{"id":5234,"date":"2015-09-21T12:43:18","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T17:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=5234"},"modified":"2015-09-21T12:46:54","modified_gmt":"2015-09-21T17:46:54","slug":"lakeside-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2015\/09\/21\/lakeside-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakeside Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a Friday afternoon, you just finished school and are heading out to the lake with all of your best friends. Once you get there, you unload your things, put your swimsuit on, and walk out to the dock to catch some rays. But you\u2019re missing something. Where\u2019s the music? One of your friends goes to plug her phone in and what kind of music does she play? The answer is simple and almost universally known, country music.<\/p>\n

\"31308_1489712649196_8351342_n\"<\/a>Reflecting on my childhood days at the lake, country music always seemed to be around. No matter if it was in the car on the way there, on the boat racing in the lake, or in the kitchen during dinner, the sweet sound of country music had always somehow made an appearance. It was never a burden to hear the sweet sound of a banjo or guitar resonating throughout the house. Everyone always enjoyed it, even if it wasn\u2019t something they listened to regularly. For example, my dad is not the biggest fan of country music and never exposed it to me growing up. However, he always tolerated it at the lake and even sang along. What is it about the lake that brings out the country in everyone?<\/p>\n

\"holger-leue-american-flag-on-boat-lake-coeur-d-alene-coeur-d-alene-idaho\"<\/a>When thinking about this question, my mind revolved around ideas of our country, family, and liberty. Normally, people go to the lake for Labor Day, the 4th<\/sup> of July, and other holidays as well. These holidays are for families and friends to celebrate our country, reconnect and reminisce with one another, and also just love on each other. Are those not some of the main topics of country music? When everyone is together as a unit, it brings out a very noticeable, yet ineffable power and mood that enlightens everyone\u2019s time spent together. Country music simply adds to it.<\/p>\n

Going to the lake usually implies some type of boating and water activity. There is nothing more soothing than closing your eyes, feeling the wind against your skin and listening to some country. Many country songs convey this feeling. According to Great American Country<\/a>, a majority of the top 10 Boating Songs are country songs. Artists like Zac Brown Band and Kenney Chesney sing songs about how boats are an escape from life and provide a type of freedom. Also, a handful of country music videos involve boats and the lake. I am guilty of repeatedly watching Kid Rock\u2019s music video to \u201cAll Summer Long\u201d when I was in middle school. But now the song and the image of him cruising on his boat always pops into my head when I\u2019m out on the lake with my friends.<\/p>\n