Dianna Corcoran Has Arrived ‘In America’
With several Australian Independent Country Music Awards, CMAA Country Music Awards and two Australian Country Music Golden Guitar Awards to her name, Dianna Corcoran is a big deal down under and with the release of In America, Australia’s country sweetheart has officially arrived, in America. The self-produced 12-track album is an enjoyable production of country and pop that showcases her vocal
range as well as her songwriting talents.
The first track, “God Did Good,” is an upbeat love song written by Corcoran, Jeff Cohen and Kristian Bush that was released as a US single last year. It’s heavy with electric guitar and a pop sound, somewhat reminiscent of pop Shania Twain, but the essence of the song is country, with Corcoran praising all the ways that God has made the significant other in her life, perfect:
God did good when he put you together
Right form your head down to your toes
Working overtime couldn’t do any better
The whole wide world and heaven knows
I’ve been blessed with more than I should
When God made you, God did good.
Pulling an almost 180 on the next track, “Thank You For Cheating On Me” isn’t the song that you would expect by the title. Instead of some bitter “Hell hath no fury as a women scorned” battle cry, Corcoran completely spins the situation, bluntly rubbing in the face of her cheating ex that not only is her life better off without him, but that new man in her life is much more of a man that he’ll ever be:
Oh he’s cuter and he’s smarter and he works a lot harder
And he’s actually got a real job
My family and my friends all love him, can’t get enough of him
He’s such a drop dead heart throb
Now I’m dancing on air
I do crazy things and I don’t give a care
I’m happy and finally out running free
Thank you for cheating on me
Known as a singer/songwriter, Corcoran’s songwriting skills are heard through the whole album as she co-wrote every track. But perhaps the cleverest piece of writing is featured in “Therapy.” Filled with sass and wit, Corcoran gossips about the residents in a town, or society if interpreted on a grander scale - who’s addicted, who’s crazy and so on. She herself is not immune to this as her addiction is love:
From what I’ve seen I can tell you one thing
Everyone in this town is on something
One man’s whiskey’s another man’s smoke
And the shrinks are all out there makin’ a killin’
We’re on the couch, sharin’ our feelings
Addicted to that, hooked on this
We all got a monkey we can’t kick
Including the first track, the trio of Corcoran, Cohen and Bush worked together on three tracks. “When These Wheels Hit Tennessee” is one of the best songs on the album, with a classic sound and a classic theme: written from the point of view of someone who is leaving her life and man behind to chase her dreams in Tennessee, knowing that this is where she is supposed to be, and explaining how her staying behind would not be fair to either him or her. Showing more of Corcoran’s vocal range is “Hold On Lover” as her voice dances from low to a much higher register throughout the song.
The duet of the album is the beautiful “Not Ready to Lose” with Gary Burr, who also co-wrote the song. Their voices balance well, with Corcoran’s high vocals in contrast to Burr’s low, slightly husky sound. A simple acoustic guitar is heard in the background as the duet tells their story of a couple who are willing to keep fighting to save what they have.
Flipping back to the pop side are “Ghost In the Passenger Side,” which has a Cassadee Pope / “Wasting All These Tears” vibe to it and “Sugar” - a catchy tune, with sassy lyrics and an infectious beat that you cannot help but bop along to.
Two of the most powerful and genuine songs on the album are two of the most simple in production. “Other Side of Letting Go” is a beautiful ballad about the regret during the aftermath of an argument, and the pleading for forgiveness and fighting to keep the relationship from ending. Corcoran sings with passion and emotion that is showcased by the simplicity of being supported by only a piano. With “A Better Me,” one can imagine alone Corcoran playing her guitar while singing the melancholy lyrics of taking what is left of her heart after a painful breakup, but instead of wallowing, picking up the pieces a build a better version of herself.
For her first album release stateside, Corcoran definitely shows off her witty and beautiful songwriting as well as the power in her voice. And while it isn’t an album for those looking for traditional country as a fair bit of the album leans heavier on the pop side, songs like “When These Wheels Hit Tennessee,” “Other Side of Letting Go” and “A Better Me” are quality songs that should appease those country purists.
In America Track Listing:
1. GOD DID GOOD (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Jeff Cohen and Kristian Bush)
2. THANK YOU FOR CHEATING ON ME (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Rebecca Lynn Howard and
Rachel Thibodeau)
3. BLAME CAROLINA (Written by Dianna Corcoran and Jenn Schott)
4. THERAPY (Written by Dianna Corcoran and Trey Bruce)
5. WHEN THESE WHEELS HIT TENNESSEE (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Jeff Cohen and Kristian
Bush)
6. NOT READY TO LOSE with Gary Burr (Written by Dianna Corcoran and Gary Burr)
7. HOLD ON LOVER (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Jeff Cohen and Kristian Bush)
8. FEELS LIKE HOLLYWOOD (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Andrew Fromm and Brian White)
9. OTHER SIDE OF LETTING GO (Written by Dianna Corcoran and Blake Bollinger)
10. GHOST IN THE PASSENGER SIDE (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Ben Stennis and Blake Bollinger)
11. SUGAR (Written by Dianna Corcoran, Jeff Cohen and James Slater)
12. A BETTER ME (Written by Dianna Corcoran and Jeremy Spillman)
