what is the essence of country music?

Question

I'm writing an essay for music appreciation class, but don't really listen to country. Can someone help?

Answer 1

Losing your pick-up, girlfriend, dog.... All in a "cold, drivin' rain", of course. That is all you have to know, just figure out how to say those things over and over in a thousand different ways, and you will be a star...Well, stories about getting drunk, brawling, and whoring around will always work, too.....

Answer 2

The essence of country music is its honesty and emotion. Country songs have the ability to reach into the listeners lives and relate common experiences. Whether talking about good times, broken hearts, or love gone wrong, a country song is a road that we've all traveled on before, a journey that someone chose to capture and put into a four minute snapshot.

Country is also unique in the number of other genres that it welcomes and encompasses. Bluegrass, gospel, rockabilly, and even zydeco share roots in the country music world. And certainly the influence of country has been felt through the years in artists such as the Eagles, Shery Crow, and John Mellencamp.

By the way, maybe a better question to have posted here would have been: Can anyone recommend some good country music to help with an essay I'm writing? It almost feels like you're wanting us to do your homework for you. LOL (And the answer to that question would be go find some Emmylou Harris, she is absolutely amazing. Ditto for Steve Earle.)

Answer 3

Country music tells a story, relates experiences we've all had, invokes emotion and provokes thought.

A true musical artist is one that can reach out and grab you, touch you or take you for a ride. I feel there are more Country artists that achieve that goal that in any other genre, which is why I enjoy the music so much.

In Country music you will find songs that deal with all aspects of life; love, family, work, relationships, cars, pets, national pride, sports, partying, hell raising and God. You will also find songs that deal with every emotion.

Simply put, for me personally, Country music is about life. Real life.

Answer 4

Well the reason I listen to country is that most of the time it matches things that happen in my life. People think it's just about women leaving or dogs dieing or drinking, but that's not it at all. Some of the songs I listen to are funny like Blake Shelton "Some Beach" or just relaxing like Kenny Chesney " When the Sun goes Down" But then you have some that are meant to make you cry like Rascal Flatts " What hurts the most". You just have to choose what you want to listen along with what you feel. Like if I'm in a revenge type mood then I pull out Garth Brooks " The Thunder Rolls". Garth Brooks is the top country oldie along with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Hank Williams Sr. I could go on and on but just to give you my reason on listening to country.

Answer 5

Country music is similar to other music most songs are about events or happenings in ones life except these happenings are usually sad and somewhat morbid . To me i believe this is a way fro people to talk about how they feel without actually hurting somebody's feelings! I suggest you listen too a few country music songs to get a feel for it. Listen to Concrete angel, three wooden crosses jacob's ladder and I saved the best for last butterfly kisses good luck!

Answer 6

It's an amazing genre, too.

I was drunk the day mama got out of prison...

In my opinion, (and you did ask--by posting here!), "country" is a manufactured sound, much the way "pop", "metal", "hip-hop" or any other easily-classified genre or sound is manufactured. It's people trying to sound a certain way, and record companies trying to make a lot of money from that. I have more respect for artists like Johnny Cash or Lyle Lovett or Talking Heads who really don't give a shi* about the sound of their genre, and have their own unique sound, and keep (or kept, in Cash's case) putting out quality albums regardless of sales.

Answer 7

In the early days of country music in the 20s when the Grand Ole Opry started, the music was based on alot of the music of Apalachia- hills of Tennesse, Ozarks, Kentucky. They sang about every day things in the lives of the workin man and woman, being out of work, riding the rails looking for work esp Jimmie Rogers. In the thirties Woody Guthrie's music became popular along with western music like that sung by cowboys, Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey etc. Hence the name country western music.

By the fifties after the war, music got its particular twitch and twang, singing about getting drunk , driving truck, being on the farm, cheatin on your husband /wife at the honky tonks.

In the sixties and early 70s with groups like the Byrds, Poco, Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles turned folk rock into a form of country music. Because it wasn't ' tradition' alot of the old time country acts resented the rock/folk influences.E.g Loretta Lynn etc. When John Denver won Country male entertainer of the year in75, Charlie Rich a one hit wonder at the time but good old boy was drunk and set the nomination on fire in protest. Denver, being the gentleman he was didn't refer to it , but it rankled him. He said he never felt accepted by Nashville. And he considered himself more of a western artist.

In the 80s the hat acts appeared Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Clint Black and country took another swing at more modern influences.

Shania Twain kicked down the hayseed honeys in the 90s with her sexy image which many of the current country stars tried to emulate in their early days.

After 2001 proud conservative rednecks like Toby Keith etc took over and started contreversy. The Dixie Chicks were litterally shunned by country radio and by country fans for their more liberal opinions. Their current Shut up and Sing Tour is what they were told after they disagreed with Bush's politics. It's their comment and their recent Not Ready to Make Nice is a further statement of what they got from supposedly genial country fans and country radio.

Country music says it reflects the average workin man workin woman but in reality it's always been to the far right for most acts who live and grew up in the bible belt. They like their own, they don't like foreigners, like Shania Twain, Keith Urban to be too successful . Then they can't clain it as a typical form of American music with Canadians and Aussies involved, even tho Hank Snow one of the grandfathers of the Grand ole Opry was Canadian.

Answer 8

Country music is all heart, it is about love, and hardships...try listening to a few country songs...if you dont fall madly in love with them...I dunno whats wrong with you...Country music has feeling...lots of feeling...Country is an amazing Genere!

Answer 9

its a bunch of hicks, or wannabe hicks, who talk about aboslutely nothing and everyone falls for it like its the greatest thing ever.
human stupidity.

Answer 10

its cultural, just like blue grass, rap, celtic, opera, etc.