General Music Chat

Sometimes we need to just get together and play to see if a band clicks, we need to stop waiting for that perfect group to form....[/list]

Because country music is an American folk form, and folk forms usually last with any culture. Some gradually die out but only after centuries and centuries. We in the USA are simply not an old enough culture to see if that will happen to our country music yet.

Also, what people know as "country" today is quite a bit different from the country of even a few decades ago. It's really morphed into pop music and in some cases is virtually indistinguishable from standard pop. I would bet that the great Hank Williams Sr. would probably be scratching his head at what passes for "country" on today's airwaves.

Ahh Irminsul, but just like most fashion, country music is going back to it's roots. I just think that it has evolved like most things and taken parts of mainstream pop and old school country and meshed it. Take a listen to Chris Young, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Trent Tomlinson, Jason Aldean or even Jeff Bates who has been compared to Conway Twitty if you want a feel of new country artist who have that Hank Williams/Old Country sound.

I agree with you culture wise why Country has hung around. I think that Country music is also about the very basics and core of our culture. It not only is still around, but continues to grow in popularity. You see more and more people who have come over to the country side of things and miraculously as it circles back to it's roots continue to hold on. They keep telling themselves that Country is more Pop now and they don't like they whiny tear in my beer style Country & Western music, but they keep listening to artists like Gary Allen and the aforementioned artists.

Luckily, I was exposed to Country music as a child and have continued to see it evolve through the years. My first concerts were people like Alabama, George Strait, Conway Twitty and so on! I love all kinds of music, but always rely on country to lift my spirits or move me in a way that most other genres can't.

Thankfully, I feel strongly that it is going to be around for a long time.

Because anything with heart and soul poured into it will last. Good songs are just good songs.

Lotta good points there, sassyjc, and when it comes to "working" country music I'll have to bow to your experience and expertise with it, since it's really not my thing. I was raised in a household full of those tunes, though (I'm a Utah kid) and I think my mom's tastes went about as far as Merle Haggard and that's about it. (Looking back....I believe I had "Okie from Muskogee" memorized by the time I was 9 but, I'm veering off the path here...)

There seems to be a push pull when it comes to folk forms, between the traditionalists and those who want to experiment and grow the artform. That's the big reason I largely got out of Celtic music about 3 years ago. I wanted to start making some fusion forms with it and I just couldn't find any musicians in the stodgey, conservative local Celtic scene to go along. As you said, these things evolve and morph; but sometimes you have to be ready to do that yourself.

Thank you Irminsul. I think that sometimes I come off sounding argumentative and I don't mean to.

I think if we look back, most genres pull from other genres and are intertwined. While I understand to a certain degree that one wants to hold true to the roots of their genre, fusion and growth is inevitable. Not only is in inevitable, but it will also ensure the continued appreciation for that genre.

I am an incredibly opinionated person and I feel that maybe I should put a disclaimer on the my posts, opinions expressed herein are just that, the opinions of one individual. LOL!

Well, country isn't my thing either, though it's funny, I like alot of it when I hear it, but never buy any CD's. Go figure.

But Hank Williams is not easily boxed in like that. Hard to consider him turning in his grave. Hank Williams biggest and most enduring hits were often his more rockin' stuff. Honky Tonk, if you want to label it. He can actually be considered one of the fathers of Rock and Roll. His premature death at 29 years of age has only solidified his iconic status, much like a Hendrix, Morrison, Cobain, Joplin, etc...

As to the "culture" point, very insightful. I think you are dead-on about the preservation of cultural music, and Country certainly being related to our culture in a strong and inseparable way.

It's actually quite sad what has happened to country today. It's fallen into the ranks of other styles of the music industry that only reflects the numbers. You always hear people say "yeah he sounds like Hank Williams" or some other performer that actually had ( or still has) that country soul. But how many performers actually stick around and write something original? I cut my teeth on country and played it for years and I still like Merle and Willie, but seriously,the majority of country today I feel is quite boring. Maybe I'm just gettin too old.

Bebop... maybe you are listening to the wrong artists, if what you are looking for is the root of country. Check out the ones I mentioned along with Blake Shelton who is guilty of recording a Conway classic, but it was an awesome remake. How about Leann Womack (did the duet Medocino County line with Willie), Ashley Monroe... there are a lot of artists that are returning or who have stayed true to their country roots.

Doesn't matter what kind of music you like, if you like it it's good music. Right now country happens to be hugely popular. If there's big money in it that will attract some of the best musicians who will crank out more country and make more money. I'm not a country musician (blues mainly) but I really appreciate a fine musician who plays country (Clint Black, Pete Anderson, Alan Jackson to name a few). What I don't like are those "artists" whose main attraction is visual (good looks don't hurt the $$ coming in) and there's not much redeeming in their music. But God bless them, they're making way more money than I'll ever make. Later...fisherman bob

because of all us in oklahoma

because of all us in oklahoma

So only Oklahoma natives can produce good country music or are you saying that there are so many people in Okalahoma who luv Country music that have a tremndous amount of influence on other people's opinions?

Guess I really don't care. LOL! Fact is I love Country music. And most of you are right, that is where the money is.

Isn't Carrie Underwood from OK?
She is awesome! Loved her on Idol. Oh yeah and robertalan, fisherman bob whichever way you would like to be addressed...... check out Before he cheats by Carrie Underwood. It is a really popular Country hit right now and has a great blues feel to it.

Who knows, maybe you will like it...

because songs from the heart are felt, not just heard

I believe that country music is the heart and soul of the USA. No matter how far back the music goes, it has always been music that anyone can understand. It reaches people from all walks of life. I love all types of music but, Country music is what i listen to when I want to soothe my soul.[/b]