In Defense of Country Music (1660 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 0.31 on 24 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Shirkinparkin (View user info) at 2004-06-06 16:01:18 EDT
"What kind of music do you like?"
"Well, I like pretty much everything, except country."
This seems to be a popular response. Even on the Miss USA pageant, a contestant said the same thing. Have you ever said this? If you have, I believe you are ignorant, and I am here to persuade you differently.
First off, I am not a cowboy, hick, horsefucker, etc. The majority of my record collection is hard rock. But I have open ears and can truly say I enjoy all styles of music, even country. These are my reasons for liking country music......
Point #1
Great Songwriting
This is probably one of country music's strongest points. Country songs are simple and effective. And unlike many songs, they actually tell a story. A great example is Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks has some of the best country songs. I still remember them from when I was young. At age 8, I was running around the house singing "Friends in Low Places", and I still know every word. His songs have the ability to stay in your memory, for as long as you have one.
Point #2
Great instrumentals
From a musician's standpoint, I love country because of the music. The structure, the steady beat, the changes and the badass guitar solos. When I first started playing guitar, I wanted nothing to do with country, but I later found country tunes to be very satisfying to play.
Unlike a lot of modern rock, country tunes showcase ability. Sure, you can play "Smells like Teen Spirit", but lets see you pull off some country twang solos. I also love those walking bass lines, and that locomotive drumming. And Pedal steel guitars kick ass.
If you have ever seen a good country band play live, hopefully you have realized how alive this music is. Hearing a country song on the radio, and hearing it live are two totally different things. This is true with a lot of music, but people never realize how exciting it is until they hear it live, in person. If you ever need an idea for a date, take your special somebody to see a country rock band. If used properly, the slow songs can get you laid. And that is just what these songs are trying to do.
Point #3
Hot chicks in tight jeans and cowboy hats getting drunk.
Point #4
Escaping Pop Culture
One reason I like country music, especially older music, is that you are not constantly hearing about Cadillac Escalades and killing people and shit like that. Don't get me wrong, I listen to all that, but Country music finds a way of being badass by being simple and drinking a lot, Which brings me to my next point.....
Point #5
Drinking Songs
This is probably the best thing about country. There are so many good drinking songs, you'll never run out. Also, country music is bar music, and the best kind.
Point #5
Rodney Carrington
If there were one person I could have over for dinner, it would be Rodney Carrington. This guy has to be one of the funniest motherfuckers alive. If you can, download some of his songs. Some of my personal favorites.....
12 Inch Dick
Titties and Beer
The Gay factory worker song
Gin and Juice (This cover is just as good as the original, if not better)
Point #6
Unaffected by the times
If you consider country music as a whole, it has remained virtually unchanged for +50 years. With saying this, I am not taking into account the pop country shit, like Rascal Flatts, or morons like them. But when you look at singers like Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, or Toby Keith (He's good, minus the patriotic crap), they are doing what the forefathers did, without changing it too much.
Point #7
Fuck it. Who am I kidding? Country sucks.
User Reviews
Submitted by Flak (user info) at 2004-06-07 14:54:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There is plenty of pop-country out there and that is usually what turns off the general sheeplike radio listener. If you want to hear country, try...
Wayne Hancock
Dwight Yoakam
BR549
Hank Williams III
Big Sandy and the Flyrite Boys
Deke Dickerson and the Echophonics
The Dave and Deke Combo
The Derailers
Willie Nelson
Merle Haggard
etc.
Submitted by conrad (user info) at 2004-06-07 07:31:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Not a badly-written post, but it has to be a -2 as country is utterly appalling, infantile shit to which I wouldn't listen if you paid me. Lots. Enough said.
Submitted by A-Daamage (user info) at 2004-06-07 02:31:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
At least you admit the truth at the end. Country music is almost as horrible as rap. Simple-minded music for simple-minded people. There are only a handful of truly gifted country songwriters and sadly, the majority of so-called country musicians don't even write their own material. Jon Anderson, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson and Waylon Jennings are the only real country artists to even mention.
