ACM Awards

I admit that the new Country music leaves me a little cold. Sorry about that but that is just the way it is. I also admit that it is in part because I am a curmudgeon and may be just railing against change. I challenge this a little bit in that I was attracted to Outlaw Country which was the epitome of change.

Strangely what attracted me to Country Music from the very beginning was something that is often used by others to make fun of Country Music. And that is the story that seems to resonate in every good Country song. Not a beat, not a rhythm, not any of those things. A story. Yes, it may be about prison or your dog dying or divorce, but it was a story. Also, a major factor in my love of the music was the words were so damned important that the instruments backed up the song not dominated the song.

Looking at the above paragraph may give you a wee bit of insight as to why the current Country Music leaves me by the wayside. Good for them. They are more popular than ever, just not for me.

I must say my hearing is shot and even with hearing aids the hammering instruments that dominate the lyrics take away a lot of what I like(d) about Country Music in the first place. I did not have to have liner notes or close captioning to hear what the singer was saying and understand what she or he said. Now, if it weren’t for close captioning, I wouldn’t have a damned clue what they were saying. Admittedly, that is a me problem. This is what is selling, so go for it.

As to the lyrics. For those of you who do like/love Country Music read the new stuff sometime. Then do the same for the “classic” Country songs. I am not foolish enough to expect to wean you off the new stuff but I suspect that more than one of you will appreciate just how damned talented those old farts really were and just how far these new dudes and dudeenes have to go. And just where is the story in these new songs?

Like I said before, I know that the new Country Music is more popular than ever so my dissatisfaction is not something that anyone will address. NOR SHOULD IT. This is, and should be, about marketability. Do not sell to me if you can make more money elsewhere. More power to the stars of the new Country Music. But let an old fart wax a little nostalgically for what seems to be lost. Ironically, many of the new starts speak highly of the music and stars of yesteryear as well.