behind_the

Story Behind The Song - "Independence Day"

Country Weekly, July 10, 2001
Written By Bob Paxman

Writing "Independence Day" was not exactly a Fourth of July picnic for Gretchen Peters. She was, after all, tackling a sensitive topic - domestic violence. It tested her songwriting mettle to the point where she agonized over every line, particularly the closing verse.
"It took a real long time," Gretchen begins, with a measure of relief. "I'd say it was a year or two in the making, because I would tinker with it and then put it away fro a while. I was afraid of the ending."

She had every reason to be. Gretchen knew that song's storyline - a battered wife finding her escape by setting fire to her home, with a husband in it - could iginite controversy.

"That was a dilemma for me," Gretchen admits. "The first couple of verses came together, and I had the melody. But the song is sort of dark, so I thought I had to find other ways to end it. I wound up having the courage to go with my first instinct. If nobody wanted to record it, then so be it." But Gretchen found a believer in Martina McBride. "It took the symbol of freedom and turned it around," notes Martina. "It's something that needed to be said."
Gretchen feels the same way. "Domestic violence is just something that I find so horrifying," she says, her voice quivering. "I never saw anything like that in my childhood."

Yet she delivered the message from a child's perspective. "I wrote it in the third person," explains Gretchen, "so that it could sound more like reporting. It's also more emotionally powerful to have a child as a narrator, because children are the most severely affected in these cases."
"Independence Day" had a powerful - and controversional - effect. Women's support groups overwhelmingly praised the song. On the flip side of the coin, some radio stations refused to play it, citing that the lyrics actually encourage violence.
"I totally disagree with that," Gretchen counters, pointing to the key phrase: I ain't saying it's right or it's wrong. "There had to be images of chaos and things changing, but in no way was the song condoning violent actions.
"And in the midst of all that controversy," she continues, "I got so many letters saying 'Thank you.' That makes me thing this song helped - even if just a little."

Behind The Music

“Concrete Angel”
Gladwin native assists in production of Martina McBride’s Video

Gladwin County Record
A former Gladwin resident got the opportunity to work on a Martina McBride video recently in Nashville, Tennessee.
Daun Knight, a 1991 Gladwin High School graduate who works as a corporate accountant for a healthcare company in Nashville, worked as an assistant to the Art Director during the shooting of the video for the Martina McBride song, “Concrete Angel.” The video production took place Nov. 13 and 14 in Nashville.

According to Knight, she had a friend at Deaton Flanigan who, knowing Knight’s interest and talent in artistic endeavors, referred her to Cyndi Williams, the Art Director for Martina’s video.

The first day of shooting took place in an old cemetery. McBride’s song is about a little girl who is abused and ultimately killed by her mother, so the first day they taped the funeral scenes. Knight helped position the benches, worked on the headstone and blew leaves through some of the shots.

“The headstone was made of styrofoam,” Knight said, “so we had to focus on making it look as realistic as possible.”
McBride also did all of her performing the first day.

“It was so wonderful to hear her sing from just a few feet away,” Knight commented. “She is such an amazing talent.”
On the second day, the production crew filmed at an Adult Ed school and a house. First Knight assisted the Art Director in converting a high school classroom into a first grade classroom. The furniture was removed and tiny desks and chairs were hauled up the steps to the second floor as they decorated accordingly.

“It was a lot of hard work,” she said.

McBride brought her parents and two daughters, Emma and Delaney, to the second day of the shoot. McBride wasn’t scheduled to be there, but showed up because she was worried about the welfare of the young girl in the video because that was the day they were doing the abuse scenes.

McBride’s daughters and Noel, the young actress in the video, helped Knight transform an empty spare bedroom of a house into a child’s bedroom. Knight and the three girls drew pictures to hang on the wall.

During the abuse scene, the cameras focused on the shadows of the mother and daughter on the wall so it appeared that the woman was hitting the little girl. Knight explained that the actress was just flailing her arms. Even though there was no actual physical abuse taking place, the actress playing the mother had a very difficult time.

“Every time they yelled cut, she would have to fight back tears,” Knight said.

Knight attributes much of her success in the art field to Gladwin High School teacher Paul Beyer.

“I took his class when I was a sophomore or junior,” Knight said. “Before that class, I didn’t know I had it in me. Mr. Beyer worked hard and push me to always work to the best of my abilities. His guidance was incredible.”

