American Roots: 2000s to Now Country Music
Hey Y’all!
I decided to write this blog about one of my guilty pleasure genres of music…country. Now I know, this style of music isn’t for everyone. Believe me, I didn’t like it at first either, but it was something about the way Chris Stapleton sang so richly on his song, ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ or the way that ‘Life is a Highway’ by Rascal Flatts puts me in a good mood! Either way, they made me want to pursue this type of music. And so, here’s my blog discovery of Country Music!
A Brief History
Before we go forward, we must go back. What is Country Music? Where did it originate? And who were the first people to popularize it? Well, according to George O. Carney, “...country music grew from Anglo-Celtic ballads that were transplanted to the rural South during the colonial period”, specifically brought over from the British Isles in the 1700s with the influence of African immigrants. Food and diseases weren’t the only things exchanged in the New World! Starting in Bristol, Tennessee ( right on the Tennessee-Virginia border), and it soon spreaded from the South out West. Of course it wasn’t called Country just yet, but it was considered to be the music of the at-the-time country. Notable instruments played in country music were the fiddle (violin), a harmonica, and the banjo (similar to the banjar played in Africa).
2000’s Country
Skipping forward a few hundred years, Country Music has continued to survive the forever changing music industry. But instead, it has divided! There was the discussion of whether this new age of country was either “too pop” or “too country”. Split between the more conservative and the more liberal. Telling the two apart is actually quite simple. Just listen to the lyrics. According to the English Club, the conservative side “...aimed at white men who tended to oppose gun-control, feminism and minority rights”. This is also called “bro-country”, which will soon dominate the 2010s. The term also represent music about heavy partying , driving big trucks and consuming alcohol. Whereas the liberal side pushed their focus combining the traditional country music with folk-music targeted at the working-class.
"Gaslighter" by The Chicks
Even with the deep separation, country music still continued to thrive throughout the 2000s and is now becoming more mainstream! Shows like American Idol and Nashville Star had a hand in that being so! These shows created a pathway for young upcoming country musicians to have their voices heard and the majority of them were able to reach stardom. Stars like Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young and Taylor Swift (back when she was country). Country singer, Reba McEntire starred in her very own tv show, Reba which premiered on the WB Network in 2001, averaging about 3.6 million viewers.
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Late 2010s to Now Country
The late 2010s was known as the “Let's Get Along” era. This was due to the rising tension of American politics. Songs with titles like “Humble and Kind” (Tim McGraw), “Most People Are Good” (Luke Bryan), and “Love Wins” (Carrie Underwood) began emerging. The argument began to surface on if the true meanings behind these songs held true intentions. With country music itself being split up, the question frequently brought up was, “Is this song about America's divide or the divide of old and new country? But new country artists pushed the narrative of wanting unity, for both the country and country music. Josh Kear (songwriter) told Rolling Stones, “So much of the country seemed to be divided at the time. We were looking for something that would serve the opposite purpose”. With the 2020 election and the chaotic chain of events that followed, country music’s main focus for the 2020s has been to push for civility as well as compassion in its songs.
Cites:
Carney, George O. “T For Texas, T for Tennessee: The Origins of American Country Music Notables.” Journal of Geography, vol. 78, no. 6, 1979, pp. 218–225., https://doi.org/10.1080/00221347908979998.
I had no clue that country music dated back that long ago, that's so crazy. I am not really fan of country myself, other than the occasional morgan wallen, but it was cool to read up on its history.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I too was not the biggest country fan. I slowly got introduced by it mainly because my dad is a big country fan (but he just listens to artists like Johnny Cash). I asked my friend to make me a playlist, which consisted of mostly Luke Combs and Dan + Shay (she said it was easier to get into country with those artists). I’ve been really liking Morgan Wallen’s songs lately.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I really wanted to read your blog because I am definitely one of those people who doesn’t really vibe with modern country music. But because of that I don’t know much of its history at all and I thought it would be fun to read about! The fact that it grew from Anglo-Celtic ballads isn’t something I expected at all but it’s so cool. Since my family does listen to country pretty regularly though I’ve definitely noticed the divide between the conservative vs. liberal country genres and I do find myself enjoying artists like Kacey Musgraves.
ReplyDeleteReading your blog gave off a fun and upbeat tone. It was amazing to learn about how a country was derived into two other types. How it originated was fascinating too! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love country music, so I really enjoyed reading your blog. I have never really taken the time to learn the history of country music and how it has evolved. One thing I especially found interesting was the “Let’s Get Along” era. I like how many country artists use music to speak on truths and issues of the world.
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