Do u think Alison has changed?

[lovakus]

:)Hey everybody just a thought i'd like to share with the rest of the world. Alison still does gospel songs and did gospel songs and usually has at least one or two on everyone of her cds i am pretty sure of it. But have y'all thought about the fact that she has been through a lot now and she is not exactly the same as she was back then? She is a single Mom now that is hard and maybe she has a friend but it is not the same. Do u think the "D" effected her or changed her perspective somewhat she sings those sad songs like they just happened. And makes u feel it. I know she is a fullblown woman now not 14 like when she started but what are your thoughts? I'd like some help here is it just me??
Gotta go to work.
Kate.

[akus84]

Hi,

***** This is long, grab a chair*******
I don't normally like to discuss anyone else's personal business, unless I care about them. And being that she is a good person. I will reserve some of my judgment. Alison started out very young and if you listen to her first CD "Too late to Cry" she made when she was 15. She sings about "Sitting there all alone with her whiskey on Ice". Or " I don't drink as much as I used too". And talking about broken relationships. I'm not knocking her or the song because that is one of the greatest Cd's I like. Sooo PLEASE don't take that in the wrong way. (Not meaning I don't love ALL her Cd's, cause I do!) But have to tell myself that she is 15. Now I don't know about you, but I don't think I knew what whiskey was at 15 or had been in any serious relationships. She had such an amazing voice at a young age and many songs back then were are about those subjects. So maybe thats why they were chosen. But almost all of us love her early music and for reason she has, Alison choses not to sing them. Which is her right. That and her voice is so much more mature.

I agree with you about Alison not being the same. This is not a bad thing. Maybe she trying to find who she is? I think we all change everyday. We pick up things, new sayings, and habits everyday. It not right for us to blame "D" for those reasons. Ive never been married, so I cant say that it wont change you, but my parents "D" when I was 11. After 17 years of marriage and eight kids later. (yes eight, must have been cold winters? Ewww) My parents stayed together so long because my mother was always told that, back then people didn't get "D", you stuck through it, no matter how bad it got. And it was bad. One day she told herself that she wasn't going to do it anymore and we moved out. Everyday she is a new person. I don't know if its because shes not used to being single or what?

With Alison I truly believe that she choses her songs because of her life. Now we don't know the reason for the "D" and it is not really our business. But by the songs she choses, maybe that explains it. Maybe now that she has experienced all the songs that she sang when she was younger, she understands them better? I know that when she sings her "sad and pitiful songs" she really makes you believe them. She does such a good job showing the sadness and emotions, its hard not to believe her.

About her being a single mother, I think she does and awesome job! She is a good mother! Many other singers that travel and have children, don't normally take them with them. She is lucky to have him with her everywhere.

I'm almost done folks, to wrap it up, I think to a certain extend she is changed. But not in a bad way. We all deal with wins and loses different. She seems more confident and sure of herself to me. She is not afraid to joke about the way she looked and sounded back then. She wears the most beautiful dresses without straps and those high heels, ohh good lord! No more flannel. (Except with the bib overalls! Those rock!) And shes funnier than ever! I think she will continue to change and amaze us all! Thanks for being patient.

Amy ;D

[akusgal41790]

I definatly agree Amy.

Alison, without a doubt in my mind, has changed. When she started she was so very young, and I feel exactly like how you said Amy. I often have to stop and remind myself that Alison was only about 15 when she was singing some of these songs. Although I can't speak for her, I can say that not many 15 year olds have actually experienced things such as that.

Now this is just my opinion, but I think the divorce absolutely had an effect on Alison, I don't see how it couldn't. With only being a teen right now, I haven't experienced divorce myself (and hope not to), but my parents went through a pretty bad one not too long ago. I know that they are much happier now, but before it happened, I know life was pretty hard. I do not know what kind of life Alison and Pat were living before they had their divorce, or even what kind of an impact it had on the two of them, but I can say that it has in some way caused Alison to veiw life differently and has brought her a different experience than anything else.

As for Alison being a single mother, I applaud her. It's amazing to me to see all that she does just as a musician with how much she travels and so much more, but knowing that she's got a little boy waiting for her to end the show every night that she will come to care for all on her own is even more amazing to me. So many people sacrifice so much to gain the time to love their child, but in some way, Alison seems to be able to do it all. Many artists don't or can't travel with their children, so I guess Alison and Sam both end up very happy since they can be together. And although I make it sound like Alison's some sort of miracle worker right there, I know that it is probably very hard for her, but she gets through it and I know learns so much everyday from what she does, and also from the love she has for and recieves from her son.

