I have been following Country Music now for over 30 years (as unbelievable as it sounds). I discovered it, when Alabama was starting to rise to fame. Their No.1 country single 'Take Me Down' become one of their biggest pop hits going all the way to No. 18 on the Hot 100.
It was the 80s, when the movie "Urban Cowboy" propelled country music to the forefront of pop music with artists like Eddie Rabbit, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap or Crystal Gayle who were successfully recording pop-influenced songs.
And from the very first contact I had with country music, I was confronted with heated debates about what is country music and what is not.
Purists and traditionalists, as they are called, were complaining about the music leaving its roots behind and catering to pop audiences and therefore not belonging on country radio.
Ever since the 80s (or even before I started listening to country music) these people have complained that the old stars are not being played on the radio anymore and therefore the music was going down the drain.
Today the debate circles around bro-country and the rap / hip-hop elements that have shown up in country songs across the spectrum. And how the old stars are not being played on the radio anymore and therefore the music is going down the drain.
Actually country music has probably never been more respected than it is today. Nashville is being seeked out by artists from all genres to participate in some of the success. It has spawned a successful TV series, country stars are respected judges (and ambassadors of country music) on highly successful music casting shows and it has incorporated state of the art technology in its shows and communication with fans.
Anything alive is growing (and potentially changing). Without change, nothing would advance. Although I myself grew up on artists of the 80s and 90s and am sad that they are no longer played on the radio or given recording contracts, it would be boring to stop any progression and keep playing the same old artists and their songs only (or clones of them, because only what the 'old stars' did, would be allowed on the radio).
Waylon Jennings was famous for bringing bass-driven rock influences into country music. He was doing it his way and not following the way, the 'old stars' did it. I am sure many purists and traditionalists despised him for that; maybe just for his looks and wear alone.
Today he is a respected country music legend and when watching him play 'Honky Tonk Heroes' (the Shaver song that was recorded with a very rocking rhythm on the album) live at a rock concert in the 70s, I cannot help but smile: nobody today would consider it anything but stone country music.
Here in the heart of Europe I do not get to hear any country music on local radio stations. That's why I resort to CDs or more and more to digital media. At no moment in time so far, was so much musical possibility available at the single click of a mouse or smartphone. How can you complain? Maybe it is just a human feature.
Today Country music has diversified itself also on the radio landscape (even though Cumulus and the like are becoming so dominating). Typically there is a channel available that offers the kind of music you long for, anywhere in the world. And if it really does not, then buy the music and hence give it the economical power to be an important sought-after musical niche.
And stop complaining or at least listening to the ones you do not like!
It was the 80s, when the movie "Urban Cowboy" propelled country music to the forefront of pop music with artists like Eddie Rabbit, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap or Crystal Gayle who were successfully recording pop-influenced songs.
And from the very first contact I had with country music, I was confronted with heated debates about what is country music and what is not.
Purists and traditionalists, as they are called, were complaining about the music leaving its roots behind and catering to pop audiences and therefore not belonging on country radio.
Ever since the 80s (or even before I started listening to country music) these people have complained that the old stars are not being played on the radio anymore and therefore the music was going down the drain.
Today the debate circles around bro-country and the rap / hip-hop elements that have shown up in country songs across the spectrum. And how the old stars are not being played on the radio anymore and therefore the music is going down the drain.
Actually country music has probably never been more respected than it is today. Nashville is being seeked out by artists from all genres to participate in some of the success. It has spawned a successful TV series, country stars are respected judges (and ambassadors of country music) on highly successful music casting shows and it has incorporated state of the art technology in its shows and communication with fans.
Anything alive is growing (and potentially changing). Without change, nothing would advance. Although I myself grew up on artists of the 80s and 90s and am sad that they are no longer played on the radio or given recording contracts, it would be boring to stop any progression and keep playing the same old artists and their songs only (or clones of them, because only what the 'old stars' did, would be allowed on the radio).
Waylon Jennings was famous for bringing bass-driven rock influences into country music. He was doing it his way and not following the way, the 'old stars' did it. I am sure many purists and traditionalists despised him for that; maybe just for his looks and wear alone.
Today he is a respected country music legend and when watching him play 'Honky Tonk Heroes' (the Shaver song that was recorded with a very rocking rhythm on the album) live at a rock concert in the 70s, I cannot help but smile: nobody today would consider it anything but stone country music.
Here in the heart of Europe I do not get to hear any country music on local radio stations. That's why I resort to CDs or more and more to digital media. At no moment in time so far, was so much musical possibility available at the single click of a mouse or smartphone. How can you complain? Maybe it is just a human feature.
Today Country music has diversified itself also on the radio landscape (even though Cumulus and the like are becoming so dominating). Typically there is a channel available that offers the kind of music you long for, anywhere in the world. And if it really does not, then buy the music and hence give it the economical power to be an important sought-after musical niche.
And stop complaining or at least listening to the ones you do not like!
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