PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic What is the difference between real country and modern country

HI ALL
I can’t think of a better place to ask this question as I know many of you will have strong views on this.
What is the difference between real country music and modern country music and where does it merge.
Is it dependent on the instruments used or the lyrics, style of music.
Would I be right in thinking that Hank Williams , Hank Snow, George Straits, George Jones, Alan Jackson, Patsy Cline, etc are what you would call Real country
So what is modern country example ?
And where do you put folks like Slim Witman.
Sure this will bring forth a host of opinion.
Look forward to your thoughts even controversial ones.
Mike

I think more than anything else that it's just perspective and personal opinion. I wouldn't say modern country is any less real. I would say, at least in my opinion, it's more accurate to say traditional country versus modern country. I think what makes something more "traditional" is country that follows the classic stereotypes, where modern can have some of those traditional elements but still plays around and experiments a little bit and brings in something new or unexpected.

I really don't have personal answers for this discussion...
But I'll be curious enough to check back to see where folk place Slim Whitman in this discussion
He had a unique & not unpleasant voice but I wouldn't know what category to place him.

Many of us in the forum are old enough to remember when the Opry banned drums from stage because they weren’t “country”. Flat and Scruggs broke up in part because Scruggs wanted to introduce electric bass into their music and Lester thought that wouldn’t be Real bluegrass. I think I’ll leave this dog lie.

Keith,

You may be interested to learn that Randy Mason, Brent's brother, is the house drummer at Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry.

The responses to your question should be interesting reading. First do you mean live or recorded music? My answer is geared toward recorded music because it's the recording publicity people and media programmers that stick genre names on not just recordings but also the artists and entertainers. Those decisions determine how artists and their recordings are marketed.

To me it's song arrangement, instrumentation, how tracks are recorded and how a recording is mixed and mastered as much or more than the song or artist. (Note: for this conversation I'm treating vocalists as instruments. A good vocalist will adapt and embellish to fit into the song production.) Modern artists can and do record real country but it sounds different than the recordings of decades ago. However, many real country artists have released modern country material without success since they have a difficult time developing a feel for the songs, arrangements and production. Even when they do succeed many times the listening audience is not accepting of the change.

Real country music, versus classic country music, has its roots in genres now called Old Timey, Bluegrass, Blues, Ragtime, Rockabilly, Hawaiian, Western Swing, and Folk. Current country music adds elements of Rock, Pop, Rap, Funk and Hip Hop into the mix.

Genre labels can be very loose as numerous examples demonstrate. Classic country artists Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash are in both the Country Music and Rock & Roll halls of fame. The Charlie Daniels Band is enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Singer/Entertainer Charlie Rich burned the card announcing John Denver as Country Entertainer of the Year on an award show broadcast on live television. Charlie Rich believed John Denver was a pop artist, not country.

Four good examples to listen to as a positive demonstration of production changing everything are the artists Don Williams, Conway Twitty, Johnny Horton and Jim Reeves. (Interesting non related side note, did you know heart throb singer Michael Bolton began his career as the lead singer of a heavy metal band?) Each of these singers re-recorded songs they recorded early in their career and it's the re-recorded version that is more well known.

I didn’t know that Don. As much as there has been resistance in some parts of Nashville to change in the genre, what makes money and what the artists want to play is what determines what is heard. I can’t tell you how many times I introduced more modern country songs into my act and heard my wife call out “Stop playing that Heavy Metal” while I was practicing.

It is all "real".

For a good understanding of what "Modern" country is just look at pop/rock from 10-20 years ago and add a country twang to the vocals.

So true, John 3x.

How long is a string?


I think Ember summed it up well.

Country Music has gone through so many evolutions and revolutions that to put a demarcation between the end of one style and the beginning of another is IMO hardly possible. Plus the question is a bit loaded as it implies that modern country is not “real.” Were one to actually define real I think whatever the definition one would find elements of it in today’s country and Americana. Maybe not topping the charts but available if you look.

