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This week, a look at categories by gender.
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In This Issue » Music » Country Music

Country Music

Unfairly "Uncool" (genre: Music Editorial)

Written by: J. Bellocchio – Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007
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One of the most popular genres of music today is not what many would expect it to be. While many kids may enjoy listening to emo, hip hop, or modern punk, a genre larger than all of that is country music. Country is popular in most places across the country, yet you'd have a hard time finding a station that will play all country in major cities such as L.A. and New York. If you're ever sitting around talking with friends, you may even feel slightly embarrassed admitting you went out and bought Tim McGraw's new album. What is it about country music that makes people feel so uneasy at times?


One reason may be that as we get older, our taste for modern music changes. We tend to care less about hearing people sing that they're a better choice for a boyfriend or they hate their ex. We may want to hear something with more meaning. Now I'm not here to say that there's a lot of music directed at younger people that has dumbed-down lyrics. Country music does have a few couple of big songs that are more for joke than seriousness. However, if you ever listen to classic country music such as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams or even Dolly Parton, you'll find the songs convey a sense of more true love and tenderness.


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i love country! i would never not want to admit that i liked it.
no one should be embaressed of what kind of music they like. and
if you are afraid that your friends may look at you differently
for that..if they do..thats their problem..you can like what you
want!
Although I can't stand hearing Hank Sr's voice, we did listen to a
ton (and I mean a ton!!) of Patsy Cline while on vacation, and
some of my best on the road memories during vacations are singing
along to her songs.
Country is my favorite. The only person I know who can't stand all
country is my roommate. All my family and friends at least like a
little of it, if not love it.
i'll be honest, to me, country is the worst genre of music. i
don't listen to rap, but i will gladly sit through a rap song
before country. however i'll also admit that i am a liberal "punk
rocker" (and i'm not talking about fallout boy/my chemical
romance) that's pretty elitist and closed-minded. i did read this
article though but that doesn't mean i'm going to give country a
try, because i honestly don't think i can do it. sorry. i do have
the common misconception that it's hill-billy music, and the
reason why it isn't played in big cities is because big cities are
more liberal.
other genres of music get bad rap too, like people who listen to
hip hop are all thugs and punk rockers are crazy lazy socialists.
it happens, so when a country singer is seen wearing a cowboy hat
and boots in front of an american flag, what are people supossed
to think?
I adore country. I hated it when I was younger because my mom
listened to it. But then I went to see Willie Nelson, and I've
been in love with country music ever since.
I LOVE COUNTRY! I love old country and new country. I think alot
of teens think it is hillbilly music because that is what they are
told by their parents and peers. Alot of teens go by what others
say without listening to it. Everyone should listen to everything
and keep an open mind. You never know you might actually like it
even if it is just one song.
I agree with HockeyChick02. I live in Georgia, hello everyone here
loves country music. We even have this huge 2-day outdoor event
called Country Fair, and thousands of people go to it. I just
think most of the artists are terrible, and most of the songs are
repetitive.

There are probably about 4 country singers I actually like.
I LOVE country music! It's WAY better than the other crap they
play on the radio these days.
"Of course. A man can have no hotter accessories than a cowboy hat
and guitar."

Amen to that!

I adore country music, and rock-pop, and classic rock, and just
about everything (some heavy metal and disrespectful rap
excluded). Sometimes I forget how much music means to me, in all
its forms.

And George Strait is, in the words of my last roommate, "The Sex".
I simply don't like country. There's no social stigma attached (I
live in the south), I just think it's annoying.
I have always loved country music; and I have definitely gotten
made fun of for it. but i dont care, I went to a Dierks Bentley
concert this year and it was the best concert ever! besides
country I also like emo, punk, rock all kinds. but country
definitely deserves more credit
There are certain styles of country music that I cannot stand
listening to.

But I loove Hank Willams.
And Hank III is amazing!
huh...theres nothing shameful about contry music were did they get
that idea really....I'm not conrty music fan myself but i like
bonjovi
hey there i am a country fan i like billy ray cyrus and reba and i
also love loretta lynn and conway twitty
I grew up listening to country music and I never really got into
the old country music that my Dad likes (like Hank Snow, Charlie
Pride etc) but I like the new country like Dixie Chicks and such.
i love country! and i love other kinds of music! i love
everything!
I really wasn't into Country music before but around September I
started listening.

It's really good. The station I listen to is the New Country 95.3
(which is based out of Toronto, ON Canada).
It plays NEW country music like Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood,
Keith Urban, Tim and Faith, Kenny Chesney, Canadians: Adam
Gregory, Aaron Lines, Doc Walker, George Canyon, Terri Clark,
Shania and so much more. A lot of these artists are played on
regular "main stream" radio too.

