Loretta, Garth, Merle, King George, Alan, Tim, Kenny, Toby, Trace, Johnny, Kris, George Jones, Jamey Johnson, Dolly, Waylon…the list goes on and on of those who truly were and are Country Music.
There’s a few newer names on that list, and plenty more newcomers in recent years that have kept country a part of their music. But ever since CMT got T-Swift shoved into their face by Big Machine Records a few years ago, it’s been hard to avoid something that could easily be twisted into the furthest genre from country.
Even some of those big names on the list above have crossed one too many boundaries…Tim McGraw for instance…his radio singles are nothing like the days of old Tim…like when he sang about Barbeque Stains and red rag-tops, and those country boys and girls getting down on the farm…Kenny has crossed so many boundaries…yeah it’s great musical talent to do so, and be successful at it…but until his newest album, Hemingway’s Whiskey, the last few years of Kenny had been rather forgetful for me. When you go to his concert and all he plays is old stuff…well that’s because the new stuff doesn’t sell like his old music…
Now I can go on and on about how Taylor always sounds the same, and that I could care less about what guy screwed her over this time, but I will spare you for now. I sit for hours some days cruising YouTube finding all sorts of songs and videos that never hit the charts, but damn it they’re 10 times better than anything from the most recent wave of pop-country wannabees. Eric Church, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan…put them on a tour together and see what happens!
There are hundreds of undiscovered singer/songwriters (yours truly) out there who have better songs and potential talent then half of the big stars today…auto-tune really helps you out when you can’t hold a note…here’s link you might want to check out…this man has an amazing story and amazing voice…he lost his record deal, and put it in a song …and damn it’s good…
Anyways…what I’m trying to get at…country music really needs a change…play some more songs about momma and daddy cheating, about the dog dying, about losing love and getting drunk to forget it…that’s country…Since the 1920′s that’s what country music had been about, that’s what it got criticized for too…but that made Country Music. And now in 2010 you can’t find enough songs that are truly country to say so…so hell yes, Country Music…dead at the age of 90.
