Comments on: “The Imagined World of Country Music” http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/ The latest country music news and reviews. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:31:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Josh Sherk http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-26549 Josh Sherk Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:00:12 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-26549 I just struck up with this website just now and am glad that I did. :D Never knew a blog could be about a genre of music (Country in this case)...For the record, I grew up listening to country and had delved a bit into historian of country music and am glad to fill my head with other interpretations and discussions. Keep up the great work. This made me think and look back on certain songs. Lastly, I think the audience of country music is hungry for some new type of lyrical/storytelling format. Being surrounded by many disabled individuals growing up, I think it's necessary to bring out more minority issues. For example, I remember distinctly that Garth Brooks gave an interview about Standing Outside the Fire, "That song that was portrayed [music video] allowed me to have so many mails and calls that it dominated any other songs I've ever done". I honestly don't remember the exact way he stated it, but it went something like that. Another example is via Martina McBride: she tends to get songs about a men's dominance over a women & a song about a boy who couldn't walk and is cited as an "special angel" in a record of hers a few years back. Check back with me if this is all correct or needs clarifying. I just struck up with this website just now and am glad that I did. :D Never knew a blog could be about a genre of music (Country in this case)…For the record, I grew up listening to country and had delved a bit into historian of country music and am glad to fill my head with other interpretations and discussions. Keep up the great work. This made me think and look back on certain songs. Lastly, I think the audience of country music is hungry for some new type of lyrical/storytelling format. Being surrounded by many disabled individuals growing up, I think it’s necessary to bring out more minority issues.
For example, I remember distinctly that Garth Brooks gave an interview about Standing Outside the Fire, “That song that was portrayed [music video] allowed me to have so many mails and calls that it dominated any other songs I’ve ever done”. I honestly don’t remember the exact way he stated it, but it went something like that. Another example is via Martina McBride: she tends to get songs about a men’s dominance over a women & a song about a boy who couldn’t walk and is cited as an “special angel” in a record of hers a few years back. Check back with me if this is all correct or needs clarifying.

]]> By: Did Country Music Re-elect the President? -- The 9513 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-23198 Did Country Music Re-elect the President? -- The 9513 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:18:50 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-23198 [...] the last installment of the Country Music Literature series, we examined the lyrical construction of country songs. The [...] [...] the last installment of the Country Music Literature series, we examined the lyrical construction of country songs. The [...]

]]> By: The Decline of Country Radio -- The 9513 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20569 The Decline of Country Radio -- The 9513 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:30:25 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20569 [...] a comment on my recent post on "The Imagined World of Country Music," Andrew wrote: I could be completely [...] [...] a comment on my recent post on “The Imagined World of Country Music,” Andrew wrote: I could be completely [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20526 Andrew Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:13:57 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20526 Thanks...looking forward to it! Thanks…looking forward to it!

]]> By: Matt C. http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20422 Matt C. Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:37:39 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20422 Andrew, I wrote a long response to your excellent comments. However, I decided tha my thoughts were substantial enough to merit an editorial post of their own. Check back for it towards the end of the week. Andrew, I wrote a long response to your excellent comments. However, I decided tha my thoughts were substantial enough to merit an editorial post of their own. Check back for it towards the end of the week.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20410 Andrew Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:32:37 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-20410 I could be completely wrong here, but I'd be willing to bet that most people listen to country music for one of two reasons: 1.) As a form of escapism to listen to songs where people sing about things (the listener) actually believes in, and away from much more controversial lyrics in other outlets, or 2.) Their everyday experience is as straightforward as most country music is (you are straight, and you believe in God). For most people I think it's a combination of the two, which is one of the reasons you don't see many country songs with controversial topics. I don't think most people listen to music in general to ponder whether or not their social beliefs are correct, but they listen because there is someone singing about something that they have actually experienced. I could be completely wrong here, but I’d be willing to bet that most people listen to country music for one of two reasons:

1.) As a form of escapism to listen to songs where people sing about things (the listener) actually believes in, and away from much more controversial lyrics in other outlets, or

2.) Their everyday experience is as straightforward as most country music is (you are straight, and you believe in God).

For most people I think it’s a combination of the two, which is one of the reasons you don’t see many country songs with controversial topics.

I don’t think most people listen to music in general to ponder whether or not their social beliefs are correct, but they listen because there is someone singing about something that they have actually experienced.

]]> By: Chris N. http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-19492 Chris N. Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:54:25 +0000 http://www.the9513.com/the-imagined-world-of-country-music/#comment-19492 Good stuff. Seeing Garth sing it at Live Earth, I was struck by how the sentiment of the line in "We Shall Be Free" that refers, however obliquely, to homosexuality ("When we're free to love anyone we choose") has become the primary argument in favor of gay marriage. I was also struck by the fact that no one has dared say anything remotely like it in mainstream country music ever since. It also struck me that no current country star would sing a song today with a line like "When the skies and the oceans are clean again." The right-wing morning-zoo DJs would label them damn dirty liberals for being anti-business. Good stuff.

Seeing Garth sing it at Live Earth, I was struck by how the sentiment of the line in “We Shall Be Free” that refers, however obliquely, to homosexuality (”When we’re free to love anyone we choose”) has become the primary argument in favor of gay marriage. I was also struck by the fact that no one has dared say anything remotely like it in mainstream country music ever since.

It also struck me that no current country star would sing a song today with a line like “When the skies and the oceans are clean again.” The right-wing morning-zoo DJs would label them damn dirty liberals for being anti-business.

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