Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we feature The Band Perry performing “Postcard From Paris,” a song that uses jewelry metaphors to compare a new boyfriend to the one that got away.
Frontwoman Kimberly Perry opens the song by describing a scene where she’s enjoying a summer evening out with her “sweet” new beau. But then she catches a glimpse of her old flame and a flood of emotions overwhelms her.
She sings, “Like a postcard from Paris / When I’ve seen the real thing / It’s like finding out your diamond / Is from her old promise ring.”
She concedes that she should have never let him leave. She’s lost her chance to be with her true love and she knows that no other boyfriends will ever ignite the fever in her heart.
“Postcard From Paris” was composed by Kimberly Perry and her younger brothers, Neil and Reid, during a 90-minute writing session with former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.
“The funny thing about writing relationships is you don’t really know how it’s going to turn out,” Kimberly Perry told Nu Country TV. “You could write a song or you could end up going to get a coffee together. Luckily, it worked and we wrote ‘Postcard From Paris.'”
Today’s featured song ascended to #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and got as high as #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the fifth single from the band’s blockbuster self-titled debut album, which has sold more than 1.6 million copies.
Founded in 2005, The Band Perry notched a string of hit singles, including the quadruple-platinum “If I Die Young,” the platinum “You Lie,” and the gold-certified country #1 “All Your Life.”
Trivia: In July 2016, Kimberly Perry scored a phenomenal 196 points in the Fast Money round of Celebrity Family Feud. All host Steve Harvey could say at the time was, “Wow, wow, wow.”
We hope you enjoy the video of The Band Perry’s live performance of “Postcard From Paris.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along. We’ve also included a bonus clip from Celebrity Family Feud.
“Postcard From Paris”
Written by Kara Dioguardi, Jeffrey Cohen, Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry and Reid Perry. Performed by The Band Perry.
I remember when my heart caught the fever
You were standing all alone in the summer heat
I was with my boyfriend, my new boyfriend
He was as sweet as he could be
One look at you and I was through
My heart switched up on me
Like a postcard from Paris
When I’ve seen the real thing
It’s like finding out your diamond is
From her old promise ring
A call back from your fortune teller
She read your cards upside down
The meanest thing you ever did is
Come around
And now I’m ruined, yeah
I’m ruined
In the evening you can catch me daydreaming
Did that moment send you reeling just like me
I should have gone over, right over
I should have never let you leave
But it’s the never knowing that keeps
This going and drives me crazy
Like a postcard from Paris
When I’ve seen the real thing
It’s like finding out your diamond is
From her old promise ring
A call back from your fortune teller
She read your cards upside down
The meanest thing you ever did is
Come around
Just when I thought things were alright
My eyes played tricks on my mind
Will I ever be satisfied
‘Cause all I ever seem to find, is a
Postcard from Paris
When I need the real thing
It’s like finding out your diamond is
From her old promise ring
A call back from your fortune teller
She read your cards upside down
The meanest thing you ever did
The cruelest thing you ever did
The meanest thing you ever did
Is come around
I am ruined, yeah
I’m ruined
Now I am ruined, yeah
I’m ruined
The Band Perry on The Late Show With Letterman
The Band Perry on Celebrity Family Feud
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.