Merle Haggard Slams Young Country Stars

Thaindian News ^ | February 6th, 2009

[nickcarraway]

Country music legend Merle Haggard, who is recovering from cancer surgery, has condemned young country stars, insisting they are having hits with all the wrong tunes.

The 71-year-old says he hates the songs of country music’’s current crop of leading ladies, with Carrie Underwood topping the list.

“Carrie Underwear, or Underwood. I mean, I like her, but where’’s the songs. You have to get past the belly buttons and the videos, Contactmusic quoted Haggard as telling America’’s Globe.

He also said country music today is so perfect. Maybe too perfect. “There are no surprises,” he said. “Everything is going to be perfect, and I can’t even hear someone breathe. That’s just my opinion. The electronic digital computer, anyone can do a record nowadays. You don’t have to stay in key or they’ll put you in key.” And he added that there is no better evidence of that than when you see an artist in concert: “You don’t really know who can sing or can’t until you see them in person, then you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, what happened?’”

[1066AD]

Murder on Music Row.

[RobRoy]

>>I was talking about Hank Williams upthread, not Hank Thompson.<<

I know.

It reminded me of Hank Thompson. :)

[Moonman62]

Merle Haggard is now officially a curmudgeon. He'll be guest hosting for Andy Rooney.

[1066AD]

Three hottest blondes in Nashville

[wordsofearnest]

Patty Loveless

[Dogfaced Soldier]

In order for a country hit to make it commercially, it has to appeal to the women's 18-54 demographic, Country stations don't have the variety that pop music has. Whereas pop music has classic rock, hard rock, soft rock, etc; country has, well country - very little differentiation.

Since women are the major listener group, the songs appeal to women - that is why there are so many sassy women songs and drippy love songs sung by guys.

A song like Travis Tritt’s “Here's a quarter - call someone who cares” would not make it past the radio programmers today.

[1066AD]

Ashton Shepherd sounds pretty real and Miranda Lambert could be classified sometimes as “country punk” LOL

[BlueNgold]

I agree and disagree.
I hate the sappy neo-pop ballads that seem to dominate country radio. Rascal Flats turns my stomach and I won’t listen to Kenny Cheeseball.

I like country with some edge - Montgomery Gentry, Hank Jr. etc.
Young miss Underwood has some great upbeat songs that actually sound like backwoods country and that have something of a story involved. I wouldn’t toss her into the ‘soft and undefined’ pool with so many of the others.

And the pop-country phenomenon goes way beyond Miss Twain. There was actually a Reader’s Digest album collection in the 70’s titled ‘Country Goes Pop’. Eddie Arnold, Dolly, Charlie Pride, etc. - all the big name stars of the time - were featured prominently as Nashville made an attempt (a poor one in my mind) to broaden their appeal.

[andy58-in-nh]

Not a bad list at all, largely because they are far more authentic than commercially-accessible. I would add: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jason Boland, Robert Earl Keen, and Chris Knight.

[lewisglad]

You mean she's supposed to be singing a song? :)

[Wolfstar]

I wouldn’t single out Carrie Underwood, because the girl can sing and has some decent songs. BUT I agree with Merle.

I agree with you, RK. Carrie has a lovely voice and she certainly does not deserve to be singled out like that. "Carrie Underwear, or Underwood" -- what's up with that?! Merle could have offered the same critique without the unnecessary nastiness.

I have never been much of a country music fan, but love the sound of what is now called "classic rock." Country music became the home to that style of rock when harder rock became popular, so I enjoy "country rock." I also enjoy some of the beautiful ballads that country music still produces.

Speaking as someone who hangs out a lot on music boards and absorbs hundreds of different opinions about music weekly, these days what drives urban, pop and country is a hard-to-define quality called "radio friendliness." It's a strong emphasis on catchy hooks and on often dry, pounding, rhythmic beats over melody. It's a formula that sells the most singles and albums these days. Emphasis on formula.

The most recent hot crossover country hit is Taylor Swift's 'Love Story', currently #3 on the Mediabase Top 40 radio airplay chart. It is not a true country song in any sense of what that used to mean -- and still means for a lot of people. Here's a link to the music video, for those who are interested. I don't like the song, and I think Haggard has a point with songs like this.

Taylor Swift is an example of a parallel issue with country music. So many of the younger women in country are clones. Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert -- they sometimes seem interchangeable. Listen to Lambert's country song 'Kerosene' and you get what I mean. She does have a mild country twang, but this isn't the kind of country music Haggard loves.

Carrie had a monster hit with 'Before He Cheats'. Here's the video. I do happen to like this song, but that's because it's pop-rock, not country.

People would have to be deaf and blind not to see and hear the formula in the three hits I linked. The formula problem is not exclusive to country.

[Liberty Valance]

Bump for later reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzGx_XzxDeM&feature=related
Don Williams - Good Ole Boys Like Me

[retrokitten]

Miranda and Carrie are similar, but Miranda, to me at least, has more of an edge to her songs that I prefer. I’d go shoe shopping with Carrie, but go out for a beer with Miranda (I’d steer clear of Gretchen Wilson, because even though I like her songs, she scares me).

Taylor Swift I just don’t get at all. She’s country’s Obama. Everyone fawns all over her and tells me she’s the second coming of Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn, but I just don’t see it. I honestly do not see what is so great about her. Plus she always looks like she’s smelling something bad.

She reminds me of Mean Rhonda on Big Love.

[mylife]

Hank III

[ansel12]

"A song like Travis Tritt’s “Here's a quarter - call someone who cares” would not make it past the radio programmers today." ============================================================ That is nothing compared to this.

Knoxville Girl - The Louvin Brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhMiKeSffns&feature=related

Here are some notes on violence in American music. http://backdoorview.blogspot.com/2008/11/these-are-just-few-songs-that-might.html

[Wolfstar]

I love your comments, RK. Miranda does have a bit more of a country edge to her. To me, Carrie and Taylor are pop. I don't like Taylor at all, either. There's a lot to like about Carrie, but I've never been able to warm up to her. I don't dislike her, because she does have a lovely voice, but there's something in her personality that is off-putting to me. LOL about your comment re Gretchen Wilson.

[retrokitten]

There's a lot to like about Carrie, but I've never been able to warm up to her. I don't dislike her, because she does have a lovely voice, but there's something in her personality that is off-putting to me.

I completely know what you mean. I like her and bought her first album, but there is just a "something".

[La Enchiladita]

Gretchen looks mean, but I like her music:)

[hout8475]

Nickel Creek is excellent. Pretty much the only country I really like that much fits into the progressive/alternative variety.

[Future Snake Eater]

Are they considered country? I had a professor in college who was running one of their CDs before class started. It was amazing; I’d never heard anything like it. “Lighthouse’s Tale” and “This Side” are two of my all-time favorite songs...