Blake Shelton Calls Classic Country Fans “Old Farts” & “Jackasses”
The reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and reality TV personality Blake Shelton made some disparaging remarks about traditional country fans in a recent interview with GAC as part of their Backstory series. The “Hillbilly Bone” singer and judge on NBC’s The Voice made the remarks as part of an update to the original GAC Backstory episode to include more information on Blake Shelton’s continued success. In connection with Blake’s first CMA for “Male Vocalist of the Year” award in 2010, Blake Shelton said,
If I am “Male Vocalist of the Year” that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.
The new version of Blake Shelton’s GAC Backstory aired first in mid December 2012, and will be airing numerous times in February.
Blake Shelton’s comments are not only hurtful to classic and traditional country fans, they are incorrect. According to a study of country radio conducted by Edison Research and released during last year’s Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, listeners actually want more classic country on radio, and the lack of it has been given credit for the contraction being experienced in the radio format. Edison Research President Larry Rosin last February said,
I believe that we as an industry have really made a mistake in our conception of our own stations. While many people don’t want to listen to classic country music, some still do, and we’ve let them float away”¦We run the risk that we just are more and more pleasing to fewer and fewer people until all we are is ecstatically pleasing a tiny, unsustainable number of people.”
Blake Shelton also specifically mention “records,” but statistics shows that older music listeners are the ones that still by music in physical formats, while younger listeners (aka “kids”) tend to download music illegally, stream it at very low margins for artists and their labels, or purchase individual songs.
Furthermore Blake Shelton brought up the common misconception that classic and traditional country fans do not want country music to evolve. Though this may be true for some traditional fans, as Saving Country Music pointed out in a piece titled Progress Vs. Traditionalism in Country Music, the progression of country music while still keeping it tied to its roots is the foundation of Americana which has benefited from tremendous growth over the last few years.
Blake Shelton has landed in hot water before for making inflammatory comments, especially on his infamous Twitter account. In May of 2011 Blake got in trouble for seemingly advocating violence against gays by re-writing the words to a Shania Twain song. The singer later apologized.
****UPDATE****UPDATE****UPDATE****UPDATE****
1-24-13 (11:43 AM CST): Country music legend Ray Price has just responded to Blake Shelton’s comments through his Facebook page.
It’s a shame that I have spend 63 years in this business trying to introduce music to a larger audience and to make it easier for the younger artists who are coming behind me. Every now and then some young artist will record a rock and roll type song , have a hit first time out with kids only. This is why you see stars come with a few hits only and then just fade away believing they are God’s answer to the world. This guy sounds like in his own mind that his head is so large no hat ever made will fit him. Stupidity Reigns Supreme!!!!!!! Ray Price (CHIEF “OLD FART” & JACKASS”) ” P.S. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AS US OLD-TIMERS. CHECK BACK IN 63 YEARS (THE YEAR 2075) AND LET US KNOW HOW YOUR NAME AND YOUR MUSIC WILL BE REMEMBERED. Ray Price
1-24-13 (11:55 AM CST): After receiving numerous comments and posts of this story and others, Blake Shelton took down one of his Facebook fan pages. SCM is also attempting to confirm reports that numerous radio stations are pulling Blake Shelton songs from their rotation. SCM also asks that people be respectful to Blake in their comments.
1-24 -13 (4:14 PM CST): Blake Shelton has responded through Twitter:
Whoa!!! I heard I offended one of my all time favorite artists Ray Price by my statement “Nobody wants to listen to their grandpas music”..And probably some other things from that same interview on GAC Backstory.. I hate that I upset him.. The truth is my statement was and STILL Is about how we as the new generation of country artists have to keep re-inventing country music to keep it popular. Just EXACTLY… The way Mr. Price did along hid journey as a main stream country artist.. Pushing the boundaries with his records. “For The Goodtimes” Perfect example with the introduction of a bigger orchestrated sound in country music.. It was new and awesome!!! I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better(as always ha!) and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended.. I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me. I’ll put my Lo(v)e and respect and knowledge About it up against anybody out there… ANYBODY…
1-24-13 (5:56 PM CST): Ray Stevens has also joined the fray saying, “I just heard Blake Shelton’s remarks about ‘old farts and jackasses’ and all I want to know is how he found out the title to my next single because it’s been a closely guarded secret here at the ‘Home.’ It will be available on vinyl or 8-Track at your nearest Tower Records store.” Brandon Fulson beat Ray to it though, recording a song “Old Farts and Jackasses.”
Dale Watson has also chimed in: “Ray price is the best voice in country music period !!!! And some supremely Mediocrre voice like this fuck Blake Shelton should whince!” He is the Lance Armstrong of country music !! HYPE, Mr. Miranda Lambert!”
1-25-13 (11:31 AM CST):
A few of Blake Shelton’s music peers have risen up to defend him. Martina McBride posted on Twitter, “Just catching up on this. We all know where your heart is Blake. Love you.” Chris Young posted on Twitter, “Love what you meant by your quote buddy. Know how much you love country music history. Love your music brother and who you are.”
Dale Watson has written a new song inspired by Blake Shelton’s comments
1-26-13 (3:14 PM CST): Country Music Hall of Famer and Blake Shelton friend Bobby Braddock weighed in on Facebook saying in part:
I think his point recently was that to be viable, country music has to keep reinventing itself. It’s clear from his statements that he’s terribly sorry that he’s offended his heroes like Ray Price. I think what’s controversial is not what he said but the way he said it. That was just Blake being Blake, going for the outrageous and trying to get a rise out of people.
1-26-13 (4:24 PM CST): Jean Shepard is the latest to chime in, saying, ““We’ve got a young man in country music who has made some pretty dumb statements lately. What did he say? That traditional country music is for old farts and jack-you-know-whats? Well, I guess that makes me an old fart. I love country music. I won’t tell you what his name is”¦.but his initials is BS”¦.and he’s full of it!”
Ray Price’s Facebook page was apparently blocked because of his Blake Shelton comments. “HELLO FOLKS, SINCE I MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT BLAKE SHELTON, FACEBOOK HAS BLOCKED ME FOR 30 DAYS FROM ACCEPTING FRIENDS REQUESTS.
1-29-13 (10:41 AM): In response to Blake Shelton’s comments, Willie Nelson has renamed his current tour the “Old Farts & Jackass” tour. Also, on the 26th, Ray Price accepted Blake Shelton;s apology, saying in part, “I HAVE ACCEPTED BLAKE SHELTON’S APOLOGY TO ME PERSONALLY. I think Blake is a fine young man with a big future in Country Music. I AGREE that he should be given a chance to restore his credibility with the MILLIONS OF FANS who were deeply offended by those HURTFUL WORDS AND RENAMING US ALL AS…..well, you know what he said. I would regret it if the words I have spoken would in any way harm Blake personally or his career and his chances for the future.”
2-1-13 (12:20 CST): Country Weekly reports that Blake Shelton met with Ray Price prior to Ray’s performance at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma on Thursday (1-31). Price also invited Blake Shelton up on stage where he warmly introduced him to the audience. Durant is about an hour from where Blake Shelton lives with Miranda Lambert, who also attended the Ray Price performance. See Photo of Blake, Ray, and Miranda. and Photo on Ray’s Bus
2-6-13 (8:20 CST): Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts has weighed in on Blake Shelton’s comments, saying in part, “Country music does have to evolve and it has evolved to where it is, and it’s going to keep evolving into whatever it’s going to be. I think that’s kind of his point, from my side, being serious, he’s kind of right. But, he didn’t have to be so edgy about it.”
Evangelist Records has posted a new “official” video for Dale Watson’s song “Old Farts & Jackasses.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Blake Shelton’s comments can be seen at the very end of this video. UPDATE: THE VIDEO OF BLAKE SHELTON MAKING THE COMMENTS HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO COPYRIGHT CLAIM.
Thanks to Greg Morris for the tip on this story.
January 24, 2013 @ 8:26 pm
I may be jumping on my soap box here, but I am still enraged by this whole Blake Shelton business.
I certainly respect the right to express your own opinions. However, when it becomes derogatory toward others, then I have a problem. Blake Shelton”™s comments are both hurtful and thoughtless not only to the legends of Country Music, but to their fans as well.
I have never seen another genre of music that shuns its roots to the extent of this. Rock legends such as the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan are heralded as heroes and have the utmost respect of the new generation. The same holds true for Jazz, Blues and R & B music. Why, in turn, do the modern (so called) Country artists continue to arrogantly dismiss the works of their Predecessors ?
Any artist in Country Music today that has even a shred of traditional music in their sound are influenced in some way by the “old farts”. Do these people think they came up with that sound all on their own ? Do the honestly feel that they deserve credit for that ?
As for people not buying the old Country Music, I beg to differ. Living in Michigan, I see our economy only kept alive by “old money”. These are people that made their living when one could still be made and save for their golden years, not spending it all on video games and i-pods ! These people still love to hear good music and will go see concerts by the artists from their generation who are still touring. On that note, I have personally witnessed a Ray Price concert at a casino here sell out within an hour of the tickets going on sale. I have seen Merle Haggard perform several times in the last couple years and every show was sold out. In addition, there have been a lot of younger fans coming to these concerts. In my band, we play Honky Tonk Country Music and will pack a house with young and old people. This past weekend, we did a show and had a group of about 10 people, all in their 20”™s that came up and requested old Country songs.
