As their winding career path makes clear, though, nothing important is ever established or sustained without struggle and re-evaluation, without the willingness to adjust course now and then. Theirs has been a journey for which they have drawn strength from both success and misadventure, turning missteps into lessons and challenge into triumph. The result is a hard-won artistic maturity, and the CD that embodies the latest phase of their journey, Fortuneteller's Melody, represents a liberating step forward.
The process began, as always, with Kristyn's songwriting. As Kelsi and Kassidy took to the road for a radio tour accompanying the release of Sweet Right Here, a rebound record which went gold and gave the trio renewed momentum, Kristyn spent more than three months turning the stuff of life into art with the help of collaborators that included Don Schlitz and Sheryl Crow.
From there, though, everything was new. The trio chose to work with Grammy producer of the year and another Kristyn songwriting collaborator, John Shanks, known for his work with Melissa Etheridge, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Alanis Morissette, Bon Jovi and many others. In working with him, they re-invented the way they make records: instead of the meticulous planning that went into earlier efforts, they worked almost off-the-cuff.
"We would walk into the studio this time not knowing the song," says Kristyn. "John and I would be finishing one in the other room then we’d go straight in and record it. Kassidy might learn it as I was finishing the lyric. We were allowing the songs themselves to take control, rather than our arrangements of the song."
"It freaked me out because I love to be prepared," says Kassidy. "With the other records, we would arrange songs for a month and then go into the studio totally ready, but I surprised myself this time. There's freedom in this approach, and there's something great and fresh about that."
The result was a recording process that echoed the approach of songwriting.
"It forces you to draw from a place that's beyond the surface," says Kristyn. "You find things in yourself that you didn't know were there. For Kassidy, it's her voice. 'Where are those licks going to come from?' 'Where is the soul going to come from in the music?' John just made us find it."
What held it all together was the consistency of voice in Kristyn's writing, the nuanced look at life, love and redemption that made up the project's songs.
"This is about relationships," she says. "It's about life and love and being on the road and being in a family and what happens when there's drama and trouble and tragedy. You can see the growth of the character and the life experience, and then you see the conclusion. It's also very honest. I don't feel like I'm shielding the truth here." She calls it "a grown-up record with elements of fun and youthfulness."
The upshot is that Fortuneteller's Melody, recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, unfolds like no SHeDAISY album before it.
"In our other records," says Kristyn, "we talk about each song being a little snapshot or a mini-movie, but this new record presents an entire story, from song one through twelve, with each bleeding into the next."
It is a story drawn from experience.
"I was always a little tentative about just throwing everything out there," says Kristyn, "especially when it's really personal. These are all journals for the most part, but that is the blessing and the curse of writing your own material and letting people see what it's like on the inside of you rather than just the outside. I don't feel so restricted this time. I feel like we don't have anything to lose. We have a lot to say and we are in a really liberating place right now, so it was just a different approach. I don't need to mask anything. I have nothing to worry about. It feels good."
As much of a departure as it is, Fortuneteller's Melody is, given their history, the natural next step in SHeDAISY’s incredible journey.
Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn grew up in Magna, Utah, raised, as their father says, "on the three B's--Beach Boys, Beatles and Beethoven." Kelsi and Kassidy sang and performed in local theater, then began singing at retirement homes, churches, and in the neighborhood. Kristyn took part for a while, lost interest during high school, then regained it during a trip to New York to accompany Kelsi on a TV audition. Kristyn then accompanied her father to Nashville for a music business seminar, and a few months later, with Kelsi and Kassidy still in junior high, they moved to Music City. Within a few months they had landed and lost a record deal, recording an unreleased album.
They spent five years working in mall department stores and playing clubs at night, honing their craft, while Kristyn and Kelsi began attending classes at a local university to learn every aspect of the business.
"I learned how we had been taken advantage of," Kristyn says. "We recorded a project for RCA that never got released. That album was missing something and it taught me a lesson. We did what we were told. We didn't stand up for ourselves because we were so young. We were told to do a song and we did it. There were only three of our songs on there."
