Everyone may *think* they hate country music, but when Jolene, Before He Cheats, Take Me Home Country Roads, or Life is a Highway comes on, everyone is suddenly a liar.
I know this is a funny post but
There are a few major points in Country Music’s history that got the entire genre labeled as ‘annoying’
Post 9/11 nationalism
A term that I couldn’t make up “Bro-Country” which intensifies themes of booze, objectifying women, and partying that were present in past decades but not to such an extent
This is Gospel Music But With an Accent
Now looking at the songs op listed there is
A woman pleading to another woman
A woman wrecking a shitheads life
A guy loving the scenery of where he lived
A song that could easily be mistaken for a number of other genres
But it is easier to say that one hates country while privately enjoying select songs than explain why one doesn’t like the current market oversaturated with our nation’s problems of nationalism, sexism, and so on
see also jhonny cash/willie nelson era songs which were deeply emotional stories often about painful and deep subjects. prison, loss of loved ones, hard labor, facing despair, passion. ‘ghost riders in the sky’ and the like are also deeply satisfying as they bridge more into folklore then ‘murica fuck yeah im sponsored by bud light yall’
another example- ‘midnight in montgomery’ where hank williams junior sings about the ghost of his father
“
…
And felt the wind die down, And a drunk man in a cowboy hat, Took me by surprise, Wearin’ shiny boots, a nudie suit, and haunted, haunted eyes, He said: “Friend, it’s good to see you, It’s nice to know you care” Then the wind picked up and he was gone, Was he ever really there?
‘Cause when the wind is right, You’ll hear his song, Smell whisky in the air, Midnight in Montgomery, He’s always singin’ there,
“
the reason we ‘hate country’ is because we know its supposed to have FEELING and its infuriatingly absent now
70s country - bluegrass traditional
80s country - power ballads
90s country - pop crossover
00s country - white supremacy
it’s about the folkloric story-telling tradition of oppressed poor folks vs marketable capitalistic ass-kissing.
Yes. So much yes. See Dolly Parton and Wille Nelson and Johnny Cash sing about something real and they mean it and they are amazing. Modern country with some rare exceptions doesn’t start with something meaningful to say, it analyzes the market trends to figures out what will sell and then they do that. That or it just plain caters to white nationalists.
But there’s some damn good country out there. It’s just crowded out by utter garbage written and performed by sell-outs.
Can confirm.
“Curses” by The Crane Wives is a great song, and I legitimately have trouble singing along to it because I choke up at a couple lines.
…though I do tend to listen to it at 125% speed.
Oh I love that song!
Colter Wall and Corb Lund also understand the assignment! Dig Gravedigger Dig; Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier; The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie; Sleeping on the Blacktop: all bangers. Even Poor Man’s Poison, who got really popular for a minute via memes, consistently puts out good songs because they mean something!
I have new music added to playlists now
I would like to add a recommendation for my close personal friend and amazing musician, the First Lady of Queer Country, Cindy Emch aka the Secret Emchy Society.
When I was growing up (1980s Alabama) there was an AM station that did not discriminate between Rock and Country, and periodically I will have to be reminded that x is a country group.
Also, for the country gem nomination: “Angel of the Morning” by Juice Newton, which is the monologue of a woman who is having a one-night stand with a man she’s actually in love with.
STAY SAFE!! [ID: the Gilbert Baker pride flag with the words “Happy pride to all those who are unable to celebrate openly and safely. You are loved and seen!” in all-caps black text over it. /end ID]