Why is this you may ask? Well I believe that it is partly due to the fact that most “Country” radio only plays the new stuff and plays it over and over again. You get tired of it real fast. The originality is gone and the music has been relegated to a passing fad. An artist today will not and does not maintain the staying power like the legends of yesterday. It”™s all about how much money can be made quickly based on an image and marketing. Then when that runs its course, they move on to another. The music itself is catchy and noisy. It has no meaning and depth like the old songs. You will never hear some young couple 30 years from now saying “Listen to this Blake Shelton tune, it was our song” But you will still hear the old songs that mean something to people, much like they do today. You continue to see younger people “discovering” the old Country Music on the web through Youtube and I-Tunes just to name a couple. People will find the music they want to listen to every time. Real Country is not going anywhere folks! I think Blake Shelton needs to be reminded of that before he decides to cover another “old fart” Conway Twitty song and get a number one with it. He surely did not get the hit because he is Blake Shelton. He got it because of the song!! It was good when Twitty recorded it and it”™s still good. Staying power from a song that has meaning. What a concept.
See? You can learn from your elders. Better think twice before you bite the hand that feeds you.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:31 pm
AMEN SCOTT!
February 12, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
blake who?? oh yeah….even that miranda tramp didn’t want him…
January 24, 2013 @ 8:54 pm
I hate that he thinks we need to reinvent country music. you don’t reinvent the wheel do you? every artist deserves a chance to do country music their way but not at the cost of genre. Ray Price did it his way, Waylon did it his way, and damnit I’ll do it mine but not by forgetting what got us there. “the heart of country music still beats in luke the drifter, you can tell it when he sang I saw the light.” we all either sing like Hank or Lefty. all of us real singers. or at least we try to but this new breed seems to be looking for a Micheal Jackson influence. nothing really wrong with that unless you are trying to be a country singer. glad to see so many chiming in on this subject. just proves to me that us old farts and jackasses will not be counted out. long live country music and screw that some beach.
January 24, 2013 @ 9:03 pm
Fuck Blake Shelton….This 55 yo loves country music…real country music…I don’t want to hear some twit rapping…i don’t want t hear how country you b think you are…I don’t want to hear a teenager sing about what they think love is…I don’t want to hear anything written for 8th grade educated divorced housewives. You want to rock? Sing something coming out of Austin these days. I’m not against outlaws….I’m against milk toast vanilla pop country written for kids. Make a real country song…..in a few years, they will get it and they will like it….
April 22, 2016 @ 4:15 pm
I AGREE-HE ALSO SAID HE WOULD BE ON EVERY TABLOID IN 2016-he sure did that. whats wrong with him? He has the world by the tail
October 5, 2016 @ 9:55 pm
HB we all know who’s pulling his stings, thank god miranda woke up
January 24, 2013 @ 9:11 pm
I am a soon to be 60 year “old fart” that never listened to Grandpa’s music. I chose my own music based on what I liked on the radio. Started going to the Grand Ole Opry when I was about 10, I remember making our way into The Ryman and hearing the steel guitar kicking off a song and though I couldn’t see the stage yet I knew who was gonna sing. Now when I turn on the radio, which is seldom, they all sound the same. I have always said I was country before country was cool. Country music has evolved greatly over the years but now has no where to evolve to. Maybe Blake Shelton and his generation or group of entertainers(those that can actually sing) should get them some headphones and some of Grandpa’s music and spend a couple of years evolving back to some real country music. I did sort of kind of like some of Shelton’s music as far as this old fart is concerned he has peed in his own Wheaties. This is my opinion and so far I’m still entitled to it.
January 24, 2013 @ 9:19 pm
Times change, people change, and the damn music changes, even country music. All of you need to look back at the history of country music!! Hank Jr changed it, Waylon changed it,Haggard changed it,Randy Travis changed it,Garth Brooks changed it and the list and history goes on. You all act like Blake has taken something away from you. He may have,what some may consider disrespect, some of us old farts and the country music from back when a bunch of us want even thought of. All of you are a bunch of jealous asses that have to get up and go to work tomorrow just like I do. This country is going to hell and yall are worried about what Blake Shelton said. Check the popularity polls, he is on top of the charts right now because of all this bull shit yall keep stirring.ROTFFLMAO at you!
November 16, 2015 @ 6:39 pm
TELL those goddamn motherfuckers, Oldhabits! **TELL**!!!!!!!!!! THEIR ASSES!! My God, ROCK music and POP music have changed over the years, what the damn hell makes your asses think COUNTRY music has no right to change! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU ALL THE HELL THINK “OLD FARTS” FELT BACK IN THE LATE 50S AND/OR EARLY 60S WHEN THE NASHVILLE PRODUCERS DECIDED TO BACK UP THEIR COUNTRY RECORDINGS WITH ***STRINGS***!!!?!!! OR WHEN A POP ROCK STAR FROM AUSTRALIA’S BREAKTHROUGH HIT ON THE AMERICAN CHARTS 10 OR 15 YEARS LATER WAS, PRACTICALLY A *COUNTRY* (NEVER MIND COUNTRY POP) SONG!–**COMPLETE WITH TWANGY GUITAR**!!?!! HUH? And do YOU fuckin’ know how many people have been resistant to changes in music AND HAVE FELT THAT THE STATUS QUO WAS/IS BEING CHALLENGED *****IN GENERAL*****????? Early in Blake Shelton’s career, SHIT, *HIS* ASS COVERED A CONWAY TWITTY SONG, for fuck sake! It was HIS FIRST HIT!!!!!!!!!!, I think!!!!! If it weren’t for Strait, Nelson, Cash, Pride, Parton, Rogers, McEntire, etc., do you cockgoddamnsuckin think that Blake Shelton would be a country star or even a judge on “The Voice”? EXACTLY! JESUS, MOTHERFUCKERS! DAMN!!!!!!!!!! FUCKin’ ASSholes.! (And the username of the person whose comment I responding to is “Oldhabits”! (SO WHAT THE GODDAMN FUCK DOES **THAT**!! tell your asses who have the balls or clit(?) (depending on your gender) to dis country music that you didn’t grow up with!?!))
November 16, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
“(‘…whose comment *I’m* responding to…’),” that is. (emphasis mine)
January 24, 2013 @ 9:38 pm
If it had not been for Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash an a host of other classic country artists, there would have never been a Blake Shelton in the first place. B.S. (“Blake Shelton”) thinks he’s made it all by himself, but he hasn’t. He’s standing on the shoulders of every classic country artist that came before him, and Mr. B.S. isn’t fit to pull on their bootstraps!
November 16, 2015 @ 6:57 pm
Blake’s even standing on the shoulders of later country stars such as Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire, The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kathy Mattea–and, yes–Garth Brooks.
January 24, 2013 @ 9:39 pm
I just figured it out, most of you on here are a bunch of wanna be country music singers that dont know shit about the business or Nashville. How many on here that has posted or agreed to someones post have a recording contract with a major record label,road crews,a band,busses,nice elegant homes..NONE of YOU!! Blake does!!
I remember an interview with Ricky Skaggs, a bluegrass musician, he was asked why he moved to country music, he said he was starving to death playing bluegrass,no market or money for it. Blake told the truth and now everybody is pissed.
January 24, 2013 @ 9:50 pm
I’m glad you figured it out OldHabits.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:41 am
“How many on here that has posted or agreed to someones post have a recording contract with a major record label,road crews,a band,busses,nice elegant homes..NONE of YOU!! Blake does!!”
You obviously don’t know everyone that posts on here, but I’ll pretend with you on the “none of you” comment.
However, aren’t you ignoring all the artists weighing in on this that have a hell of a lot more cred than this sellout. Ray Price for one. Dale Watson. Whitey Morgan. etc… They all have a lot more cred and value than any bus or “elegant” home can give you.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:45 pm
I guess Ricky Skaggs got fed up with NashVile cause he went back to bluegrass where is a major star
November 16, 2015 @ 7:08 pm
*OH* MY *****GOD*****!!!!!, you cocksuckin’ nailed it, Oldhabits! God!DAMN!!!!!!!!, you mothergoddamnfuckin’ nailed it!!!!! THOSE damn assholes are…JUST,…fuckin’,…JEALOUS! THEY’RE jealous because Blake Shelton is a wealthy celebrity, PERIOD! (So they’ve GOTTA be jealous of (INSERT NAME OF CELEBRITY (IN **ANY** *FIELD*) ***HERE***)!)
January 24, 2013 @ 10:03 pm
Blake Sheldon, what in the world are you thinking? Didnt your mother teach you to think before you speak? You were my favorite but your remarks have shown a new light on you and your way of NOT thinking and now you are at the bottom of the list.
