My friends, it is rough out there! We have been in the high 80s/low 90s (29/33C) for several days. I’m afraid to look too far into the future predictions. We have had lots of rain yet everything is very dry. The grass is green but crunchy. I don’t remember summers being this hot when I was a kid, but I just googled it. Guess what? They were! Anyway, welcome to the last Monday in July and another edition of Songful Style! Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of Suzy Turner, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram. Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. Suzy chose this month’s song. Last time, Shelbee selected “Chantilly Lace” by The Big Bopper. Oh, and there’s a link party, too!
The singer…
Born in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, Rose Betts and her twin sister were born on October 17, 1991. She also has two younger siblings. Once she finished school, she moved to London to become a musician. Isn’t that the way these things go? I tried to get my youngest to move to Nashville, but he didn’t go. Betts was a featured vocalist on a track by the Macedonian band, Foltin in 2011. That album was Penelope X. In 2016, she began to release her own music.
A little more…
Betts is considered an English singer-songwriter, but her songs definitely have a Celtic vibe to them. In fact, Mitch Mosk describes her music as “Celtic pop-fusion (source).” Now, I’m going to have to admit something rather late in our Songful Style journey. I have no idea what EPs and such really are. I know they’re electronic, but I don’t know what you do or do with them! Anyway, in 2016, Betts debuted her single, “Orange Trees,” and followed that with her EP, The Stars Look Down in 2017.
Even more…
By 2020, Betts had received her first Grammy nomination for “Young and Alive,” a single upon which she’d collaborated with Bazzi. The nomination was for Best Remixed Recording. Later that same year, she produced and performed a cover of the song, “Song to the Siren,” written by Tim Buckley in 1967. Zack Snyder chose Betts’ demo cover for the soundtrack to the Snyder Cut, the 2021 director’s cut of the DC superhero film, Justice League. Jeremy Urquhart at Collider (a Canadian media company) said it worked “fantastically” and was “one of the best and most memorable in all four hours of Zack Snyder’s Justice League” soundtrack. That song, “Song to the Siren, reached 82 on the UK Official Singles Sales charts on April 1, 2021.
Still more…
Betts released her debut album, White Orchids, in 2022. One of the tracks, “Driving Myself Home,” was written as a joke after a blind date. She uploaded it to TikTok and within a day had 300,000 views! I’m guessing the date didn’t go well. In 2023, she released “Irish Eyes” which has reached over 5 million views on TikTok and 13 million listens on Spotify! Here’s a video of “Driving Myself Home.”
A skosh more…
Betts signed with Nettwerk Music Group and announced that signing in February 2024 with the release of her sing, “War.” She worked with Junkie XL (Tom Holkenborg) on the soundtrack to Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Later that year, in September, she released “Doodles”. It has been described as a “buoyant Pub anthem!” She left for the US on her debut tour in September 2024. She performed at 11 venues (source).
At last…
I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to check out her website, rosebetts.com. It’s a fun, interactive site that launches some videos. You just have to try it!
The song…
Six dead pieces on the seashore
That the waves brought in for cleaning
And when the people found them they asked for more
Six dead pieces on the seashore
That the waves brought in for cleaning
But when the night came in there was only four
There was only four
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears, your fears
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears
Six dead pieces on the seashore
That the waves brought in for healing
But then you left us there
What you do that for
What you do that for
Six dead pieces lying stone cold
With the smell of death upon them
Oh is there time still left to release the hold
To release the hold
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears, your fears
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears
And you can count every time that the hammer falls
You can hold up your pain like a lightning bolt
But the feeling it’s bleeding into everything
You can kill every flower that your daydreams touch
And you can cry for the world that you hate so much
But I left the door open why didn’t you turn
We’re just six dead pieces six dead pieces
Better just to let us burn
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears, your fears
Blood and tears
I’m getting tired of
Facing your fears
Six dead pieces on the seashore
That the waves brought in for cleaning
But when the night came in there was only four
There was only four
What it means…
Well, this one has me stumped a bit. Even Rose, herself, says its meaning is a bit personal and one not easily put into words. I do think it’s a bit dark and about a break up. It feels like someone took someone else’s heart out, stomped it to bits and threw it on the beach. The ocean is gradually washing it clean of the break up. Dark, right? I’m probably all wet (pardon the pun).
The video…
Interesting covers…
Believe it or not, I couldn’t find a single cover! Instead, I’m sharing an alternate version of the official video. You’ll soon see why.
My interpretation…
Oh, my friends! I have been struggling with these challenges. I loved the official video because that location is so moody and kinda my style. My problem, though, is I don’t have a plain red dress or a plain black coat. I thought I could go with different versions of those colors or maybe even the wallpaper. But, then, I found the alternate video and thought, “Hmmm, Rose is a bit of a girly girl, isn’t she?” I don’t have any puffy sleeved pink dresses so I decided to wear this old Ann Taylor skirt. It still had the tags on it. I’d bought it years ago as a goal kinda thing. Needless to say, that didn’t work! But, it’s definitely girly. To bring out the pink, I wore this Ann Taylor Pointelle Textured cardigan. Oh, my stars and garters, it is heavy and hot! I tried to do one of those origami-like ways of buttoning it because it’s a little big (should have exchanged it because it’s cotton and will grow). I think the outfit is girly, but I’m not 100% sure it meets the brief. I was having a bad hair day. In my defense, the heat index was over 100!
The Lewk!
