Did you see NBC nightly news last night?

erik · Posted 15 Oct 2005 10:04 am

Or maybe it was Thursday. Brian Williams narrated a segment about GOO and WSM. He made one comment that sounded like, "Many artists complain there is still too much twang", and no kidding, just as he said "twang" they show a steeler playing. I don't know who it was, they showed the hands and the steel, blue marble finish. That was the ONLY time they showed a steel guitar during the segment.

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-johnson

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

It was Tommy White playing a Fessy!

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Tommy White huh? So now we actually have someone to blame for the "twang"

I'm glad NBC cleared that up for us.

All my life I always associated the twang in country music with the guitar, mainly the tele (ala Roy Nichols, Don Rich).

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

ebb · From: nj

i heard tw on the top 100 country duets the other night. it should have been have called the top 100 trios as that's how much he meant to the music. don't miss it all you head twangers.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Well, it's nice to know that an expert musicologist like Brian Williams has spread the important news that country music is still too twangy. I guess it's still not safe for public consumption, better call in the FCC (or maybe the FDA). Well done, Brian.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I always thought twang was from Teles...
Are they blaming Brent and John J?

Screach comes from fiddles.
Whiney comes from steel guitars right?

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 15 October 2005 at 11:05 PM.]

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

I guess there's at least one thing that they can't blame on C*rl R*ve...

EJL

Drew Howard · From: 48854

You mean ol' Tu*dblossom?

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

What, exactly, is a "musicologist" ?

That's a serious question.

-John

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

A proctologist whose patient ate beans last night?

Oh man, I'm sorry John.

David Doggett · Posted 16 Oct 2005 10:17 am

Well, I haven't actually looked up the term in the dictionary, but in academic circles a musicologist is someone who has special knowledge of some kind about music (its history, etc.), other than just being able to play it, which would make them a mere musician. I think Dave M's use of the term for Brian Williams is high sarcasm. And I agree - fiddles scratch or shreak, teles twang, and steel guitars whine, cry or bleed. I mean, otherwise, what's the point of playing these instruments.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 16 October 2005 at 11:20 AM.]

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines musicology as "the study of music as a branch of knowledge or field of research as distinct from composition or performance."

Yes, it was intended as sarcasm. IMO, television "journalism" is pretty pathetic these days. I think a journalistic statement anything like "Many artists complain there is still too much twang" is pretty silly. Where did "who, what, when, where, and why" go? [BTW, I believe I know - into the dumpster when they went to "happy-talk" news and "infotainment".]

Billy Henderson · From: Portland, AR, USA

Maybe too much "Twang" but not enough "Poon-twang"

Kenny Burford · From: Independence, Missouri USA

Just thought I would do a quick search on Mr. Williams’ credentials to support his qualifications to be a musicologist; however, I could not find the critical support data.

1. Nothing in his work history indicating that he has ever been a part of the country music industry such as a singer, producer, musician, publisher, etc…
2. Nothing in his educational background to qualify him; although he did drop out of college, which is always a big plus for a person dead set on pursuing music as a career. You know, close the door of opportunity behind you, type of thing.
3. Nothing in his geographical heritage to indicate he was born into a country music Mecca, unless Elmira, New York is the country music hot spot for northeast USA.
4. Nothing indicating he’s ever owned a bar, which from my personal experience would have be the number one qualification for a musicologist. Everyone I have ever met has claimed to be an authority on country music.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
- He spent 7 years at CBS’s owned-and-operated stations division as anchor and correspondent for WCBS-TV in New York
- Began at CBS as a correspondent for the network-owned WCAU-TV in Philadelphia
- Correspondent at WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C.
- Started his broadcasting career at KOAM-TV in Pittsburg, Kansas.
- Worked in the White House during the Carter administration, first as an intern
- Assistant administrator of the political action committee of the National Association of Broadcasters
- Served several years as a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey.

GREW UP: A native of both Elmira, New York, and Middletown, New Jersey

EDUCATION: Attended George Washington University and the Catholic University of America, but did not graduate.

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

At least he didn't report that any "country" artists had complained.

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HagFan

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

erik · Posted 17 Oct 2005 1:40 pm

I only mentioned Brian Williams name as a reference. I don't know if he wrote the segment. I thought the message was more significant then the messenger. This thread is starting to remind me of the old off topic forum. Time for a lock.

Frank Estes · From: Huntsville, AL

I am surprised anyone still watches the so-called big 3 News Networks. I guess they are acceptable to the politically "tone deaf!" :}

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

erik, my beef with these kind of stories, which I see frequently, is that they are often poor journalism. They often use unsupported statements and innuendo to make their points. If they say something like "many artists complain ...", the obvious question is "which artists"? A serious story would at least briefly interview a musician or two who felt like this, so the viewer could make up their own minds about the authenticity of the sentiment. But what you get is the implication, without any backup, that mainstream musicians think country is twangy garbage. And the steel guitar is the leader of this "twang attack", as they segue in the steel as they make the comment. So, this isn't off topic, IMO. It's about the image of our instrument. This is the cultural stereotyping we have been railing against in other threads.

In this case, I'd argue that the messenger was more important than the message. The 'twang' message is completely frivolous, IMO. On the other hand, Brian Williams carries a lot of clout with his viewers.