This makes me sick and shows how little respect you have for me as a 55 year old jackass or fart whichever. Cuz honey I was country when country wasnt cool. Now you’re the one that isn’t cool.
Pauline Harris not ashamed or belittling anyone!!!
January 24, 2013 @ 10:12 pm
It’s unfortunate that the fame has gone to Blake’s head. Has he forgot where he came from and who paved the way? It might be time for an intervention here, this sounds typical of alcohol induced verbal jabber. Boozers are losers Mr. Shelton and you stand to lose a lot with those kind of statements. By the way, he was a disappointment on his cruise also, just putting that out there.
Cheers
January 24, 2013 @ 10:12 pm
He has lost his ever loving mind-I’m done with him and his dumbass music thats not counrty. He Blake Shelton use to sing country music but of course he has changed and moved forward. I wonder what the COUNTRY HALL OF FAME will think about his comments. He’s a jackass and I will never buy shit he does again. He was disrespectful to the GREATS !!!!
January 24, 2013 @ 10:42 pm
His apology certainly was not heartfelt! More people need to speak up! Todays country music has no heart at all, no magic! Long live traditional country and its veteran artists!
Is Blake Shelton ‘the Lance Armstrong of country music’? | Parcbench.com
January 25, 2013 @ 12:26 am
[…] those injudicious comments, he heard from country legend Ray Price (via the story on the website SavingCountryMusic: “It”™s a shame that I have spend 63 years in this business trying to introduce music to a […]
January 25, 2013 @ 1:03 am
I find it amusing that Blake thinks he’s an expert on what type of music sells, given that his album sales are underwhelming especially for the popularity and exposure he has.
January 25, 2013 @ 1:04 am
Thank god Oldhabits came along to set us all straight on this…phew!!!
Your a Dip!! You got(or just want) BS on speed dial.
Yes, Ricky said that,,,cuz it was true. But what he made for country music was
a thousand times better than what BS comes up with.
And now Bluegrass is picking up and guess what, its pretty much all Ricky is
doing these days.
BS didnt tell the truth, he just confirmed to us all that hes a Moron.
Anyway, gotta get back to working on becoming a wanna be country music singer.
January 25, 2013 @ 1:51 am
The bottom line is the music business is a BUSINESS, and they’ve all had the numbers for decades. The numbers on album sales, merchandise, concert tickets, and radio ratings of stations that still air the old stuff.
I’ve been in country radio nearly 20 years and the truth is that the lovers of classic country cast the first stone by making disparaging comments about the likes of Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, and Blake Shelton as not being authentic country artists. So, now, when someone like Blake stands up and says “enough, society as a whole doesn’t want the old fart music”… well… he’s right. And the numbers are there to support him.
This is a classic case of shooting the messenger.
January 25, 2013 @ 9:35 am
I respectfully disagree. I think there’s plenty of classic and traditional country with commercial viability right now, despite receiving little or no support from the industry and radio. Projects like “O Brother Where Art Thou” and Johnny Cash’s American Recording prove older artists and classic country can have huge commercial appeal if only given the chance. Right now there’s no radio support for this music, and that’s why it doesn’t sell as well. What would happen if you evened the playing field? If you gave traditional country artists just as much airtime as pop country? Or just gave classic country something, anything? 20% of it?
And just because Blake believe the music needs to “evolve” which is a whole other discussion, doesn’t mean he needs to degrade those fans as “old farts” and “jackasses.”
January 25, 2013 @ 2:24 am
Blake Shelton has revealed something very interesting…his is actually human.
Only a human being could make such a comment without actually thinking it through. And before anyone makes a retort to that, if I was a betting woman I would bet the house that all of us at one time or another said something about someone or something in public and then later, went ‘Damn it! I really should not have said that!’ I know I have, and was confronted about it by THAT person!
And while we all may not agree; He is entitled to his opinion, and his right to express it. It is his constitutional right. Was it an unfortunate thing to say, there is no denying that it was indeed most Unfortunate. Should he have said it on a TV program, probably not the smartest idea he’s ever had, but I have seen dumber mistakes by more powerful people. Is he the first person to make disparaging comments about something or someone, in a word…No. Will he be doing damage control…most likely. We won’t see it, but it will be happening behind the scenes, this is after all a rather large gaff towards the older traditional artists. He will no doubt find backlash from those other artists who respect the older traditional artists (And yes, they are old…those birthdays ain’t making them younger.)
This situation also reveals what we as humans also tend to do a little too much, place people on pedestals. I am pretty sure if we delve back in the annuals of Country Music, we will find that those traditional singers we all love, have said and done some really questionable things in their careers as well, not to mention the members of their back-up bands.
This has the potential to go one of two ways; shake up the industry or evolve (or devolve depending on your view point) into a REALLY BIG PISSING CONTEST.
I have my money on Pissing Contest.
Right now I see a lot of venom and hate; for ONE guy who made a really bad call with a really, really bad comment.
I also see, a lot of people deciding what should be classed as country and what shouldn’t. I do believe that the same arguments went around during Chet Atkins and the Nashville Sound Era. I think they called it Countrypolitan?
It took Roy Acuff listening to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before he went in to record for Will The Circle Be Unbroken in 1971 to decide that they were country – up until then he had them classed as not country.
Now I am glad that SMC and Trigger have the chutzpa to post even the items that cause the fervor this has. It gets people talking, and sharing ideas.
BTW – The comment above about Boozers are Losers; you are aware that quite a few of the classic artists had either alcohol or drug problems right?
January 25, 2013 @ 9:29 am
Good comment. You should read my follow up piece to all of this, especially the bottom.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/blake-shelton-awakens-the-rage-of-traditional-country-music-fans
February 1, 2016 @ 7:58 pm
B S is a drunkloye12
January 25, 2013 @ 2:26 am
I have a big Problem with Blake’s statements because I am a 29 year old Classic Country to the core kind of Woman. I am the only in my family that listens to, sings and plays Classic Country and if it weren’t for Classic Country then Mr.Shelton wouldn’t have a job in the Music Industry now would he. I don’t think he would quite make it as a rapper or a rock star with his Classic sound. How dare he put down the very music that influenced him to be an artist. If you think that no one wants to hear that Classic Sound then I think you might want to take a second look at the Charts I believe you will find that Clinton Gregory is steadily moving up pretty fast because he is bringing the true roots and sound and truth back to Country Music as it should be. Shame on you Blake Shelton!
January 25, 2013 @ 5:20 am
Blake, I watched you with great anticipation as you sang on “Country’s Family Reunion” DVD, and listened to how you painted May Axton’s house when you first arrived in Nashville. You stated how honored you were just to be there in that circle, let me tell you, that circle took you a long way. You my boy have screwed up “Big Time”. There are still enough of us “Old Farts” who truly love Traditional Country Music. I am totally stunned at what I’ve read here today and I’ll tell you, you will not go down in history like the great Traditional Country Music Singers, you have blown it big time. Hard as you might find it to believe, there are still many young people who love Real country music, lets see your standing in 5 – 10 years, will you be a has been, you surely won’t be a Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Gene Watson, VINCE GILL. As far as I’m concerned now, you don’t even exist. Shame on you for biting the hand that feeds you. You will live to regret it that is for sure. We “Old Farts” will be listening to our traditional country music as long as there is a breath in us and I know my grandchildren will too, as there is a place in their hearts that makes them want to hear what their parents loved, there’s a comfort zone there, and they love it. This is a sad day for me, as I had high hopes for you, just because you are popular now, don’t think it won’t be gone in a flash, you surely didn’t do your career one bit of good with your big mouth.
November 16, 2015 @ 7:20 pm
*There* you go, Sandy. ********THAT’S******!!!!!! what I’m talkin’ about! And Vince Gill is an example of the many–and I mean *many*–CONTEMPORARY country stars without which Blake Shelton *wouldn’t have even* ***PURSUED***!!! a career as a country singer!
January 25, 2013 @ 6:41 am
When I was growing up in Nashville, one of the best concerts I ever attended was at the Ryman. It was a taping of the Johnny Cash show and featured Johnny (obviously), Carl Perkins, the Stoneman Family, and Derek and the Dominoes. Clapton, Cash and Perkins jammed at the end. I was a teenager, and I felt like I was experiencing the history of American music. There was the Gaelic-rooted, Appalachian sound of the Stonemans, Johnny’s pure country, Carl’s rock ‘n roll history and the blues-based sound of Eric’s music. At the end of the night we were all standing on the Ryman pews–long-haired punks like me, old rednecks, everyone. I’d let a surgeon remove my left testicle to have another experience like that. And every one of those musicians (none of which were on reality shows) would have showed respect for the “grandpas” music from which their sound was built.
I wonder if today’s teenager will ever feel like that at a Rascall Flatts or Blake Shelton or whatever concert?