After working on McBride’s video, Knight would definitely like to do more Art Direction work. Cyndi Williams works all over the country, but told Knight that she was impressed with Knight’s work and would not hesitate to call her when she had another shoot in Nashville.

http://www.gladwinmi.com/placed/story/01-22-2003martina.html

BAD MOTHER, BAD

This was taken at the shoot for Martina McBride's video for "Concrete Angel." I was so proud to be a part of this video. I don't ever do them, but this one really appealed to me, both because of the acting possibilities and because Martina is known for doing these edgy videos and songs that address tough social issues that a lot of artists won't even touch. (She also happens to be my favorite country artist.) So I was especially pleased to book this gig.

I play an abusive mother who, during the video (although you never see it) ends up killing her little girl. It was an amazing experience and very hard. There was a lot of concern for Noel, the little girl, because in the video I actually have to shake her, with the appearance of extensive abuse.

They took a lot a time talking to her, making sure she knew it was all pretend and that she was safe and in charge. The director tlaked to her, her mother talked to her, and then I talked to her. She was great with the whole thing, and an experienced little actress.

What nobody anticipated was how it would affect me. The director kept asking for a little more over the top from me so we could get the feeling of violence, which obviously couldn't come from physical shaking. When we finally did the take he wanted, it was so powerful for me that as soon as he yelled, "That's it!", and I saw that Noel was okay, I burst into tears.

Martina was great. She came back and gave us both a hug and said she knew it was hard but that so much good could come from what we were doing. It really is a powerful video, disturbing and sad, because not only does it deal with the actual abuse issue, but with the denial and avoidance that occurs when people don't want to get involved. I hope you get to see it.

About the picture...I should have known Martina would be there because she is very hands-on with her videos (she wasn't in my scene) but I didn't think about it and didn't bring my camera. (I told you I never do these things!)
Thank God, one of the make-up artists, Cherokee, let me use her Polaroid. So here is my pathetic excuse for a picture with an artist I really admire. Okay, so next time I'll remember the camera. By the way, I look that way on purpose...remember, I'm the bad Mom....

http://www.jerisager.com/martina.html

STORY BEHIND THE SONG ... 'BLESSED

Sometimes it takes just one word to spark songwriters into action. And the magic word for Brett James was “blessed.”

“That’s it – that’s all I had,” laughs Brett, as he recalls the morning he was writing with Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey. “I must have been feeling good about life that day.”

Later on, he would feel even better. Once Brett, Troy and Hillary decided on “Blessed” as a title, the verses poured out like rain from heaven.

“We started thinking of how fortunate we all were to have good families and solid support systems,” says Troy, who had previously teamed up with Brett on Jessica Andrews’ No. 1, “Who I Am.” “From there, it all happened pretty quickly.”

Hillary adds, “We came up with a melody first. Troy and Brett started playing, I started singing some notes and then we just thought of situations. There were so many lines being tossed around that it was hard to keep up with them.”

Naturally, not every line was a keeper. “I’m sure each one of us said some kind of cheesy thing that got thrown away,” laughs Hillary.

“We all agreed,” says Brett, “that the ‘hardwood floor’ line was great. It’s such a beautiful image.” Declares Troy, “You can really feel that line!”

The trio was also in perfect harmony as to its dream singer for “Blessed” – Martina McBride. “We really had her in mind,” Troy reveals. “She seems to be one of the few stars who is able to balance career and a family. On top of that,” he grins, “we’re all huge fans of hers.”

As most writers know, however, the best-laid plans can unravel at a moment’s notice. “It’s very rare when you get the singer you want,” says Brett. But he and his co-writers were evidently … blessed.

“We wrote it for Martina, then we pitched it to her – and it ended up with her,” says Troy in amazement.

“Blessed” made the cut as a bonus selection on Martina’s Greatest Hits album last year. Early in 2002, the song climbed to the top of the charts.

And that put Hillary on cloud nine. “That’s my first No. 1,” she says smiling. “I thought we had written a pretty cool song – but you never expect anything like this.”

— Bob Paxman

Published on: September 5, 2002

The music video for “When God Fearn’ Women Get the Blues” was filmed in Bowling Green, KY.

Did You Know?

They brought Mrs. Hill's crime spree to an end (Using AR-15's!!)

Who Are The Characters In The Video? .

Shelby Hill - The God-fearin' Woman Who Gets The Blues

Sheriff Hill - Shelby's Husband.

Martha Huffinpuffin - The Pedestrian Who Loses Her Purse
(The day Shelby quit the Baptist choir and threw that Ford into reverse).

