I was going through iTunes trying to download some Johnny Cash. Saw all the usual not-known-to-me artists sliding across the top of iTunes main page. For some reason, one artist was not like the rest. Decided to see who he was, this Cole Swindell.
First video that popped to youtube I watched. Country evidently, which isn’t my taste generally speaking. But something caught my eye. He had moments filmed of his life this last year, his break out year as a new artist. These moments were strung together in this video really well. He is missing his dad at these key moments and wishes he could be here to see him now.
His dad died in 2013, didn’t get to see his son sign with Warner or see him begin his climb up in the music world.
I suppose what grabs me more than anything, is the vulnerability of this artist to be filmed at various stages of excitement, only to take it to his dad’s gravesite and break down emotionally. If it was acting, he did a good job of pretending.
Make me miss my dad and step dad rather badly right now. Don’t have many moments of melancholy like this, but this video evoked it from me.
Here’s to Claude Baxter and Jim Russell, the two men in my life I sorely miss. I wish you could both could be here to see me now. I made it.
Walking Through This Together 