January 25, 2013 @ 7:18 am
Blake, you’re great at what you do, you sell a lot of records. You’re a good judge on reality TV show BUT keep in mind, YOU DON’T PLAY COUNTRY MUSIC. Stick to pop music and I’ll stick with Hank Sr., George Jones and Ray Price. BTW I’m a 34 year old man, so I might not be in the right demographic as a potential consumer of what you put out. Now it’s time to listen to some of my “grandpa’s music” on my iPod. Have a great weekend.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:20 am
First off I like Blake..I think his music or at least some of it is good but if Blake thinks Traditional Country is so “old school” and is “grandpa” music why’d he re-record Conway’s version of Goodbye Time and further more if the “new” country is as good as Blake points out..what is the message being given to our Younger Generation with today’s music other than it’s ok to cheat and it’s ok to defy the law. Take a look at the message being given to the younger generation in Blake’s song Ol’ Red..what is the msg other than it’s ok to defy the law.
I think ppl like Blake need to realize where Country Music started..what is the root of Country Music and the fact that had it not been for guys like Ray Price, Conway Twitty and Patsy Cline HE won’t be here to be recording today.Maybe he ought to think 2x before condemning and not let a few awards get to his head.He may be good but he’s pale in comparison to Classics like Ray Price and Conway Twitty and The Possum.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:38 am
I’ve seen where some writers have said that Blake Shelton is “right” about how country music needs to evolve. Well, I think that’s like saying Newt Gingrich was right when he gave a speech on family values during presidential primary season. You have to be credible on the issue you’re talking about.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:52 am
“Evolve” doesn’t equal “cashing in”. All the past artists that some are using as an excuse for what Blake said…Waylon, Willie, Garth…did evlove the music, but they did it because they heard a sound in their head or a vision of what they wanted to get out. They didn’t care if it fit what was popular. They didn’t care if the kids bought it. They didn’t care if they failed. They just cared about doing it their way.
All I hear Blake and his supports saying is “we need to stay popular so we can make as much money as possible.”
Sure, Blake plays token cover songs at his shows. Might have Mel Tillis backstage, but that is all fluff. He is all about money.
Jesus, the guy is 36-37 yrs. old and he just put out a song called “Sure Be Cool If You Did”. I’ve never heard the song, but let me guess, he likes a girl and wants her “heart”, does she want his? Sure be cool if you did.
Ray Price Attacks Blake Shelton for Comments About Classic Country Fans | Country 106.5 WYRK Radio
January 25, 2013 @ 7:52 am
[…] read the comments via Saving Country Music, and he wasted no time in responding, posting the […]
January 25, 2013 @ 8:25 am
I find Blake’s comments to be an exact quote of the nature of country music or shall I say mainstream country. The part that is ironic, like many have posted, is his love for name dropping. To me, he is no different the douchebag Brantley Gilbert and all the other artists that name drop at the drop of a hat. Which brings up my next point about it’s become all about the money for him. Gone is his country sound, cowboy hat and any roots he ever had. The only reason he won the Male vocalist is purely him being on the Voice. How else do you explain never really having a hit until you are on a reality karaoke show. If country music must evolve, it needs to still have roots. A tree can not become a tree without starting with the roots. If you cut out the roots, you cut down the tree. I am a high school teacher and a prime example of how frustrating it is with country music is when a kid asks me what kind of music I listen to. I have to specifically say Texas/Red Dirt/Old School/Traditional country. If I just say country, all they say is “you mean like Taylor Swift, Rascall Flatts and Luke Bryan”. I say, “no, like George Strait, Alan Jackson, Don Williams, Hank Williams, Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard” You would think I was talking in a foreign language to them. I told them I would play a few of their songs for them and they all complained. They said, “that sounds nothing like what is on the radio. You need to listen to Hunter Hayes, he is good”.
Aaron Watson wrote a parody song called “Hey Y’all”. It suits the mainstream country perfectly and the sad thing is, if it was released to radio, would probably be a hit. And people wouldn’t realize it was making fun of all the songs that are hits these days. It’s not even the loss of the fiddle or steel guitar, its the song writing. Just atrocious.
Blake can say whatever he wants, its his right with freedom of speech. What he will soon realize is that calling people jackasses and trashing the good name of so many better artists before him, will take a major hit on him. And his half ass apology is exactly that, half ass. He can say whatever he wants to make the situation better but at this point the damage is done. Enjoy the money and awards by default. I will take any traditional country “jackass” “grandpa music” any day over the trash on the radio. Which is why never leave home without my ipod.
January 25, 2013 @ 8:51 am
love Dales comment about Mr. Miranda Lambert… haha. I respectfully disagree with him concerning Ray Price being the best “voice” in country music. That title easily goes to George Jones. Jones with his soul, emotion and vocal range easily top Price.. Also would vote Lefty, Vern Gosdin, the Hag, and Keith Whitley ahead of Ray Price, vocal lick for vocal lick.
January 25, 2013 @ 9:12 am
Truth, there isn’t much room on this blog to get off topic, and I agree that the other names you mentioned are great voices.
Of the names, I’ve only heard Mr. Price live. It was a couple years ago at Billy Bob’s. At 90+yrs. old, he sounded incredible. As if he was 30yrs. old in the best recording studio money could buy. But he was 90 in Billy Bob’s. Smooth as can be and just a different level.
There were a ton of great artists there as well. It was Willie’s July 4th picnic. So I’m talking Willie, DAC, Ray Wylie, Ray Benson as older artists. Mr. Price you could tell was just on another level, and those artists gave him the respect too. Seeing Willie in awe of someone is cool.
So, Dale Watson has a very good argument. Just wanted to share Ray live if you’ve never experienced it. It is rare these days.
KHAZ Country Music News: Blake Shelton Clarifies Statement that Offended Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Price | Hays Post
January 25, 2013 @ 9:20 am
[…] all started when Ray posted a Facebook link to a story at SavingCountryMusic.com pulling quotes from Blake’s GAC Backstory special on the evolution of country music. Blake […]
January 25, 2013 @ 9:27 am
He was actually talking about the industry people in Nashville not country music fans but hey, don’t let that get in the way of a good story!
January 25, 2013 @ 9:37 am
Nobody believes that, and there’s no way to legitimately construe that as his opinion. This is spin.
January 25, 2013 @ 10:01 am
It’s not spin, he said “I don”™t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain”™t country!”
January 25, 2013 @ 10:12 am
That’s ridiculous. The industry people are the ones promoting and pumping this pop country shit out. There’s not a suit on music row saying “that’s not country!” They’re saying “Let’s shoot out to Belle Meade Country Club for 9 holes and lunch.”
January 25, 2013 @ 10:06 am
BEH,
Industry people in Nashville created Blake. It is not them that are saying he isn’t country enough. They couldn’t be happier that he is not country like the “old farts” and “jackasses” he referred to wished he was. He was talking directly to fans that go up to him and say “you’re not country, you’re pop”.
I can promise you 100%, that there has never been a Nashville record exec. that told Blake “hey, that Honeybee song or “Sure Be Cool If You Did”, not our thing. We need a sound more like Waylon.”
if that happened, the Earth would break in half.
January 25, 2013 @ 10:47 am
I don’t think Shelton comes within a million miles of being anything like Hank Williams when it comes to writing or singing. Shelton should be showing some respect but he must be just another kid who did not get those old time lessons of honor, discipline, respect, and religion as we learned through such great Southern leaders as General Robert E Lee.
January 25, 2013 @ 11:04 am
what in the hell does this have to do with Blake Shelton or the article we were talking about?
January 25, 2013 @ 11:25 am
The bottom line is the music business is a BUSINESS, and they”™ve all had the numbers for decades. The numbers on album sales, merchandise, concert tickets, and radio ratings of stations that still air the old stuff.
Here’s the irony when you talk about numbers: Blake Shelton isn’t even in the top 5 when you talk about the best selling current country (pop/country, whatever) albums. With all that hype and promo he gets from NBC and The Voice, he couldn’t even sell a million copies of Red River Blue. His album sales are less than half of what Luke Bryan is selling and I am no fan of Luke Bryan. Jason Aldean has already outsold Blake Shelton with an album released only a few months ago. Carrie Underwood’s current album has already outsold Blake’s album despite being out less than half as long. Eric Church’s album outsold Blake’s too. The way Little Big Town’s selling now with their album released in September they’re going to put up better numbers than Blake.
Downloads, you say? Blake’s getting outsold there too by all of the acts I mentioned.
Concerts? According to Pollstar’s 2012 report Blake lagged far behind Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and his wife Miranda Lambert in grosses and tickets sold. This year, he’s going to get his hat handed to him by an old fart called George Strait when it comes to concert ticket sales.
Where are these amazing numbers that endorse Blake Shelton as the guy who should in his own words get to decide if country music gets to move forward and if it gets to move on?
It’s not just the numbers that don’t back Blake, it’s his music. The point’s been made that it’s not just the evolution into pop/country or rock/country or whatever, it’s that so many of the songs are just plain bad. I don’t know if there’s anybody getting more radio support with flat out crap than Blake Shelton right now. He’s no innovator. He’s a copycat act in search of an identity. This isn’t Miranda Lambert we’re talking about, who takes some chances with some of her album cuts. This isn’t Brad Paisley we’re talking about, whose current single is messy but is at least trying to do something interesting and has an interesting message. This isn’t Carrie Underwood we’re talking about who may have a lot of pop in her music but who’s released 2 singles in a row that with edgy, dark storylines you really only find in country music. This isn’t Eric Church we’re talking about who actually did put out an album that represents country music evolving in an interesting way, and who’s actually earned mass and even some industry support for that album.
