Posted in: Country by JohnKing on May 16, 2009 | 8 Comments
About how some musicians on nashville’s music row are criticized for being "too country". How Can Someone be Too Country in the country music capitol of the world?
Call me a traditionalist if you like, an Idealist if you think it suits me, and I will not disagree. I believe in tradition,I believe in staying true to one’s soul. I have long heard people like George Jones being criticized for being “outdated”, “Old-timers”,and “too country”. I wrote about this in another article found http://www.musicouch.com/Genres/Country/What-Has-Happened-to-Country-Music.192285
Honestly it is not the least bit surprising that independent, traditionalist country artists have found their home after leaving Nashville’s music row establishment. Music Row sold out ages ago to the corporate machine, churning out psuedo-country music that wreaks of the pop trends of the day.
I will say this, because I feel it’s befitting to me, if music row wants to water down its country, they will do it no matter what we critics say. However, I am still of the opinion that tradition still has a rightful place in music. I personally am still a fan of steel guitars and fiddle players, I believe they are part of the heartbeat of the music. Whether music row likes it or not.
Don’t get me wrong, I love many kinds of music, but be honest about it. Don’t try passing off pop as country, and don’t try passing off what is clearly rock as country. Let Country be country, let rock be rock,let jazz be jazz, let blues be blues. We appreciate the different distinctive styles of music because of their diversity. Not because they are trying to imitate one another.
Forgive me if I’m not too big on musical parrots.
There is no such thing as “too country” if anything there needs to be more country in today’s country.
Thanks for reading
Mr Ghaz May 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Great post!.that was really nice ones..Thanks for sharing this great stuff..LOV it..
Jenny Heart May 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Very nicely said. Great one!
R.B. Parsley May 16th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
John,
It seems like all genres of music is changing. When I was growing up, my dad played a lot of country music. In fact he played with Tom T. Hall. I used to call the country music I grew up with, cryin’ in your beer music. I think that’s why I write songs about broken hearts and everlasting love. But I’m like you, nobody can be too country, like no one can be too rock n’ roll.Of the country artists my favorites are Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Roy Clark, Buck Owens to name a few. Great article, John.
I attempted to comment on a couple of your articles for Relijournal, but I couldn’t get them to post. But like this one, they were very good articles, and I agreed with what you said in them. You are a excellent writer, and I love reading all your articles. Keep up the great work buddy!
Randy
Jamie Myles May 16th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Well said. Whatever the genre, artists should stay true to their souls and not let corporate greed dictate the way they do their music.
Judy Sheldon May 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I’m with you on this, John. If it’s country music, why shouldn’t it be country? Artists are a creative bunch and as such need to be given the space to express themselves. I had an art teacher once that told us she would not interfere in our expressions of color or style.
Catelin Hoover May 16th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Yes. You have said it well. I like everything from classics to bluegrass. And I would not like to hear classic played like blugrass or bluegrass played like the classic. This goes for traitional Christian music as well. Old hymns is heritage. New Praise and Worship is our future heritage…too much anger over it all…let’s just embrace it all, the way it was written and enjoy!
trinket May 17th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I agree with you completely, let it be. Their is nothing wrong with something being too country. That is how it should be, country not part country and part pop. But everyone is focusing on trying to make that dime. And they pay attention to what people want. I think artist are afraid to be too extreme, they want to be inbetween. So maybe they don’t step on anyones toes. Isn’t that how it is with everything? Even poetry, everyone is judging and critiqueing, giving their opinions about what real poetry is. But that is just their opinion. Not everyones, some people like what others don’t. Just like the song, LET IT BE.
trinket May 17th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
p.s.
Oh and I apologize for the errors in my spelling. I did not realize that I was hitting the key LOL oops, my bad. Sometimes I do not proof-read my comment. So their I beat you to the punch. But hey you might want to look it over and see if their is another error