The Eileen Fisher Willow sandals are my go-to sandals when I’m looking for something subtle and comfortable. I can wear them for hours. The earrings and necklace are Honora and are decades old. I wore the necklace to the side on purpose so you could see the toggle closure. I put little bows in my hair. I should probably have gone with a different color, right? If I’d had black ribbon, I would have.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
We tried over and over again to shoot photos of me in the mirror, but we just couldn’t get it right. I wanted to do that because she’s singing into the mirror for most of the video. I definitely agree with Mitch Mosk. As I listened to Betts’ songs, I felt like I was back in Ireland, sitting at the pub with my friend. There’s just something about the lilting way she sings and the words she chooses. I could see her sitting at a table with a pint or two in front of her entertaining the regulars and the occasional tourist! So, can we talk? What do you think this song means? Does it even matter? Can we just enjoy songs, or do they need to mean something? How would you have met this style challenge? Did you check out Rose Bett’s website? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Link up with me, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
What a pretty outfit! I love it. We’ve got another heatwave in the 90’s this week so I’m planning lots of time inside.
Thanks, Joanne! We are supposed to cool off this week, but I don’t know that I believe that. I was so hot in this sweater. Even though it’s cotton, it’s very heavy.
I see the hope at the end of that song. Pretty clothes, Marsha.
Thanks, Rosie! It’s a bit of an enigma, but I can see some hope in it.
I had never heard of Rose Betts before so I enjoyed hearing the song. Now I’ll be humming the best part of the date today is driving myself home! I applaud you for your creativity with these challenges, you did a great job as usual!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann! This one was hard. I was glad to find the alternate video and use that for my interpretation. I was so doggone hot, though! It is a beautiful song though I don’t have any idea what it’s about. I love her voice.
Even before I read your post, my initial thought was Marsha, you’re sp girly in this pretty outfit!! And that’s exactly what you were going for! So you nailed it in that respect lol! You really don’t look like a hot mess like you said in your email—but I can totally understand what you mean. We’ve had some very hot days too and it’s so dry out there. I can’t wait for Autumn to arrive to bring some rain with it lol!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks, Suzy!! Yep, girly was my aim…at 67! I have been on the struggle bus with this hair. I don’t know what it is other than I got a new curling iron. Well, I got a different haircut so maybe there aren’t as many layers as before. We are supposed to cool down this week. I certainly hope that happens. I am not a summer girl at all! I hope you’ve been able to get in your pool.
Still not been able to use the pool—the company didn’t supply enough grout so it had to be delayed while we waited for delivery. But it’s grouted now, we just have to wait about a week for it to fully dry before we can fill it, but hopefully next week we’ll be able to do just that. It’ll be really cold for a few days though!!
Suzy xx
Oh, dang! That had to be a real blow, but I’ll bet it’s going to be magnificent with water in it, shimmering in the light!
Yes!! I can’t wait! I will video it being filled up lol!
I think this is perfect for the prompt with all of the “lace” and girliness. Don’t you dare give that sweater away…there’s so many easy hacks to make it shorter.
And it’s about time you wore the skirt…it’s fabulous. I bet you could even wear it layered under a shorter dress or skirt because it has that extender feel to it.
XOXO
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! That sweater isn’t going anywhere. I really like it, but it’s very heavy for being cotton. I really should have googled the hacks that day, but I was in a hurry (as always). Oh, that’s a wonderful idea to wear it as a slip. I’m just glad I finally fit in it again!
I never heard of Rose Betts, but that’s not unusual because I’m pretty much stuck in the past with my music 😉
My first thought was “oooh girly”, it looks like a lot of fun!
https://catswire.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Cat! I hit the mark, then! I was definitely going for girly at the ripe old age of 67! I hadn’t heard of her, either. I listen to one station in Mike’s car because I don’t know what the other buttons are for. I like my car where I know what each one is. I love the old songs with some of the raucous songs of the 80s and 90s. I do have to say there are some singers out there now I really like a lot, but, of course, I can’t think of who they are!
I love that you used her live video as your outfit inspiration! This pale pink sweater and white lacy skirt are so pretty and I love the little white ribbons in your hair. I couldn’t really relate to this song lyrically at all, but I do enjoy her voice and the moodiness of the song. As for EPs, they are a shorter version of an album, generally featuring about 3-6 songs where a full album usually has 7-10 songs. EP stands for extended play which seems like a misnomer to me since they are actually shorter than a regular album. But that’s the difference as far as I understand it! Now how the heck am I going to style your next song choice??? I think that one might be difficult for me!
Shelbee
I know…I watched that video for next month several times. I have no clue, either! I really was glad when I found the alternate video because I didn’t have anything like what she was wearing. I was even going to do what you did and reverse the colors. I love her voice, but, yeah, I didn’t really understand the song at all. It seems like, maybe, even she doesn’t. It was maybe just a stream of consciousness thing mixed a bit with a sea shanty? Ah, I know I should know that as Jordan releases EPs all the time, but he explains them in technical terms! Pressing albums is quite expensive when you’re self-producing. I honestly should choose one of his songs one of these days.
Thanks, Shelbee!
Gorgeous skirt. I’m unfamiliar with both the singer and the song….#Stylewithasmile
Thanks, Lydia! I didn’t know of her, either, but I really like her voice. It definitely as a bit of a Celtic vibe, doesn’t it?
I wasn’t familiar with this artist or song. Love this girly outfit! Such a pretty look!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I wasn’t familiar with either. I may have to run the cardigan through the dryer to shrink it a bit! But, I’m so glad the skirt fits again!