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Topic: What is "Country" music anyway? |
Jim Mathis
From:
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 12:36 pm |
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When we formed Sky Blue five years, one of the goals was to use a steel guitar in a non-country band. We called ourselves “Blues” and did everything with a blues flavor. Before long we were sliding to a more rock sound so we started calling ourselves “blues/rock.”
A while back we did a survey of our fans and one guy said he didn’t plan to come hear us because he didn’t like country music. This was kind of a “Huh?” moment. I have to admit that our photos look country.
Recently I was listening to our latest CD in the car when I switched over to a country station, and sure enough, it didn’t sound much different from modern country. If we opened for Sugarland, nobody would think anything about it.
So the question is, “What is Country music anyway?” Our songs have good or clever lyrics which you can understand, and we use a steel guitar or dobro, and not much distortion on the lead guitar. Does that make us country?
What do you think?
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Jim@MathisPhoto.net |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 1:03 pm
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| I think in today's market, it's enough to just say you're country. It doesn't seem to matter what you look or sound like, or what kind of tunes, lyrics, or instrumentation you have. |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 1:13 pm
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I'll take an incomplete stab:
For me country music topology can be broken down into a couple of units:
1. Themes: country music songs tell a story. the old Steve Goodman list is a good beginning: songs about trucks, momma, trains, prison, dogs, farms. Add cheatin', drinkin', jesus, and you just about got it covered. Songs about working peoples everyday lives.
2. Structure: country songs follow strict structure and are very "hook" dependent. Follow 3+ minute song length.Chord progressions are simple and there is a lack of modulation.
3. Instrumentation: steel guitar, very specific lead guitar tamber, bass relies on 2 beats to the measure unlike jazz which has 4 beats.
4. Singing has a twang to it.
5. somebody somewhere is wearing a cowboy hat.
6. Almost all of it is vocal. Few instrumentals. |
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Jim Mathis
From:
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 1:17 pm
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Bill,
I like your list. I guess if we hit 4 out 5 of those we must be country and didn't know it. We are now calling ourselves "Country-rock," whatever that means.
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Jim@MathisPhoto.net |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 1:23 pm
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Country Music is a 100+ year collaboration of every form of American popular music, styles, and instrumentation rolled into one genre to tell the story of the American People!!
It has never had a set sound, theme, or dress code, and no matter what others may tell you, it never will.
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 2:52 pm
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| I hate to say that TODAY'S COUNTRY Music is not Country by any means. The artists all sound the same, and all they do is put a hat on somebody and tell the world they're Country when they are not. To me Country Music is people like Haggard and Jones, Conway and Loretta and George Strait. Old Waylon was right when he said , "I don't think Hank done it this way". That's just my humble opinion-you can take it's for what it's worth. Cause what this Country needs is a little more steel guitar and little fiddle right in the middle, straight out of the Texas bars. |
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Leslie Ehrlich
From:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 3:09 pm
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| Instrumentation: steel guitar, very specific lead guitar timbre, bass relies on 2 beats to the measure unlike jazz which has 4 beats. |
Depends on what kind of country band.
For example, the classic 'honky tonk' country band would have the following instruments:
Piano
Fiddle
Bass
Drums
Acoustic guitar
Electric guitar (not necessarily a Tele)
Non pedal or pedal steel guitar
A typical bluegrass band would have:
Banjo
Mandolin
Fiddle
Bass Fiddle
Acoustic guitar
Dobro
A contemporary weekend country band would have:
Acoustic guitar
Electric guitar (usually a Strat or Tele)
Bass
Drums
(Fiddle and/or pedal steel guitar are optional)
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 4:03 pm
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| Absolutely Leslie. |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 4:27 pm
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As I have said before. Take Blues,Bluegrass,Rap,Rock,
A little bit of classic country,heavy metal mix in some chicken liver's and mayo in a blender and what you get is what is known as country music. IMHO
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Now pass the gravy. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2010 9:09 pm
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Any band today that can destroy an Eagles song ,the bass player has a pink mohawk,The lead singer always wears a tank top to show off his Schwarzenegger biceps,he also has 3 or 4 body guards to help him throw an old drunk off stage,has at least two hard rock Les Paul guitar players [their main job]is to play over the TOKEN steel player hidden in the back ground,more smashed guitars than THE WHO,larger pyrotechnic displays than KISS. This is an ideal [COUNTRY ?] band today. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Leslie Ehrlich
From:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 12:59 am
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| Charles Davidson wrote: |
| Any band today that can destroy an Eagles song ,the bass player has a pink mohawk,The lead singer always wears a tank top to show off his Schwarzenegger biceps,he also has 3 or 4 body guards to help him throw an old drunk off stage,has at least two hard rock Les Paul guitar players [their main job]is to play over the TOKEN steel player hidden in the back ground,more smashed guitars than THE WHO,larger pyrotechnic displays than KISS. This is an ideal [COUNTRY ?] band today. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC. |
I never saw a band like that. 
_________________
Sho-Bud Pro III + Marshall JMP 2204 half stack = good grind! |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 1:01 am
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| Charles Davidson wrote: |
| Any band today that can destroy an Eagles song ,the bass player has a pink mohawk,The lead singer always wears a tank top to show off his Schwarzenegger biceps,he also has 3 or 4 body guards to help him throw an old drunk off stage,has at least two hard rock Les Paul guitar players [their main job]is to play over the TOKEN steel player hidden in the back ground,more smashed guitars than THE WHO,larger pyrotechnic displays than KISS. This is an ideal [COUNTRY ?] band today. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC. |
You are so right Charlie. That's what today's Country Music is all about. I don't like it. Tommy |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 6:07 am
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Unfortunately...it's like Dale Watson sez...
"I'm country my ass!" 
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Jim Mathis
From:
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 6:44 am
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| Quote: |
Country Music is a 100+ year collaboration of every form of American popular music, styles, and instrumentation rolled into one genre to tell the story of the American People!!
It has never had a set sound, theme, or dress code, and no matter what others may tell you, it never will.
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I like Alvin's definition. I like all kinds of music and hate to put music into boxes. I'm not sure we need to decide what is country, what's folk, what's blues, etc. but some people do. People always ask what kind of music I play and I give a different answer every time. That's why my question was somewhat serious, though I knew what the answers would be.
My dad was a country singer and I know exactly what he thought country music was. He is gone now, but I think he would think what I am doing is country. Personally I'm not going to put labels on music if I can help it.
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Jim@MathisPhoto.net |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 6:59 am
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Right this second I'm listening to "Blood Count" the last song written by Billy Strayhorn, written on his death bed and performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra 6 months after he died on a tribute to Billy Stayhorn album Duke put out. The great Johnny Hodges is playing a sax solo dripping with emotion and power: hodges who collaborated with Stayhorn throughout his career saying goodbye. Is it jazz? Don't know but it sure is powerful music.
You see these types of arguments in every genre of music, certainly in Jazz. So called Smooth Jazz will drive otherwise sane jazz fans up the wall, and if you come on a jazz discussion board and mention Smooth Jazz, you will be shot down and handed your butt.
Try mentioning Wynton Marsalis on a jazz board. Part of the forum will say he is the greatest thing to happen to jazz and some say he is the worst thing to happen to jazz and the arguments are long, bitter, and heart felt.
I'm sure there is a rock forum were people are complaining that today's rock is not really rock. Today's blues is not really Blues, today's polka music is not real polka music.
And so it goes. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 24 Feb 2010 10:31 am
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I'll take a crack at it.
Country music is music with an emphasis on the lyrics--most of the time the hook is the lyric itself, very often a clever twist. They almost always tell the story of what someone has lived through, where they've been, not where they're going (unless it's out the door), or a parting message to a lover--it's more about life's experience, rather than aspirations, and it's always accompanied by players who can pick the hell out of their stringed instruments.
The singers don't have to be perfect, but they have to be able to tell the story perfectly. No melisma! Doesn't need to have a drummer, but if it does, he's got to be to able sidestick and shuffle and swing. As in all other music, the bass is where it's at. If it doesn't have steel guitar, well, it's a little less country.
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Allan Jirik
From:
Wichita Falls TX
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 8:35 am
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| Tommy Shown, you said it. I bailed on Top 40 country in the early 80s. Hank Sr., ET, the Possum, Haggard, Moon Mullican, Dr. Ralph... that's country. When I'm sitting at a light, listening to music with my windows down and folks around me start rolling up theirs... THAT'S country!!! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 9:11 am
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| Allan Jirik wrote: |
| ...When I'm sitting at a light, listening to music with my windows down and folks around me start rolling up theirs... THAT'S country!!! |
I'm going to use that, if you don't mind! 
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ken Lang
From:
Simi Valley, Ca
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 6:03 pm
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Donno how to describe it, but I know it when I hear it.
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heavily medicated for your safety |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 7:26 pm
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Just my opinion,REAL country is Marty, For REAL Honkey Tonk, Dale Watson with Mr. Davis. If you hear either of these you HAVE heard the REAL thing. Just like Danny Gatton said about Mr. Emmons when he said here is the greatest steel guitar player on earth. on the redneck jazz album[NO DOUBT ABOUT IT] YOU BETCHA.DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 27 Feb 2010 7:33 am
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| If you got to ask what Country Music is...You will never know or understand or even like the answer... |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 27 Feb 2010 9:52 am
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| Charles Davidson wrote: |
| Just my opinion,REAL country is Marty, [NO DOUBT ABOUT IT] YOU BETCHA.DYK?BC. |
One of the finest performances I have seen in some time was Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives at the huge Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival last October in San Francisco . He hasn't "carried" a steel player with his road band for years, if I am correct, since the passing of Gary Hogue.
Charlie, you have posted many times on the Forum that if there is no steel then it can't be country. Are you making an exception to your rule for Marty?
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Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 27 Feb 2010 4:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 27 Feb 2010 1:18 pm
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Hi Mark,No I still feel the same,Maybe I'm wrong [won't be the first time] But I think the deal with Marty and Gary was kind of like when Buck lost Don Rich,It was never the same. At least Marty uses the great Gary Carter on his TV show. I grew up in the 40's and 50's the golden age of country and western swing. The steel WAS the predominant instrument in this style of music. Just a few examples,Little Roy with Eddy,Don Helms with Hank,Emmons and Charleton with Earnest or Little Jimmy,The great players like Byrd,Billy Robinson,Curly,LLoyd,Bob White,Bud Isaass,to many to list them all that were on 99 percent of the hit records of the time.I still say NO steel NOT country. In the late 50's I played in R and B and rock cover bands .You HAD to have two instruments to do this music justice. The B-3 and a tenor sax. The same for country,NO steel,NOT country. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 8:01 am
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If I'm going to listen to Country music I like mine with steel gutiar! 
Country music is a song that stirs emotion. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 9:37 am
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I think that the essential ingredients are an acoustic rhythm guitar and clear, understandable vocals that tell a story. For instrumentals, a lead instrument with a well-defined melody takes the place of the vocals.
You can add all sorts of things on top of that, but you gotta have those two things.
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