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The history of country music essay
The history of country music essay
The history of country music essay
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What is so popular about country music? Country is not just music, it explains life situations, tough times to people, and really you never hear anything bad about country; everyone listens to at least one country song. To me, country music is good because it helps people listen to others problems; such as, (Paint me a Birmingham, By:Tracy Lawrence) it sings about a guy that lost a girl and wants her to come back to his arms again. Which makes me believe country music comes from the heart and within, because most of the time the person singing, is singing about a life situation in which actually happened to them. I believe that country music sings from the heart in every way shape and form. It explains just about anything, now don't get me wrong: rap, rock, and other genres
Well truly I do not think I have ever come in contact with that individual yet, because each and every person I talk to I can put on a country song that kind of meets their taste and they will surely learn to appreciate the genre. As a singer (Blake Shelton) says “everybody has a hillbilly bone deep inside no matter where you're from you just cannot hide,” that part of the song just tells me no matter what you think you are you’re really not. Pretty much kind of saying to bring out your inner self and stop pretending to be somebody you're not.
All in all country music can change your life if you actually let it sink in. It’s amazing what effect it can put on a person's life. It helps people through life situations, helps through tough times, and there has not been a person that I have encountered that does not like country in some way. Country is a way of life, but also is the music only you can decide the path you take. But country is what makes people live life and understand the true meaning of what cruel things go on in this bizarre world we live
Times have changed, and along with the times so has country music. American country music lovers have went from Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings, just two of the many classic oldies, to Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, two very appealing country music artists. However, it is not only the tune of the music that has changed, it is the image, the appeal, and overall the type of icons the media is portraying these modern music stars as. Icons such as Lynn and Jennings had identifiable features within their music as well as their appearance that spoke sweet southern belle and rugged twang. Whereas Underwood’s and Bryan’s appeal now is much more sexualized than it was during the oldies. These changes affect the way modern day singers are marketed compared to former country music stars, instead of focusing on talent it is now looks.
I have listened to country music since I was a little, as did my husband. For him, it's a reminder of a simpler time, helping his father farm, plowing fields into the night. For me, it's a reminiscence of sunning myself in my backyard over summer vacation. The twangy sounds of the guitars and the fiddles always seemed to make me feel at home. For me, country music is a way of life, therefore the reasons I will use in an attempt to persuade you that country music is better than other music include its deep history in America, the quality and content of the music and its relatability.
At the end of the day, racism and prejudice will always exist in some form for whatever reason is most convenient. Additionally, it’s not as if fans of country music are all raging bigots who dream of segregation and a return to slavery-driven southern values. After all, there are plenty of ‘southern pride’ songs that don’t feature race, nativism, and are beloved by most without an ulterior message that is appreciated by Stormfront. After all, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama features anti-segregation lyrics. Charlie Daniels Band wrote and performed The Devil Went Down to Georgia, lyrically referencing the south as far as Georgia by name alone. Yet both of these are hailed as quintessentially southern pride songs, meaning that southern pride isn’t the same as white pride. The reason the comparison matters, then, is because there is a significant overlap between the two. It is certainly possible to enjoy country music without wishing for a return to Aryan values, and the majority of country music doesn’t advocate it. But enough popular songs feature nativism as a theme to the point that it shouldn’t be ignored. There is a tangible connection between Southern Pride and nativism through music, and a definite connection between nativism and the White Pride movement. Music connects people and spreads ideas; culturally relevant music tends to stay around for a lifetime. Music has power, and the power of hate music is not one that should be
Country music is one of the most popular genres of music throughout America. There are many influential figures that have changed the way country music sounds, and how people interpret it. Two important people who have made a huge impact on country music overtime are Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan. From their early life, their career, and how society views them, they have opened the minds of people and country musicians all over the country. Johnny Cash’s songs help people to experience his life growing up through the Great Depression and how people lived back then. Through Luke Bryan’s songs people could understand what life was like for Luke growing up in Georgia and all the hardships he faced. Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan are two of the many country singers that have influenced country fans to be more optimistic and hopeful.
Country music is one of the most popular music genres in America. There is a reason it is called Country music: because it reflects the heart and soul of the entire country. This unique genre of music can trace its roots to the very beginning of Southern culture. Through its rich history, Country music has always represented the life of the American little-man, the working-class hero, and has spawned many other forms of American culture in music, movies, television and style.
Growing up, my dad controlled the radio almost always, and his choice was the local country station. This lead to hearing my fair share of Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Martina McBride. They often sung about beer, front porches and Jesus, and none of that really resonated with me.I never truly hated the music, it was absolutely inoffensive listening, but very few songs struck a chord with me. That is until I heard the Dixie Chicks. They made beautiful use of harmony, melody, instrumentation, emotion and storytelling that worked together beautifully.
