Is country music dead?

Fox News ^ | 05/16/2014 | Collin Raye

[Free Vulcan]

She’s talented.

What gets me about the millenials, with all their supposed tech savvy, is that you’d think that they’d be the last to fall for the corporate marketing crap you describe. Yet, they don’t seem to even try to seek out the good underground stuff with half the effort previous generations did.

Frankly I’m a little jealous and wish we’d had all that back in the day. Just surprised with all that they can’t avoid being herded like sheep into the same corporate pop-culture trap like everyone else.

[Cuttnhorse]

Steve Goodman was a classic...loved his, “Dying Cub Fan Blues”.

[Cinnamontea]

Compare this version of "California" (very close to what I heard on Nashville Star):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pfyuiiic88

With what the record company released:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX4sC1YJq9I

(Apologies for not making links--don't know how to.)

[chajin]

Country music died a long time ago. Americana is taking its place, as the not-overproduced-and-undertalented version of non-classical music. The schlubs follow the “Country” and “R&B” celebrities, but if there is a 22nd century, neither country nor R&B will be the remembered music of the early 21st century.

[A_Former_Democrat]

A BURNING QUESTION indeed !

[redhawk.44mag]

You mean to tell me, that young girls in teeny shorts, cowboy boots and hats, ain’t country???!!

[cuban leaf]

I post a lot on Harmony-Central and I’m amazed by how many guys make a living by being, literally, hard working musicians. They create CD’s, market their shows, and really milk it. They get money from the performance, from selling swag, CD’s etc. to the point that they make a fairly good living at it. And few of them actually write much music.

But if you do it that way, it is a LOT of work for not all that much money. You have to truly love doing it. And then every now and then one gets discovered.

[Responsibility2nd]

Gruene Hall is awesome for good country music. Both national and local COUNTRY music. I love many of the local, Texas country stars. David Ball, Robert Earl Keen, etc...

___________________________________________

See my post 48. Gruene Hall is THE place to be on Sunday. Wish I was there.

There are no country music stations here in San Antonio. Unless you count KKYX which is classic country. KNBT in New Braunfles is GREAT! Americana music. But their signal is weak.

[dfwgator]

I assert that the worst thing that ever happened to Country Music was “Urban Cowboy.”

[old and tired]

You know what else is killing it? Pandora and Satellite radio. Now I can listen to whatever I want, whenever I want. I don’t listen to new stuff that much anymore. And with ALL the old, great stuff at my fingertips, there’s no need.

[Myrddin]

I spend less than 20 minutes in my gas guzzling SUV a day -- wind noise is preferable to anything on the radio these days.

I spend about 15 minutes cruising in on my Harley. No point in setting up the radio for a run that short. The long drives from San Diego to Pocatello in the F150 have iHeartRadio or my huge music collection played over the Bluetooth link to the vehicle sound system. Worthwhile for a 15+ hour drive. The Virgin River Gorge has little or no cell or broadcast radio coverage. The MP3 collection is a good fit.

[driftless2]

That would be either a great title or the last line in a stanza.

[Mariner]

If you think country has gone to hell, you ought to sample some modern "rock" music.

Rock and Roll died first.

There are only three kinds of music on the radio now days: Country Pop, Hip Hop and Mexican.

Except for the oldies stations.

But there's very little new music for the average white man.

[Responsibility2nd]

You no like Mickey Gilley?

(lol)

[nitzy]

After reading through some of these comments I just added both of them.

[lwd]

Jason Isbell (Southeastern was the best album written in 2013).

Agree! And Son Volts 2013 album was the best from 2013 imo! Check out "chatham county line" on youtube. They're friends of mine from NC and do bluegrass/Americana. ...they have a new record coming out in a few days.

[Responsibility2nd]

I kinda thought this thread would take off.

Among the many replies is the answer to “County Music”. And that is Americana music. See my post 48 and other replies that list today’s great Americana artists. That’s where the real talent is.

[dfwgator]

I did like Buckwheat’s version of “Wookin Pa Nub.”

[ExTxMarine]

I live about an hour north of Houston, but my office is in San Antonio - I am there 3-4 days a week (well SA or NB or SM or Austin or Laredo), but usually SA.

I listen to KKYX for country when I am there, but usually I listen to WOAI 1200. When I want to here good Tejano, I will listen to KXTN 107.5. They play mostly old-school Tejano like Selena, Bobby Pulido, Ram Herrera and La Mafia.

I saw post 48, I could not agree more. But, I am usually home on the weekends, so I miss out on most of their really good shows. The wife and I have been there for one weekend show last summer - doors and windows open, breeze coming up off the river below - AWESOME experience!

[Darren McCarty]

I prefer Southern Rock to country. Country is hit or miss for me, but I like some of the outlaw stuff.

Most of today's country is bubblegum pop with (sometimes) a southern accent. It's as bad as what passes for "rock" today.