Comments on: That Old Time Religion: Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be

By: Filipino Kid

Filipino Kid — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:09:05 +0000

@ Jewly: Just add a pedal steel guitar and mandolin or fiddle texture to the music and suddenly it becomes country. :-)

By: Jewly

Jewly — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:34:32 +0000

Back to Jon’s comment (thanks for that, by the way): You’re right that the dominant tone of religious material in country music hasn’t necessarily been confrontational and focused on human depravity and fear of judgment. But I do find it striking that some of that—or even a different sort of pointed theological statement, like Loretta Lynn’s 1968 rebuttal song, Who Says God Is Dead!—was in the mix, and during the rock and roll era. And it wasn’t exactly the work of inconsequential performers out on the fringes either.

It’s interesting, but not terribly surprising, that an adult contemporary CCM singer-songwriter act could get a reception in mainstream country circles; They write positive, family-friendly fare with ‘70s soft-rock sensibilities. Which, when you think about it, comes awfully close to describing a lot of contemporary country music.

By: Mojo Bone

Mojo Bone — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:59:10 +0000

I’d like to see faith paid more than lip service at awards shows in modern country music (whatever that is) I think this is what Kathy Griffin was trying to point out with that whole, “Jesus can suck it!” routine. Excellent post, and I’m gonna write a ‘you’re going to hell’ song, first thing tomorrow morning.

By: Filipino Kid

Filipino Kid — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:33:18 +0000

Steven Curtis Chapman’s new album is being reviewed by some country music website. It’s even played on a country station here in the Philippines. What i love about the country FM here is that thy don’t seem to get the memo that there is a dividing line between Nashville Mainstream and Americana/Red Dirt/etc…

Here you can hear Carrie Underwood next to Avett Brothers next to Mike McClure next to Cherryholmes then jumped into a classic Eddy Arnold then David Alan Coe then Anne Murray…

By: JCH

JCH — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:03:22 +0000

A very nice piece. Thanks for that.

By: Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:23:04 +0000

should we expect a lack of religious songs and more secular tones during the Obama administration?
Well, he’s a Christian, so I’d doubt it. Maybe more optimistic songs, although frankly, we’ve got quite enough of those on country radio as is.

*Waits for Rick to arrive*

By: corey

corey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:45:08 +0000

No President does or should have the influence for the atmosphere they create to make songs a hit or not. If this were the case, should we expect a lack of religious songs and more secular tones during the Obama administration? Do we as a nation blindly follow the beliefs of our President? I’d say not especially considering that Bush’s approval ratings had already fallen significantly by the time “Jesus Take The Wheel” was becoming a hit. I’d argue the fact that 86% or more of the country believes in a higher being and therefore can relate to having the “Jesus Take The Wheel” feeling.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:39:29 +0000

…was it perhaps the atmosphere of the bush years that made “jesus take the wheel” such a big hit? nice essay, ms. hight.

By: KathyP

KathyP — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:05:08 +0000

Macy’s T-day parade headliner announced as “country music superstar, Billy Currington.” right up there with Santa Claus.

By: Filipino Kid

Filipino Kid — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:02:13 +0000

all you need to do is look at modern country’s countless references on Jesus from Blackhawk to Rascal Flatts to Richie McDonalds.

the only thing i don’t understand is why Diamond Rio have to change their sound when making a gospel rock record.

They could have remain the country instrumentation but instead they sounded more like SONICFLOOd.

I also wonder if country is receptive of the gospel message in songs, why is it that CCM artists with country flavor like Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche don’t get airplay on country radio?