinestone World."

In the song, Smith admits that he was "lost on highway, a little dazed and confused," but everything changed when she came along.

Country metaphors bring the story to life as he describes a girl who is unlike all the rest. He compares his new love to a little white church in Mississippi, a red Corvette on a Carolina two lane — and to a rare and precious gem.

"Look at you shine," he sings. "Loving you is like finding a diamond in a rhinestone world."

The song made its debut in November of 2018 and hit #30 on Billboard Canadian Country chart.

A native of British Columbia, the 41-year-old Smith was named Male Artist of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Country Music Awards, where his “Sky Stays This Blue” won Video of the Year. He's set to be the opening act at this summer's Country Thunder Saskatchewan, July 11-14. Other top performers at the event will be Jake Owen, Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, Terri Clark, Gord Bamford, Travis Tritt and Steve Earle and the Dukes.

Smith always had a passion for music growing up, but was reluctant to perform in public. As a young adult he finally decided to face his fears and joined a band consisting of some good friends. By the age of 21, the young man who's said to have one of the best voices in country music earned his first record deal.

Please check out the video of Smith performing "Rhinestone World." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Rhinestone World"
Written and performed by Dallas Smith.

See the Sun
Coming up
From the from seat of a greyhound bus
Felt the rain
On the faces
I was standing at the gates of Graceland
Searching for something
Searching for someone
Lost on the highway
A little dazed and confused
But the haze of the road dust
Comes into focus
Every time I look at you

You're a little white church
On a corner in Mississippi
The front porch light that feels like home, girl
Look at you shine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a red Corvette on a Carolina two lane
Lighter in the air to a damn good song
Girl, can't believe you're mine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a diamond in a rhinestone world

Waking up
All alone
Means you might have just been chasing ghosts
And all the glitter fades fast
And a gold rush ain't made to last

You're a little white church
On a corner in Mississippi
A front porch light that feels like home, girl
Look at you shine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a red Corvette on a Carolina two lane
Lighter in the air to a damn good song
Girl, can't believe you're mine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a little white church
On a corner in Mississippi
A front porch light that feels like home, girl
Look at you shine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a red Corvette on a Carolina two lane
Lighter in the air to a damn good song
Girl, can't believe you're mine
Loving you is like finding
A diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a diamond in a rhinestone world

You're a diamond in a rhinestone world

Credit: Photo by Enjoy151 [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons.

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Michelle Yeoh Flashes Her 'Crazy Rich Asians' Emerald Ring at the Golden Globes

The stunning emerald ring that Michelle Yeoh wore in her starring role as Eleanor in the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians made an appearance on the Golden Globes red carpet Sunday, and E!'s Giuliana Rancic was quick to take notice. The ring had generated a buzz this past August when Yeoh revealed it was from her personal jewelry collection.

Fans of the movie know that the ring plays a pivotal role in the storyline. It's worn by Yeoh, who portrays the very stylish, but domineering, family matriarch Eleanor Young. Viewers are introduced to the ring when her son's girlfriend, Rachel (Constance Wu), admires it while the Youngs are preparing dumplings.

Eleanor, at first, disapproves of Rachel's relationship with her son, Nick (Henry Goulding), but later in the film, Nick proposes with the emerald ring, indicating that the matriarch had given her blessing.

The movie's director, Jon M. Chu, had envisioned Eleanor wearing an emerald engagement ring because the green color is strong and regal like the character.

The costume designers fashioned the jewelry to look like the engagement ring John F. Kennedy had given to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in 1952. But when Yeoh saw that ring for the first time, she told the director that it wouldn't do.

Instead, the 56-year-old actress replaced the underwhelming prop with a ring from her own jewelry box.

Yeoh told Rancic: "This is my own ring. It was such a character in the film, so it had to be instantly recognizable. The color green is about life, prosperity... and with Eleanor, since she's so particular, I knew [this is the] ring that she would wear."

As soon as the actress received confirmation that Crazy Rich Asians had been nominated for a Golden Globe, she knew the emerald ring would be a perfect accessory to pair with her emerald-colored gown at the high-profile event, according to the LA Times.

See Rancic's full interview with Yeoh, below. The ring enters the conversation at the 1:32 mark.

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com/E! Red Carpet & Award Shows.

Monday, January 07, 2019

'InStyle' Editor-in-Chief Laura Brown Raises the Bar for Engagement Ring Selfies

InStyle magazine's editor-in-chief Laura Brown raised the bar for engagement ring selfies last week when she posted to her Instagram page an impeccable close-up shot of her new Art Deco-inspired bling. The ring features a round center diamond surrounded by an unusual asymmetrical array of square and rectangular baguettes.

Comedian and writer Brandon Borror-Chappell surprised the Australian-born fashion guru with a marriage proposal while the two vacationed over the holidays with some adorable furry friends in the Land Down Under.

Brown teased the big news in an Instagram post that showed the couple embracing at the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, Australia. The caption read: "What can I say: someone really digs kangaroos. I love you forever, @brandogeoffrey." Prominently seen on the ring finger of her left hand is a diamond engagement ring.

In a post the next day, Brown told her 251,000 Instagram followers how the sanctuary's team played a big role in the surprise proposal. A baby kangaroo and the engagement ring starred in the post.

"And we’re already parents!" she wrote. "This is Vegemite, just rescued by Brolga and Tahnee of @thekangaroosanctuary that morning. We can’t tell you how special these guys are. Kind and gracious and full of love. And also the greatest and sneakiest wingmen for @brandogeoffrey’s proposal. Thank you!"

Bowing to numerous requests for her to post a closeup of the ring, Brown obliged with a beautifully shot selfie.

"And for those of y’all who wanted a closer look at the ring, here it is," Brown wrote on her Instagram page. "Designed by my dear and brilliant mate Stefano Canturi. He is a genius. Am beside myself. Stefano and Patricia, we love you and thank you! @canturi" She punctuated the caption with a red heart emoji.

According to the Aussie designer's Instagram page, Brown's ring is called "Stella" and reflects a style meant to appeal to "modern romantics."

Images via Instagram/laurabrown99.