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How country music affects society today
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Growing up in a rural part of Arkansas taught me that there is two types of people, those who like country music and those who do not. To clear things up, when I say country music I don’t mean musicians like Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift; I mean musicians like Hank Williams, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard. Where I am from these are considered to be the classics, making them some of the best examples of country music. Country music is more than just music it is a way of life, which is why there are many things that liking or not liking country music can show about a person. Instantly when I know that someone likes country music, I know that they know how to slow down and enjoy things. This is obvious to me because true country music is often slow, which intensely bothers those that can’t slow down to enjoy a song. I know this because when I ask people from my home town why the don’t like country music the first answer that almost all of them come up with is that it is too slow for them. The same people that I ask this question are usually those that live, what I could call, an uncomfortable pace. They’re always in a hurry to get …show more content…
Everyone knows how different emotions feel, so when they hear it accurately portrayed in a song they can sympathise with the singer. The way country songs convey emotions in a simple way, can tell you that those who like this music like for things to be simple. Those who like country music do what they can to lead a simple life. Songs of other genres often convey emotions in a much more complex way. The people who like these other genres often like they idea of having complex emotions and leading complex lives. How complicated a person's life is often directly correlates to the pace at which they live their lives. Which is parallel to how the meaning in a country song directly correlates to the emotion behind the
Alan Shapiro is a poet whom uses the sorrowful tragedies that occurred in his lifetime and turns them into beautiful poems in which he greatly expresses through his poetry. Most of his poems symbolize either a type of sorrow or tragic death, and the expressions used throughout his poetry make it noticeable that Alan Shapiro endured a life of hardship and tragedy. While Shapiro was growing up he lost his brother and his sister in which the poem “Sleet” by Alan Shapiro beautifully encompasses his feeling of grief and sorrow due to the loss of his siblings.
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.
Many would argue that country music isn't country anymore; straying too far from the older generation of fiddles, violins and guitars by incorporating a "pop" feel and focusing more on the beat than the content. Pop music is typically viewed as up-beat and differs from the sad, lonesome sounds of country from the past. I would agree that today's country has a very different sound than previous years, however, still incorporates the down-to-earth feel many of us can relate
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
A true Aussie bloke would never leave the great country of Australia. He would never trade his life as a “battler” or a “bushman” for a more glamorous life in the spotlight. An Aussie bloke would never become absorbed by fame and fortune. Would he?
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, as we know it today, was first called “Hillbilly music”. The name “Country” was not widely used until around the 1950s. The creation of this Hillbilly music, very much like American culture, was influenced from many different cultures and styles of music.
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...
Country music was one of the first genres of music modern American music. In the Southern Eastern states of the USA as a mix of folk music from the British Isles, church music and African American blues, it was developed. Country music is often played on instruments
Growing up I remember my mom turning the music up whenever she heard a good song. The only genre, she listened to was country so I grew up loving country music. I now turn the music up whenever I hear a song Luke Bryan wrote because his music is so good. Growing up Luke Bryan was a normal child, but over the 20 or more years, so many devastating things have happened to his family that are hard for Bryan and his family to get over.
For the music ethnography project I will be analyzing the most recent concert I attended, which was Brad Paisley’s Country Nation College tour at Florida State. The concert took place on Langford Green, located outside Doak Cambell stadium, next to the infamous “Unconquered” statue. Typically this space if used for students to have an open grass area for free recreation, it is also most famous for the popular ESPN College Game Day and tailgating. It was interesting to see the audience there, since this was my first real “country” concert. I had a preexisting stereotype of big trucks, cowboy boots, and red solo cups and trust me there was plenty of that, but there was also a great diversity of other different groups of people. The artist performing
George Harvey Strait, is a an American singer, actor, songwriter, and music producer, known as the “King of Country”, of the twentieth century to present. Strait was a vocalist blessed with good looks and a vibrant personality. He is one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. George was a 50s baby. He is also known for his neotraditionalist country style, cowboy look , and being one of the first and main country artists to bring country music back to its roots and away from the pop country era in the 1980s. George Strait has been a country music icon since the 1980s.
Have you ever wanted to know about a famous West Virginian? West Virginia has a rich amount of history of music. It has Appalachian folk music, styles of fiddling, and ballad singing. Many of West Virginians love country music; one of the many country singers is Brad Paisley. Brad Paisley is one of the biggest country singers today. Brad paisley always loved country music. He has been playing guitar since eight years old.
It originated in the south back in the 1920’s. Like norteño, various musical traditions from European immigrant communities, along with African Americans, contributed to the formation of this genre. Many people don’t believe that African Americans had a big role in the formation of country. In the late 1690’s African Americans invited the banjo, a popular instrument in country. Efforts to bring recognition to this fact are becoming more popular as they years pass. Many say that African Americans and country don’t mix. A stereotype that can be quickly discarded considering DeFord Bailey became deeply famous for performing with his harmonica. For years, country stars have made hits reaching number one spots from songs first brought forth by African Americans. My liking for this genre may come from some similarities with norteño music. In most cases the tempo is very similar. Being a cowboy at heart, relating to many country songs comes with ease. Along with modern country, artist such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson are amongst my favorite. Country is usually playing when I’m on the road. It just feels like the appropriate music to play while strolling down the highway. Songs such as “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash are very pleasant to hear. The musical style and lyrics provide a perfect