As a country music fan who’s younger than Blake but supports true diversity in the genre I’ve learned a lot of my favorites are going to say something obnoxious or disagreeable every now and then. The difference here is a) how unearned Blake’s comments are and b) the fact that he unnecessarily insulted the people who prefer a different style of country than what you hear on radio today.
January 25, 2013 @ 1:16 pm
Good stuff there Elizabeth
Ray Price Goes After Blake Shelton for Comments About Classic Country Fans | Cat Country 107.3
January 25, 2013 @ 12:17 pm
[…] read the comments via Saving Country Music, and he wasted no time in responding, posting the […]
January 25, 2013 @ 12:41 pm
I think it’s time for Blake to take another look at that crappy tattoo.
I really am tired of all these people who think just because they sing with a southern accent, that makes it country. Every genre is based on a particular set of structures, with a particular range of themes and a relatively specific instrumentation. The further you move away from that, the further you get from any given genre. A 12 bar blues is a 12 bar blues, it doesn’t matter if it’s Josh White or Jimmy Page.
I don’t listen to Blake Shelton. I don’t expect that bothers him a whole lot. There are people who like what he does. That’s fine. Just know what it is. It’s pop music. Don’t be ashamed of it. Why feel the need to appropriate something different?
January 25, 2013 @ 12:51 pm
Hey Trig thought I’d post this in thread too.
The story got a mention on the Nashville Tennessean’s blog! 😀
http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2013/01/25/blake-shelton-sparks-controversy-with-comments-on-country-music-responds/
January 25, 2013 @ 2:08 pm
Thanks! I saw that and your messages. Getting pulled in 1,000 different directions at the moment…
January 25, 2013 @ 2:38 pm
I wasn’t sure the messages went though that’s why I sent them twice. I didn’t get the conformation page just the comment page. It’s cool the blog is getting so much traffic may the new posters will hang around and learn about the artists that are promoted here
Ray Price Attacks Blake Shelton for Comments About Classic Country Fans - Classic Country 1280 KSLI
January 25, 2013 @ 12:58 pm
[…] read the comments via Saving Country Music, and he wasted no time in responding, posting the […]
Ray Price Attacks Blake Shelton for Comments About Classic Country Fans | Kicker 102.5
January 25, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
[…] read the comments via Saving Country Music, and he wasted no time in responding, posting the […]
January 25, 2013 @ 1:25 pm
Blake Shelton will never, I mean never, be a Dale Watson, Ray Price, Don Williams, Sammy Kershaw, Tracy Lawrence, George Strait, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, Alan Jackson, etc…Lets get rid of the steel guitar and bring in some 80’s sounding electric guitars…that’s Nashville now, Rock Music not Country.. Every single song sounds the same and almost every song is fast…I’ll take the old farts and jackasses anyday…I think we all know who the real jackass is…
January 25, 2013 @ 1:39 pm
I love Country, REAL COUNTRY, I do like some of the new stuff, but not alot of it. I have been tyrying to git noticed for years, but they say you DONT get a contract after 40. But I keep trying. Country music is about tradition. Songs with meaning, not its so wonderful and everything is fine. Theres no way everything can be fine ALL THE TIME. But thats what all the country today mostley says. AND now it takes a pretty face to make it, not a voice? Ive heard a very popular female country singer that sings off key live, but sounds perfect from a studio, HUH? That makes no sense, so if your pretty you can be a star? Thats bull. This is country,
http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/r/bf68e05ea
GOD BLESS THE FANS OF REAL COUNTRY….from REAL people
January 25, 2013 @ 1:58 pm
WOH! There are alot of people making a Big Deal over BS Please. I am 58 years old and have listen to Country music since I have been in diapers. Blake Shelton is everything about Country Music. I listen to Hank Sr. Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe and even Led Zeppelin so my taste of music is widespread. The oldies like Dion, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Platters and the new stuff out there, Dierks Bentley, Band Perry and you people are being misled and very misunderstood. And by the way I have in my collection lots of Ray Price on Record and Video and a huge fan of his Country Music as well. One of my Country Music Heroes as well as Carl Smith, Loretta Lynn and My Favorite Porter Wagoner and let me add to that list Mr. Blake Shelton. So get over what you doing and thinking and move on Country Music always changes and you have to adjust to it. If it all sounded like The Honky Tonk Years it would get boring, that is why you had that 60’s Nashville sound, Pop Country, Outlaw Country and Southern Rock Country so see what I am trying to say, the point has been made. I’m a old fart and foggy I guess but I also like Blake Shelton and his Country Music Style. By the way saw Miranda and Dierks last night and it was Fantastic in Baltimore Maryland. Go Ravens……
January 25, 2013 @ 2:15 pm
It’s not about music changing. It’s about what he said and how he said it. BS is right and what his comments were
January 25, 2013 @ 2:21 pm
Just because you’re knowledgeable about country music, profess you’re love for country music, or even make country music, doesn’t give you the right or the excuse to say disparaging things about the people that built the genre.
American Songwriter Presents John McCauley And Robert Ellis At ... - musicBlogs
January 25, 2013 @ 2:09 pm
[…] The phrase Bluebird for a new generation was invoked more than once at the Nations (aka Sylvan Park s) new restaurant-venue, where sister and brother owners Elise and William Tyler are an important connection from Nashville old and new in a time when that seems as vital as ever3. […]
January 25, 2013 @ 2:14 pm
Some of the country stars are tweeting their support for BS, including Martina McBride and ChrisYoung. I also saw a radio DJ tweet in support. His current single got a lot of spins today. So, even though I want all this to blow upon his face for a badly needed lesson, I don’t think he will get a severe backlash in the long run. Business as usual. The cynical side of me is predicting that he will once again win the vocalist and entertainer awards this year, and he will go up there, accept his awards, and give an emotional speech of how he endured and overcome this controversy. Sad times in country music.
January 25, 2013 @ 3:05 pm
Sounds like the pop country industry might be circling the wagons to protect one of their more visible assets.
January 25, 2013 @ 2:52 pm
True to his word Dale Watson has a song out Ya gotta love him
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=415651121842971&set=vb.100001942590422&type=2&theater
January 25, 2013 @ 3:11 pm
We’ll I be dawg!! Anybody seen the charts today? BS is laughing all the way to the bank. I did not see Ray Price or Dale Watson on there!! No disrespect to either one of them, I love both of their music along with the other older artist.DEFINE COUNTRY MUSIC!! I want to ask, How can you say they paved the way for Blake and other artist today?? Who paved the way for them? Who decides who is placed in the country music hall of fame or who gets to play at the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman? Blake has played at both places, damn, those places are country music venues,the churches of country music, how did Blake and others yawl are bashing get to play there. SUPPLY and DEMAND people!!! Hell, Elvis Presley was considered a country artist!! My personal music library is full of country legends,but not all of them.My taste in country music is not the same as yours just like yours is not the same as others. Blake shouldnt have said what he did, but he did tell the truth whether you like it or not. I think the old fart and jackass choice of words was just the way he talks, he didnt mean it personally.And for Ray and Dale to respond the way they did, I have lost all respect for them.So there, I’m not of fan of them anymore. If he had called names of certain artist, I would not be on here defending him, but he didnt and Dale and Ray thought it was there civic duty to respond,bullshit on them. I never heard Blake even mention their name.Truth be known he probably dont care.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:47 pm
I’m sure Dale Watson is losing sleep over not being on the charts. ROFLMAO
January 25, 2013 @ 7:52 pm
That all you got???? Go to bed
January 25, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
This is what the country music industry makes us listen to. We have no radio choice on who they put on country music stations. It’s all a brand in order to sell products. But there are awesome bands out there that people who love country (3 chords and the truth) need to here but never will.
People who reject this pop music that they market as country need to support the “Whitey Morgans” and “JP Harris” that are out there.
There shows are awesome and you don’t have to sit miles away from them at the show. There is plenty of chances to have a beer and a chat with them between sets.
But none of it will ever change because they can’t sell Coca-Cola.
January 25, 2013 @ 3:29 pm
Blake Shelton is current country music and that is how its going to be Honey Bee.
A misunderstanding on the way things were said. He is still a great entertainer and nobody should even try to take that away. Can you perform like him ? No, I didn’t think so…..so move on please. Everybody wants to be a critic. I would love to see Country music get back that Twang but you have to be patient things always change in the industry. And Blake Shelton is a Hillbilly and true to Country music.
January 25, 2013 @ 3:46 pm
I don’t have any problem with Blake Shelton’s music. In fact, I like “Honey Bee” and “Drink on It” (the latter even has a classic country sound). However, he needs to realize that words have consequences.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
What was the misunderstanding? I think his words spoke volumes. I have no idea if he is a great performer I’ve never seen him and have no plans to do so. His music never impressed me or is something I would listen to.