Bud

Traditional country, hill music, was transformed by AM radio,
Grand Old Oprey, (the Mecca,) the record business, in that order, incrementally. Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, and Southern Rock in the 60's, becoming more bluesy and daring both in subject matter and performers public personas. I think modern entered the picture first as crossover then as a genre directed at broadening the audience. That was about 1) sales and 2) the shrinking world.
Just a casual and impartial observer, speaking.

I don’t know a single thing about this genre (came to be educated) so I don’t have anything to offer except a joke I remember hearing. In traditional country, your wife and dog leave you. In modern country, your dog comes back.

I thought How Long was a Chinaman

(Sorry, now back to the main program...)

Hi all

Well some interesting replies
Mind you I often wondered how those cowboys rode a horse and played a Guitar and sang at the same time!
I guess for me I am a bit stuck in shall we say older country music and artist that I grew up with some even on a wind up gramophone.
Chet Atkins, Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, and others that I mentioned earlier.
Then later say Jim Reeves, Dolly Parton. Kenny Rogers, and so on.
I can see that it has evolved along the way from Blue grass, Honky-tonk and what I loosely term cowboy ballads.
With many crossovers along the path, artist as well like Taylor Swift.

Some one once said to me that country music was all lying dyeing, cheating and crying,
Full of lost lovers dead or lame horses or dogs all in all a miserable lot.
Oh and don’t forget the railroad and trains.
There is a whole lot of good stuff out there, that’s for sure for any taste,
Mike

I have to say this is easily one of the most respectful conversations around this topic I've seen (here or elsewhere).

There is a lot I could say here; but there are hints of what I would say in much of what has already been said; some in previous posts on the forum as well.

I think Floyd sums it up pretty well when saying more traditional country is all about the story. Modern country is more like a slogan based style of music.

I very specifically said "modern" and not "current" when saying that. There are actually many more traditional country songs that are currently being made. They may not get as much radio play; but some of them do. I guess it's what you look for.

From what I've seen; many times when comparing the two time frames of music; they compare extremes. They will take some that is REALLY traditional and compare it to something that is VERY pop country. Very seldom will they take a traditional country song from years back and compare it to a traditional country song of today. They also seem to forget some of pop country form "back in the day." I've never figured out why people do that.

Usually in this discussion someone posts the video of how "all" current country sounds the same. Unfortunately they used pitch and time alterations to make that happen. People who don't normally listen to that style use it as "proof" of how it all sounds the same. I truly believe you could pick pretty much any period of time, do the same thing they did, and make a similar point. I'm not arguing that it doesn't sound similar...but that's what genres are. lol

Speaking of genres; I would say countries current state is pretty diverse. Bud on the forums described Americana as "One Big Tent" with many sub-genres within that tent. I would agree. I also think that applies to rock music and country. There's just a lot going on in music right now.

This subject couldn't be more timely for me. I was driving this morning and had on, at least I thought I did, a local country radio station. I heard a little bit older song I like; but wasn't really paying attention either...until the next song came on. It was, I thought, a pop song. It sort of sounded a little like a current boy band type of sound that my daughters listen to. My first thought was "I thought I had a country station on; but...oh wait! It is a country station!" It's a song I started hearing over the last month and it's a Thomas Rhett song. I missed the intro; so I didn't know it was a country song. lol Anyway, here is the song...



Incidentally, Thomas Rhett's real name is "Thomas Rhett Akins." He is the son of the country singer Rhett Akins. His dad's name also happens to be "Thomas Rhett Akins." His dad went with "Rhett Akins"; and he went with "Thomas Rhett" to differentiate himself.

Here is one of his dad's bigger songs...


He was more of a mid-90's country guy. He still writes a fair amount; and much of it for and with others.

So country surely has different and aspects to it. I think the change is great. I also think the traditional is great.

I've always looked for appreciation in any music. If I don't like it; it doesn't mean "it sucks."

Anyway, production varies wildly. Some of the current stuff is VERY produced; others more "raw." Between the two; I would say there is much more produced though, overall, on the radio.

