This week will be my favorite class by far. I love music, well I love MY music. Music is a personal issue, and yes I mean an issue because by MY music I mean that I feel it is the only ‘good’ music. I will defend my choice in music to anyone and will not be happy until I have convinced someone who cringes at the mention of country music that it is so far from the stereotype it is given. Society tries to dictate to us what we should listen to and therefore pop music and its ‘icons’ are shoved down our throats. This is so wrong. There are messages in everything and I am not about to say that music is not a form of art and expression, I just refuse to give in to the media frenzy that surrounds some of these ”artists”.
In our chapter on Music, I was very upset to find that Vivian did not even mention country music as one of the most popular forms and he deduced the great Shania Twain to that of a “pop music star”. Vivian leads people to believe that country music stems from “hillbilly” music, which has a negative label in itself. This is the problem, country music is seen as just being about people singing about the woes of life along to some fiddle playing. It is absolutely a false judgement and what causes me to defend it so passionately. This is where lyrics play a key role in determining what great music is. Country music always tells a story to which Ican relate some life experience (plus, cowboys are so hot). The spiritual uplifting that comes along with country music is enough to get anyone hooked on it. I wish people would just listen with their hearts, not even just to country but to any type of music that moves them. I really believe that we listen to music in order to escape from the monotony that is our lives, this escape gives us things to dream about and hope for because someone is telling us that there is something better out there for us. While I am all for freedom of speech and expressing oneself I do think there should be some boundariesin relation to subject matter in songs. I have a hard time believing that people listen to offensive rap, (and yes it is offensive, there is no way to defend it) as a way of rationalizing their mundane existence. Yet they attempt to because that is what the media tells us to do. I say fight against this, we need to have some ray of hope that life is not all bad and if that comes out in a song then all the power to those ‘real’ artists. I know I continually go on about the woes of our capitalist society and our need to reform to a socialist utopia but it is so true, especially when I sit back and look at what is out there in terms of music as a tool in deciding how we see things in the world. Music has the power to make things better, but it also has the power to make people who they are not, we have to be careful and choose wisely what we allow to influence us.
I love country too. But I think you are being a little unfair to the rest of music, yes there is some offensive stuff. But there are things in country music that are a little offensive too. In particular how it is always about love, like if you are single you better find someone fast or how the girl in the song is usually described by the way she looks. Some country is pretty stereotypical about gender roles and at this time in our society a bit outdated.
I am not saying this is all country, but I would have to argue with you that it ain’t perfect. But what is great about music is that there is so much to pick from, so everyone can just listen to whatever their heart desires.
My main gripe with country music, is it’s presence on commercial radio.
It’s the same pop machine churning out hits that get recycled over and over again. I’ve been forced in the past to listen to contemporary country music, and I can safely say that Country 105 in Calgary is the worst radio station I have ever heard.
“Everything But Country” is a cop out though, I do like country style music. Johnny Cash is one of my favourite song writers, but he is completely ignored, and “Flavour of the Week” country stars outshine one of the most influential artists in any genre.
That’s awesome that you’re willing to back up your music choices, it seems like you’re very passionate about music and that’s neat to see. I also believe that country music is sorely misrepresented, I think it’s the only forms of music that hasn’t been drastically manipulated over the years, it’s still about storytelling and I think we need that in our hectic lives. Let’s just hope country music remains true to its roots because life just wouldn’t be the same without good old country music:)
I to like country music and am glad to see someone defending it. I grew up listening to country and still enjoy it today. There is usually a story being told and often I can relate to it. Lately though country is taking on more of a pop influence, while this is sucessful for some it is usualy not my favorite. I still am however a huge country fan and am glad to see that there are others out there willing to say the same thing.
i have to agree with a number of your points. The first one i agree with is that cowboys are hot. I used to hate country music and i never gave it a chance. But then i moved out to lethbridge and started to listen to more country music. I have to say i really like a couple songs of country music. It still isn’t my favorite genre but i have to say it is good. And i think it is one of the most popular music genre. In Alberta it may even be the most popular genre.
But i completely agree with you about choosing whatever music you like. I have to say i like some pop music. I used to be embarrassed about it because i didn’t want to be a follower. But i really like a couple of songs. But i like most genres and alot of music.