Why do people hate country music? I think that is the one thing I absolutely don’t understand in life, especially down here in the South. Country music fits all emotions, covers all issues, and relates to all types of people. But why do so many people drink the country music haterade?
I guess my teen years really helped expand my love for the genre. Teen angst was real, but I always felt better when a country song would come on the radio that I could deeply relate to on an emotional level. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone, and that’s pretty much the recurring theme when you’re 13 and wanting to fit in.
Country music is stronger than ever these days with cross-over artists like Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Florida Georgia Line. These songs are obviously more pop-sounding to reach the mainstream audiences. But as a true country music fan, I’d rather listen to the 80s and 90s era of country than almost anything I hear on the radio today.
When you’re at a party and the night is coming to a close, and some brave soul turns on “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, what person would refuse to shout obnoxiously to the beginning lines “Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots”? It is a complete game changer when you go from dirty rap to good ole’ classic country. The night may be dwindling down but my heart is happy when the two-stepping breaks out. Even if you had the worst night, you can’t hate on the person that is twirling you across the floor to some good lookin’ George Strait.
Country music is the best way to live. There are so many country songs about different issues and events that have happened throughout history. “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson relates to the horrific tragedy of 9/11. There are so many country songs about American pride like “Only in America” by Brooks & Dunn and “American Soldier” by Toby Keith. Country is sensitive and rarely offensive unlike many songs we hear on the radio today.
Any person can find some country song they can relate to. “Brokenheartsville” by Joe Nichols relates to the heartbroken. “Bye Bye” by Jo Dee Messina is a great moving-on anthem. “Wild One” by Faith Hill speaks to all the rebellious teen girls. “Red Ragtop” by Tim McGraw references a couple’s life after abortion. Almost any Jason Aldean song can give the guys a sense of nostalgia of younger years. Give me a situation; I’ll find a country song for it.
In my opinion, everyone should love country music because I don’t see any reason to hate it. Country music truly brings me back down to Earth. It calms me down, it hypes me up, it makes me cry, and Brad Paisley can make me laugh on any given day. Maybe I’m just okay with feeling emotions, but everyone feels them at one point or another; who wouldn’t want a country song there for comfort? I may never understand the country music haters, but I’ll defend the genre until I die.
I also believe that one of the strongest aspects of the country music genre as a whole is that fact that the audience can relate to it on a deeper emotional level, whether it’s nostalgia for a different time or a more serious issue like abortion. Country music does cover a wide variety of topics, far more than just the stereotypical stuff that people think define the genre, and you did a really good job of showing that through mentioning a couple different songs which aren’t as well known but that cover more serious material. There’s a huge variety in country music, people just need to move away from the mainstream stuff a little bit and do more than just skim the surface of the Nashville music machine.
The best kinda party is a tailgate party: where country music is not only allowed, but the norm! I have so much more fun at events where I can actually understand the lyrics and possibly two step between drinks! That being said, I don’t necessarily think everyone can relate to country music, and I understand how the steel guitar could be an acquired taste. For those of us that grew up listening to country music it’s the norm- the ice cold beer per-say, but for others it’s more like red wine- astonishingly bitter at first, but the more you drink it, the better it gets!
I have lived all over the country and there are some places I’ve lived where there is hardly a country station to find on the radio. I grew up in Arizona and we listened to a whole different kind of country music out there. Being in Texas now, the pride we all have in our Texas Country music and all those great country songs from fellow Texans in general, are aspects I love about Texas and the love of country music here. There’s something about being on the lake and listening to country music out here that just truly makes the day that much better. I have friends who prefer to blast rap music on road trips and out on the lake but the whole vibe changes when I’m around that style of music vs country. It’s crazy how the music we surround ourselves with affects how we feel as well.
Ok, I very much so relate to this topic because, I too, have no idea why people hate on country music all the time. I feel like to appreciate music is to appreciate country music. Because, like you said, country music crosses so many barriers and talks about so many different things and has many different subgenres it should be EXTREMELY hard to find a country song you don’t find appealing. It’s interesting to me that people would prefer one type of song and only one type of song where you could get a super wide variety in country music. Of course all of this is coming from someone who was raised on all types of music, but especially country music. I thought it was funny how you said that during your teen angst years you really connected with country because I think that’s the time I liked it the least. (Probably because it was my parents favorite and I felt like I was rebelling… who knows.) I loved country music years ago and I continue to like it, as well as liking so many different genres too. I just wish everyone had the same appreciation of country music. Thanks for sharing!
I feel like hating on country music is easiest if you come from a place that is not the south. If I wasn’t regularly listening to country music because it was on every other radio station, I can’t definitively say that I would be a huge fan. Just like with rap music; I hear it on the radio and I know it has a huge fan-base, but it’s just not my favorite, and I didn’t grow up listening to it in the car with my family. I agree that country music has so many songs that are relevant to important social and political issues if you analyze them, but you could say that about many other genres as well. I believe that it is country musics foundation/history of faith and truth that is truly able to set it apart from other genres, and make it as widespread and popular as it has been to this day.
I really enjoyed this post because I totally agree with you. I have always wondered why when people don’t like country music, they just strait up hate it. Great point about “Friends in Low Places!” I can not tell you how many times I have been out on the town and all the sudden that song comes on and the whole bar goes crazy, singing boisterously and having a great time. What is even funnier is seeing my friends that hate country music getting the most into it. I love country music just like you do, and I enjoyed that you touched on its ability to cover many different issues. Thanks for sharing!!
I completely agree! I will never know why people hate on country music so much. However, I guess I can say the same for why people hate on any other type of music. People don’t like what they don’t know. If they don’t take the time to get to really know country music, why would they like them? I personally am not the biggest fan of opera, but I wouldn’t hate on it. Country music has gotten me through some really tough times, so when people say they don’t like it, I can’t help but take it a little personal!
wow I relate to this so much. My best friend HATES country music and I understand that everyone has their likes and dislikes but she doesn’t even give it the time of day. I really like the point you make about how country music discusses really different and important topics across the board. I think, however, that mostly people just do not like the sound of it. I know for me, before I actually started to enjoy country music I thought all of it sounded the same. I thought Blake Shelton sung everything because I didn’t know the sounds of the different singers (or their names for that matter). It just take exposure and getting used to it in my opinion to really start to enjoy it.
Nice article. This is definitely a real issue that I relate with as well. I do think the article goes a little too far in saying that you can’t understand why anyone hates it…even if it covers a variety of topics, puts you in a good mood, etc. it’s easy for someone to simply not like the sound of it. Plus, for people who may have not grown up listening to it, it’s definitely an acquired taste. It may have been nice to address specific issues people tend to have with country music and argue against each one in more depth. I definitely like how you brought up the imagery of two-stepping to George Strait, and it made me a little nostalgic. It’s definitely a special genre of music for those who are willing to give it (and lot’s of different types of it) a listen.
I relate to this so much. I am that person that doesn’t know the latest rap song but could sing almost every chorus to every country song. I also like older country – not so much what we hear on the radio today. Sure, I think it’s catchy, but not what I would listen to on my headphones on my way to class. When people ask me what my favorite music is, I always say country – maybe because that’s what I grew up with or because of what you’re saying, it’s easy to relate to. Probably a little bit of both to be honest.