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.
NOW
SHeDAISY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To live with no regret
When I could still be president
And I could feel my dad
As he's holding me in his arms
Not in my dreams
And I could not wait to be
Something at twenty-three
But now I've got the sun
To clear away the clouds
So why look back
When there's a stunning, blazing, so amazing
Now
Now, now, now, now, now, now
From here love looks so effortless
The simple used to do
Grass never feels as green, I guess
Underneath our shoes
Let's you and me and CNN
Flip the switch, go back again
I wonder who we'd see
Reflecting from our TV
Now we've got the sun
To clear away the clouds
So why look back
When there's a stunning, blazing, so amazing
Now
Now, now, now, now, now, now, now
Right now, right now, right now, yeah, ooh
The reconstructing you can do
With scissors and a little glue
And leave what's left to decorate the ground
Rediscovering your bliss
Is the sweetest part of this
(This) Is all we need
Right now we've got the sun
To clear away the clouds
So why look back, why look back, why look back
Right now we've got the sun,
To clear away the clouds
So why look back
When there's a stunning, blazing, so amazing
Now we've got the sun
To clear away the clouds
So why look back
When there's a so amazing
Now
Now, now, now now now, now
Right now
Now, now, now now now now
Right now, right now
Right now, right now, right now, right now
The song "Now" by SHeDAISY is about the desire to go back to a time when life was simpler and dreams were more achievable but also realizing the beauty and potential of the present moment. The first verse reflects on the innocence and optimism of being thirteen again, a time when there were no regrets and the future seemed limitless. The lyrics convey a longing to feel the physical presence of a loved one and a time when the desire to accomplish something meaningful was bright and strong. The chorus celebrates the beauty of the present moment, in spite of the difficulties that may have been experienced. The lyrics emphasize the power of the sun to clear away the clouds and bring light to darkness.
The second verse in the song explores the concept of how things appear simpler in hindsight. The lyrics suggest that the desire to go back in time may not necessarily change the past, but rather provide an opportunity to review and reassess the present moment. The bridge of the song explores the power of reconstruction and rediscovery, urging the listener to embrace what remains and find true happiness in the present moment. The final chorus echoes the sentiment of the first, celebrating the beauty of the present moment and the power of the sun to shed light on dark places.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could be thirteen again
If I could go back to a time when I had no regrets
To live with no regret
To live a life without any regrets
When I could still be president
When I had the whole world at my feet and anything was possible
And I could feel my dad
And I could feel my dad’s warm embrace
As he's holding me in his arms
As my dad holds me with love and affection
Not in my dreams
Not just in my imagination or dreams
And I could not wait to be
And I was excited for the possibilities of being something great at twenty-three
But now I've got the sun
But now I have the power to shine and brighten up my life
To clear away the clouds
To remove any negativity or obstacles that come my way
So why look back
So why dwell on the past or regret what's already happened
When there's a stunning, blazing, so amazing
When there is an incredible, amazing present moment to live in
From here love looks so effortless
Looking back on love, it seems like it came so easily and carefree
The simple used to do
The simple things in life used to be enough
Grass never feels as green, I guess
The grass was always greener back then and things seemed more perfect
Underneath our shoes
Underneath our feet as we walked along
Let's you and me and CNN
Let's take a moment to reflect with each other and catch-up on current events with the news
Flip the switch, go back again
Take a step back in time by reflecting on past memories or history
I wonder who we'd see
I wonder what we would remember or discover about ourselves
Reflecting from our TV
Reflecting on what we see on the television
The reconstructing you can do
The changes and improvements you can make to yourself
With scissors and a little glue
With small adjustments and improvements, you can piece yourself back together
And leave what's left to decorate the ground
And leave the past behind to pave the way for a brighter future
Rediscovering your bliss
Finding your true happiness
Is the sweetest part of this
Is the most rewarding part of life
This is all we need
Rediscovering our happiness is all we need
Right now we've got the sun
We have the power to make the most of our present moment
When there's a so amazing
When life is so amazing, why miss out on the present moment
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KRISTYN OSBORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind