Music Friday: Easton Corbin Pops the Question in 'A Little More Country Than That'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Easton Corbin delivers a singing marriage proposal — while revealing what’s under this old hat — in his 2009 chart topper “A Little More Country Than That.”

In the song about trust and small town sensibilities, Corbin states his case for why he would make a great husband. He paints a picture of the rural life he loves, his appreciation for the simpler things and the importance of being a true gentleman.

He would never play games behind her back because he’s “a little more country than that.” In the last verse, Corbin makes it a point to emphasize that saying "those the three words" (I Love You) is something he takes very seriously. Then he finally pops the question.

He sings, “Yeah, I’m sure that you’ve heard those three words from others / But they fell flat / But this ring ain’t something that I mean to give you / And then take back / I’m a little more country than that.”

Although “A Little More Country Than That” was penned by Wynn Varble, Rory Lee and Donald Poythress, the 41-year-old Corbin said the song mirrors his own life experiences.

“Even though I didn’t write it, this song identifies who I am,” he said. “It shows character and that’s important where I’m from. You learn to say, ‘Yes, ma’am’ and ‘No, sir,’ and to open doors for the ladies.”

“A Little More Country Than That” was the lead single from Corbin’s self-titled debut album. The song went to #1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs list while the album topped out at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The single was certified Platinum, which means it sold more than 1 million copies.

Interestingly, the writing team originally intended the song for Blaine Larsen, but his record label passed on it.

A native of Trenton, FL, Corbin lived on his grandparents’ farm following his parents’ divorce. At the age of 14, he started taking guitar lessons from long-time session musician Pee Wee Melton. Soon after, he joined a band and performed at music festivals.

Corbin got his first big break in 2005 when he visited 1st Street Music in Lake City, FL, to enter a contest for the Annual Suwannee River Jam. The manager of the store was impressed by Corbin’s in-store demo and connected him with songwriter Reese Wilson in Nashville.

Corbin moved to Nashville in 2006, and four years later "A Little More Country Than That" would help launch his career, with the singer earning three American Country Awards for “New/Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” “Music Video by New/Breakthrough Artist” and “Single by New/Breakthrough Artist.” “A Little More Country Than That” was also nominated in four other categories.

Corbin is currently on a summer tour with performances booked in Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Idaho and Washington.

Please check out the video of Corbin performing “A Little More Country Than That.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“A Little More Country Than That”
Written by Wynn Varble, Rory Lee Feek and Donald Poythress. Performed by Easton Corbin.

Imagine a dirt road full of pot holes
With a creek bank and some cane poles
Catching channel cat
I’m a little more country than that

Picture a small town with an old hound
Laying out front of the court house
While the old men chew the fat
I’m a little more country than that

I just want to make sure you know just who you’re getting under, this old hat
Cause girl I’m not the kind of two time or play games behind your back
I’m a little more country than that

Think of a Hank song from days gone
With a steel ride that’s so strong
It sends chills up your back
I’m a little more country than that

If you want a brick home in a school zone
With the doors locked and alarms on
Girl, you’re way off track
I’m a little more country than that

I just want to make sure you know just who you’re getting under this old hat
Cause girl I’m not the kind of two time or play games behind your back
I’m a little more country than that

Yeah, I’m sure that you’ve heard those three words from others
But they fell flat
But this ring ain’t something that I mean to give you
And then take back
I’m a little more country than that
I’m a little more country than that
I’m a little more country than that

Credit: Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Study: Eruption of Diamond-Rich Kimberlite Pipes Linked to Continental Fractures

An international team led by geologists at the University of Southampton in England believes that the eruption of kimberlite pipes — the molten rock that blasts diamonds from deep within the Earth to the surface — is statistically linked with the fracturing of the Pangea supercontinent.

Geologists believe that some 300 million years ago a massive supercontinent incorporated nearly all the landmasses on Earth. Then, about 200 million years ago, Pangea began to shift and break apart, forming the early configurations of the continents we recognize today.

Utilizing statistical analysis, along with AI (artificial intelligence) machine learning software, the scientists were able to map the location and timing of kimberlite eruptions along the geological fault lines of the broken continents. Interestingly, when the continents snapped apart from each other, the kimberlites did not form right away, say the scientists. Instead, they occurred 20 to 30 million years later.

The computer models revealed that when continental plates tore apart, a number of events eventually led to the eruption of kimberlite magma. As the rock stretched and became thinner, a rift formed and the hot mantle moved in to fill the gap.

The scientists also believe that the kimberlite eruptions initially occurred at the edges of tectonic plates and continued to migrate inland in an undulating pattern at a rate of about 20 kilometers every million years.

Over many millions of years, the kimberlite pipes emerged vast distances from the original continental break. This solved the disturbing riddle of how kimberlite pipes have been discovered so far from the coasts of existing continents.

“It was an elephant in the room that no one had a good explanation for,” Thomas Gernon, a geologist at the University of Southampton, told science.org. “Kimberlites seem to be responding to rhythms of supercontinents.”

Gernon told science.org that the greatest interest in the study, which was recently published in Nature magazine, may come from commercial diamond miners. Theoretically, the research could provide strategies for locating undiscovered kimberlites.

“You should be able to pinpoint, roughly, the sweet spot for diamonds,” he said.

The accompanying video represents a sonification of kimberlite eruptions over time. Each eruption is represented by a note, with higher latitude eruptions producing higher-pitched tones.

Credit: Painting of Mir Diamond mine by Shanabethmason, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Drake Revealed as Top Bidder for Tupac Shakur’s Ruby and Diamond ‘Crown’ Ring

Tupac Shakur's majestic ruby and diamond “crown” ring fetched $1.02 million at Sotheby’s New York last week, earning it the distinction as the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold at auction.

The hammer price was more than three times the presale high estimate of $300,000, and the impressive result spawned headlines across the media. The new owner remained a mystery — for two days.

On Thursday night, July 27, five-time Grammy winner Drake posted an Instagram Story showing him flashing the distinctive "crown" ring on his index finger. The next day, Sotheby's confirmed that Drake was, indeed, the winning bidder.

“We’re thrilled that this exceptional piece has entered a new chapter in the hands of another legendary artist,” commented Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture.

Designed and commissioned by Shakur, the crown ring led Sotheby’s “Hip Hop” auction, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with an event dedicated to jewelry, art, fashion, sneakers, photography and more.

In 1996, only months before he passed away in a drive-by shooting, Shakur had initiated the ring project as an act of self-coronation, according to Sotheby’s. He was retooling his image, strategizing screenwriting projects and refocusing his support for community outreach programs.

Sotheby’s wrote, “By 1996, Tupac not only felt ready to take on the world; he was prepared to conquer it. The aesthetic rules of Hip Hop Culture are clear; there is only one way to commemorate your arrival into a new phase of life — you get a new piece of bling.”

Shakur entrusted the jewelry project to family friend and mentor Yaasmyn Fula, who became the liaison between the artist and jewelers in New York City. Shakur modeled his design after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe.

Boasting 10 carats of cabochon rubies and 5 carats of diamonds set in 14-karat gold, the ring was tooled and re-tooled to meet the artist’s meticulous specifications.

“Tupac’s selection of the ruby as the principal stone in his crown is a continuation of this royal narrative, as rubies have long been symbolically tied to the imagery of monarchy and wealth in our cultural imagination,” Sotheby’s noted.

The size 8 ring is inscribed “Pac & Dada, 1996” on the palm-facing side of the band — a nod to his engagement to Kidada Jones, whose dad was composer Quincy Jones.

Shakur wore the piece on his left-hand ring finger during his final public appearance at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996, only nine days before his death.

Two months ago, Shakur was honored posthumously with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Credits: Drake image by The Come Up Show, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons. Jewelry image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Music Friday: Everything About Rock and Roll Icon Stevie Nicks Is '24 Karat Gold'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, the spotlight shines on two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks as she sings “24 Karat Gold,” the title song from her 2014 album.

Nicks revealed that the tune she penned in 1980 — but didn’t release until 2014 — was about her passionate, but short-lived, romance with Fleetwood Mac bandmate Mick Fleetwood. She described the relationship as having "its 24-karat moments.”

For Nicks, 24-karat gold represents absolute perfection. The phrase appears as the name of today’s featured song, numerous times in the song’s lyrics (“There were dreams to be sold / My 24 karat gold”), in the title of her 2014 album (24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault) and on the marquees of countless venues during her 2016-2017 concert series (“The 24 Karat Gold Tour”).

Nicks also uses the term "chain of chains" throughout the song. The jewelry term symbolizes an invisible chain that holds people together.

Fleetwood Mac fans are familiar with the the group's 1977 hit, "The Chain," a song that originally represented the internal fractures — both romantically and professionally — of the band members, but eventually came to symbolize their triumph in staying together.

While “24 Karat Gold” appears as the fourth single from Nicks’ eighth studio album, it was actually written 34 years earlier during the Bella Donna album sessions. The original 1981 no-frills demo, featuring Nicks playing the piano with an accompanying drum machine and bass, can be found on YouTube.

