Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Country Music
I found it quite interesting to learn about what country music used to be known as. I really enjoyed listening to the song played in class, because it has shown just how far country music has come. I think if Woody Guthrie or Hank Williams had heard what is being passed off as country music today, they would be shocked. Sure there is a lot of old style country music around, but much of what is heard on country radio stations can hardly be considered the same genre. I understand that music progresses, and I'm ok with the progression country music has made, but at some point we should probably call it something other than country music because it bares little resemblance to what country music was originally thought of.
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Kevin I was wondering if you were thinking of any specific examples (i.e. songs, albums, artists) that might shock Woody Guthrie or Hank Williams? Any specific musical elements that have changed in country music?
ReplyDeleteI think if someone that knew nothing of the genre of country music were to listen to Shania Twain or even Taylor Swift and then listen to Hank Williams they would think that there are at least two different genres in play. The problem is that country music is too broad of a description and that some versions of country music have evolved into a different genre all together. I always thought of this in terms of evolution, where gradualy something changes to the point where it's a new species all together and should be recognized as such
ReplyDeleteInteresting points. Perhaps think about the target audiences for artists like Shania Twain and Taylor Swift-I'm sure you would agree that audience is much different than it was during the '20s. So if you were in charge of naming the different categories of country music, what might they be and why?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kevin, country should furthur distinguish the genre. All the country music cannot all be classified as just country. Rock has evolved into many different genres to make distinctions between the different sounds. In rock, you have punk rock, classic rock, alternative rock, ska... etc. If you tell someone you are in a rock band, you have to furthur say what style of rock you play. Is it more like bruce springsteen, or do you fall into the style of blink-182 and green day. Country has evolved into a bunch of different sounds. Rascal Flatts, Gloriana, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, and Big N Rich are all considered country but have very different sounds.
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