Hey guys,
Phil,yes, "Love at First sight" is one of those cliches that got pretty well used up in the 70's and 80's. Haven't heard it much in a couple of decades. I think one of the things you never hear is the word "LOVE" now. Was actually a challenge from Harland Howard on a songwriters symposium once. "Write a love song without using the word, "LOVE" in it.
Again, with all the different relationships (hooking up) I think "Falling in love at first sight" is a bit passe.
On Jeans, boots, alcohol, etc. product names are advisable. While at one point people thought they were going to get sued, nowadays, companies would rather use it as "product placement." It also adds to the REALITY FACTOR. Picking brands that will probably always be around, LEVIS, WRANGLER, STETSON, is probably a good idea. Women I have worked with say there is a type of jeans called "Skinny Jeans." But all that might change on a dime. Good to have an expert at hand. Tina Dee Babe, the world's biggest shopper is a good resource for me. Also, I have called my 23 year old daughter or my 20 year old son for advice on naming things before.
Of course, as always, if I am writing about those types of situations, I try to "put girl in it", like Brooks and Dunn said once.
On the "Objectifiying women" thing, that is another big deal. I want to get RiDawn Raylett to chime in on that one, but we guys have to be pretty careful about how we approach the whole "Babe, honey,girl" type thing because, particularly older guys (Listening OD?) we have to be concerned about the "Creep factor." We might say something that to us doesn't sound weird, and if it were the HUNKA DUDES like Fla. Ga. Line, or Jason Aldeen, Keith Urban or Brad Paisley, it would be just fine. With OD, Phil, Kevin or me, it might sound like the guy hanging around the school yard in a trench coat. Of course we are trying to pitch the songs to the HUNKA DUDES, but we have to be pretty careful about what we say and how we say it. I mean imagine OD asking some girl to check her for "Ticks."
Eww!!!
You have to avoid being the guy like this one:
He's the one you see at every party, Could fry an egg with the oil in his hair
Needs to put the eyes back in his head, from checking out women's derrieres.
Got every pick up line from 1979, that's his decade and he oughta go back
But if he keeps going the way he's going, take my advice you don't wanna know Jack
Like to grab him by the collar of his polyester shirt, rattle the chains on his chest, and say HEY JERK
BE YOURSELF, EVERYBODY ELSE IS TAKEN
GOTTA GET ON UP, GET BACK TO THIS CENTURY
SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON THE ROAD LAST TRAVELED
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU'RE SAYING
BE YOURSELF EVERYBODY ELSE IS TAKEN
That's my take on the "creep factor."
Try not to be THAT GUY.
MAB