February 1, 2013 @ 12:44 pm
I think I could put on a show like Blake. Dead serious too.
Did I go to Nashville and follow a dream like him? Guess not, but I think I could do what he does.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:04 pm
I was raised on country music. I am 40 and I listened to country when it wasn’t cool in my younger years. I buy music at the store and online (legally) I prefer traditional country music. If you want to sing pop, then please change genres. If it had not been for the “Old Fart” and “Jack@$$es” you would not be in the business today. My question is were you born this much of an arrogant @$$ or do you work at it. I read one of the posts to be respectful to Blake in any comment, but I was raised respect is earned not given. He has not earned my respect nor does he deserve it after his comment. I use to buy your music, but I won’t spend another dime on it now. To blatantly disrespect the artists that came before you is not ok. After this comment I doubt you will be in the business long. The true country artists will always be in the business. I have finally stopped listening to our local channel because what they play is NOT country music it is Pop. The younger fans you refer to to buy the music, they steal it. All of us “Old Farts” are the ones with money to buy music. I lost a all respect for you today.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:20 pm
Its attitudes like this that are completely ruining the music industry. Being a musician should always be about the music. Not about changing your style so you sell records. Pompus ass.
January 25, 2013 @ 4:37 pm
Well you go Blake.. right off of stage left.. don’t let the screen door hit you. I, like a total idiot, paid for my daughter to download some of your music… which I have since erased. So I guess I threw good money to bad. She’s since replaced those tunes of yours with Conway Twitty and Charlie Pride.. She’s just a young fart though, only 14. So I guess it nips your whole point in the butt when even teens in the world like the same music as some of us old farts and jackasses. I thank you for your comment. It has saved me the price of the 4 tickets I was going to purchase for your concert. Just like some of the old country puts out there.. you might have a lot of book learnin’.. but when it comes to common sense, you ain’t got a lick of it. And PS.. this old mama is the type that knows birds of a feather flock together (much like old farts and jackasses) so you can rest assured I won’t waste any more money on your wife or fellow singing supporters. Your might think your heart is in the right place, but your mouth emanates straight from the same place your head is stuck. (I’m only 9 years older than you, Blake.. does that mean you’re a jackass too?)
January 25, 2013 @ 4:49 pm
No need to criticize Blake’s wife for something that Blake said. Spouses have different opinions all the time.
January 25, 2013 @ 5:39 pm
True on the differing opinions….just not a fan of the new pop country or the singers. Besides.. I’m pretty certain if I bought from her.. it would benefit him in some way.. so it’s still a no go in my book.
January 25, 2013 @ 6:16 pm
There are now people on this site proudly going under the handle “Old Farting Jackass.”
That is all.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:34 pm
Can the t-shirt be far behind?
January 25, 2013 @ 5:26 pm
BLAKE SHELTON IS A ‘SINGER’ WITH A MINIMAL AMOUN OF TALENT. LOOK WHAT HE CALLED RICKY VAN SHELTON. WHEN, IF HE EVER DOES. SELL ONE QUARTER OF THE RECORDS GEORGE JONES HAS, THEN HE MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A MUSIC CRITIC OF ANY KIND. UNTIL THAT TIME HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIS STUPID MOUTH SHUT OR I WILL COME BACK DOWN THERE AND KICK HIS YOUNG ASS FOR HIM AND TEACH HIM A LITTLE RESPECT. THE OLD ‘FARTS’ HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES PAVING THE WAY FOR NEW ARTISTS. REMEMBER BLAKE, SOMEDAY YOU WILL BE AN OLD FART YOURSELF
January 25, 2013 @ 5:59 pm
Has Hank 3 weighted in yet? Be interesting to hear what he has to say.
January 25, 2013 @ 6:01 pm
Wow, old farts huh. Really thought you were one of the people in Country music, as they call it today, that didn’t have their head up their rear end. Was a big fan but you are starting to sound just like people that say their country and really aren’t. Like Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, I could go on and on. Carrie Underwood could have chosen any genre of music she wanted with her voice and she stuck with country. Kelly Clarkson could have made it in country, she chose differently. Age doesn’t make a country act, music does. Country ain’t country anymore. Ask the 40, 50 year olds and the old farts. Bravo to Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Ronny Dunn, Vince Gill, Willie, Bocephus, that is country music.
January 25, 2013 @ 6:21 pm
How is Carrie Underwood any more country than Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, or Keith Urban?
January 25, 2013 @ 6:29 pm
Let’s not forget this is the class act who thought it was funny to pretend to adjust himself and zip up his fly in front of a world-wide television audience from the stage of a major awards show.
John Lennon once said, “The problem with the Beatles was that we started to believe our own hype.”
The country music genre is fairly well defined, actually. Nashville didn’t evolve it, they highjacked the name and put a different genre to it.
Blake doesn’t get that. (Or much of anything else, it seems)
January 25, 2013 @ 6:33 pm
I was angry at first glance but let’s be honest…If you’re on here then clearly the mainstream isn’t satisfying your tastes..I’m 38 grew up in East Texas reside in Austin and grew up around my grandparents dinner table. The sound of the local country radio station out of Beaumont playing throughout the house. I love music in most of its forms..Unfortunately the bulk of mainstream music has acquiesced to fickle children as far as direction goes..That’s why the Internet is important and vinyl records as well..Blake Shelton has everyone telling him how amazing he is..I’m assuming the ass kissing in his circle has risen to the word genius being thrown around..Those of us who are actually dealing with reality know this to be his little fantasy world and if Waylon Jennings were here he plant a boot in his ass..I was going somewhere with this post..There seems to be a simple solution to this. There is a Classic Rock radio format where we hear Stairway to Heaven or Don’t Stop Believing for the trillionth time. Why can’t there be a Classic Country station that will give me my Conway Twitty or Tanya Tucker fix?
January 25, 2013 @ 7:13 pm
Blake’s tweet:
“Turns out I have a lot of friends in this industry that refuse to jump on any band wagon and turn their back on me. And a handful that have no problem doing it”¦Publicity can make people do and say anything I guess”¦ Oh well. Good news for me is”¦ I don”™t forget and won”™t forget.”
So he is saying Ray Price, Ray Stevens, and Dale Watson are reacting to this for publicity? Lol at his ego.
January 25, 2013 @ 7:26 pm
“Publicity can make people do and say anything I guess”¦”
Tell us all about it, Blake.
January 25, 2013 @ 9:28 pm
Good Jove! This guy is pissing me off more and more by the split-second! >=(
Blake Shelton is seriously making Eric Church look like His Holiness, the Dalai Lama! -__-
January 25, 2013 @ 7:49 pm
Drunk again.
January 25, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
I read on the Opry Facebook page that Jean Shepard said something about Blake on the show. Anyone here heard this? Thanks!
January 25, 2013 @ 10:18 pm
I haven’t but that’s very interesting.
Fayfare’s blog, which is a good unofficial Opry blog called for Blake to be fired from the Opry after the quote came out, and also pointed out that Blake did not play the Opry at all in 2012. It used to be that if you did not fulfill your Opry obligations, you lost membership. But since many of the members now are these ultra celebrities, they let those rules slip. Blake may see it as a good PR move, or a good play to give an apology.
Make no mistake about it, if Blake plays the Opry, it will be because of this incident.
http://fayfare.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-grand-ole-opry-needs-to-fire-blake.html
January 26, 2013 @ 2:54 pm
Found this on twitter:
Jean Shepard: “We’ve got a young man in country music who has made some pretty dumb statements lately. What did he say? That traditional country music is for old farts and jack-you-know-whats? Well, I guess that makes me an old fart. I love country music. I won’t tell you what his name is….but his initials is BS….and he’s full of it!”
January 26, 2013 @ 3:43 pm
Thanks for the info!
January 25, 2013 @ 8:47 pm
Theres only only one Shelton I care about, and we all know his thoughts on the subject already.
January 25, 2013 @ 10:28 pm
I thought song of your was good, but I can’t support a bitch like you! God bless George Jones and them! You can go to hell, Shelton!
/Samuel Björkering (23years old)
January 25, 2013 @ 10:55 pm
Apparently Blake Shelton IS as stupid as he looks.
January 26, 2013 @ 12:55 am
Adressed to Blake Shelton (though he’ll probably never read it)
Blake, you’ve got a problem. It’s allright though man, like all problems, it can be fixed in time.
The problem is… Blake, you forgot where you came from.
You used to hang out with fellow good ol’ boys like Elliott Sadler, keep your hair long, wear your cowboy hat, and sing a little real country music here and there.
“Ol’ Red”, “Some Beach”, and a few others were real good country tunes.
-They told a story (which has always been a hallmark of true country).
-They were catchy (not necessary, and more a hallmark of pop, but being catchy doesn’t make a song bad, doesn’t keep it from being country, and it can make it more fun),
-Used real and mostly traditional instruments, (granted, you took some liberties with “Some Beach” giving its instrumentals a tropical theme, but it fits the song, and when Johhny Cash, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and others have done the same with music that none of us would consider less than country, it’s okay; it’s good to push out into new territory a bit, and it’s probably my favorite song by you).
-I could relate to them (number one theme in country, relating to the common, hard-working individual), and you did a damned good job singing them.
I was hooked. Here, finally, in the midst of all that TimMcGrawKennyChesneyandeveryonethatkindofsoundslikethemsingsongsliketheirsanddresseslikethem crap, was some modern, real country.
Then you became successful, went pop, cut your hair, quit wearing your hat, and somehow, as big a boy as you are, you’re looking even more effeminate these days than Bryan White (who was probably the pioneer of this modern wave of pop country on the male side, I credit Shania on the female side). Heck, you even teamed up with Trace Adkins to put out a “laundry list” song to try to prove how country you still are after the fact. He could use the same wake-up call as you, I used to be a huge fan of his as well.
C’mon Blake. Settle down son. Get back to your roots, apologize for what ya done wrong, and let’s all move on. I’d love to hear you put out some real country music again. Granted, you done stepped in it worse than Pat Green did when he went all pop and flash, but like him, I think if you take a good look in the mirror and remember what you used to see, you just might make it back to being a real country artist again.
Sincerely yours,
A 28-year-old Jackass/Old Fart who can’t get enough of his papaw and mema’s old records, still buys CDs more often than he downloads, and treasures his working JC Penney record player from the 1970s because it means that he can still play those old 33s and 45s and any new ones he comes across.
PS: I’m still a fan of your old stuff, and your wife still puts out pretty good music for the most part, but if you don’t get out of that pop-music gutter you’re in, I’m sure I won’t be the only fan you’ll never get back after this. I’m a pretty forgiving soul, I’ve already forgiven you for calling me a Jackass and/or Old Fart, but forgiveness doesn’t buy your next album, it being good, will, however, sell me one.
January 26, 2013 @ 10:38 am
Good stuff Matt.
January 26, 2013 @ 1:46 am
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/01/25/blake-shelton-country-apology/1865277/
USA Today has picked this story up (via the Nashville’s Tennessean).
Not surprisingly, Paulson makes a nice attempt at downplaying the source of much of the furor in the former half of the feature, and then dedicates the entire latter half of the editorial quoting his non-apologies and the words of his established mainstream country sympathizers.
(shrug)
January 26, 2013 @ 3:46 am
I listen to classic country way more than I do this stuff they call
country now. How can you beat a good old Loretta Lynn song or a Patsy Cline classic 40’s through the 70’s is my kinda Counrty!
Ray Price Attacks Blake Shelton for Comments About Classic Country Fans | 97.3 The Dawg
January 26, 2013 @ 4:56 am
[…] read the comments via Saving Country Music, and he wasted no time in responding, posting the […]
January 26, 2013 @ 8:48 am
Remember the old farts who said “no drums on the Grand Ole Opre Stage” ???
There will always be old farts. I’m one of them and I have many listeners who call in and request the classic songs Blake and his lip-sincing ilk are disrespecting.
January 26, 2013 @ 10:20 am
http://www.facebook.com/groups/105698756267241/
Boycott Blake Shelton
January 26, 2013 @ 10:31 am
Someone said the story was on one of the Nashville news casts but. I didn’t see it
January 26, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
Some thoughtful commentary here:
http://www.nashvillegab.com/2013/01/blake-shelton-acts-like-a-dumbass-for-a-pr-nightmare.html
January 26, 2013 @ 1:07 pm
I like Blake, as well as many of the older country singers. However, Blake’s comment was rude and offensive. I think Blake may have dug his own grave as far as him ever being the “entertainer of the year” again. If you don’t have anything nice to say about people, then you should not say anything at all, especially on national television.
January 26, 2013 @ 1:15 pm
Why not update w/ supports of Blake? Hall of Famer Bobby Braddock. The Oak Ridge Boys agreed w/ what blake was saying about music needing to evolve-NOT just the out of context quote that everyone was using to stir up the OLD vs. NEW country battle.
January 26, 2013 @ 1:39 pm
@Leigh
Nothing was taken out of context. I think this shows Blake’s true colors.
January 26, 2013 @ 1:55 pm
I did add an update with info on Martina McBride and Chris Young coming to Blake Shelton’s defense. I will look into the other names and may do a further update if I feel it is necessary. But in fairness to everyone, including Blake Shelton, I am trying not to string this story out forever unless there are new major developments.
January 26, 2013 @ 2:20 pm
I just updated the story with Bobby Braddock’s comments. I think by saying Blake was “going for the outrageous and trying to get a rise out of people” justifies the reaction to his comments.
January 26, 2013 @ 1:53 pm
Bobby Braddock hit the nail on the head as far as I see Blake Shelton.He says its Blake being Blake, going for the outrageous…trying to get a rise out of people: …ATTENTION, Go back and look at how he does at awards shows. If cameras goes over the crowd you can see Blake looking from his left or right,as if he is wanting to see who is looking at himself. Watch him on THE VOICE, with him its all about being funny so he gets the limelight. He is the tallest 6’5″ Attention Seeker that I’ve ever seen in music or tv. I’ve read on one site that he was cleary saddened with his opology. He hit the twitter and was thrilled his fans were 100% behind him. Soon his girls was begging to have his babies, one went as far as to tell him he could slap her grandma in the face and she would still love him….Yes he is Blake being Blake and he has worked it just right….As Reba has remarked…Blake is smart, here he has hit another Home Run….Lots of Attention, thats what he is after. Everyone look who will be on stage hosting the ACM’S this coming April…BLAKE SHELTON, what better place to get people to see himself than on stage….Yes, he has hit a Home Run here, but my guess some that are up holding him are thinking of Themselves. I’ve seen a few that I have no doubt was.
January 26, 2013 @ 2:30 pm
I wonder how the Dixie Chicks feel about your theory.
January 26, 2013 @ 2:12 pm
I saw what Martina tweeted to Blake and he thanked Sis, but shortly there after some one told her what they would do with her cd’s. As far as Chris we know where he is coming from. He is with Mirandas management and she has given Chis probably as much help as anyone out there. Ask…don’t take my word. My opinion.
January 26, 2013 @ 3:29 pm
just a quick question are you gonna do your top mainstream songs of 2012?
January 26, 2013 @ 3:44 pm
Uhh, a little busy at the moment, and at this rate by the time my schedule opens up it may be too late for a Best Of 2012 post. I’ll try…
January 26, 2013 @ 3:49 pm
Blake Shelton couldn’t carry Johnny Cash, George Jones Conway Twitty, Roy Clark, or Charlie Prides jockstraps. Compared to their music his is terrible. There is nothing like the “Real” country of yesteryear. I will never listen to him again.
January 26, 2013 @ 3:49 pm
The way this issue will go to the next level is if a very big time name in country music comes out and publicly criticizes Blake’s comments. No offense to Ray Price or Dale Watson, but I’m talking a Hank Jr., Merle Haggard, George Jones, Alan Jackson, or maybe even one of these “new Outlaws” who espouse their love for traditional, classic country so much.
Let me repeat. THE WAY THIS ISSUE WILL GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL IS IF A BIG TIME NAME IN COUNTRY MUSIC COMES OUT AND PUBLICLY CRITICIZES BLAKE’S COMMENTS.
Or, Blake could offer a real apology, and bury the subject.
January 26, 2013 @ 3:58 pm
Trig not sure if any of them have the balls to make a statement.
January 26, 2013 @ 6:06 pm
I think Merle Haggard would have the balls, if that’s what he wanted to do. For example, he spoke out against the Dixie Chicks backlash.
January 26, 2013 @ 7:25 pm
“maybe even one of these “new Outlaws” who espouse their love for traditional, classic country so much.”
=====
That’s kinda what I am expecting to happen, maybe … I mean Eric Church already went off on Shelton not too long ago, and now with this going on … NOW he decides to keep his mouth shut??
January 26, 2013 @ 8:55 pm
Great point. He attacked Blake unprovoked last time. Though nowadays Eric is paling around with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, so I have no idea what to think. Officially Eric Chruch is the reigning CMA Album of the Year winner, so if anyone has the current political capitol to put Blake Shelton in his place, it would be him.
January 26, 2013 @ 7:28 pm
I don’t expect the big mainstream artists to speak against Blake Shelton any time soon.
January 26, 2013 @ 5:29 pm
There is a new song out by Brandon Fulson and the realbillys called Old Fart and jackasses
http://www.reverbnation.com/brandonfulson/song/15981691-old-farts-and-jackasses
January 29, 2013 @ 6:16 pm
good song, hits the nail on the head, i’m sure blake’s heard it by now.
January 26, 2013 @ 6:41 pm
The question I would have for BS is…where exactly does “Classic Country” end, and whatever it is that he likes begin? Is it in the 50s, when we had the Hanks (Williams, Thompson, Locklin and Snow), Webb Pierce and many others, or the 60s, when we had Patsy and Loretta and a bunch more, or maybe the 70s when George Jones, Charley Pride, and Randy Travis led a whole new generation into country music. Perhaps it was the 80s, with Garth and Vince, not to mention George Strait? To me, they are ALL classic. Today we have McGraw and Paisley and Toby Keith….all terrific talents. BS thinks he understands country music and history, but with his obvious tunnel vision, he is fooling himself…but not the rest of us..!!
