I'm A Little Bit Country

[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.