The Country Music Country Radio Ignores

New York Times ^ | March 24, 2002 | NEIL STRAUSS

[tallhappy]

And this is supposed to represent a change? Country music has always been a factory putting out slick songs performed by slick studio musicians with the spokesmodel/singer up front pretending to strum a guitar while wearing a big hat. The memorable talents--Hank, Willie, Merle--were exceptions, not the rule.

I agree. You make good points.

I go for the "exceptions" from any genre and any time.

[Born to Conserve]

Take the money and the vote away from women -- problem solved.

[CollegeRepublican]

"Someone killed country music...tore out its heart and soul..a murders been committed on music row..."

Here's a bump for some real country music. George Jones. Hank I, II, and III, Waylon, The Man in Black, Junior Brown, George Strait (The old stuff), Merle.

[CollegeRepublican]

I know that I have atleast 10 different stations programmed in my car and as soon as a commericial come on I change the channel. I used to listen to ALOT of country radio and talk. Now I only listen to talk radio and my classic country cds.

[Romulus]

WAMU FM no longer features the wall-to-wall bluegrass programming that used to enhance my visits to Washington DC, but there's still a serious commitment to bluegrass at night.

[Rustynailww]

"last time anybody's heard a Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash or Tom T. Hall song on the radio? ".........try wsm. it can be heard on the net.www.wsmonline.com/

[Texaggie79]

It's easy for me. I just ignore ALL country music.

[Revolting cat!]

Excellent post. Let me hit the subject from another angle without steering the discussion too hard in another direction, if I may. There have been discussions lately regarding the cultural exports of this country influencing and in effect elbowing out native cultural expressions of other countries. Talking about movies, pop music, junk food (as a lifestyle.) Many posters on this forum, think the other countries (or their "elites") have no reason to complain about American cultural imperialism, 'coz the people over there do nothing more than exercise what is commonly described as "free choice".

Well, this article brought back to my mind the idea, or better said, the illusion of free choice that we think we have in this country. What better evidence for my argument that there is really no free choice in many areas, and that the choice between Faith Hill and Garth Brooks or between Burger King and McDonalds is no choice at all. Things are reallly in a pathetic state though when it comes to country radio and this well researched article illuminates the culprit: marketing!

[motexva]

I've seen HWIII twice, once in Dallas where he opened for Beck (who is definitely NOT a country artist) and once on his own in Austin at the Continental Club. That guy is crazy - all his songs are about getting laid, getting drunk and getting stoned. I love it!

His onstage demeanor is quite memorable too - he drank constantly through the show, audience members were passing up shots of whiskey, it seemed to be all he drank. Near the end of the show, he looked like he was having trouble standing, but it didn't seem to affect his singing and playing.

Also, he does this country speed metal stuff which is very interesting and definitely no going to get played on country radio. I'm very interested in seeing where his career goes, but if he's not careful he won't outlive his grandfather.

[Howlin]

I have a question: was this CD nominated for any Oscars? Was it nominated last year?

[Texaggie79]

what CD? Oscars are for movies.........

[Alberta's Child]

". . . and he may go to hell, or even Vancouver -- he'll always be Alberta's child."

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

"Flushed Down the Toilet Bowl of Love."

[FreeTally]

And this is supposed to represent a change? Country music has always been a factory putting out slick songs performed by slick studio musicians with the spokesmodel/singer up front pretending to strum a guitar while wearing a big hat. The memorable talents--Hank, Willie, Merle--were exceptions, not the rule.

Finally a breath of fresh air in this debate! "Country music" just figured out how to make more money. I remember in the early 1990's having conversations with my guitar teacher about this. We both agreed that you can't sell Willie Nelson or Mearl Haggard to tennagers these days, who are the main buying sector. Country music had to be made more "attractive" to get this audience. Is the music that much different than commercial country music of the 70's and 80's? Not that much. It does sound more "popish", but music is always going to progress.

I also think it is a mistake to link bluegrass so directly with "country" music. It's rural, and has some similar themes, but bluegrass music is traditional music, with ties to celtic ballads, fiddle tunes--reels and hornpipes--and to folk songs at least as much as it has ties to country.

THANK YOU!! Too many people do not really understand that "traditional country" and "bluegrass" are different types of music. Within "country & western" you have all sorts of different types including texas swing and bluegrass.

Bluegrass puts a much greater stress on instrumentalism than country, which is primarily vocal. Bluegrass stresses 3 and 4 part harmonization whereas country typically features a lone vocalist. Bluegrass is acoustic music, wheras country is typified by electric sounds--reverbed vocals and pedal steel guitar. Bluegrass lives on standards. Country lives on hits.

Very good explanation for the uneducated.

Seems to me the comparison makes sense to an urban person, but to a music fan, I don't think the comparison is so apt. They both come from Nashville, but that is a recording and distribution matter, not a creative one. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

No, you are not wrong.

I think people just need to get over it and realize that "country music" has changed. Just like so many hated(and still do) when "New Rock" or "Alternative Rock" came out and destroyed the 70's and 80's arena rock sound, "new country" has changed the face of "popular country music". Just like so many posters here say "I'll stick with Hank, Willie, Buck and Conway", I said the same about Rock - "I'll stick with Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Van Halen and Guns N' Roses". Do "old" country and rock performers put out new material? Yep? Does mainstream radio play much of it? Nope. Does this piss people off? Yes. Should we learn to live with it? Yes.

[Howlin]

But it's a soundtrack, right?

[Texaggie79]

Oh, the O'Brother CD... I dunno. Has a country sountrack ever won? Maybe that barrier needs to be broken......

[uncbob]

last time anybody's heard a Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash or Tom T. Hall song on the radio? ".......

Hear them all the time on my tape player in my pickup truck

Well there is still Allan jackson and george Strait

Same thing happened in the early 70s when John Denevr and Olivia Newton John won countrys honors. Real Country will make another comeback like it did then when Randy Ttravis, Ricky Skaggs, Moe Bandy, George Strait, Vern Gosden , Keith Whitely then Allan Jackson hit the scene and Garth Brooks ( when he sings country that is)

Meanwhile play Jimmy, Hank, Ernest, George, Merle, Waylon, Buck, Bobby, Tom T,, George, Allan, etc on your tapes

[mamelukesabre]

There was a radio station that played all the old stuff. Sometimes REALLY old stuff, like maybe 70 years old. This radio station broadcasted along "the I-80 corridor". I think they must have had the largest range of any radio station in the whole country. It was totally accross both iowa and nebraska and went even further than that. The name of the station was " fifty-nine country". Every sunday, they broadcasted live music.

They have changed their format, however, and no longer play the same kind of music or broadcast live......probably don't have the broadcasting range either.