Believe it or not; the subject matter of the songs are still pretty similar. It's the delivery that has changed. There is still a lot about love; loss, drinking...what you would expect. I'm glad no one has brought up (until me now) "sugar shaker" and "bed of my truck." The first wasn't used much at all; the second was very much a theme...just pick ups in general. But I think that's always been.

Very good thread you started. I get where people may not like the genre. I never understand where someone would have problem with someone else liking it.

Excellent post HTL!

There are some excellent observations here.

Thomas Rhett is an interesting example of where modern country is progressing. He's college educated, writes many (maybe all) of the songs he records. Because the songs he sings are about the lifestyle of twenty somethings his audience can easily relate to him and his songs.

Actually he's involved in the writing. He has a GOOD number of writers he works with. One of which, is his dad. But, yes...many of his songs pull from life experiences.

Usually, in country music...actually, a lot of radio music...if someone is talking about a song they wrote; there are other writers involved. The funny thing is; I'm frequently surprised at how many will say "Oh I know" but don't think that's the case with the songs THEY like. Funny how that works. That being said; country at least mentions the writers fairly often and even give awards to them. That impresses me.

Producers...now that's a different story. He's worked with a number of them but really gravitates towards Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure. Dann's the man.

My opinion:

Modern country (which I differentiate by calling it Nashville) has more sophisticated harmony than traditional country music.

IMO Nashville music has evolved from country to pop music, mostly rock, but in with country accent or style.

I'm not passing judgment on which is better or whether it is right or wrong, just differentiating between the two.

Insights and incites by Notes

A quote in Rolling Stone mag regarding the ACM awards.

"The through-line of the broadcast, however, was the forcefulness with which this year’s ACMs leaned toward country traditionalism. Singers like Chris Stapleton (“A Simple Song”) and Luke Combs (“Beautiful Crazy,” featuring Amanda Shires on fiddle) favored balladry more than usual, and the genre’s fondness for old-time religion also came back into play.”

Modern? Real? What goes around...

Bud

I believe it's all a matter of perspective.

However....

Rap isn't country no matter how many banjos you put in it.

Agreed, Rap needs more cowbell.

hi



Rap *rap!
I agree but many country numbers had spoken lyrics
I seem to remember a whole Jim Reeves album called “Talking to my Heart”
With tracks like The Amen Corner, The Shifting Whispering Sands, and more.
Also Old Tige (Jim Reeves)

Talkin' To Your Heart (Vinyl, LP, Album) album cover
Jim Reeves ‎– Talkin' To Your Heart
Label:
RCA International (Camden) ‎– INTS 1425
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:
UK
Released:
1973
Genre:
Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Style:
Country
Tracklist
A1 Trouble In The Amen Corner
A2 I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In
A3 Annabel Lee
A4 The Gun
A5 The Farmer And The Lord
A6 The Shifting Whispering Sands
B1 Old Tige
B2 Why Do I Love You (Melody Of Love)
B3 (Far Away Feeling) The Spell Of The Yukon
B4 Men With Broken Hearts
B5 Too Many Parties And Too Many Pals
B6 Seven Days
Credits
Engineer – Bill Porter
Liner Notes – Don Richardson, Sr.*
Producer – Chet Atkins

Other things by other artist like Deck Of Cards (Wink Martingdale)
And many more.
Still at least you could hear the words .
Mike

It's much more rock-oriented. Drums sound bigger and there is a rap element. It has also expanded its audience.

One thing that strikes me is the guitar playing. I grew up playing rock and blues. I played in a country band for a few years. Being a bar band, we also played rock, so our style was a little edgier. We were playing on the Wheeling Jamboree one night and the announcer chewed me out for not playing like a country guitarist. When I hear country now, I hear a lot of rock licks. Maybe I was ahead of my time. Or, as usual, the wrong place at the wrong time.

2b

I find a lot of what is wrong with modern country music - or I guess, what I dislike about modern country music - is how forumulaic, simple, and heartless it sounds. The bulk of it is pretty alike to me, both musically and lyrically. It is barely what I'd call country. It's pop with a twang.

