...and i AM a fan of country music - not the slick radio crap but real country: old time, bluegrass, honky-tonk, and other pre-urban cowboy country.

i can name you several mr bender.

in the lyric this thread was based on... the fact that the person doesnt know the difference between iran and iraq, yet justifies that by saying they love jesus. the singer is taking pride in their ignorance, i think rather shamelessly. its not 'cool' to be unaware of the world around you

glorifying a symbol like the confederate flag, which despite the fact that it doesnt explicitly represent prejudice and bigotry... (no need for a history lesson i know very well what the confederate flag actually represents) purely and simply because its a big 'fuck you'

every form of popular culture has its niche's... and i feel like modern country music's niche is the whole 'ignorance is bliss' crowd...

HAHA! Good eye, SW. I would agree with lletdownl. There is a lot of praise of ignorance in a lot of modern country. I was really just posting the worst song I could think of with that Kiss My Country Ass. There are some good songs out there, but knew that would get some reactions.

yeah this is definitely a very touchy subject because i find that there are many major cultural differences between those that associate with country and those that dont.

and like any personal preferences... they are just that... personal.
i may hate country music... but i dont mean to imply its all shit... just that i see things in it that make me really, really angry

point well proven, lletdownl.

i don't agree with some of the garbage that the "new age country music" is spitting out. i appreciate older country like garth and george strait.

if we want to get a hot thread going, we should start one on hiphop/rap

lletdownl I think you're missing the point. I don't think it's glorifying ignorance for the sake of glorifying ignorance. Country music has become the voice of the working class. It tells their story on their level. Trace Adkins has a masters in Petroleum Engineering. You wouldn't know that from listening to his music, but that's because he's telling their story, and singing songs to sell them CD's.

shoulda refreshed the page before I posted that ^

a lot of music is all about the money nowadays, people sell out soo quickly when their record label tells them what to say/sing. it's sickening.

Ignorant or not, I still love Willie, Waylon, Merle, Jerry Jeff, Jerry Reed, King George, Bob Wills, etc...

can't forget hank

Sr. I'm more partial to him than his son. You also can't forget Johnny Cash.

rfuller

...i dont know enough about classic country to comment on it... my country music comments are solely based on modern country.

and im not sure i agree that they dont glorify ignorance for ignorance's sake. I dont think its as clear as that, but like i said before... a sense of 'ignorance is bliss' is readily apparent in modern country...

its as if, by acting stupid, not caring about the real world around them, isolating in defensive and often creepily fundamentalist or nationalistic slogans... they are making those largely negative characteristics acceptable...

and i think they really do exaggerate their ignorance because such a huge part (as i perceive it) of that "cowboy" culture is to say fuck you to all the highly strung and tightly wrapped city folk...(me)

same song, different dance... hip hop used to do it (much more intelligently and cleverly i think) and now country is doing it.

Well, I think both sides are fueling the fire here. "City folk" have an arrogant, elitist view of the intellegence level of the songs. Country singers pander to the working class and have helped associate Christianity and patriotism with ignorance. Over time both sides have created an "us vs. them" mentality.

BTW, when you say that you can't stand catchy music or ignorant music, that limits your listening to classical music and The Decemberists. While I agree with much of your assessment, I'm curious to hear what you actually listen to. I'd be willing to bet that there are similar characteristics in your music that you are more willing to look past for one reason or another.

let's not disparage us city folk either.

I'm not trying to disparage, nor am I trying to argue. I was just discussing. For the record, "city folk" was a lletdownl term.

i like both catchy and ignorant music...sometimes. duck dance, anyone?

rfuller,

i dont remember saying i dont like catchy music... i love tons of catchy songs...

as for whether or not i like ignorant music... i think thats kind of silly... how can any person respect a song they consider ignorant. ignorance is not the same as stupid... ignorance implies a willful disregarding of knowledge or intelligence... so yes, i have a problem with music that supports ignorance

its funny youd mention the decemberists as an option rfuller cause i think they kinda suck to hahahahaha....
not really but im not a big fan

again as a clarification... these are my personal opinions... i am in no way an expert on anything beyond my own personal tastes...

here's a tune from the late 60's that was a crossover hit. its very topical not just then but today. SkIpArOpE!

Just to clear things up about the "iran and iraq" song, he's (the singer/writer) isn't promoting ignorence, you're taking the lines out of context. What he is saying throughout the whole song, is the 911, for a time at least, brought families together, and to remember to love one another, regardless of where they are from.

But yeah, most new country is pretty souless, though some of the older artist, who were arond before the major soul selling, are still trying to get real stuff out there.

I think jack ingram is a perfect example of the soul selling. He gets a label and contract, and suddenly his hair is high-lighted, and his music has lost its agnst. Guess we lost another one to nashville.

designated drinker is agood tune.

Here I sit on Monday listenin....to a country show on the local community radio station....the guy pulls out all the classics and Christ I'm half way between NYC and Bean Town. My favorite lines come to mind...."Faster Horses, Older Whiskey and Younger Women." Who the hell wrote those lines?

Brad Paisley Ticks Lyrics


Every time you take a sip
In this smoky atmosphere
You press that bottle to your lips
And I wish I was your beer
In the small there of your back
Your jeans are playing peekaboo
I'd like to see the other half of your butterfly tattoo.

Hey that gives me an idea
Let's get out of this bar
Drive out into the country
And find a place to park.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I know the perfect little path
Out in these woods I used to hunt
Don't worry babe I've got your back
And I've also got your front
Now, I'd hate to waste a night like this


I'll keep you safe you wait and see
The only thing allowed to crawl all over you when we get there is me.