Gradually, their hard work and Kristyn's education paid off and, in 1997, they signed with Lyric Street Records.
Their first album, The Whole Shebang, rode unabashed exuberance, clever writing and aural brilliance to double platinum status, launching SHeDAISY into the mainstream of modern country music. "We had years to prepare for that record," says Kelsi, "and there was no one saying, 'You can't produce a demo like that.' When we hooked up with [producer] Dann Huff, he helped those demos come to life even more. We just put it out and said, 'Here is our music.'"
Fans and radio were all over the record and doors swung open everywhere. "Little Good-Byes," "This Woman Needs," "I Will...But" and "Lucky 4 You (Tonight I'm Just Me)" all reached the Top 10. Nominations poured in from the Grammys, the CMA, the ACM, the American Music Awards and the Blockbuster Music Awards. The Whole Shebang spent 99 weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The group released a re-mixed version of the LP and a well-received Christmas album.
"I think we were spoiled in the beginning," says Kassidy. "Once you've had that, you don't want to settle for less. The good thing is that means you'll keep trying to do better."
"Knock On The Sky was much more of a science experiment," says Kristyn, "and that was really exciting--'Let's try this' and 'Let's do that' and 'What if we stack these vocals?', but some people couldn't get past the sound to be able to hear the songs themselves. Sometimes when there's too much of a sheen people won't always take the time to hear what you're saying."
Kristyn calls Sweet Right Here, their third release, "our trampoline--a bounce-back. We stepped back sonically a little bit, and the record reflected the fact that things were a bit simpler in our lives." Hits like "Passenger Seat," the hilariously self-referential "Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing," and "Come Home Soon," a song and video still treasured by the families of servicemen and women, recaptured much of the magic.
"I think we came a long way back," says Kassidy. "We were able to re-establish ourselves with radio and our fans after more than two years without a new radio hit. Going gold was really a goal for us, and I think with this new record we will keep accelerating and reach higher goals."
Part of that acceleration is taking place on the road. The trio chose not to tour early on, preferring to wait until they had released more hits.
"We had so many opportunities to go on the road," says Kristyn. "If we'd started six years ago developing a live show, we'd be in a different place now, but we are in essence starting from scratch in the last couple of years. But that also means it's as enjoyable as when you're starting brand new. We're back in fresh that place and it's really nice."
"We've been working with this band now for two years," says Kristyn. "Our focus is on the live show, convincing people we can pull it off. We don't have any bells and whistles, we don't have any sets that move and we have no flames. We have no explosions. It's just a great show without all that stuff and we're proud of it. Our next step is to get out there in front of a lot more people."
Theirs is the gift of self-confidence born of the rock-solid foundations of family and faith, and the knowledge that while they continue to learn, they have given their all to their recorded output. It lets them stretch each time they re-enter the studio.
"Each record has got to be a challenge," says Kristyn. "We don't want it to be easy. This time out, we're not afraid of anything. It's a different world that we're all breathing in. I think we feel ready to say it, to tell it like it is, and we're proud of it."
The result is a CD that showcases the best of one of modern country music's most innovative and compelling acts, one that adds an exciting new chapter to their legacy.