There's some exceptions. If anybody here isn't aware of his stuff, I definitely suggest looking into Sturgill Simpson. He's by far my favourite modern country artist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg209CadVQM

Thanx for sharing this. I hadn't heard of him before this. This is one hell of a song. I'm going to look for more of him and if his other material is like this I'm buying the CDs or vinyl.

Yes, he is pretty great. I'm not sure why, but there is this small part of me that feels he is doing everything he can to not be at all formulaic. Like that is HIS formula. I'm not sure if that makes sense?

Either way, he has some great songs; and I feel, some great surprises in some of them. In Bloom really caught me off guard. lol But his music is somehow all over the place; yet all sounds like him. For me, that would be hard to define and pull off; but it's really impressive.

He must be doing something right. He gets plenty of plays.

I agree actually - but I think there is a charm to his "formula" or lack thereof. I find nothing wrong with it, since it's a breath of fresh air.

And about In Bloom - again, I agree. If you ever told me I'd willingly listen to a country cover of a Nirvana song I'd call you a liar, but here we are.

Here is what really happen. We had really good and smart country players who were selling lots of records. Then rock came along and just about took over everything. It was a really big deal but after a while rock sort went into a decline.

Remember I said we had smart country players. That got to talking and said while these rock guys are having a hard time and they are pretty drugged out not paying much attention lets steal that three chord rock, put a steel pedal guitar and a county twang to the vocal and call it new country.

Something about a country boy can survive comes to mind.

Of course the rock guys got really irritated being angry and rebels to begin with and started playing as fast as they could possible play which was fun to watch for about five minuets. With all the drugs and alcohol and super high speed rhythmic noise that did not last to long.

We all know what came next straight out of Compton and a few other places like it. So now they would like to take over the Grammys, and have Rap chart on the country billboard.

So, for all of you who have no sense of humor the above was written in a joking manner....just a disclaimer. But the only real joke is it is all true...lol

The good news is there is room enough in the world for every kind of music and we have pretty good tools to create most anything we like here on the forum.

Cheers.

Billy

Always more cowbell! Ahahaha.

Hear to Learn:
If you should see this post, you remarked there
is a lot going on in music, today. I'd like
to hear your summary on that, and where you might
think it is going.
By the way, one factor that has not been mentioned
much is the digital revolution.

Well, in reference to 'real country', it appears I may have been ahead of the curve. Recently a rap artist recorded a song titled "old town road". It charted on three different genres including country but after a few weeks, it was pulled from the country charts and it was stated there were not enough elements of country. A remix has been released using Billy Ray Cyrus for some of the vocals.

What does that have to do with me being ahead of the curve? Of course it's much better produced and higher quality and such, but a few may recall a song I posted back in 2017 titled "Passing Through" - the two songs use very similar instrumentation, tempo and other similarities. I posted my song on SoundCloud and listed the genre as ---- Country...

I removed the song from SoundCloud sometime back but looking through the comments, it's noted my use of a banjo, sparse instrumentation and unusual and sparse lyrics. Just sayin' …


Here's a link to the comments from the post. Passing Through

Used to be country music was where you found interesting story songs.

Used to be country music was performed on the front porch more than on the radio.

Used to be country music didn't have to be about pickup trucks, girls in cut-off shorts, and beer. Lots about beer, but not the other two.

Used to be that country music had instrumental wizards who were great entertainers.

Used to be that country music had clever turns of phrases that would bring a smile to the face.

Good news is that this still exists, but you might have to look harder for it. Some are out in the forefront. Kasey Musgraves, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton for a few examples - but others you have to dig deeper.

But this is true with all music styles. If you want the interesting stuff, it isn't going to be on the radio.

Hey Ed,

That is a great question; that I wish I knew the answer to. I have thoughts on it; which I can elaborate more on tomorrow. I'm bringing a few of my kids to a concert today. Road trip. 10 hours driving to put smiles on their faces. Again, thanks for starting the thread.

Hey Charlie, I read your post and the comments at the linked post. What are the chances I could hear the song? I would really love to hear it!

