Thursday, January 31, 2008

Cinderella (not the 80's Hair Band!)

Dads with daughters...listen up...there's a conspiracy...

It's made up of scheming singer-songwriters who come up with new ways to bring dads to their knees, sobbing like little school children. Bob Carlisle did it with his 1997 hit Butterfly Kisses that soared to the top of the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) charts, Pop charts, Country charts, Icelandic Yodeling charts (maybe I made that one up), etc. I guess he struck a nerve with just about everyone.

Don't get me wrong--I love that song, but I can barely listen to it without getting a big lump in my throat and crying. My two little girls (one of which is pictured to the left) like to play the song when I'm around just to see what I will do--how cruel! You think a song like that is cheesy until you have a daughter or two in your life (NOTE: Scott of Honey, I Fed the Kids...take cover, run for your life!!!!)

Ten years later CCM's hit-music-making-machine Steven Curtis Chapman enters the ring with "Cinderella" from his 2007 release called The Moment. Chapman is amazing in his ability to put out new music every few years that's popular and yet meaningful. But this song is nothing more than another attempt to turn dads with daughters into blubbering pools of tears. Just take a look...

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you.

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
At the time that I'm posting this blog entry, you can hear the song for free on Steven Curtis Chapman's Official Web Site. Just CLICK HERE and enjoy. (You also get to hear "Miracle of the Moment.")

Just in case you stumbled on this blog looking for something about the 80's hair band Cinderella, I don't mean to disappoint. ROCK ON!!!!



13 comments:

Unknown said...

You DO have pictures from Grandma Ruth's house! I have looked everywhere for those.

I just heard this song on the radio yesterday. Yeah, it's a tear-jerker. And every girl wants to think about her dad getting teary-eyed listening to songs like this. At least I do.

Oh, and the girl in the picture is pretty cute!

Mr. E said...

I will have to listen to this new song by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Butterfly Kisses makes me bawl like a baby as well. My daughter and substitute the words "Butterfly Kisses" with "Nose Beepin's" because we beep each others noses as a sign of affection.

Have you heard of the song, "I Want to Be Just Like You" by Phillips, Craig and Dean? If you have son's it will make you cry as well.

Mr. E said...

I just listened to the song. To bad I was at work, I started to cry and one of the aides who helps was worried something was wrong with me. Way to go Doofus, make me cry at work! Just kidding! Great song!!!!

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

OH My! I am totally balling right now. Yikes, that is a gooder. Another song that gets my dh (and I)going is 'He was walkin her home...' by Mark Shultz.
Thanks for stopping by today, moving next to the dojang is a brilliant idea, unfortunately no Korean restaurant, just a cruddy pizza place.

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

Oh...how could I forget about "Walking Her Home." Man. Talk about love for a lifetime.

Cindy Swanson said...

I just heard that song this morning for the very first time, on the radio station where I work! My co-host detests sentimental songs, and he was just about gagging the entire time--but hey, he doesn't have kids, so he just doesn't get it. I predict that we'll get tons of requests for it...and it will be right up there with "Butterfly Kisses" as the song brides dance to with their dads.

Oh by the way, you're right...my grandson is definitely named after Walter Payton! :) I always have to make sure people know it's spelled Payton and not Peyton. :)

Unknown said...

Beautiful song!

One that makes me cry every single time I hear it (especially when my son starts singing it) is "The Christmas Shoes" by Newsong - I think that's who sings it.

jan said...

I've never heard the song, but the words alone put a lump in my throat, and I don't even have a daughter!
We have a story book that I have a love/hate relationship with. It's about mothers and sons-I love, love, love the book but can't ever read it to Barrett. I end up blubbering every time.

Uvulapie said...

I'm still bitter that "Wide Eyed Wonder" didn't tear up the national charts... the entire ALBUM is about his daughter. Oh well, just one more thing to feed my anger.

God said...

You know, some Cinderella songs can make a fella cry too. Or, rather, make your ears bleed.

Rock on!

Mr. E said...

Oh yea, "Walking Her Home" gets me everytime as well.

Leeann said...

I haven't heard this song and I am GLAD! The weather has been snow, snow, snow here for weeks and all I need is to start crying and sliding all over the place! :)

Randy Spradlin said...

Rog,

I never had my own children, but my niece Tiffany is like an adopted daughter. I think I mentioned to you that she recently got married. She sent me a "father's day" card of all things. She told me that I was always like a "real dad" to her. That choked me up dearly.

It's amazing in a way. I was so protective of that tike when she was growing up. Now, she's asking me, "Uncle Randy, are you doing okay?" Times change don't they?

However, I don't want to throw a wrench in the works, but I am a sentimental guy but I cannot handle Carlisle's song! I don't know why?
Maybe it's because I was never a "real" dad. Only an uncle.

I remember I refused to play Newsong's "Fingertips and Noses."
There was too much syrup in that song! Okay, I'm an enigma. I'm sentimental, but couldn't take Carlisle's tune. Go figure.

Plus, they do grow up quickly. I remember my niece going down the slide at McDonald's and yelling, "Uncle Randy, look at me!"

Now, I'm feeling very old. Anyway, I'll have to check out the Chapman song. Hopefully I won't have to grab Mrs. Butterworth's syrup afterwards. Ha ha.

It's lonely growing older without having your own kids. I always tell those that have their own, "treasure them." If there's an upside, I can't cry over something I never had. I know that's maudlin to say, but it's the only way I can deal with it.

Good post though!

Your friend,

Randy