Country music...
...it doesn't have to mean hick.
One of my favorite episodes of the Carol Burnett show had Vicki Lawrence doing a parody of a country song where she spelled out every word. IT was an obvious take off on "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" that was the current song of Tammy Wynett showed the absurdity of some of country music. One line said her boyfriend "S-P-L-I-T" It was some funny stuff.
Though the word "redneck" has taken on a new glorified meaning, country music doesn't have to mean redneck. Redneck in the '60s sense, means backward, glorifying in being ignorant (the white version of "ghetto" but I can't stand the term "white trash" which has also come to be glorified) I coined a word "grit" when the meaning of redneck was being so changed. There's nothing wrong with being country and nothing wrong with being what you want to be as long as you don't glorify in being or seeming ignorant. Willful ignorance is not only unattractive, it's stupid!
What has that to do with music? Everything. Country music progressed from its roots and then, SOME say went back to them, but in doing so, some of the country singers has disrespected other genres. "Piece of My Heart" and "Summertime Blues" are just a couple of examples.
I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard "Redneck Woman." Really? Proud of yourself that you leave your Christmas tree lights on? But over the years I've recognized the humor of that song.
While I love the old masters of Country and no one represents it more that the Old Possum, George Jones, some of the early stuff, guys looked up to get the "why would he sound like that on purpose?" reaction. I did a parody of one of these and the reaction was positive, but the fan of this "artist" did not recognize the fact that I was making fun.
Don't get me wrong. Even in the old days, there were great artists like Ernest Tubb, then came Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves and the great Marty Robbins. These guys had class, but they were still Country.
By the time Ricky Van Shelton came along, the big wigs of the industry wouldn't promote anyone who didn't sing with that nasal sound and a hick style. That's tragic.
There's no better country song than "I'll Leave this World Loving You."
To me, as a person who's been a "country dj" several times, there's not enough variety in the country music field and too much novelty. Country has always been about the "hook line" but lately, it's been for me, the SINKER.
There's not enough of the stuff in the middle. This is where my love, Rock 'n' roll was born, when Elvis and others combined a little of ALL of it into that marvelous stew that will always be the best to me.
Wow, you can say the "f" word repeatedly. Great. Now, can you write and sing some rock 'n' roll?
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