Clarkson Unloads Too Much Emotion
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Arts & Life Contacts Section Arts: Jeff DeDekker 781-5321 Michael Moore B2 [email protected] Bloody Saturday documentary B2 Life: Irene Seiberling 781-5238 B DVD reviews B4 Leader-Post ■ Saturday, June 23, 2007 ■ Page B1 [email protected] SATURDAY LIFESTYLES FEATURE CD REVIEWS Clarkson Sowing seeds of change unloads t’s no secret that farm families from coast to coast are going through difficult times. There’s Istress on the farm — whether it’s a Prairie grain operation, an Ontario tobacco farm, or a B.C. too much fruit grower. Business, family or communication issues are weighing many farm families down. Elaine Froese is helping them get unstuck. The Manitoba farm wife emotion — who’s also a speaker, writer and personal My December coach — encourages Kelly Clarkson families to learn how RCA 1 to “connect, ★ ★ ⁄2 (out of five) communicate and celebrate.” If My December is an in-depth look at “I encourage Kelly Clarkson’s soul, then the former people to think American Idol winner needs to lighten about how they can up. Reportedly written after the collapse run their lives, to of a relationship, Clarkson filled My make them more December will bitter and morose songs. meaningful, and to Gone are the polished and edgy pop be a gift,” Froese tunes from Breakway and Thankful, Anything & explained during replaced with anthems to her angst. an interview Clarkson decided to take complete Everything following a control with this album, co-writing all 13 presentation to farm tracks with members of her band. I’m BY IRENE women at Regina’s guessing her bandmates had a larger SEIBERLING Western Canada Farm hand in the Progress Show, the music largest dryland farm because the technology and equipment show in Canada. lyrics have “What do you as a farm woman really want?” she Clarkson’s asked the packed audience at the Heartland emotions all Women’s Expo. over them. She asked the farm women in the audience to The opening list the 10 most important things in their lives. lyric of A show of hands indicated that ‘God’, ‘husband’ “Never and ‘children’ appeared at the top of most lists — Again,” the including Froese’s. Noticeably absent from the top album’s first 10 list was the farm women themselves, Froese single, literally sets the tone: “I hope the pointed out. ring you gave her turns her finger green/I That needs to change, she said. hope when you’re in bed with her you Farm women need to shift their attitudes. They think of me.” Clarkson’s lyrics display need to recognize the importance of looking after her anger, her frustration, her themselves. “When we care for ourselves, we have depression. While the emotions may the strength to care for ourselves,” she pointed out. have motivated Clarkson, the purging is Froese encouraged the farm women to adopt too much. “extreme self care”. “Go for a massage,” she Clarkson’s voice — once described by recommended. “And get some sleep.” Simon Cowell as the best of any Idol And Froese repeatedly emphasized the contestant — is wasted on My December. importance of having some fun. It can be as simple On too many of the tracks she either as relaxing in the yard with a cold drink, enjoying mutters the lyrics with a throaty moan or the beauty and bounty of the surroundings. her voice is overwhelmed by the music. Like the women she was addressing, Froese — Jeff DeDekker admitted to personally feeling like a Slinky toy at times — stretched too far. Lost Highway “We can’t keep getting stretched to the limit Bon Jovi without something giving,” she cautioned. Mercury Records Via her presentations, columns, book and CDs, ★ ★ ★ (out of five) as well as her Web site (www.elainefroese.com), Froese offers practical tools to tackle everything Have you heard the rumour about Bon from releasing stress (including living with Jovi putting out a country album? Don’t positive uncertainty) to discussing the believe it for a moment. Although Lost undiscussable (such as whether the farm is Highway does have crossover appeal for terminally ill) to planning for change (including country fans, it is a pop album. Bon Jovi what to do at 62, 72, 82 and 92). picked up a Froese was quick to point out that she is not a BRYAN SCHLOSSER/Leader-Post Grammy and a counsellor or a therapist; she’s a personal coach. Farm wife, speaker, writer and personal coach Elaine Froese spoke to women at the Heart- No. 1 hit on the “Counselling is about recovery; coaching is land Women’s Expo about taking time to look after themselves. country charts about discovery,” she explained. with “Who “I’m working to help them not dwell on their Says You Can’t past, but to look forward to what they have to look Froese can relate to the farm women who flock probably more quick to accept outside help,” she Go Home forward to in their future. en masse to hear her speak. said. Again,” a duet “That’s why coaching is leading from behind, “Because I’m a farmer, just like they are. I drive When it comes to farming, “the rules are with helping people discover what they want their lives a combine. I watch the sky for hail clouds. I’m sad changing,” Froese pointed out. “Hard work is no Sugarland’s to look like,” she added. when things don’t work out as we want them to,” longer a guarantee for success.” Jennifer Froese refers to herself as “an encourager.” As a she pointed out. That’s why it’s crucial for farm families to learn Nettles. professional speaker, writer and personal coach, And like many of the women in the audience, Froese the skills needed to survive, and thrive, even in Although some she works to plant seeds of encouragement and felt compelled to work off the farm, as well as on. difficult times, she said. Froese can be contacted of the songs on the disc have a similar hope wherever she goes. For more than 25 years, Froese has been sharing at [email protected] or at 1-866-848-8311. feel, they aren’t enough to christen Lost “My passion is to encourage farm families and her practical, from-the-heart approach with farm Other resources Froese recommended include: Highway as a country album. prairie people to be intentional about the choices families. Speaking engagements and personal ■ Difficult Times: Stress on the Farm, a booklet Adding to the confusion are the they make for their lives,” she said — words that coaching provide her off-farm income. available online at www.iareh.usask.ca, or from contributions of Leann Rimes (“Till We are echoed in her book Planting the Seed of Hope: A “I do these things at a professional level, so my the Agricultural Health and Safety Network Ain’t Strangers Anymore”) and Big & Celebration of Prairie Life ($26). The 188-page coaching fees are the same as a tax specialist, and Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Rich (“We Got It Goin’ On”). Throw in paperback was born out of 10 years of Froese’s my speaking fees are professional fees,” she said. Health at the University of Saskatchewan by some steel guitar, mandolin and fiddle columns in the farm paper Grainews. “When I leave the farm, it’s for an intense period calling (306) 966-8286 or by e-mailing on some of the tracks and it’s “When I work with families, I encourage them to of time, but it’s a good business decision.” [email protected] understandable how a person might use conflict resolution as a business risk- Today’s farm families tend to be more willing to ■ Publications and online material produced by think this is a country album. management strategy. That’s training just like seek help, Froese said. Saskatoon-based life balance expert Patricia Katz, Granted, this is a kinder, gentler you’d get training for anything else you do on your “I think it’s a generational thing. I think that the including www.pauseworks.com, which offers tips version of Bon Jovi but that can be farm — your business,” she explained. (baby) boomers and the younger boomers are on bringing balance and perspective to your life. attributed to the band’s maturation and evolution. Jon Bon Jovi’s voice is still as good as ever and his harmonies with Richie Sambora are sweet. There aren’t ACADEMY AWARDS any screaming electric guitar solos from Sambora this time around but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get to display his skills — his acoustic contributions on guitar and mandolin are impressive. ‘A Mighty Heart’ beats with Oscar buzz — Jeff DeDekker LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Re- ease, which could earn the actress the earned her an Oscar nomination for porter) — There’s no official starting fourth nomination of her career. Elizabeth in 1999 — enter the field. TV INTERVIEW gun to the annual Oscar race, and the Picturehouse recently launched La At the same time, other categories finish line for the 80th Annual Acade- Vie en Rose, starring French actress are just beginning to take shape. Next my Awards isn’t until Feb. 24. But a Marion Cotillard as chanteuse Edith weekend also will see Disney’s release number of races already have begun Piaf. of Pixar’s Ratatouille, which is earning ‘No’ to Hilton — some quietly, some not so quietly. At the Seattle International Film rave advance reviews. This weekend, Paramount Vantage Festival, which Although just nine reviews have LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Paris is launching A Mighty Heart, director concluded last MORE INSIDE been posted on RottenTomatoes to Hilton appeared to be a celebrity with- Michael Winterbottom’s re-creation of weekend, Cotil- date, they have registered a resound- out a spotlight Friday after two major the kidnapping and murder of Wall lard was re- ■ Sicko has ing 100-per-cent approval rating.