Elit·ist (-ist)
adjective
of, having, or advocating elitism
noun
- one who advocates elitism
- a person who is or who believes himself or herself to be a member of an elite group
Posted on 05/17/2009 7:34:47 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In these hard times, Americans are trying hard to relax and take refuge in entertainment. But The Washington Post is insisting that country music fans are not really sympathetic figures. They are prone to self-congratulation and "closing ranks" behind the thought that they live in the "real America."
The Post music critic going by the name Josh Freedom du Lac -- that just can't be his name -- doesn't really seem to like patriotic music, despite the patriotic byline. He worries that songs like Jason Aldean's "Hicktown" or the Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" do something wrong: They are "narrowcasting to a specific community: the core country audience, whose roots aren't exactly in America's urban centers."
That claim in itself sounds silly. Aren't people who make rap music or big-band music or polka music "narrowcasting"? Maybe du Lac just doesn't like this particular niche audience. He doesn't like the message that's offered, either. "The symbolism and prideful sentiments of the songs are intended to create a sense of belonging among people with similar backgrounds and lifestyles, or at least people who romanticize life in the rural South," he wrote. "To some listeners, though, it might sound as if the artists are closing ranks."
Then he arranged an expert to echo his theme: "Some of these songs seem to fall into the 'we're from Real America, and you're not' camp," said Peter Cooper, who covers country music for Nashville's daily newspaper, the Tennessean. "Seems like being divisive while the industry around you crumbles is a poor decision."
At this point, the country music fan has a question: Is a newspaper writer from Nashville possibly making an unwise decision to deride his hometown industry while the newspaper business crumbles around him?
Where, oh, where, is the controversy in country music fans loving their country? Offended urbanistas (like big-city newspaper writers) never seem to ask whether they can be accused of their own superiority complex about how much smarter and more sophisticated they are than those ignorant rural rednecks.
Is divisive anger what these country musicians are selling? Take a quick look at lyrics from the Zac Brown Band song singled out by the Washington Post: "I thank God for my life/ For the stars and stripes/ May freedom forever fly, let it ring./ Salute the ones who died/ And the ones that gave their lives/ So we don't have to sacrifice/ All the things we love." Those things include fried chicken and beer and blue jeans.
Where, exactly, is a call to "closing ranks" in those lyrics? Is embracing freedom and the American military a form of "narrowcasting"? The only ones who could possibly be uncomfortable or feel excluded are those who don't embrace freedom.
So what does Freedom du Lac embrace? His "Best of 2006" list of musical favorites included a different kind of Southern vibe from the Virginia-based rap group Clipse: "The Virginia Beach brothers Pusha T and Malice make morally bankrupt music -- stark, punishing rap songs about selling cocaine." How on earth does that appeal to a broad audience?
His "Best of 2006" list was topped by the Bush-bashing Dixie Chicks, whose "Not Ready to Make Nice" was hailed as "one of the great singles" of the year. The song demonized people who supported a war on terror: "It's a sad, sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger." Dixie Chick critics were cartooned as people who write letters "Sayin' that I better shut up and sing, or my life will be over." Don't look now, but someone is "romanticizing" their own viewpoint and "closing ranks" with people who aren't "haters."
But that song is a picnic of patriotism compared to another du Lac "Best of 2006" pick -- a disc by a rap group called The Coup, titled "Pick a Bigger Weapon." He hailed the musical genius of their leader, Boots Riley: "He hurls poetic Molotov cocktails at the usual suspects (capitalist pigs, President Bush, the CIA); but he also spikes this Marxist manifesto with lusty lyrics." Boots Riley has referred to this country as the "United Snakes," and believes that "the American flag … stands for oppression, slavery and murder."
So praise the freedom America offers, and Josh Freedom du Lac will curse you; write Marxist manifestos against the "United Snakes," and he will praise you as the best. Someone needs to drop the word "Freedom" from his name.
Something tells me he won't be attending Sean Hannity's Freedom Concerts this summer.
There was rebellion in county music long before rock n roll.
Yeah, right. ...Dixie Chicks, Merle Haggard,... Many musicians of all kinds are immoral and anti-American. Some are immoral and only pretend to be patriotic. The old western music was alright, though, IMO.
I applaud the few patriotic and moral musicians of various kinds.
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
No more calls, please, no more calls......
Don't be too tough on Minnesotans. After only a couple of generations in Alaska, they brought forth Sarah Palin.
Proof positive. When you dump a Diana for a horse something has to be wrong.
Plus it is the number 1 music format for radio. Overall, number 2 after talk/news.
There are some good country singers out there, Charlie Daniels is one, also not all country folks are immoral.
I found two good stations, WDSY FM, Pittsburgh and one in Detroit believe it or not, WCYD FM. Excellent country stations via internet streaming. Plus the latter just had a major downtown hoedown concert weekend.
Plus country is America on soundtrack. Just take a look at a recent song called “Shutting Detroit Down” by John Rich.
I”d love to hear that poofter complain about a cowboy boot up his ass.
A bit of a sidebar comment: I've noticed the deep-running habit of Lefties to label every facet of conservatism "Hate".
If you will fight to defend your freedom, it's because you are filled with Hate.
If you believe and teach that homosexuality is wrong, it must come from deep hatred.
etc., etc.
repeat, rinse.
Elit·ist (-ist)
adjective
noun
Are you familiar with the psychological phenomenon of "projection"? No one is more full of hatred for their fellow human beings than a Liberal. They all love Mankind, of course; it's just people they cannot stand.
Nothing wrong with making an honest living putting up with a-sholes such as myself upset that they don’t carry ammo when I need it. But, I am not a Wal Mart clerk, so the syrupy pap doesn’t appeal to me. Country music has become FEMINIZED.
Country music is the second most popular format behind talk radio, but it’s rather misleading. Rock and Roll is by far the most popular format with more listeners than country and talk combined, but current classifications break rock up into multiple categories.
Example: Amongst the country stations available here we have one that plays “Today’s Best Country” and one that plays “Traditional Country” (read oldies) but both count as country when tallying the format results. Rock on the other hand is split into adult alternative, adult contemporary, pop, classic rock, alternative, dance, heavy metal, et al. It’s so bad that you’ll go crazy trying to figure out the difference between adult contemporary and pop or alternative and adult alternative.
BTW, I’ll take Kanye West over country any day. Of course that’s not saying much. I’ll take cats mating over country music.
Some of my favorite country-western tunes:
And, of course, they practice what they preach. Notice how loving and accepting the Left has been of Miss California.
Wow. Got to admit I’ve never even heard of those songs.
Most of these songs are probably in digital format today, although it might take a lot of searching to find them.
Here are a few more:
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