Category Archives: Country Subgenres

by | October 5, 2015 · 7:00 am

Haters Gon’ Hate (Country Music)

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?

country hateradeI 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU2ntUdbhxc

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.

10 Comments

Filed under Blog Post 2, Classic Country, Country Pop, Reflection, USA

by | October 1, 2015 · 7:00 am

From American Idol to My Ultimate Girl Crush

From the moment Carrie Underwood walked on stage in front of the original (and arguably best ever) three judges of American Idol, I immediately developed the biggest girl crush on this random girl from Oklahoma with pipes that could take anyone’s breath away. Sometimes I go back to watch her first audition and I still get goose bumps. Carrie Underwood dominated season four of American Idol from the beginning, winning the hearts of fans from all over the country.

For me, there is no artist on my iPod that I listen to more frequently. Walking to class, going on a road trip, dancing in my room (no shame,) really almost everything I have ever done I have done it at least once while listening to Carrie Underwood. There is something about her music that is so relatable, especially to girls my age.

She is humble and from a small-town, and unassumingly beautiful. I look up to her in so many ways, but the most impressive thing that she has done in my opinion is keeping a level head and being normal when the pressures of Hollywood so often push stars into strange phases just so they can gain more popularity *cough Miley Cyrus cough.*

MileyA huge moment in my life was my first Carrie Underwood concert. The atmosphere and show that she put on were exuberating. She played some of my favorite songs such as “Last Name,” “All-American Girl,” and “Get Out of This Town.” Seeing how much fun she was having and hearing how amazing she sounded live created one of the coolest feelings I have ever felt. I am sure the whole audience felt the same way, but for me I realized that singing is something I could want to pursue.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved singing. In middle school, I started singing a little bit more publicly, but after high school and through my first couple years of college I have been pretty low-key about it—literally. If you were to ask any of my college friends, none of them would have any idea that I love to sing and it might be something that I want to make a career of. I’m not saying that I am as good as Carrie Underwood, but she has inspired me to pursue music.

Whether or not I ever make it big like her is honestly highly unlikely, I get that. But I will always love singing along with her as if I was on stage.

9 Comments

Filed under Blog Post 2, Country Pop

by | September 30, 2015 · 7:00 am

“Fly”ing to the Top of the Charts: Maddie and Tae’s Big Break

After much discussion in class on how country music typically can be male dominated and slightly degrading towards women, I began to realize that it is important to highlight someone who has chosen to fight back against female stereotypes. I began this hunt by examining the top 20 songs in country music today. The song “Fly” by Maddie and Tae caught my eye because it seemed familiar, so I gave it a listen.

maddie-tae-fly-video-teaser-imageMaddie and Tae’s single “Fly” offers a breathe of fresh air to country music. Amidst the ballads for lost lovers and tunes about trucks, Maddie and Tae offer some variety by showing off their beautiful melodies while uplifting the listeners. The young duet’s unique style shines through the song’s genuine lyrics. Unlike the typical style of country music that tells a story, this song does not specifically speak to one situation. It instead finds a way to reach out to each and every person wherever they are at in life.

So keep on climbing, though the ground might shake 
Just keep on reaching though the limb might break
We’ve come this far, don’t you be scared now
‘Cause you can learn to fly on the way down 

These words can comfort people in different stages of life: from someone who is overcoming heartbreak to someone who is struggling to find the motivation to continue living. This song outshines other top hits today because it chooses to address the human condition rather than the obvious topics that are easy to write about like love and drinking.

Fly is not the only song Maddie and Tae have stunned audiences with over the past few years. This duo debuted their career with Girl in a Country song in 2014 right after they both graduated high school. This all-too-catchy tune shoots daggers right into the heart of many country songs that stereotype women. Many artists today and throughout the decades pin women as sexual objects that are only good for one night. Maddie and Tae nail it when they argue that men think that “all [women are] good for is looking good for [them] and [their] friends on the weekend.” It is truly encouraging to see these women fearlessly tell it like it is and uplift women in doing so.

Maddie and Tae have definitely set the bar for young men and women alike with their unique perspective on life and I personally look forward to seeing what they come up with next to stun the world of country music.