My point is, don't knock it til you try it. check out
www.country953.com and you can listen live online.

:o)
i've grown up on country and i'm nearly 19 and i'm not stuck to a
certain genre of music but country music has some of the most
romantic/sincere love songs, and some songs have a very close
relation to what we feel and think about today...and not all
country is twangy and if you'd watch the CMA you would see its as
glamorous as any other event.
there are country fans, and then there are the rest of us. the
point here is that neither group will sway.
Country music is the ONLY kind of music I don't like
i have always loved country music. i don't really listen to the
old stuff from the early days but i listen to it all the time now.
my favorite artist is carrie underwood. she is so good. i also
like rascal flats and many more.
I've always been a country fan. My iPod is full of Hank Williams
Jr, David Allan Coe, Dixie Chicks, Toby Keith, Garth Brooks,
Diamond Rio, etc. I like all sorts of music, but I love country
because it tells such great stories.
I am from Washington State, and while we aren't Texas, full of
"cowboys" we have a different style of living. Most of us have
grown up in the woods hunting and fishing (that's what the Pacific
Northwest is for right?) and we also grow up listening to country.
I really don't think many people here are ashamed to admit they
like country. In fact, that's pretty much all I listen to with the
exception of some pop like Katharine McPhee.

If you actually listen to country songs they all have meaning.
They aren't derogatory. Yes they may be negative sometimes, but
not in an offensive sort of way.
I still like country music, but I'm more into rock now than I used
to be.

Country Music still finds a home in my heart, as cliche as that
sounds. After all, I grew up on George Strait, Garth Brooks and
Clay Walker.
Keith Urban is an awesome country singer, because he's not just
country... he's got a rock/pop like vibe in his music. He play's
gutair like nobobdy's business too, which helps, but he's still
awesome. I LOVE HIM! LOL
i love country music! I used to think i never would but then i
really got into and i love everything they sing about! It all has
meaning. I love carrie underwood, rascal flatts, little big town,
sara evans, johnny cash and so much more!
I'm a fan of country music and always have been. My parents n
grandparents always liked it so I grew up around it. I did stop
listening to it for a little while in my teens. But I came full
circle and love country music more than ever now! In my opinion
its the best, the writers in nashville are just so freaking
taleted and great.
thank you for the article on country music... I was one of those
people who just thought I was too cool and edgy for country music.
Now I love some of it! I like the passion, yes, I'm a fan of
Dolly, and deffinitely of Johnny Cash and I LOVE Gary Allen, I
think he writes some beautiful songs... I also like The Wreckers
and Sugarland... and ofcourse Little Big Town... beautiful.
I grew up listening to country music and since that was the only
music in my house i rebeled against it for a while just because
all of my friends were like eww country sucks but when i got into
the 9th grade bout 5 years ago i was like so I like country music
and i learned how to appreciate it again. Country music in my
favorite music and now im not afraid to admit it and really think
it was stupid but peer presure is hard.
I'm rather picky with my country music. I only listen to a very,
very small percent of country music and most of it is the much
older stuff and/or the more bluegrass types.
The newer stuff and more "mainstream" country kind of music I
really can't get into.
I know a lot of my friends love country though. Their taste in
country is much more different from mine, and more what I think
most of the people who have commented here have said.
i like some country music; i like the older stuff... like, 50's
country... and then i like toby keith and corb lund and the
hurtin' albertans.... actually, i don't mind most of the male
singers, it's just that, to me, the girls all kinda sound the
same, and i don't like the sound of their voices.
I love coutnry music and still do
I love country music! I used to hate it up until about two years
ago when I started getting into Keith Urban. Now, its the majority
of what I listen to on the radio! Keith Urban puts me in a better
mood no matter what! Kenny Chesney also does the same. They're
both so sexy! =]
I love country. All of it. And I agree with Megs.. I'd want to
marry George Strait.
Country music is the only way to go!!
i LIVE for country music, old and new. Brad Paisley and Miranda
Lambert are my favorites from the new scene and I love old stuff
from Patsy Cline. And if it were up to me, I'd be married to
George Strait <3

"Could it be the dress associated with the music as well?"

Of course. A man can have no hotter accessories than a cowboy hat
and guitar.
Me and my old roommate used to rck out to country before going
out. Our other housemates laughed at us. :)
I never had a problem admitting that I liked country music, though
its not my favorite genre, it tends to be what I grab when I am
depressed, because it takes me back to my childhood, I grew up
around it, and I was never one to care what others thought of me,
if they teased me for liking a different kind of music then they
did. I was and never will be ashamed for something that I like.
And I don't think others should Hide the fact that they like a
certian thing, just because of what someone else will think of
them.

Ok, I think I am rambling. Sorry everyone :P