Texas: the land of fried foods, the occasional redneck, and a deep-rooted love of country music. Country music is what makes Texas, Texas. Even if you don’t like country music, if you live anywhere within the borders of the great state you’ve heard a song or two. But what would happen if you took the country music out of Texas?
First, all hell would break loose. Cowboy boots would be thrown into dumpsters, no longer necessary for two stepping, plaid shirts would be burned, jeans wouldn’t be so tight, and the teased hair would deflate. Cowboy hats would be replaced with standard baseball caps, the kind without tears and without questionable sayings like “Preserve Wildlife Pickle A Squirrel.” There would probably even be a little less glitter in the world. Who knows what Dolly Parton would wear, with her go to outfit options wiped out like a bad disease.
Next, the iconic Texas dance halls would fall. Without country music, there would be no more two steppers and live bands to serenade them, and the barren dance floors would be closed to the public for good. Places like Gruene Hall, which launched the careers of Lyle Lovett and George Strait, and Luckenbach, which was the inspiration for one of Wayl0n Jennings’ hits, would be torn down and replaced with hippie bars or even worse- a shopping mall.
Without country music, there would be no Texas State Fair in Dallas or the epic Houston Rodeo every year. What’s the point of buying overpriced fried food and stomping around in cowboy boots trying to win cheap prizes if you can’t watch Luke Bryan shake it for you after? Say goodbye to Big Tex and that oversized Ferris wheel; they’re already dead along with your favorite Little Big Town jam.
Finally, country radio stations would be replaced with more teeny bop pop and rap music that just consists of people talking while someone punches a keyboard in the background. Top 40 stations would take over the state, which probably means the end of pick up trucks and long rides through back roads with the windows down.
So where would Texas be without country music? There would be no more cowboy boots or hats, teased hair, fairs, dance halls producing huge country sensations, or radio stations playing country music. Could it be that this elimination of country music would result in Texas turning into…the North?! Who knows what would really happen if this nightmare were to actually happen, but it’s safe to say that we all hope it never does.
I agree that country music undoubtedly helps makes Texas the state it is today. Country music is a huge part of the state’s character, just like everything else that you listed in your blog post. The country music scene is much different than it is literally anywhere else in the nation however, and I think that your choices of songs to list in the article were a little off. Yes, we all love Luke Bryan and Little Big Town, but its artists like the Randy Rogers Band and the Josh Abbott Band that make country music such a huge part of the Texas culture and lifestyle.
Annie, this is a hilarious article! I love the “punches a keyboard in the background line.” I totally agree that Country music gives Texas its identity and I it would have no identity if it didn’t have Country music. Honestly I think people would move! More traditional Texas artists will most likely have to move to Nashville and start conforming and making “Nashville Music.” THE HORROR! Luckily enough, we have iTunes and Spotify so we don’t have to listen to the “teeny bop pop” on the radio. All in all, I thought this was a clever article that brought up the importance of country music in Texas.
Annie,
I loved this post. Your descriptions of the culture of country music are really funny, but all in all really true and genuine. I think it’s really important for us to realize just how much country music has an affect on such a wide array on culture aspects, from food to jeans to hair. It’s crazy to think how much culture and ways of life would be vanished if country music were to be eradicated. Country music really is a central focus and way of life for such an abundance of people in Texas, and even in America. Hopefully that will never happen! Great job on the article!
I really liked your post! I think you made some really good arguments. I thought it was hilarious when you said that “all hell would break loose”. I didn’t think all of the country related events we have in Texas. What shoes would we wear to football games if we didn’t wear cowboy boots? Tennis shoes or converse? Sounds weird to me. I thought it was very interesting to point out that there wouldn’t be any two stepping, because it’s so true. I wonder if we would’ve developed that on our own or if country music really was the cause of it. I also think that our world today would be filled with more pop-culture songs, completely following the norm. Country music helps diversify our nation!
Annie, your post is very creative! I like this topic. You have a humorous approach to it, too. I never ever want to experience Texas without country music, especially now that you have brought all these topics to light! Luckily though, I am not really sure that it would ever be possible to take the country out of Texas because so many people are such big fans of the genre that it just couldn’t possibly ever happen. And its impossible to “escape” (the word has a negative connotation but it communicates my point) country music because in Texas it really is everywhere, and I love it. Great job!
Annie, you honestly kill me. I really like that you phrase some of the MAJOR catastrophies in such a way that actually made me laugh out loud (you can ask my roommate…she thought I was crazy…and then I snorted). Anyway, you make such a great point. Texas would not be the same and for SURE Austin would not be the great city is today without country music. Austin’s title as the live music capitol of the world would disappear and the streets would be infested with Brooklyn wannabes strumming guitars on the sidewalk. Country music is SUCH a big part of our lives whether we know it (or like it) or not and we would not know what to make of ourselves without it. The poor north);
What a good post! I couldn’t agree more. A lot of what defines Texas is country music and if you took that part away, then crazy things may happen. Half our population would probably move out of Texas, for goodness sake. Texas dance halls are honestly so fun and entertaining to me, I couldn’t’ imagine them disappearing. There is nothing as charming as getting twirled around the dance floor and learning new steps to a line dance. I’m from Houston, so I really love my Rodeo time. You make a good point, no country music means no Rodeo in Houston.