Comments on: Dissecting the Country Lyric: Finding the “Religious Space” http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/ The latest country music news and reviews. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: George Strait - “I Saw God Today” -- The 9513 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-55909 George Strait - “I Saw God Today” -- The 9513 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:37:42 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-55909 [...] expect George Strait to be able to learn new tricks. In the 1990s, country radio fell in love with three-verse, sentimental narrative structures. The nearest Strait came to this convention was 1995’s “Check Yes or No,” a three verse love [...] […] expect George Strait to be able to learn new tricks. In the 1990s, country radio fell in love with three-verse, sentimental narrative structures. The nearest Strait came to this convention was 1995’s “Check Yes or No,” a three verse love […]

]]> By: 20 Underappreciated Songs -- The 9513 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-26146 20 Underappreciated Songs -- The 9513 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:51:47 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-26146 [...] Dissecting the Country Lyric: Finding the “Religious Space” [...] […] Dissecting the Country Lyric: Finding the “Religious Space” […]

]]> By: Stephen http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-20201 Stephen Mon, 16 Jul 2007 05:54:20 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-20201 I find this especially interesting since I've recently restarted my (horribly bad) songwriting. I find it a nice outlet for my feelings at the time. The most recent song I wrote is sort of a reversal of the second religious space theme. Verse 1 -- God Verse 2 -- Woman Verse 3 -- Man (narrator of song) It wasn't intended to be a reversal of the normal structure, although with the number of songs written in this structure it was probably "accidentally purposeful." I think another recent song that loosely fall into this category is "Wasted" by Carrie Underwood (the third verse part is a little bit tenuous, but the structure seems similar). I find this especially interesting since I’ve recently restarted my (horribly bad) songwriting. I find it a nice outlet for my feelings at the time. The most recent song I wrote is sort of a reversal of the second religious space theme.

Verse 1 — God
Verse 2 — Woman
Verse 3 — Man (narrator of song)

It wasn’t intended to be a reversal of the normal structure, although with the number of songs written in this structure it was probably “accidentally purposeful.”

I think another recent song that loosely fall into this category is “Wasted” by Carrie Underwood (the third verse part is a little bit tenuous, but the structure seems similar).

]]> By: “The Imagined World of Country Music” -- The 9513 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-19489 “The Imagined World of Country Music” -- The 9513 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:30:20 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-19489 [...] “Jesus, Mama and the Constraints on Salvific Love in Contemporary Country Music. Read part one here. Check back soon for the next installment of the series, in which I’ll feature a new [...] […] “Jesus, Mama and the Constraints on Salvific Love in Contemporary Country Music. Read part one here. Check back soon for the next installment of the series, in which I’ll feature a new […]

]]> By: Heidi http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18614 Heidi Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:31:21 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18614 Kenny Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More" is another example of the Religious Space. verse 1 - boy gets car verse 2 - boy gets girl verse 3 - boy marries girl verse 4 - boy finds God It drives me nuts too. The "formula" is getting old. Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More” is another example of the Religious Space.
verse 1 - boy gets car
verse 2 - boy gets girl
verse 3 - boy marries girl
verse 4 - boy finds God

It drives me nuts too. The “formula” is getting old.

]]> By: Brady Vercher http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18282 Brady Vercher Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:03:36 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18282 I was trying to decide what segment the model was applied to, but it seems like it's really just a new way to categorize or describe songs that follow the same structure. It did take me a few reads to wrap my head around it, though, so I may not totally get the significance of this. Another thing, I think most nearly any reference to the Christian religion would be lost on those unaware of its doctrines, so to me, "Love Without End, Amen" is a poor choice to highlight the less explicit Christian religious space. I would also think that most people would associate the word "Amen" with prayer and not really know its literal meaning, making the song even more overtly Christian. I'm looking forward to part two, though, it sounds interesting. I was trying to decide what segment the model was applied to, but it seems like it’s really just a new way to categorize or describe songs that follow the same structure. It did take me a few reads to wrap my head around it, though, so I may not totally get the significance of this.

Another thing, I think most nearly any reference to the Christian religion would be lost on those unaware of its doctrines, so to me, “Love Without End, Amen” is a poor choice to highlight the less explicit Christian religious space. I would also think that most people would associate the word “Amen” with prayer and not really know its literal meaning, making the song even more overtly Christian.