1 Comment

Filed under Blog Post 3, Country Pop, Women

by | September 29, 2015 · 7:00 am

Montgomery Gentry

It’s so easy to forget that artists are people with real lives and traumas, not just singer/ song-writers that gain life experience solely for the purpose of putting it in a song. Eddie Montgomery is the better half of the musical group ‘Montgomery Gentry’ alongside Troy Gentry. This past week, Eddie Montgomery’s son was involved in a fatal car accident, a horror I can’t even begin to understand. I spent my entire life listening to Montgomery Gentry on the radio in the car and never once did I wonder about either of their families, or the things they might be dealing with. Upon further investigation, I learned that Montgomery had to undergo treatment for prostate cancer, was divorced by his wife (in the same month), AND closed a restaurant he owned all in under a few years. Doesn’t sound like an easy road to walk to me. I couldn’t have told you ANY of that but I sure can spout their album history off from memory, I could probably hit most of their singles as well.

The duo released their first album in 1999, and ‘Lonely and Gone‘ is one of my favorite country songs to date. Their southern rock influence, in tandem with their small-town, proud and loud personalities makes them one of the cooler country music artists in my opinion, aside from Gentry being kind of a dick, I try not to focus on that too much (exhibit A of people blatantly ignoring a musicians personal life and only caring about their music), alongside my personal favorite Toby Keith. Steven Huey of Allmusic referred to them as “multi-platinum country megastars noted for a soulful twang and a big black cowboy hat” and “rowdy redneck rebels who still hold small-town values”, and I really don’t think I could put it better myself. From ‘Daddy Won’t Sell the Farm” to ‘Work Hard, Play Harder’ their sound has been consistent, rambunctious, and in my opinion, it’s been great.

I don’t know if its really a problem that in lieu of scandal or controversy American culture cares more about the song than the artist behind it, I mean to be fair the singers probably appreciate the distance it gives them. Hunter’s death just brought it to my attention. The personal lives of songwriters are the only thing that influences their songs and we care so little about one and so greatly about the latter.  RIP Hunter, and my condolences to Eddie Montgomery.

4 Comments

Filed under Blog Post 2, News, Rockabilly, Southern Rock

by | September 28, 2015 · 7:00 am

Sam Hunt’s “Take Your Time”: A Music Video Review

sam-hunt-instagramDebuting his first full-length studio album Montevallo in late 2014, Sam Hunt is fairly new to the country music scene. Upon first listening, I found him to be fairly similar to the rest of the up and coming bro-country singers; he didn’t appear to have an incredibly distinct sound or look (though I can’t deny that he’s completely gorgeous), and his lyrics seemed to discuss nothing more than beautiful women. This was also my first impression of his song “Take Your Time” (2015)—I thought it was simply about trying to pick up a girl in a bar. However, after watching the music video for this song, I now have a deeper understanding of the song itself and a heightened respect for Sam Hunt as an artist.

The “Take Your Time” video is a completely unexpected presentation of the song as it tackles the difficult and raw topic of domestic violence. The video starts off happily by showing a woman, her husband/boyfriend, and their baby shopping together and enjoying kisses on the forehead. However, the story quickly turns dark as the man’s alcoholic tendencies and anger issues are exposed. Sam, watching these events unfold as a bystander, tries to find the best way to intervene. At the end of the video, he finally fights the man off while the woman and her baby escape in a beaten up pickup truck.

Sam’s lyrics “I don’t wanna steal your freedom / I don’t wanna change your mind / I don’t have to make you love me / I just wanna take your time” discusses his hesitancy in intervening in what appears to be an unsafe and troubling relationship. Sam is put in a difficult position as he struggles to find the courage to trust his instincts and take action. He isn’t trying to get the girl to fall for him, but instead is truly concerned about her well-being and wants her to “take [the] time” to get help.

I am completely impressed with Sam’s use of this video to promote social change and make a statement about something so real and under-discussed. Bringing issues to light is one of the first steps in creating change, and this song is the perfect example of how musicians possess the power to fight for causes that they care about. I’m excited to see where the rest of Sam’s career takes him, and am hopeful that he will continue to use his talent and passion to make a difference—ultimately encouraging others to follow in his footsteps.

11 Comments

Filed under Blog Post 2, Bro Country, Music Videos, Reviews, Song Analysis

Tagged as , , , ,