Annabelle Meade - Woman Who Works In The Store

Charlie Horse - The Car Salesman

Check out pictures from the video shoot for “When God Fearn’ Women Get the Blues”: http://www.wggc.com/martina.htm

Behind The Scenes Of The Video For “When God Fearn’ Women Get The Blues”

Martina On Her Album "Emotion"

“It’s always been hard for me to describe my own music. I only know that I am irresistibly drawn to these songs. This collection of songs moves me so much and touches me in ways I haven’t experienced with my music before. So when I was trying to decide on a title “Emotion” seemed perfect because, to me, that’s what this album is all about. I sincerely hope you enjoy it and take it for what it is…another step forward in my musical journey, and an album full of songs that come form my heart”

Martina On Her Single "This One's For The Girls"

"It's one of those rare things: an up-tempo song with a real meaty lyric. It basically addresses every state of girlhood and womanhood. It's sort of an empowering little number. Hard to believe, coming from me, I know. It's really inspiring to me and it's fun."

MARTINA'S TWO-GENERATION CHORUS - countrystars.com
Martina McBride's background chorus singers on "This One's for the Girls," features a couple of professional singers and a couple of young amateurs a generation behind them. Martina says she put the chorus together in a rush but loves the results.

"Well, I wanted to have kind of an all-girl chorus singing the answer part on the chorus but of course I waited till the very last minute. So I frantically made some phone calls, 'Will you come sing on my song?' And Faith was in town, she came in and sang and Carolyn Dawn Johnson came in. And then (my daughters) Delaney and Emma, they were just hanging out in the studio and I thought it would be fun to put them on there and they had a great time doing it," says Martina. And it turns out they may be the first session singers to ever do their part dressed in pajamas!
"I had taken them home and we had dinner at home and they'd had their baths and so they were in their pajamas and just seeing them in the vocal booth with the head phones on and their pajamas on and they were giving it everything they had, it was great!"

Story Behind "She's a Butterfly"

Martina McBride will record "She's a Butterfly" inspired by teenaged cancer patient Katie Darnell. Darnell is the girl who was in Vanderbilt's Children's hospital that singer John Rich and local Nashville performer, Big Kenny met a couple of years back (she was then 17). According to the Tennessean, after they sang for her, she sang a song, a tune she wrote called, "Rescue Me." Rich and Kenny were then moved to write the song about Katie titled "She's a Butterfly."

The Story On "Where Would You Be"

Rachel Proctor, co- wrote "Where Would You Be" right after she divorced her husband of 5 years. Her husband heard the song on the radio and called her up and asked if that song was written about him. Rachel said Yes, they started talking and Remarried shortly after the song hit # 3 on the charts. Isn't that sweet??

"It was so exciting to have Martina record that song which is actually written from a personal experience with my husband. I love him so much I married him twice, but it was while we were divorced that the song was on the radio and he called me
on the phone one day and said 'Did you write that about me?' When I told him yes he said, I thought so, and hung up the phone. Well I guess it got his attention. When we got married again I asked him if he was just marrying me so I wouldn't write those kind of songs about him." Rachel

The Questions…

1. Who’s that playing the abused woman in the video for “A Broken Wing”?

Jennifer Hanson

2. What happens to the woman at the end of "A Broken Wing"?

This is what Martina had to say in the fan club newsletter: "And if Anybody asks, you can tell them that no, she didn't jump out the window!! That thought never crossed my mind until someone asked me that after they had eard the song...to me the song is about this woman's unbreakable spirit, and I always thought she just left, and the window and the curtains were symbolic of her "flying away" and finding her freedom. I talked with the writers and that's definitely what they had in mind when they wrote the song."

3. What happens to the mother at the end of "Independence Day"?

The mother could have died in the fire, accidentally or deliberately, or she could have been taken away by the authorities. The songwriter, Gretchen Peters, deliberately left that question unanswered. But the point of the song is to illustrate what can happen when a woman finds herself in a desperate situation as a result of domestic violence and feels she has to take desperate action. Martina wanted to record the song to warn women in abusive or violent relationships to get help or get out before they find themselves in a tragedy like the woman in the song. Martina says her interpretation is that the mother does NOT die and that she couldn't have recorded the song if she felt that the mother dies.

4. Does Martina write any of her own songs?

Martina has not written any of her songs so far, although she says that someday she might try her hand at it. She says she prefers to use her creative energy to co-produce her albums and leave the songwriting to the people who have a special gift for it.