A Night To Remember
SHeDAISY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
He promised a night to remember
Oh, and she knows it will be
A happy little celebration
For their seventh anniversary
Her lips a brighter shade of red
She spent all day setting those blonde curls
Tonight's she's gonna knock him dead
She's gonna show him how
The fire's burning now
Her heart beats faster as she thinks back on that day
When he vowed they'd stay together
To have and hold her in his heart
She promised him forever
Until death do us part
Sealed with a tender kiss
She can't help but reminiace and smile
No doubt, this will be a night to remember
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Oh, to rember
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
They drive up to the top of the canyon
And pull up to the edge
They have dinner up above those city lights
With a bloodless moon overhead
There's a distance in her emerald eyes
Her voice is a little cold
As he takes another sip from his champagne glass
He wonders could she know
Hidden inside her coat
Are letters his lover wrote
Her heart beats faster as she asks him to remember
When he vowed they'd stay together
To have and hold her in his heart
She promised him forever
Until death do us part
Sealed with a final kiss
She can't help reminisce and smile
No doubt, this will be a night to remember
She whispers in his ear and tells him that she knows
She throws the car in gear, plunging to the earth below
She whispers in his ear and tells him that she knows
She throws the car in gear, it blossoms like a fiery rose
When he vowed they'd stay together
To have and hold her in his heart
She promised him forever
Until death do us part
Sealed with a fateful kiss
Love takes a fatal twist
No doubt, this will always be a night to remember
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Oh, to remember
Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo
Ooo, Ooo,Ooo
(a night, a night, a night)
To remember
Ooo,Ooo,Ooo,Ooo
Ooo,Ooo,Ooo
(A night, a night, a night)
To remember
Ooo,Ooo,Ooo,Ooo,
Ooo,Ooo,Ooo,
The song "A Night To Remember" by SHeDAISY is a tragic story of a couple celebrating their seventh anniversary. The woman is excited for the night and has prepared herself specially for the occasion, believing it will be a happy celebration. They drive up to the top of the canyon and have dinner above the city lights, but there is a distance in her eyes, and her voice is cold. As the man takes a sip from his champagne glass, he wonders if she knows about his lover. Hidden inside her coat, she has letters the lover wrote to him. She whispers in his ear and tells him that she knows, then proceeds to throw the car in gear, plunging them off the cliff. The song ends with the woman thinking, "No doubt, this will always be a night to remember."
The lyrics show the theme of betrayal, revenge, and a tragic end to a relationship. The woman's desire for revenge stems from the pain of her husband's infidelity, leading her to end their marriage with their lives. The song portrays a woman who is driven to the edge of her limits by the pain of her husband's betrayal. SHeDAISY uses the symbolism of the cliff to highlight the extent to which the couple's relationship has fallen off the precipice.
Line by Line Meaning
He promised a night to remember
He made a promise to create a memorable night
Oh, and she knows it will be
She has faith that he will deliver on his promise
A happy little celebration
A joyful occasion
For their seventh anniversary
To commemorate their seven years together
Her new dress is cut a bit lower
Her dress is revealing more skin
Her lips a brighter shade of red
Her lipstick is more vibrant
She spent all day setting those blonde curls
She put effort into styling her hair
Tonight's she's gonna knock him dead
She plans to make a big impression on him
She's gonna show him how
She wants to prove something to him
The fire's burning now
She is passionate and enthusiastic
Her heart beats faster as she thinks back on that day
She becomes emotional when recalling their past
When he vowed they'd stay together
He made a commitment to stay committed to her
To have and hold her in his heart
To love and cherish her deeply
She promised him forever
She made a promise to be with him forever
Until death do us part
Their love will only end with their death
Sealed with a tender kiss
Their vow was solidified with a gentle kiss
She can't help but reminisce and smile
She is happy when reminiscing their past
No doubt, this will be a night to remember
She is certain that this night will be unforgettable
They drive up to the top of the canyon
They arrive to the peak of the canyon
And pull up to the edge
They park the car by the cliff
They have dinner up above those city lights
They dine with a view of the city below
With a bloodless moon overhead
The moon is pale and eerie
There's a distance in her emerald eyes
She seems distant and removed
Her voice is a little cold
Her tone is unfriendly and distant
As he takes another sip from his champagne glass
He continues drinking champagne
He wonders could she know
He questions if she is aware of something
Hidden inside her coat
Something is concealed and kept secret by her coat
Are letters his lover wrote
There are letters written by his secret lover
Her heart beats faster as she asks him to remember
She becomes anxious as she asks him to recall something
She whispers in his ear and tells him that she knows
She confesses that she knows something
She throws the car in gear, plunging to the earth below
She drives the car off the cliff
It blossoms like a fiery rose
The car explodes in flames
Sealed with a fateful kiss
Their final act was accompanied by a tragic kiss
Love takes a fatal twist
Their love takes a deadly turn
No doubt, this will always be a night to remember
Even in tragedy, this night will be unforgettable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: KRISTYN OSBORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind