Nelson Mandela has a quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”<\/p>\n
I hope anyone who reads this learns from it.\u00a0 It is in no way criticism or condescension, but rather an opposing force to the negativity being passed around right now..\u00a0 It is simply an observation derived from the unique path we all walk.<\/p>\n
My country boy common sense and 50 years of living on this earth have brought me to the conclusion that there is no status quo.\u00a0 One has two choices:\u00a0 be part of the change, or disappear and prepare to die.\u00a0 You CAN teach an old dawg new tricks;;\u00a0 it just has to be the right dawg.\u00a0 I am gonna weigh in on what is (probably) the most controversial subject trending in music today, namely the “destruction” and future of country music.\u00a0 Again, it is only my opinion – and I am going to try (as much as possible) to not step on toes or make others angry.\u00a0 Hang with me for a minute and read the whole post.\u00a0 If you disagree, I respect the right to your opinion, but we will have to agree to disagree.<\/p>\n
The “father of country music” is widely considered to be Jimmie Rodgers.\u00a0 Based on that, this is “true” country music.\u00a0 Jimmie lived a hell of a life – and died from TB.\u00a0 I picked this song because I am kinda partial to Georgia, plus he addresses many other states as well.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Miy4io-rGo0<\/a><\/p>\n The closest thing to that i have heard in years is the Walmart yodeler Mason Ramsey – don’t @ me.<\/p>\n Seems like every blog I read and every tweet I see is trying to destroy Luke Bryan.\u00a0 Granted, his style and delivery may have changed, but he grew up country and has the intelligence to record songs like “What Country Is” (written by Shane McAnally and Jamie Teachenor).\u00a0 The song pays tribute to Jimmie Rodgers – and is one of the few songs today that even mentions him.\u00a0 (Before you @ me, King George didn’t write a lot of his songs and I love his music.)<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9kNakffMhj4<\/a><\/p>\n Why mention this?\u00a0 I would submit that every generation has “changed” country music.\u00a0 The 40’s and early 50’s country had tremendous talent like Roy Acuff, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, etc.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lCgicPdsxxg<\/a><\/p>\n The 50’s and 60’s had artists like Hank Snow, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Patsy Cline, early Willie, Buck Owens, etc.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GpBEBV1wkq4<\/a><\/p>\n The 70’s were dominated by artists like Dolly, Loretta, George Jones, Conway, etc.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mwWeQPYIKvY<\/a><\/p>\n The 70’s were also notable for the country music labeled “Outlaw Country”.\u00a0 Artists like Willie, Waylon, Cash, Kristofferson, Merle, etc. were responsible for helping create the sub-genre.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k_ohONd6NkI<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (IMHO, part of Sturgill’s strong attraction is how much he sounds like Waylon).<\/p>\n Then Alabama happened, and the face and sound of “country music” changed again.\u00a0 It gave rise to artists like Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Randy Travis, Don Williams, Kathy Mattea, Reba, John Denver, etc.\u00a0 Had the blogger stopped after the first sentence of this review, he nailed it.\u00a0 However, he continues to opine with lines like this:\u00a0 “And if you want to talk about shallow lyrics brow-beating listeners with Southern-isms, listen to some old-school Alabama.”\u00a0 Seems he forgot about this song from Alabama, and the fact that Randy Owen has a college degree in English.\u00a0 Granted, it is from 1989, but it is one of the earliest songs that warns us about climate change.\u00a0 If that is shallow, then I am very shallow indeed.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iiHX2653XPE<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.savingcountrymusic.com\/album-review-alabamas-southern-drawl\/<\/a><\/p>\n The class of 89 were the pioneers that are responsible for what we call “90’s country”.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/articles\/columns\/country\/6729988\/coda-clint-black-killin-time-anniversary-26-years<\/a><\/p>\n The 90’s are the foundation that modern country music built on.\u00a0 Artists in the 90’s run the gamut from “traditional” country to “pop country”. Traditional artists like Strait, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Allison Krauss, and Chris LeDoux all found success.\u00a0 Further success by active artists like Martina McBride, Shania, Faith Hill, McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban,, Toby Keith, Trisha, and the force that is Garth, made Nashville the only place to be in the 90’s.<\/p>\n The 90’s were also the genesis of modern “bro country”.\u00a0 Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, and Dallas Davidson (known together as the “peach pickers”) are a force to be reckoned with in Nashville today.<\/p>\n http:\/\/theboot.com\/peach-pickers-songs\/<\/a><\/p>\n But Nashville is also home to many artists considered Americana, Folk, Country Rock, Red Dirt\/Texas Country, Bluegrass, and Pop.\u00a0 “Country Music” has evolved into “America’s music”, which is fitting – considering the melting pot that is the United States.\u00a0 As the music has changed, the business has changed.\u00a0 Modern technology and increased access to the internet has changed the path to success.\u00a0 The record labels may control what is played on country radio, but artists now can have a grassroots following that the industry has no control over.\u00a0 We have more access to music, and artists have multiple paths to success.\u00a0 I only used music genres in this post to make a point – personally I refuse to label artists.\u00a0 (see earlier blogs).\u00a0 If I like them, I like them – no matter what they are called.\u00a0 I am just gonna leave these two songs right here…\u00a0 There is absolutely no reason for all the hate and vitriol being passed around.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.azlyrics.com\/lyrics\/losttrailers\/underfmwaves.html<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n