Country Music: Difference between revisions

 

 

{{quote|''"You're not supposed to say the word 'cancer' in a song.''

''And tellin' folks Jesus is the answer can rub 'em wrong.''

''It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, and Mama, yeah that might be true.''

 

 

Country music as a genre of its own originated in the 1920s in the United States, primarily played on string instruments, most notably the guitar, fiddle and banjo. It has its roots in the folk ballads of the Appalachian Mountains, which in turn descended from the various folk traditions of the British Isles. Depending on whom you ask, the offshoot genre of bluegrass might be referred to as "[[Take That|good country music]]". Modern mainstream country has progressed through a "Nashville sound" in the 1970s, which layered the string sections on heavily, and a 1980s pop-heavy "Urban Cowboy" sound inspired by the film ''Urban Cowboy'', followed by a more traditional wave in the 1990s inspired by honky-tonk music. Modern mainstream country music has become a melting pot, ranging from more traditional acts such as [[George Strait]] and Alan Jackson to pop acts such as [[Carrie Underwood]], and in-betweens such as [[Brad Paisley]]. Starting in the 1990s, a large number of pop and rock acts, ranging from [[Bon Jovi]] and [[Jewel]] to [[Kid Rock]] and the [[Eagles]], crossed over to country with varying degrees of success. The crossover acts, in particular [[Taylor Swift]], are often among the most divisive in the fanbase.

 

 

"Alternative Country" (sometimes abbreviated as "Alt-Country") is a loosely defined term that means, more or less, the attitude of [[Alternative Rock]] with a country sound, pioneered by folk and punk influenced singer/songwriters like Lyle Lovett in the mid 1980's. This came to prominence in [[The Nineties]], with artists like Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams and bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, and [[Wilco]] (who quickly moved into more general [[Alternative Rock]]). There has traditionally been ''very little'' overlap between the fandoms of regular country and alternative country, with the latter being treated more as a subgenre of Rock than of Country.

 

 

{{genreartists}}

* [[Ryan Adams]]: An alt-country musician (mostly), he's experimented with other genres most notably indie rock and metal. He's married to former teen pop star Mandy Moore.

* [[Alabama]]: Most popular band in the genre; most #1 hits for any country band. Named Artist of the Decade for the '80s."

* [[Zac Brown Band]]

* [[Jimmy Buffett]]: More thought of as a pop singer, but much of his fanbase overlaps with country music.

* [[Johnny Cash]]

* [[Kenny Chesney]]

* [[Dixie Chicks]]: One of the most popular (and controversial) all-female acts in the genre.

* [[Merle Haggard]]: Legend who is one of the most prolific and esteemed singer-songwriters in country music history.

* [[Faith Hill]]

* [[George Jones]]: Known as "the greatest living country singer," and often regarded as the genre's greatest vocalist.

* The Judds: Second most-popular country music duo (they were tops until Brooks & Dunn trumped them).

* [[Toby Keith]]: One of the genre's more politically-oriented acts.

* [[Lady Antebellum]]

* [[Miranda Lambert]]

* [[Tim McGraw]]: Highly successful commercially; made independent Curb Records a driving force in the country industry.

* [[Ronnie Milsap]]: Prolific 70s and 80s country-pop singer, best known for being one of the only blind musicians in the genre.

* [[Willie Nelson]]: Venerable singer-songwriter who has written or recorded numerous classic songs. Also known for being ''ridiculously'' prolific in recent years and collaborating with just about every musician in existence.

* [[The Oak Ridge Boys]]: A gospel group dating from the 1940s, The Oaks got retooled into a country-pop band following a membership change in the 1970s.

* [[Brad Paisley]]

* [[Rascal Flatts]]

* [[Marty Robbins]] Named "Artist of the Decade" for the '60s.

* [[Shania Twain]]: One of the biggest crossover successes of the 1990s.

* [[Conway Twitty]]: Known for his rock influences and overt sexual themes.

* [[Carrie Underwood]]: By far, the most successful ''American Idol'' winner in terms of commercial and chart success.

* [[Keith Urban]]: A little bit of Australian flavor on the charts.

* [[Hank Williams]]: A legend whose career was cut far too short, arguably the greatest and most influential country musician.

* [[Hank Williams III]]: Grandson of Hank Williams and son of Jr., he's carved out a unique career different from both his grandfather and father and is one of the more popular alternative country artists today, largely influenced by [[Punk Rock]], [[Heavy Metal]] and the neotraditional country scene. (His guitar case bears [[Woody Guthrie]]'s famous "This Machine Kills Fascists" sticker, fairly clearly indicating his stance vis-a-vis the stereotypical country fanbase).

* [[Lucinda Williams]]: One of the more popular alternative country singer-songwriters. Daughter of the poet Miller Williams; of no relation to the three Hanks.

* [[Dwight Yoakam]]: Another notable early Alternative Country musician, Yoakam is a Honky-tonk singer who brought back his genre until it died yet again.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Useful Notes/The United States]]

[[Category:Music Tropes]]