And white guys, not content with having cornered the market on country music, are now doing their best to take over the Blues as well. A lot of white-boy Blues is dedicated to raging misogyny.
kd lang was shoved into the cowpunk category. Because, reasons.
So yeah, until I read this column,I didn't know what "Choosin' Texas" is nor who Doja Cat is, so I wonder what Marissa Moss would say what that says about me (other than "OK Boomer").
I hate country music. My wife loves it. When I express my hatred for country music she says "Well what about Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton [or Emmylou Harris or ..], you love their music"
My answer: "Willie and Dolly a'int country, cause if they were, then I would hate their music: QE and D".
I’m mostly a singer/songwriter Americana fan — so I’m unsure which Marty Robbins song — “Streets of El Paso”, “Big Iron”, or “White Sports Coat” you are referring to as a segregationist anthem. I am not really a Marty Robbins fan, though.
I am only familiar with the three I cited because after choir practice at uni we would sing harmony to those with the jukebox of our favorite dive bar.
it’s none of those; it’s not a well known song. his label refused to release it and he was so determined that he financed it himself. the Jordainaires, elvis’ backup singers, were on it as well.
The Jordainaires were also Patsy Cline's back up singers. We're watching Ken Burns' Country Music Series. The series does include (some) black influence on country music, and gives Ray Charles' country album a shout out.
I have never heard "Choosin Texas," although my mom was a Texan and chose NJ, when she married my GI dad.
Wow. I’m not surprised that he and the Jordanaires recorded a segregationist anthem because I grew up in Aiken SC which is in the Augusta GA media market from 1955-1971. Very overt racism
There is no one kind of "country music". The histories of "hillbilly" music from the 1920s, bluegrass, americana, western swing, Nashville MOR "countrypolitan", and "outlaw" music are all part of this broader label, and show how much and how far the broader genre has evolved in representing the musical forms of the areas of the western and southern U.S. that it claims to represent.
And it has also been the genre that has arguably dispensed with some of what used to make it unique and thus compromised itself. You only rarely hear fiddles or steel guitar on modern records, and they used to be indispensable Nashville elements. And while earlier generations of country artists truly lived the lives of the people they sang about, current ones seem far more like cosplayers of the country music artist stereotype than anything else.
Bo Burnham has an entire parody song about this. One of the lines is:
"I walk and talk like a field hand, but these boots I'm wearing cost three grand, I write songs about riding tractors...from the comfort of a private jet."
It's sung in the most stereotypical country drawl imaginable and it is delightful. Especially for someone like me who really, *really* hates country music.
Sneering at people because they *haven't heard a song* is the kind of insane bullshit that right wing shitheads accuse the left of doing.
The only reason I've heard the song is because it started playing on the Internet radio playlist that plays at work, and I honestly wish I hadn't. It represents some of the worst parts of country music in my eyes (or ears, I guess). It's the same thing I've heard country singers whining about for years , except it's about a woman losing her husband instead of the other way around. Its even got product placement for jack Daniels for fucks sake.
I can't help but think about bo Burnham's parody song Pandering and how spot on it is.
And white guys, not content with having cornered the market on country music, are now doing their best to take over the Blues as well. A lot of white-boy Blues is dedicated to raging misogyny.
kd lang was shoved into the cowpunk category. Because, reasons.
I don't pay attention to country music, but I value your opinion so much that I will give the playlist a listen. ;)
not all of it is country!
This piece is awesome and I return to it from time to time just to remember the works referenced.
So yeah, until I read this column,I didn't know what "Choosin' Texas" is nor who Doja Cat is, so I wonder what Marissa Moss would say what that says about me (other than "OK Boomer").
I hate country music. My wife loves it. When I express my hatred for country music she says "Well what about Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton [or Emmylou Harris or ..], you love their music"
My answer: "Willie and Dolly a'int country, cause if they were, then I would hate their music: QE and D".
I’m mostly a singer/songwriter Americana fan — so I’m unsure which Marty Robbins song — “Streets of El Paso”, “Big Iron”, or “White Sports Coat” you are referring to as a segregationist anthem. I am not really a Marty Robbins fan, though.
I am only familiar with the three I cited because after choir practice at uni we would sing harmony to those with the jukebox of our favorite dive bar.
it’s none of those; it’s not a well known song. his label refused to release it and he was so determined that he financed it himself. the Jordainaires, elvis’ backup singers, were on it as well.
The Jordainaires were also Patsy Cline's back up singers. We're watching Ken Burns' Country Music Series. The series does include (some) black influence on country music, and gives Ray Charles' country album a shout out.
I have never heard "Choosin Texas," although my mom was a Texan and chose NJ, when she married my GI dad.
Wow. I’m not surprised that he and the Jordanaires recorded a segregationist anthem because I grew up in Aiken SC which is in the Augusta GA media market from 1955-1971. Very overt racism
There is no one kind of "country music". The histories of "hillbilly" music from the 1920s, bluegrass, americana, western swing, Nashville MOR "countrypolitan", and "outlaw" music are all part of this broader label, and show how much and how far the broader genre has evolved in representing the musical forms of the areas of the western and southern U.S. that it claims to represent.
And it has also been the genre that has arguably dispensed with some of what used to make it unique and thus compromised itself. You only rarely hear fiddles or steel guitar on modern records, and they used to be indispensable Nashville elements. And while earlier generations of country artists truly lived the lives of the people they sang about, current ones seem far more like cosplayers of the country music artist stereotype than anything else.
genres change over time…and the argument over whether country has sold out is kind of core to the genre. this is a good book about that. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8HZGGU?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Thanks for the tip.
Bo Burnham has an entire parody song about this. One of the lines is:
"I walk and talk like a field hand, but these boots I'm wearing cost three grand, I write songs about riding tractors...from the comfort of a private jet."
It's sung in the most stereotypical country drawl imaginable and it is delightful. Especially for someone like me who really, *really* hates country music.
Edited for spelling.
Sneering at people because they *haven't heard a song* is the kind of insane bullshit that right wing shitheads accuse the left of doing.
The only reason I've heard the song is because it started playing on the Internet radio playlist that plays at work, and I honestly wish I hadn't. It represents some of the worst parts of country music in my eyes (or ears, I guess). It's the same thing I've heard country singers whining about for years , except it's about a woman losing her husband instead of the other way around. Its even got product placement for jack Daniels for fucks sake.
I can't help but think about bo Burnham's parody song Pandering and how spot on it is.