You know every guy in here tonight
Would like to take you home
But I've got way more class than them
Babe that ain't what I want.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

You never know where one might be
There's lots of places that are hard to reach
I gotcha.

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you baby way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I'd sure like to check you for ticks...

His stuff usually isn't that bad. I really hope the melody drowns out the lyrics; thats terrible. If a guy said that to me anyhere, I'd be grossed out, and walk away. What a wierdo.

have this on in the car

Pineola by lucinda

When Daddy told me what happened
I couldn't believe what he just said
Sonny shot himself with a 44
And they found him lyin' on his bed

I could not speak a single word
No tears streamed down my face
I just sat there on the living room couch
Starin' off into space

Mama and Daddy went over to the house
To see what had to be done
They took the sheets off of the bed
And they went to call someone

Some of us gathered at a friend's house
To help each other ease the pain
I just sat alone in a corner chair
I couldn't say much of anything

We drove on out to the country
His friends all stood around
Subiaco Cemetery
Is where we lay him down

I saw his mama, she was standin' there
His sister, she was there too
I saw them look at us standin' around the grave
And not a soul they knew

Born and raised in Pineola
His mama believed in the Pentecost
She got the preacher to say some words
So his soul wouldn't be lost

Some of us, we stood in silence
Some bowed their heads and prayed
I think I must've picked up a handful of dust
And let it fall over his grave

I think I must've picked up a handful of dust
And let it fall over his grave

I've got Mark Knopfler and Emmylou in my car right now.

this pans in to what rfuller said. it's "songs about me" by trace adkins

I met a guy on the red eye
He spotted my guitar
and said what do you do?
I said, I sing for a living,
Country music mixed with
a little rock and a little blues
He said I'm sorry
but I've never been crazy
'bout that twang and trains and hillbilly thing
What ever made you want to sing stuff like that?
I just looked at him and laughed and said

cause it's songs about me
and who I am
songs about loving and living
and good hearted women and family and God
yeah they're all just
songs about me
songs about me

So I offered him tickets
I said you'll see what I mean
if you show up tonight
he said I doubt you'll change my opinion
I'll be kind of busy, but hey man, I'll try

Then later on when we finished our songs
about scars and cars and broken hearts
I saw him, he was standing there
right next to the stage
and he shouted
man you were right
it was like you sang those

songs about me
and who I am
songs about loving and living
and good hearted women and family and God
yeah they're all just
songs about me
songs about me

So I'll just keep on singing
'til I hear the whole world singing those

songs about me
and who I am
songs about loving and living
and good hearted women and family and God
yeah they're all just
songs about me
songs about me

I love this song because its all about high school in Texas.

Well, Up in the backwoods, down in the holler
Old boys feelin' like a dog on a collar
Keepin' that chain pulled tight
Waitin' on Saturday night
Put on the smell good
Put on Skynyrd
Head into town like a Nascar winner
Cruisin' back and forth to the Tasty Freeze
Everywhere you look all you see is

Hillbilly Deluxe, slick pickup trucks
Big timin' in a small town
Stirrin' it up right about sundown
Black, Denim and Chrome to the bone
With a little homegrown
Country girl cuddled up
Hillbilly Deluxe

Couple kids, sweet things, drivin' a fast back
Shoot 'em a cool smile
Hopin' that they smile back
Hey baby whats your name?
Burn a little rubber when the red lights change
Here come the blue lights
Here come Barney
Hide all the beer y'all
Lets move the party
Gotta go but thats alright
Do it all again next Friday night

Hillbilly Deluxe, slick pick-'em-up Trucks
Big timin' in a small town
Stirring it up right about sundown
Black, Denim and Chrome to the bone
With a little homegrown
Country girl cuddled up
Hillbilly Deluxe

good ol brooks & dunn

folk song, similar(/opposite?) theme:

I'm only seventeen, but I want much more
Than a small town girl should bargain for
More than standing in one place
waiting for the next James Dean

I live in a town that's gripped in the bible belt
Man, I bared my back and I took the welts
I only pray to get out of here
Maybe someday I'll find out if the world is green

There is nothing to do in this town at night
But sit in my car and watch the streetlights
Or stare out the window at the pizza joint
What's the point?
I wish I could buy my Ford a sail
Hey, hey, look at the wind blow

Now the life of the local beauty queen
is tied to the captain of the baseball team
They got a baby on the way
At least that's what the kids are saying

And the wedding I'm told, well it must take place
To save both families from disgrace
But the whole town knows
You see, it ain't like she's not showing...

There is nothing to do in this town at night
But sit in my car and watch the streetlights
Or stare out the window at the pizza joint
What's the point?
I wish I could buy my Ford a sail
Hey, hey, look at the wind blow

Tommy Bates sits in his car and he waits
For his girl down at Lucky's Diner
They're at the end of the loop and he's drinking soup
While she puts on more eyeliner

I passed them once, and I'll pass them twice,
and I'll pass them back again
They bought an old Range Rover from the next town over
And their headlights are my friends, yeah, those headlights are my friends...

There is nothing to do in this town at night
But sit in my car and watch the streetlights
Or stare out the window at the pizza joint
What's the point?
I wish I could buy my Ford a sail
Hey, hey, look at the wind blow

i know that was irrelevant, but the previous song reminded me of it.

also reminded me of 'saturday night in oak grove, louisiana' by tony joe white, but i can't find the lyrics online and i'd have to sit here and sing them out loud at my desk in order to transcribe them, soooo...

well theres always PoLkSaLaD Steven!