I’m looking forward to part two, though, it sounds interesting.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18192 Kevin Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:56:43 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18192 Matt, I'm just asking for clarification. I hear the phrase "intellectual elites" bandied about a lot, but I'm never quite sure who people are talking about. It always comes off as a straw man to me. I think the type of people who would read any journal that would feature articles like this would be unlikely to be hostile to country music, or any art form for that matter, especially since they're approaching it from an academic standpoint. There have been a tremendous amount of research articles about country music, and it makes sense because a lot of sociological issues surface in it, particularly in the older generations of it. One of my pipe dreams is to write a book in that vein that documents how the changing roles of women in society have been reflected in country music over the last few decades. Other than rap music, I can't think of another genre that so clearly opens itself up to sociological analysis. Matt,
I’m just asking for clarification. I hear the phrase “intellectual elites” bandied about a lot, but I’m never quite sure who people are talking about. It always comes off as a straw man to me.

I think the type of people who would read any journal that would feature articles like this would be unlikely to be hostile to country music, or any art form for that matter, especially since they’re approaching it from an academic standpoint. There have been a tremendous amount of research articles about country music, and it makes sense because a lot of sociological issues surface in it, particularly in the older generations of it. One of my pipe dreams is to write a book in that vein that documents how the changing roles of women in society have been reflected in country music over the last few decades. Other than rap music, I can’t think of another genre that so clearly opens itself up to sociological analysis.

]]> By: Matt C http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18128 Matt C Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:24:46 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18128 Kevin: This is the kind of thing that is difficult to prove unless you already perceive it. I'm not sure whether you are disputing my claim or simply asking for clarification. Admittedly, I employed some rhetoric to promote the new feature. However, I was alluding to my perception that most of the readers of the journals that publish the articles we will feature are not country music fans and may be outright hostile to it. Baron: I agree to a point. I think their is greater equivalency between the work of U2 and some oft-maligned country songs than some people wish to acknowledge. There are certainly many examples of country songs built around gratuitous religious references, but I don't think that all of the critics of religious country music are honest about their motives. This is partly what I was alluding to in my introduction. Max: I'm glad that you found The 9513. I agree with many of the points from your new paper. Sounds like we've found the subject of a future post. Kevin: This is the kind of thing that is difficult to prove unless you already perceive it. I’m not sure whether you are disputing my claim or simply asking for clarification. Admittedly, I employed some rhetoric to promote the new feature. However, I was alluding to my perception that most of the readers of the journals that publish the articles we will feature are not country music fans and may be outright hostile to it.

Baron: I agree to a point. I think their is greater equivalency between the work of U2 and some oft-maligned country songs than some people wish to acknowledge. There are certainly many examples of country songs built around gratuitous religious references, but I don’t think that all of the critics of religious country music are honest about their motives. This is partly what I was alluding to in my introduction.

Max: I’m glad that you found The 9513. I agree with many of the points from your new paper. Sounds like we’ve found the subject of a future post.

]]> By: Max Grossman http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18119 Max Grossman Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:04:25 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18119 I accidentally stumbled across this post today, and I wanted to thank you for your insightful observations and your thought-provoking critiques. I'm delighted that people are still reading this article. I'm in the process of working on a new paper, on changes in commercial country music since Sept. 11. Two of the things I have intended to write about were the shift away from three-verse songs (although I still think there's a desire for "completeness" in country songs) and the increase in explicitly Christian lyrics (although I still think there's a very "low Christology" at work, meaning a desire to make Jesus more human-like, rather than more divine). Looking forward to part two . . . I accidentally stumbled across this post today, and I wanted to thank you for your insightful observations and your thought-provoking critiques. I’m delighted that people are still reading this article.

I’m in the process of working on a new paper, on changes in commercial country music since Sept. 11. Two of the things I have intended to write about were the shift away from three-verse songs (although I still think there’s a desire for “completeness” in country songs) and the increase in explicitly Christian lyrics (although I still think there’s a very “low Christology” at work, meaning a desire to make Jesus more human-like, rather than more divine).

Looking forward to part two . . .

]]> By: Chris N. http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18094 Chris N. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:30:08 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/dissecting-the-country-lyric-finding-the-religious-space/#comment-18094 If I hear one more third verse where there's a marriage or a birth, I'm gonna scream. If I hear one more third verse where there’s a marriage or a birth, I’m gonna scream.

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