Anytime a person ages, they become more aware, more knowing of things, and they have experienced so many new emotions through different situations. So for Alison, I would definatly say that how she sings a song now is very different and a lot more moving to her (and the audience) than when she performed it many years ago. I think she now picks songs that not only we, the fans, can relate to, but what she can relate to as well. For me, although I may not care for a few or her newer songs as much as I do for others that Alison has done in the past, they definatly move me and capture my heart from the emotion she has put into them.

So yeah, I think she has changed to a point.. just as I think everyone does or will do. She definatly seems to know so much more to me, and like you said Amy, confident. I don't usually try to get into Alison's personal life, so I tried not to say too much about it. Anyway, Alison (IMO) is better than ever, and I can't wait to see all the things she'll bring to us years from now! Bless her always!!

[lovakus]

i guess i meant to say changed religiously she still sings gospel songs but it seems like she has learned to depend on a higher power (GOD) more
I guess thats what i mean
KAte

[akus84]

Sorry if I misunderstood you. Im not sure how to comment on the gospel aspect. Sorry.

[lovakus]

thats ok
Kate

[akusgal41790]

Oh, I'm sorry too, Kate. I didn't know that was what you meant. I haven't really thought much about Alison becoming closer to the Lord, but I suppose you're right. Looking back at some of her more recent material like in 'Lonely' and 'So Long So Wrong', it seems she may have. I don't know what she believed when she was younger, nor do I even know all that she believes now, but I think it again just has to do with growing older and finding out more about everything through experiencing. I, myself am a Christian, and I know my faith grows stronger every day, and that may be the same for her. Again, I can't speak for her, just an opinion.

[eyesoflove]

Well, IMO, people grow in every aspect as they age (hopefully, at least...I know many perpetual 12 year olds) and that certainly includes faith. It's only logical that you'd have gone through more trials at 30 than at 15. I'm 25 and have definitely seen and lived through a whole lot more pain than I'd experienced by 15. I also want to add that having a child in general can do a lot to change your emotions. I used to be pretty icy on the surface and never really showed emotion. After I had my son over a year ago, I just get choked up over the craziest things. Everything seems to touch me. Becoming a mom just changes your vantage point so drastically. It's hard to explain, but you just become more aware of your feelings. I did, anyway. Sharing a world and a life with my son affects me in every way. I'm sure much of Alison's ability to emote more in her songs is just experience in singing and life experience, in general. Maybe she's never really experienced the pain of someone, say, in a song like, "I'm Gone", but we've all gone through some sort of pain and I'm sure she can just apply the way she felt in a different situation to that. Sad is sad, know what I mean? I know that I am able to put far more emotion in my singing now than I could even five years ago. Five years from now, who knows what the future holds? Anyway, all that said...I forgot to expound on the faith aspect of things lol. I think every Christian should continue to grow and mature in their faith. Sure, hard times are tests of faith, but even if you live a rosy life you should still grow because every Christian should strive to know more and do better. Again, back to changing after having a child...I'm sooooooo different than I was before having Elijah. I've never been wild by any stretch of the imagination, but having a child and knowing that it's my responsibility to teach him about Jesus and the Bible...that's a BIG responsibility. If he never comes to know Jesus that will always and forever be my fault. I was raised in a Christian family and accept Jesus as a very small child. That's how I'd like to see it with my own children. I always wanted to live a good life and be a decent person, but having Elijah and being his first introduction to Jesus fuels that even harder.

I'm not speaking for anyone other than myself, here, but I'd imagine that every mom feels similarly to me and can identify with what I said, so....all in all I think my answer is that having a baby probably affected Alison way more than a divorce would. I've never been through a divorce, but have been durn close. I can remember sad times and apply that to any sad song I sing, but ultimately I think that it was having my baby that allowed me to really access those emotions to begin with.

Stacy

[Leah]

Wow, thanks for sharing! I'm not married & don't have any kids, but I'm the same age as you (well, a year older:/) & although we most likely have so much more ahead, there have certainly been some tyring times for me too. I'm also a Christian & am overjoyed by so many Christians on this board - it seems AKUS attract a lot of us! It is indeed a very big responsibility to teach your child about Jesus, I can only imagine how you feel, but He will help you teach Elijah about Him & just remember God is always there to help you keep going. I'll be praying for you