Let me start by saying I've been listening to country music since I was...well...since birth really. My dad used to drive me around in the back seat while listening to country radio and a lot of Tim McGraw's old old albums..one of the first songs I knew all the words to was "Don't Take the Girl". I loved country music before it was as mainstream and as "cool" as it is today. I remember the days of Reba, George, Alan, and Brooks & Dunn, and even Clint Black..and man, were they sweet.
So I know that what I'm about to say won't necessarily resonate with people my parent's age, considering I know very little about the days of Conway Twittay and Merle Haggard, but I think that hardcore country fans under the age of 25 will greatly appreciate the following commentary.
After being literally raised on country music, and then coming to school in Texas for 4 years and being introduced to Texas country, I feel qualified to make the following claims....
Today I went on a run and put my pandora station on "Today's Country". MISTAKE NUMBER 1. Every song sounded the same. In order, these were the songs that were played: "Play it Again" by Luke Bryan, "Ready Set Roll" by Chase Rice (how is this one even considered country...seriously, go listen) "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight" by Cole Swindel, "Whiskey in My Water" by Tyler Farr, "Song About a Girl" by Eric Paslay, and finally "Girl In a Country Song" by Maddie & Tae.
The last one is what got my attention and subsequently inspired me to write this article.
If you haven't heard "Girl in a country song", I highly suggest you go listen to it.
It really got me thinking... while the song is ultimately talking about why girls get no credit in country songs today besides being pretty little things wearing really tight jeans, it really serves as a critique as country music as a whole today. As much as I love a good ole roll-the-windows-down-in-the-truck-and-drink-a-beer type of song as much as the next person, you can only listen to that for so long before you get tired of it.
What happened to the days of country music when you would hear a song that would make you feel so nostalgic you could hardly function? The song that would rip your heart out and stomp on it a few times, or the song you didn't dare listen to late at night alone while driving in your car for fear of driving off the side of the road because you can't see through your tears? Or, at a more basic level, WHERE DID THE FIDDLE GO YOU GUYS!??!?!?!?!?!?!
I've been trying not to criticize country for a long time because A) I really do still love it and B) I appreciate it because most country artists can really, really sing. They're some of the only true musicians left in "popular" music today. C) It makes me incredibly happy that people actually listen to country music these days..when I was little, this was not the case, and I was definitely the exception all the way through high school for listening to country 99% of the time (I also grew up in California, so that may have something to do with it).
All I'm asking is for more EMOTION in the songs again. Something to really knock you on your ass, I wanna be blown away by a song again. Remember Faith Hill's "Cry"? Or Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"? Or George Strait's "I Saw God Today"?
Texas country artists seem to be on the right track..Cody Johnson, Aaron Watson, and even Eli Young Band keep it more real and raw than most of Nashville Country.
And so, basically all I'm asking for is a little more...effort put into these songs, emotionally speaking. I KNOW YOU HAVE IT IN YOU, NASHVILLE. Don't let me down.
Nashville, I Need More Out of You
Share This Article