The best songwriters are mostly unknown to the general public: Mikael Åkerfeldt, Steven Wilson, Devin Townsend, Enya (hey, give me all the shit you want, her vocal control is second to none and she plays EVERY instrument on her albums, not to mention writes ALL of the music), Peter Steele, Mindy Smith (about as close to country as I'll buy), Dan Swanö, Johan Reinholdz, Howard Shore, Don Davis, Danny Elfman, Adam Jones, Maynard James Keenan, Jerry Cantrell, Chris Cornell, etc. While the last four are probably better known than the rest on the list, they are fairly unrecognized for their songwriting talents.
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2004-06-06 23:17:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I just can't identify with a lot of the subject matter in country music. Sure, the general situations are the same (loss, pain, happiness, sadness, chauvinism, etc) but it's the nitty gritty that draws the line. I don't work construction or drive a truck,(or work or drive, for that matter) I don't support war and I don't think budweiser is the best beer around, or have a johnny reb tattoo
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-06-06 23:07:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
1. Country music is great.
2. Country music is great.
3. Shania Twain and Faith Hill. (for the guys)
4. Tim McGraw and Chris Cagle. (for the girls)
In response to:
Submitted by EvrenWasHere (user info) at 2004-06-06 18:09:21 (#)
Ranking: 0
"I had a barbeque stain on my white t-shirt,
she was killin' me in that mini skirt."
Yep, that there sure is some strong lyrics, i tell ya what!
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Hey, man, that's a great song. You posted 2 lines from it, without any context added to it, and expect it to stand on its own?
Submitted by Disektor (user info) at 2004-06-06 23:05:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Some country is actually alright..
Submitted by Metal_Immortal (user info) at 2004-06-06 22:50:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Title earns this a -2
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-06-06 19:42:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Jill (user info) at 2004-06-06 18:44:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
So I like country music big fucking deal, get a life.
Submitted by DarkWraith (user info) at 2004-06-06 18:19:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Only TD has strong music (I almost posted that as "mucis") writing.
1up for point 7.
Submitted by EvrenWasHere (user info) at 2004-06-06 18:09:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"I had a barbeque stain on my white t-shirt,
she was killin' me in that mini skirt."
Yep, that there sure is some strong lyrics, i tell ya what!
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-06-06 17:46:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
If anyone maintains an out-and-out hatred for Country, I advise them to listen to Johnny Cash. Not 'proper' country music, but a mix of folk, country and rock- understated yet empathetic, restrained yet powerful, formulaic yet rebellious. There's a reason that Cash, Johnny and the Clash are side-by-side in my CD collection.
Submitted by Acarnis (user info) at 2004-06-06 17:27:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I seriously came up with the response of "I pretty much like everything except country" on my own, before I knew it was such a popular response.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2004-06-06 17:22:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Gee. How did I know that Jill was a country music fan?
Oh wait...
yeah.
Werd.
Submitted by fluff (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:56:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I didnt like country music before and with your post you were not able to convince me of it.
Submitted by kitchens_closed (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:55:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
For calling me ignorant. I don't like it because country music isn't my taste. Does that make me ignorant?
Submitted by DavyJones (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:53:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Points 1 and 2 had me cracking up pretty good. Good songwriting? Hardly, anyone with half a brain and desire to write really bad story telling prose can write it. Good musically? Well, I suppose those with little to no talent on guitar, bass, banjo, or drums would like it because it is something they can play even with no real talent at all...aside from that...
Not sure how to rate this one, because you end it by saying country sucks...0 will do.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-06-06 16:37:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Country rock is slow and dumb because it's made for slow and dumb people. The songs need to tell a story to keep the slow people alert. They are too dumb to get the metaphors in normal music. Thats why it appeals to drunkards. You made sence with the musical aspect,but I still would rather listen to oldies than country.Oldies rule! Motown n shit.
Submitted by Jill (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:34:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I <3 country music.
Submitted by Falconer (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:29:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
...
Submitted by tuesdaydelay (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:27:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I don't mind some country. But I am racist and have a red neck due to walking around in the sun all weekend.
Submitted by Spiral_Abraxis (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:17:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:12:08 (#)
Ranking: 0
You forgot David Allen Coe.
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There's cum stains on the pillow.......
Submitted by I_Have_a_Kristen_Fetish (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:12:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You forgot David Allen Coe.
Submitted by Shirkinparkin (user info) at 2004-06-06 16:02:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
In defense of Shirkinparkin, he was drunk at the time.