A man walks in to Cabela's to get items to fly fish. That's the kind of fishing he likes. Of course, they have WAY more equipment in the store for other types of fishing; and even other sports! But he just goes to the area that is "his thing"; makes his purchase, hops in his vehicle and he is on his way with a big smile on his face. No complaints.

If only music worked that same way.

The music from "back in the day" is still on the radio. There are stations for pretty much anything. I have stations near me that are playing music from even the 30's! They are on A.M. but...if that's what you grew up on. lol

Why people complain about stations playing music they don't like is beyond me. Why are you listening to it? If you're hearing music you don't like; change the damn station.

Also, Chris Stapleton would NOT have flown on country stations back then.

Not to mention, he writes for some of the new country artists people here seem to dislike. He even performs with non-country (gasp) artists too. And yet the people who complain about new country frequently point to him as "doing it right."

Then again, he doesn't strike me as close minded. He respectful of others. It's hard not to like a guy like that; and I believe it has a lot to do with his success.

It does, but not necessarily on commercial AM/FM radio. You can pick your favorite genre of music on the Internet using a number of different players. You can also do the same with pay radio stations like SiriusXM radio or Pandora. There are options you can choose.

PS - I know that Pandora has a free section also.

There are only 2 types of music:
1. Serious aka classics and jazz.Trained schooled players that played only for the King and Queen
2. Folk aka music of the people. No formal training, no technique but lots of lyrics.

Call it what you want but if it ain't #1 it's folk music.

I recently signed up for the free version of Spotify. I've been very pleased with it so far. The recommendations are are spot on, (no pun intended).

Under the right conditions, my radio will play WSM Nashville.
I'm convinced they turn it up on Saturday nite. Sure, I could
get it on Sirius, probably, or online. There's nothing quite
like listening to WSM on an Am radio, crackles and all. Crane
sells an AM booster.

These types of discussions always wind up making the same point. Modern music sucks and it's true to this group of old farts on this forum it does suck. But that's completely normal. What did our parents think of what was modern country in the 60's? The answer to that is why are there no Gene Autry or Roy Rogers "singing cowboy" with barbershop harmony styles in Biab? Because that was our parents music and WE think that music sucks and so it goes generation after generation.

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with modern music country or otherwise because it wasn't made for us, as Snoop Dogg famously said. Children are genetically programmed to do whatever they can to create music their parents can't stand. When you country pickers were in high school were you all hot to learn Roy Rogers songs? I doubt it. It was about the same as me wanting to listen to Chattanooga Choo Choo when I had Wolfman Jack playing Elvis and Chuck Berry. Did my parents like the Wolfman? Hell no.

Each generation has their own tastes in music and everything else and it's locked in at an early age age.

Haha, actually now that I think about it there probably are some styles that would fit Gene Autry. Anybody want to try this one?



Great song, eh?

Bob

It really seems to me to be in the mind of the listener. In the late 70’s early 80’s we were doing a show. Mostly Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Credence and the like covers. A chap came up and asked is there a chance we could play something other than Country Music.

What we saw as Rock someone else saw as Country.

To take that even further a few years later I was playing in a “Country Band” and we were playing almost the same stuff.

Here you go. Enjoy. I look forward to your comments...

Passing Through Drop Box Link

Pretty general but in the park. And a lot of Rock and Country artists are secretly or non-so-secretly into classics and/or jazz.

Back before the Internet and Satellite radio, Nashville had two great jazz radio stations.

I read an article from a session player who wrote, "If you want to keep working, don't let 'the suits' know you are secretly into jazz".

I had the good fortune to meet Chet Atkins a couple of years before he died, and he said that he always wanted to be a jazz player but he knew which side of the bread was buttered.

And yes, "Nashville" music today isn't what country used to be in the 50s, but then neither is Rock music. It's a huge evolution from Buddy Holly to Beatles to Moody Blues to GnR, to Greta Van Fleet.

