"Okay let's be real. What is country? A whole bunch of people with strong accents singing about beer, tractors, and hot girls. There is nothing else there. No substance. Now pop music? That has a message that reaches the soul and each song is so unique, not a single one sounds similar."
How many times has someone looked me in the eye and said those exact words as if they were fact? A million too many. If we're going to dish out a blanket statement, here's one. If you have nothing positive to say about any country song ever, you have never actually listened to country. I *partially* grew up in Virginia, which while it is still "south," there's an imaginary line between the northern side of the state and just about everyone else, and Northern VA is NOT south. We have no accent and we have more money (the only two distinctions I could find). And when it comes to music? Country is shunned. Now imagine, a black family cruising down 66 screaming Hill Billy Bone out the window. A sight to see. I do have to admit, there is always the "right time, right place" view to take when delving into a love for a genre. If we weren't stuck in traffic from Tysons Corner (the worst traffic in the country) for hours and if Some Beach by Blake Shelton didn't influence us to move to Hawaii, maybe I would be a country hater too. But I was stuck in that traffic and we really did go chase "some beach" all the way to Oahu's coast. The concept of country alone holds much of the south together. It acts as a sign of unity for a community. For some, it is the highest form of patriotism. How many patriotic songs are country? Better question, can you name patriotic songs that aren't country? What I love about country is that it speaks to the soul. It's not just songs about material things. Sure he sings about his tractor, but that tractor was the same one generations rode and feels like home. Sure he likes the taste of that beer but it can also tell the story of someone scared to let go or look back. In the words of Hannah Dasher "no, [it] ain't for everybody, but [it] don't try to be" (you're gonna love me- Hannah Dasher). Country is less about smashing rhymes together and more about finding those three chords and talking to their audience about their day. It's songs to their mothers apologizing for ignoring their calls. Voice messages of a lost lover and a rekindled romance. It's a list of grievances against their dentist. Like my new favorite gem that described exactly why I like country, "we're all living one big country song" (one big country song- Locash) Even better, the problem of being a "studio voice" is pretty much nonexistent. In hip hop, rnb, pop, and rap, you'll find quite often that the artists can't actually sing. They have professionals go in and change their voices. Which is how we end up with artists who don't sound anywhere near as good in person as they do in the studio where their voices can be dressed up to perfection. In country, imperfection is what makes the genre. You don't worry about over auto-tuning if there's even auto tune at all. Their live concerts live up to the expectations and do their fans justice. Let me tell you, there is nothing worse than paying 200+ dollars to see your favorite artist, just to realize they can't even sing their own songs. Country is also incredibly versatile. It can easily slip into any other genre without losing its roots. Examples like early Taylor Swift. That was country which fluidly shifted into pop, all without losing her storytelling. Good country is much like an amazing rnb/hip hop concept album, but condensed into 4 minutes. And because of its versatility, there is a song for any emotion, any situation and mood. I know that for some it's the accents, and I understand. "I Got The Boy" by Jana Kramer is one of my favorite songs. That doesn't mean I don't wince when the song begins with her harsh pronunciations and funky slides. I also feel for every word she says. Some Blake Shelton songs I simply don't listen to because his voice annoys me so much. And if we go beyond the storytelling, which we shouldn't have to, but for arguments sake. If we look closer to the surface, y'all really can't tell me that these instrumentals don't make you wanna dance. Not even of your own volition. It just seeps into your pores and brings out something from within. Can you tell I've listened to nothing but country while writing this? I'm also a proud supporter of Country's cousins, the blues and folk music. I know this may be confusing, but it's... the ✨vibe✨ I listen to indie folk quite often and find that interchangeably, those same songs are in my country playlist simply because they make me feel a certain way. I guess the emotion would be at peace, just relaxing and comfortable. All in all, country should not be looked over because of heavy accents, but embraced because music is not just about vocals but about storytelling, and no other genre does it better.
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AuthorHi! It's Leila. Your average suburban girl with too much time on her hands. I hope you enjoy! Archives
April 2022
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