Why Country Music is Trash
Contents
Why Country Music is Trash
A lot of people seem to think that country music is this wholesome, down-home genre of music. But the truth is, country music is complete and utter trash. Here’s why.
The History of Country Music
Country music has a long and complicated history. It is a genre that has been maligned by many, but it has also been a source of great joy for many people. Country music has its roots in the folk music of the American South, but it has also been influenced by a variety of other genres, including blues and rock and roll.
The origins of country music
Country music is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from the folk music of the Appalachian region and has influences from blues and rock music. The style is characterized by guitars, fiddles, and banjos, as well as elements of Western swing and boogie-woogie.
The earliest commercial country music recordings were made in 1927 by the Carter Family, a group from Virginia who specialized in traditional ballads and songs about the mountaineers and pioneers of the American West. The Carters’ style of music was strongly influenced by their Scottish-Irish heritage, as well as by the music they heard while living in the Appalachian Mountains.
In the 1930s and 1940s, country music became more popular throughout America, thanks to the rise of radio and records. Prominent country musicians of this era include Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline. Country music became increasingly popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the rise of artists such as Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Conway Twitty. Today, country music is one of America’s most popular genres, with artists such as Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood topping the charts.
The evolution of country music
The roots of country music are in the folk music of working class Americans, who blended popular songs, Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, traditional English ballads, and cowboy songs. Country music began to be commercially recorded in the 1920s. The first commercial country music record was released in 1922. The most important figure in the earliest history of country music is Ernest Stoneman, who recorded the first commercially available country record in May 1922 for Okeh Records. “The Arkansaw Traveller” and “Turkey in the Straw” were among his early hits.
In the 1920s and 1930s, country music was called ” hillbilly music” and was associated with poor rural whites in the southern United States. During this time, many rural whites migrated to urban areas in search of work. They took their music with them, and country music became more popular in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans. In the 1940s, Hank Williams became one of the most popular country musicians. His hits included “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and “Jambalaya (On the Bayou).”
In the 1950s, a new style of country music called ” honky-tonk” became popular. Honky-tonk songs were often about drinking, cheating, and other unsavory topics. A number of honky-tonk singers had crossover success on the pop charts; among them were Marty Robbins (“El Paso”), Connie Francis (“My Happiness”), Bobby Darin (“Mack the Knife”), and Brenda Lee (“I’m Sorry”).
The late 1950s saw the rise of a subgenre called ” Nashville sound.” The Nashville sound was a more polished version of honky-tonk that relied on string sections and background vocalists to provide a fuller sound. Some of the most successful artists in this style were Patsy Cline (“Crazy”), Don Gibson (“Oh Lonesome Me”), Tammy Wynette (“Stand by Your Man”), Skeeter Davis (“The End of the World”), Roy Orbison (“Only the Lonely”), and Jim Reeves (“He’ll Have to Go”).
In 1967, Gram Parsons released his debut album GP, which featured his own unique blend of country and rock & roll that came to be known as “cosmic Americana.” Parsons’s vision for country music was at odds with that of Nashille’s Music Row establishment, so he moved to Los Angeles where he formed The Flying Burrito Brothers with fellow musician Chris Hillman. The band blended elements of country music with rock & roll, R&B., soul., blues., and even psychedelic rock on their seminal 1969 album The Gilded Palace of Sin. After Parsons’s untimely death in 1973 at age 26, Hillman continued to lead The Flying Burrito Brothers before leaving to join The Byrds; he would later enjoy success as a solo artist as well., Meanwhile other artists like Bob Dylan., Neil Young., Emmylou Harris., Willie Nelson., Linda Ronstadt., Gram Parsons’ protégé Phil Ludwigson lead directly or indirectly by him went on create what is possibly best described as Americana Music
The Problem with Country Music
There’s no denying that country music has a problem. For years, the genre has been tainted by its association with racism, sexism, and homophobia. But in recent years, country music has made a concerted effort to change its image. The problem is, it’s not working.
The lyrical content of country music
The lyrical content of country music is often critiqued for being too simple, for focusing on themes like drinking and heartbreak, and for being overly sentimental. While it’s true that country music does tend to focus on simpler themes, there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Good music, regardless of genre, should be able to connect with its audience on a emotional level. And the fact that country music has been able to do that for so many people is a testament to its power as a musical genre.
That being said, there is one area where the lyrical content of country music often falls short, and that’s in its representation of women. Country music has a long history of objectifying and demeaning women, and though things have gotten better in recent years, there’s still a long way to go. If you’re a woman who loves country music, it can be difficult to find songs that celebrate your strength and independence. But thankfully, there are more and more artists out there who are writing songs that do just that. Here are 5 examples of songs that empower women in country music.
The musical content of country music
The musical content of country music has always been suspect. The twangy, tinny guitars, the corny lyrics about pickup trucks and beer, the forms stolen from black music (blues, rockabilly) without any acknowledgment – it all adds up to a sound that is at best derivative and at worst just plain bad. Even diehard fans of the genre would have to admit that a lot of country music is simply not very good.
The Solution to the Problem
If you’re anything like me, you’re fed up with the current state of country music. The songs all sound the same, the lyrics are lazy, and the artists are cashing in on a formula that is quickly getting stale. But there is hope! In this article, I’ll explain why country music is trash, and how we can fix it.
Country music needs to be more honest
If country music wants to be taken seriously, it needs to be more honest. It needs to stop being afraid to talk about the hard stuff, and it needs to start being real with its listeners.
Country music has always been about storytelling. It’s a genre that has traditionally been very blunt and honest about the human experience, whether that’s talking about heartbreak or celebrating a good time. But in recent years, country music has become increasingly sugar-coated, shying away from the hard truths of life in favor of a more optimistic outlook.
And while there’s nothing wrong with upbeat songs, country music has always been at its best when it’s being honest about the difficult parts of life. The problem is that country music has become so afraid of being negative that it’s not able to talk about anything remotely unpleasant anymore.
If country music wants to be taken seriously as a genre, it needs to start getting honest again. It needs to start talking about the hard stuff, and it needs to start being real with its listeners.
Country music needs to be more innovative
There is no doubt that country music has seen a decline in recent years. While the genre was once one of the most popular in the world, it has since fallen behind pop, rock, and hip-hop in terms of popularity. This is likely due to the fact that country music has failed to stay relevant and innovative. In a world where music is constantly evolving, country music has remained largely the same.
One of the biggest problems facing country music is its lack of diversity. The genre has always been dominated by white artists, and this lack of diversity has made it difficult for many people to relate to the music. In recent years, there have been a few efforts to diversify the genre, but these have largely been unsuccessful.
Another problem facing country music is its image. The genre has long been associated with rednecks and hillbillies, and this image has turned off many potential fans. Country music needs to do a better job of appealing to a wider range of people if it wants to stay relevant in the coming years.
If country music wants to survive, it must become more innovative and diverse. The genre has the potential to be great, but it needs to make some changes if it wants to regain its former glory.