When I was young, Rhythm & Blues was what Bobby 'Blue' Bland, BB King, and others played, mostly 3 chords with minor 3rds played over major chords and a lot of dominant 7 chords. Absolutely nothing like what they call R&B today.

I've seen Funk evolve from light and bouncy, to down and out 12/8 blues, to various forms of 16beat rhythms, everything about it slowly changing but the name "Funk".

Music evolves.

I have played classical, jazz, country, rock, blues, disco, salsa, soca, reggae, and quite a few other forms of music. For most pro musicians, playing music is what we do, and it doesn't matter what type of music we play; when you do it for a living you play what the audience wants to hear.

For me there are only two kinds of music.

1) good music

2) music written for people other than me

And Nashville isn't the country music of my youth, there are often more than 3 chords, the bass isn't always playing 1's and 5's, and the arrangements are often more complex.

I'm sure some welcome the change and others do not.

Insights and incites by Notes

<<< I had the good fortune to meet Chet Atkins a couple of years before he died, and he said that he always wanted to be a jazz player but he knew which side of the bread was buttered.>>>



Carol Kaye of the Wrecking Crew out on the west coast said the same.

Back in the day, all of us wannabe players thought we were pretty good because we could cover all of the mostly simple guitar and keyboard licks in all those 60's tunes. I know when I was 21 or so I thought I was pretty good because I could do the intro to Light My Fire, play the solo on Runaway on organ, do some Floyd Cramer and Pink Panther on piano and it was the same for lots of guitar buddies who could do Satisfaction, Chuck Berry, some decent country picking, etc. What took me years to find out was producers in the big studios could care less about us guys being "good enough" to do that stuff. Why take a chance on hiring someone like that for a studio session when they had Glen Campbell on call? A monster player who can do anything, do it perfectly, add a little genius to his part and do it all in one take.

That's the real music biz for a wannabe session player and is the reason I decided to give it up as a full time career in 1976.

Bob

I really agree with this, and love how simple it is! We can try all we want to dissect different music - but at the end of the day, if you were born and raised on Hank Williams, chances are you aren't going to get into Metallica or vice versa. Sometimes, music really is just subjective and we have to leave it at that.

Mathematically, it takes 4 banjos to turn hip-hop into country. Substitutions can be made with pedal steel, mando, and/or choppy fiddle, but at least one banjo must remain.

Carry on.

Well one is real country and good and the other is fake something or other and sort of awful. But that's just my opinion. Tongue planted firmly in cheek of course.

Later,

Charlie-Lil Nas X got nothin' on you. I see what you mean about the music. I listened to yours 2 times to really get the feel, THEN listened to Old Town Road. No lie, I like yours A LOT more. I get it's just personal preference; and I'm not going to try to say my opinion is fact by a long shot. However, for me; what you need was very cool.

So, I know you mentioned some of the comments; and I got the impression that you maybe pulled the song because of the comments? I hope that wasn't the case; and I do wish you had left it up. I guess I shouldn't say much. lol

Anyway, I really like the song. I state often how I like the atmosphere that a song creates. Yours definitely creates that. It's like the kick drum is the heartbeat of the song. Balanced against the pad and banjo...just cool! Thank you VERY much for sharing it. I'll keep it short not to derail the thread; but really great job!

Hey Ed, sorry it took a bit to respond. It's not because my response is something profound and earth shattering. I've just been busy as heck. When business is good; my hobbies suffer.

Anyway, I'm not even going to pretend I know where it's all going; or what's coming. I know I haven't officially been with a band in probably 10 years. It was a country band. When I left the band; they were talking about how "country is going a lot more old school. It's going to be a lot less rock." That couldn't have been more wrong. It grew in a huge way because of the demand for it. More pop, rock, rap, blues, AND even a little more traditional country has been added in.

For me, country has always been a mixed bag. I grew up on all sorts of music; with more of a family focus on country. I love pop and rock; but listened to a lot of The Oak Ridge Boys, The Statler Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, then eventually Alabama just to name a few. I heard more complaining from my Grand Parents generation about how awful Alabama was. The drums were too loud and it was not country. It was that damn rock music with a fiddle. As everyone has pointed out; it's been going on for a while.

