I'm A Little Bit Country

[MorganGrayson]

Dravyk...I know how you feel. I couldn't sleep one night, so I got up and flicked on the television and caught the tail end of a repeat of the Tonight show. A band called "Sugarland" was performing, and they just blew me away. (I had to check the cable guide to get the band name.) So...to my disbelief, really...I bought their CD. Love it. I hadn't bought a country cd since I got Alabama's greatest hits about 100 years ago. Sugarland has some very talented people.

Country has changed a lot. It used to be that an hours exposure to a country music channel and I'd want to slit my wrists. The songs were just so damned depressing. Now, the stuff on the alleged "rock" channel is the stuff that's so damned depressing.

I avoid rap like the plague. I tried to get into it and give it a fair shot, because I'm a word freak, and I assumed rap was all about use of the language. I was disabused of that notion quickly. The only rap I can actually stand is the silly Will Smith stuff that "real" rap fans think is stupid.

[PornoDoggy]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

Dravyk...I know how you feel. I couldn't sleep one night, so I got up and flicked on the television and caught the tail end of a repeat of the Tonight show. A band called "Sugarland" was performing, and they just blew me away. (I had to check the cable guide to get the band name.) So...to my disbelief, really...I bought their CD. Love it. I hadn't bought a country cd since I got Alabama's greatest hits about 100 years ago. Sugarland has some very talented people.

Country has changed a lot. It used to be that an hours exposure to a country music channel and I'd want to slit my wrists. The songs were just so damned depressing. Now, the stuff on the alleged "rock" channel is the stuff that's so damned depressing.

I avoid rap like the plague. I tried to get into it and give it a fair shot, because I'm a word freak, and I assumed rap was all about use of the language. I was disabused of that notion quickly. The only rap I can actually stand is the silly Will Smith stuff that "real" rap fans think is stupid.

I'm not overly wild about much of what I hear on country music radio today, because it ain't nothing but pop music with a slightly country beat. IMHO, the quality of country music has shown a sharp decline since 9/11 because of the ability to make a quick buck off of jingoistic bullsht that George M. Cohen woulda been proud of.

I listen to some of the alt-country stuff on Real and other resources; I've also been a fan of bluegrass since The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did the first "Circle" recordings 30+ years ago.

I love music, but the difference between a good song and a great song is almost always the lyrics for me. As such, I think rap may be one of the greatest disappointments of the last 25 years. I agree with Gil Scott-Heron (Last Poets [Revolution Will Not Be Televised, et al]), who told a reporter who called him the "father" of rap, "If I'm the daddy, I gotta get with that baby's momma, 'cuz we have messed up that kid BAD."

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

I'm not overly wild about much of what I hear on country music radio today, because it ain't nothing but pop music with a slightly country beat. IMHO, the quality of country music has shown a sharp decline since 9/11 because of the ability to make a quick buck off of jingoistic bullsht that George M. Cohen woulda been proud of.

I listen to some of the alt-country stuff on Real and other resources; I've also been a fan of bluegrass since The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did the first "Circle" recordings 30+ years ago.

I love music, but the difference between a good song and a great song is almost always the lyrics for me. As such, I think rap may be one of the greatest disappointments of the last 25 years. I agree with Gil Scott-Heron (Last Poets [Revolution Will Not Be Televised, et al]), who told a reporter who called him the "father" of rap, "If I'm the daddy, I gotta get with that baby's momma, 'cuz we have messed up that kid BAD."

I am also seriously into lyrics. I've heard so many people say "oh, I've never really listened to the words" that I swear I'm smacking the next one up'side the head. I used to have an entire collection of artists that made me sit down with a pad, pencil and the lyric sheet every time I bought a new LP. I used to analyze lyrics and pretty much challenge every word.

I have a monologue on the subject that various people have been kind enough - they were forced, might as well take it with dignity - to listen to. Tapping on the steering wheel while stuck in traffic is a perfectly legitimate way to appreciate music. There are a lot more levels, though, and I feel sorry for those who miss them. I wish I was a musician so that I could comment intelligently on the music, but I'm pretty much limited to "wow" and "damn, I love that part."

I'm so pulled by lyrics that I have to listen to classical, jazz or samba music when I write or I get distracted.

[FloridasFinest]

Originally Posted by PornoDoggy

I'm not overly wild about much of what I hear on country music radio today, because it ain't nothing but pop music with a slightly country beat. IMHO, the quality of country music has shown a sharp decline since 9/11 because of the ability to make a quick buck off of jingoistic bullsht that George M. Cohen woulda been proud of.

I listen to some of the alt-country stuff on Real and other resources; I've also been a fan of bluegrass since The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did the first "Circle" recordings 30+ years ago.

I love music, but the difference between a good song and a great song is almost always the lyrics for me. As such, I think rap may be one of the greatest disappointments of the last 25 years. I agree with Gil Scott-Heron (Last Poets [Revolution Will Not Be Televised, et al]), who told a reporter who called him the "father" of rap, "If I'm the daddy, I gotta get with that baby's momma, 'cuz we have messed up that kid BAD."

I completly agree, Rap now a days is a great disappointment!! I am a music buff! I can and like to listen to everything. It seem like rap these days is nothing but thugs talking and glorifying street ghetto life!!!

[Newton]

Originally Posted by FloridasFinest

I completly agree, Rap now a days is a great disappointment!! I am a music buff! I can and like to listen to everything. It seem like rap these days is nothing but thugs talking and glorifying street ghetto life!!!

I think the last great rap track I heard was 2pac "brendas got a baby" great harmonies .. hmm I need to find that again .. along with 'Stand by me' an excellent version from reggae star Tippa Irie ..