Born in Phoenix, AZ, Stephanie Lynn (Stevie) Nicks sang duets with her grandfather, Aaron Jess "A.J." Nicks Sr., when she was just four years old. The future rock legend learned how to play the guitar as a teen and wrote her first song as a 16-year-old. While in high school in California, she joined her first band, Changing Times.

As a senior, she met her future husband and Fleetwood Mac bandmate, Lindsey Buckingham, who invited her to replace the lead singer of his band, Fritz, in 1967. In 1975, both Buckingham and Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac, helping to launch the band to the pinnacle of success.

The Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter is best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. Collectively, she’s scored 40 top-50 hits and sold more than 140 million albums. Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album accounted for 40 million of those sales. That album was rated by Rolling Stone magazine as #7 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Nicks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, the first in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac, and the second time in 2019 in recognition of her solo career that has spanned more than 40 years.

The 75-year-old Nicks is currently embarking on a summer tour, which includes a series of co-headlining concerts with 74-year-old Billy Joel.

Please check out the official lyric video of Nicks performing “24 Karat Gold.” Here are the lyrics if you'd like to sing along…

“24 Karat Gold”
Written and performed by Stevie Nicks.

Set me free, set me free
Is this what you wanted, to happen to me?
Golden wings in the sunset
Take me back
All alone I waited
But there was no one, out there

There were dreams to be sold (chain of chains)
My 24-karat gold (chain of chains)
There was some love to be sold (chain of chains)
You said you might be coming back to town (chain of chains)
All alone I waited

There was no one out there
In the rain she lay face down.
What is this freedom that she wanted
What kind of freedom…
What kind of game?

There were dreams to be sold (chain of chains)
My 24-karat gold (chain of chains)
There was some love to be sold (chain of chains)
You said you might be coming back to town (chain of chains)

Set me free, set me free
Is this what you wanted, to happen to me?
Golden wings in the sunset
Take me back
All alone I waited
But there was no one, out there

There were dreams to be sold (chain of chains)
You like my 24-karat gold, chain of chains
(chain of chains)
(chain of chains)
You like my 24-karat gold
(chain of chains)
Yes you like my 24-karat gold

Yeah
My love

Credit: Image by Ralph Arvesen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sauce Gardner Welcomes Aaron Rodgers to NY Jets With Some High-Flying Bling

Last season's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner welcomed star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets with a piece of jewelry that had the four-time Most Valuable Player grinning from ear to ear.

Emblazoned with Jets-green emeralds and white diamonds set in white gold, the #8 pendant is a nod to the jersey number the former Packer and 18-year veteran will be wearing during his first season in the Big Apple.

A short video posted by the New York Jets on Twitter and Instagram shows the 22-year-old defensive phenom briefly interrupting the 38-year-old's weight room session at the Jets' training camp on Saturday.

“Hear me out, hear me out. So you’re my jeweler’s favorite quarterback,” Gardner said, while toting a gift bag in his left hand. “You know what I mean, Al The Jeweler. So he wanted to cook up something special for you. He brought the idea to me. I said, ‘I think would be a good idea.’”

Then Gardner opened a necklace case, revealing a dazzling pendant dangling from a long gold chain. Rodgers could see that the "8" was rendered in diamonds and outlined in emeralds. Raised white gold lettering on one side of the pendant spelled the signal caller's name, while the other side in similar lettering spelled out "NEW YORK JETS."

Despite his low-key persona, Rodgers seemed really pleased with the piece designed by New Jersey-based Al The Jeweler. Rodgers smiled broadly and told Gardner, "You've got to put it on me." Gardner secured the #8 pendant and then the two embraced.

Rodgers can be heard saying, "Thanks, man, I appreciate it."

The post earned 1.7 million views on Twitter and 94,000 Likes on Instagram.

Gardner had teased during a Friday press conference that he had a “welcome to New York” gift for Rodgers that he thought the QB would like.

Gardner knows a little bit about spectacular necklaces. Back in February, Al the Jeweler (whose real name is Al Bekdas) designed a diamond-encrusted "Sauce" necklace for the Jets' first-round draft pick. That piece — in the shape of a hot sauce bottle — was reportedly made up of 20 carats of VS-quality diamonds.

(Sauce's first name is actually Ahmad, but he has been known as "Sauce" since a youth coach gave him the nickname when he was six years old.)

“When I look good, I feel good," he told the NFL Network. "When I feel good, I play good."

Credits: Screen captures of the pendant presentation via Twitter / New York Jets. Side view of pendant screen capture and photo via Twitter / Paul Andrew Esden Jr.