I can't help but laugh when people point to a current artist who is making it and sounds more like "how country should sound." You can say that every single year. But, the bottom line is; country is really, really big right now. When something gets that big; there is usually people that push back eventually. So, we'll see. What gets made in mass is what the masses want to consume.

Something I've observed; that I feel is has a lot to do with country being as big as it is is people that grew up in the 70's and 80's heard a fair amount of country music that seemed slow, "tear in my beer" kind of music. Simultaneously, they had a lot of rock bands, like Kiss, that had a lot of upbeat party music, and of course, track #4 was typically the power ballad. That lasted for a while; but also got a bit old as time when on. It had a pretty good run though. Parents didn't care for it; but the kids ate it up.

Flash forward to the 90's country to now. We had a strange series of events happen. Rock started to become darker and a lot less fun. Country started to be a lot less "tear in my beer" and more more fun. Paraphrase Garth "I could sing like the rock bands; but I could sing country. So I wanted to bring a rock show like Kiss has to country music."

To me, that all set up a unique opportunity. You had kids who are hearing upbeat music with more of a party feel and ballads that mean something to where they are in life. Simultaneously you had their parents hearing enough of what they loved in their youth BUT in a way that was different enough that it was "new." Talk about a recipe for A LOT of fans! It's pretty crazy when you think of how you have kids AND their parents loving the same music. Of course, Grandmas and Grandpas still didn't care much for it, which was fine with the fan base. It's not like when older people complain about the music kids like these days the kids think "oh! Ok! I'll stop liking it then. Since yours is so much better; that is what I will listen to instead." It just doesn't happen.

So for where it's going. I think today's current country COULD be a bridge to what came before. It depends a lot on a generation that really couldn't give a #%^$ what kids like. To me there is nothing cooler than when you see someone full of knowledge and experience try to understand what kids like, RELATE TO THEM FIRST, then expose them to what came before. I've seen enough times and can't help but respect a person of that character. There are a number of members on this site that have brought me to some amazing music that I would not have known of but for their influence on me. I take that and have conversations with my kids and have them hear it as well. What a great connecting point if you take advantage of what's right there.

Country is going to continue to evolve without a doubt. There are so many influences coming from so many angles that I can't wait to see where it goes. For me it's exciting. Old, new, modern, traditional...to me there's room for all AND the crossing over that happens.

That was a really long answer that really didn't answer anything. lol. Thanks again for starting the thread. I'm seeing a bit of a change on the forums and I think it's pretty cool myself. I'm HearToLearn, and have been hearing a lot of great resources right from the forum. (Didn't have time to spell check. Forgive me.)

Country people have changed.

Rural country folks used to have horses doing the work and drove to town in tiny pickup trucks with no AC and a stick shift.

Now tractors have AC with GPS, pickup trucks look like rural tanks and have features grandpa couldn't have imagined, ranchers often drive livestock with helicopters, and everybody has a cell phone at their side.

Of course the music has evolved, the people changed too.

Insights and incites by Notes

Right on! For a lot of people, tinkering with technology is fun. For them, it has become necessity. A good portion of the people I talk with about drones are farmers.

There is a lot of good music being made in these "modern" times.

Here is a song released Yesterday! That makes it "modern".
And there's a banjo! I guess that makes it Country!
I like it.
There's so much out there to choose from.
Don't listen to stuff you don't like....

Luke is as Country as it gets in my book....

Agreed. And I can't tell you how many times I hear you they pick looks of talent now days. I can't think of plenty that are making it, and it's not off their looks.



Perfectly said.

There has been some really interesting debate and sharing of opinions in this thread that has been fascinating to read. It's really neat to see how opinions vary when it comes to music.

It's often difficult for me to distinguish between genres of music. There is so much cross pollination that a country song can sound more like a rock song, or vice versa. Same goes for jazz, folk, blues, R&B, alternative and so on.

So for me there are two kinds of music:

1) Music that I like

2) Music made for someone else's ears

Insights and incites by Notes