Country music originated in the Appalachian mountains of the Southern United States and has traditional folk roots that date from the early 20th century. The commercial history of country music began in the Southern United States in the 1920’s, during a ‘period of intense modernization’ (Ellison, 1995). It wasn’t until this time that country was considered a viable music genre. It was first identified as ‘hillbilly’ music in 1925 and later became known officially as ‘country’ by its designation on the Billboard Music charts (Shmoop, 2014). Widely considered the ‘Mother Church’ of country, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville became the home of many emerging and already established artists (Tichi, 1994:21). Coupled with the rise of radio and barn dance programs, country’s popularity increased greatly. Ellison (1995) describes country’s evolution from ‘rustic radio programs’ to a genre with an ‘extensive national network of fans unparalled in other forms of popular music’. During the 1930’s, the Great Depression assisted in the spread of country music throughout the US, with many poor unemployed Southerners migrating north, t...
Sanneh, Kelefa. "Country Music? Whose Country?" The New York Times. 11 Nov. 2005. Web. 21 April 2011.
Now I know for myself I am not a big country music fan. I know the normal country music singers such as Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Rascal Flats and etc. Country music I believe is what makes an America America. Now back in the 19 century days being an American was being white and having property and being male. (Foner,) Now when you compare country music to that, most country singers are male and white. And to be a country singer it’s only right if you have large sums of land to own with a big house on it. It’s funny how these two ideas relate to each other in two different centuries. Being male and white can really get you ahead in society. Its idea that isn’t right but it’s the reality of our country. Country music sets the standards on what an American should be life. If you ever google country music the definition of it would say something like an American popular music in the south. (Definition) Key word in the definition AMERICAN and also fiddles. Now all they had in the 1700’s was fiddles to play whe...
According to The Nashville Sound, markers that include “rural origins, stylized sets, seemingly spontaneous performance, accessible performers, and heartfelt songs can characterize country music’s authenticity” (13). The foundations of what country music has originated from are incorporated within these markers and are used to separate the real from the fake. Early country music was a means of coping with a life of work and worries; it also brought communities of the impoverished together in fellowship. The establishment of these markers glimpses into the culture and realities of many country music artists before their fame. Take for instance a family sitting huddled together on a porch on a cool summer evening listening to a family member play the banjo while another sings along. Everyone is enjoying and living in that moment and all worries are far from mind. Country music made people feel at ease and comfortable, it brought people back to their memories of the good old days. This is the way country music sh...
Folk Music is History in song: Tells about daily life. Tells about special events - often tragedies, themes of romance, battle, adventure, and history. Purpose of folk music: Entertainment, recreation, socializing, dancing, games. Teaching, make work go faster, religious. Tells a story (ballads). Origins of Appalachian people: Ireland Scotland England Ireland &n Music influenced by folk and mountain music: Country Bluegrass Modern folk music &nb Musical instruments used (folk instruments): Dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, mouth bow, washtub bass.
Country music was brought over by the first European settlers. In medieval times, storytelling was a tradition that allowed history to be recorded when few were able to read and write. When the first British settlers came to America, they brought this tradition with them, along with songs that they had learned in Europe. The people who settled the Appalachian Mountains and the West did not have an easy life and their music gave them an outlet to express their hardships.
Country music can be defined as a unique music genre. ”The songs often have repeated sections or refrains, and the words, are clear and prominent” (Yudkin 274). This helps not only get a song stuck in someone’s head, but makes it become more popular. There are so many voices, origins, and instrumentation that can be used to make pop country original and meaningful. “As one listens, the basic core formula, which consists of a straightforward chord progression, a resonating chorus or bridge, and a memorable story, will most often be the foundation of country music songs” (Turcotte). There are so many themes love, drinking, values, working, and loneliness. The artist also has to make it authentic with intimacy, and heart-felt songs. You hear a lot of different instruments during a country pop song. Mainly acoustic guitar, steel guitar, bass, and fiddle. Artists do not have a good ole country song with out powerful lyrics. Then it is up to the listener to interpret the song. Even with all the other genres out there these day country pop still finds a way to keep it characteristics
The 'Standard' of the 11 November 2006 http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar525600>. Wells, Paul F. "Country music." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006.
Country Music is everywhere. It may come blaring from a neighbor’s house, blasting the radio from a car or truck, or even playing quietly in a restaurant; but why exactly is Country Music so popular for people to listen to? When it comes to Country Music, the lyrics comes straight from the artist`s hearts where people can relate to them; the rhythm and beat are unique to the specific song, and the artist knows exactly how to tell a perfect story in the song.