January 26, 2013 @ 8:50 pm
I listen to todays country less and less often and there is no currant country to buy…i’m tired of listening to little kid voices singing about grown up issues…and no i’m not an old lady / old fart……there is not much entertainment for adults in country anymore…its all kids singing for kids….there is nothing for us to buy….believe me we would if there was something to buy.
January 26, 2013 @ 11:21 pm
Blake talks like Blake GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!! Geeze does the man have to walk on eggshells? I talk the same lingo. I still love you Blake <3 -They are not young and just calling them Old Farts is nothing and some are JACKASSES and worse words than that.
January 26, 2013 @ 11:29 pm
A repeat of the Dixie Chicks when what’s her name shot off her mouth one too many times….Dixie Chicks? I hardly hear their music on major stations anymore! BTW, in my opinion, anyone who stands behind B.S.’s remarks should get the same as he does. He has also taken a big risk for his wife’s music as well.
Carolyn
San Antonio, TX 78266
January 26, 2013 @ 11:57 pm
I was proud to see Little Jimmy Dickens commented on The Boot about the Big Headed Toy Boy!
January 27, 2013 @ 9:42 am
I looked for Little Jimmy’s comments and couldn’t find them
January 27, 2013 @ 10:17 am
There is a comment that looks like it is from a relative of Little Jimmy, with the comment “signed” Jimmy Dickens. I really have no way to confirm if it is legitimate or not.
January 27, 2013 @ 8:56 am
What they call Country Music today is really disquised Rock ‘N Roll, really, really bad Rock ‘N Roll. If you listen to this music very much, it all starts to sound the same. There has been a long going battle for years about what is and isn’t country music. People who write, sing and play REAL country music can’t get looked at.
I have a friend who writes her own music, has a killer voice and a good band and is playing small clubs for peanuts. She has more talent in her little finger than Blake Shelton has in his entire body. A pretty face is what Nashville wants these days, not true talent. They can make anyone sound good through sound boards and digital mastering, so you don’t have to be able to sing, just look pretty and put on a show.
January 27, 2013 @ 11:18 am
http://www.facebook.com/BoycottBlakeShelton?ref=ts&fref=ts
It seems to be getting more and more likes check it out.
January 27, 2013 @ 11:27 am
Well, here’s another good-bye from an Old Fart. I wish you luck moving forward with the pop-drivel that pollutes the air waives these days. Best Wishes to Y’All & I Hope Miranda Gives You a Case of the Clap Real Soon!
January 27, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
aww–You gotta know where you’ve been to appreciate where you’re going. You’d be surprised at the younger ones that have turned onto Classic Rockabilly….and then start researching classic country & classic rock….Real music fans do their homework and can converse on several levels.
I just think–there must be more alcohol & better drugs out west– than we got in the mountains….and FART—ya know–a jackass does not offend me–but really–would you say FART in front of your Grandma? Well, not at our house…ou you might say it–ONE TIME!
January 27, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
pop cuntry really sucks!!! should be tuning in to the real “new” country instead of this main stream crap. hank 3, wayne the train, slim chance and the can’t hardly play boys, scott biram, to name a few respect the legends and keep the underground outlaw music alive
January 27, 2013 @ 11:02 pm
BS and all the other jackasses to come along DO NOT represent the true sound of Country Music. Listen to: Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall, Leona Williams, Connie Smith, Merle, Conway, Loretta, etc., you get the picture. It just proves my anger with these clowns saying they’re country. They only use the country label to get noticed. Their crap is just that…..you don’t see blues, rock, pop, jazz, changing to the extreme like they do with country. YES, music changes and in some cases for the good….but these jerks today, both male and female, are want to be poor rock performers and can’t even cut that. Look at the Dixie Chicks, opened their mouth and they’re history. We not really true country anyway, so no big loss. I support everything that’s coming out of Texas today….if you want to here True Country go to YouTube and listen…and, yes, God Bless Texas; both for guns and music.
January 28, 2013 @ 5:21 am
Blake who?
A hint for all the youngsters-a rock song with some fiddle in it isn’t country music. Just sayin’…
Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson Perform at Bluebird Cafe, During NSAI Ceremony « Twang Nation - The Best In Americana Music Twang Nation – The Best In Americana Music
January 28, 2013 @ 6:42 am
[…] wonder is this is the kind of “Old Fart” music that Blake Shelton was referring […]
January 28, 2013 @ 8:13 am
Blake … While we are all entitled to our own opinions, your comments were off base and without merit. It was surprising to hear this from someone who professes to respect his fans. It is these very “old farts” you mentioned that have made country music what it is today. If not for them, you may very well not be where you are. Show me ANY modern country music artists today that is a true vocalist like Faron Young, Ray Price, or Patsy Cline, George Jones, and others. There are none. Show me a new artist that has the “staying power” of decades as does Ray Price or Loretta Lynn. Most of today’s artists are just rock-n-rollers wearing cowboy hats. The reason you newcomers feel you must keep “changing” the direction of country music is because it is not quality enough to sustain itself as is and maintain the devoted fanbase the “old farts” did from the beginning until now. Country Music fans are the most devoted fans in the world. A smart man would not bite the hand that feeds him. Respectfully.
January 28, 2013 @ 9:12 am
I find it so interesting and slightly annoying when these new artists hit and have some success and maybe some crossover success and they act like they’re reinventing the wheel. How exactly is Blake ‘evolving’ country music? I don’t see any innovation there. Artists like Ronnie Milsap blazed a trail for people like Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton when it comes to crossing country music over to pop audiences. And Milsap did so, (in the midst of getting a ton of flack from people Blake would would refer to as ‘old farts’) without ever disrespecting or insulting country music or country music fans. He always gave the country fans nothing but love while actually ‘evolving’ country music with his own brand of country soul. Blake might want to sit down and learn a little from people who have actually done what he is talking about.
January 28, 2013 @ 9:19 am
This is a documentary about Fan Fair. An homage to the dedication of Country Music fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_2dq0oQWXk
January 28, 2013 @ 11:54 am
Well, Price lost the staring contest.
He has publicly accepted Shelton’s apology on Facebook, thereby extinguishing any potential staying power of this story and leading us back to “business as usual” with Shelton’s current single (“Sure Be Cool If You Did”) already outside of the Top Ten in four short weeks on the country airplay chart.
January 28, 2013 @ 12:39 pm
No offense to Ray Price, but I think this issue is much larger than Blake Shelton vs. Ray Price. Dale Watson and Jean Shepard haven’t issued apologies, and my guess is they won’t. And I think Ray still got some licks in even in his apology, noting that Blake only apologized to artists and not fans. I’m a little surprised we didn’t hear from more artists. Like some have noted, where is Eric Church? He already called out Blake for much less. And where is Shooter Jennings? He called out John Mayer for cutting his hair, but is giving Blake a pass. With stories like this, you have to know when enough is enough. Unless a big name comes out and says something, then it’s probably time to clean up loose ends and move on.
January 28, 2013 @ 1:06 pm
As right as you are, Shelton simply doesn’t give a rip what his listeners, or music fans in general, think. He DID care, however, what Price thought……..and the only reason this has gotten press coverage in the first place is not because of the countless comments from traditional country fans and listeners across the social media landscape (including many on the Grand Ole Opry page), but because of the Shelton-Price showdown.
Now that the showdown has defused, the print media is going to treat this as a non-issue altogether and the status quo will maintain its death grip.
It’s no surprise to me why Eric Church hasn’t spoken out. As outspoken as he is known to be, his entire “outlaw” posturing screams calculation and he’s probably fixated on his downtime and getting “Like Jesus Does” up the singles chart. It isn’t like he chooses to pick scuffles left and right. Even when he spoke about reality television (namely “The Voice”), he was speaking from a more personal space about artistic development and longevity than just picking a fight.
I think this story has been milked for all its worth. The Grand Ole Opry hasn’t already announced Shelton’s dismissal, and so it’s clear to see they’re simply not going to. They’ve simply sold out a little too much of their former glory to Ryman & Associates.
January 28, 2013 @ 1:06 pm
I got a kick out Jean Shepard’s comment — she was always one of my mother’s absolute favorites. 😀
January 28, 2013 @ 12:04 pm
Lets not confuse good music with bad sound recording quality. Most music sounds better today because of the quality of the sound spectrum. I can guarantee that a time will come when all these old songs will be re-recorded in a modern sound spectrum and they will sound incredible. Long live great songs…
January 28, 2013 @ 12:05 pm
never heard of him,,,,
Kris Kristofferson & Willie Nelson Perform at Bluebird Cafe, During NSAI Ceremony [video] – 234th Edition | Country Music Video Beat
January 28, 2013 @ 2:43 pm
[…] wonder is this is the kind of “Old Fart” music that Blake Shelton was referring […]
January 28, 2013 @ 5:39 pm
I only go back to the 60’s in country, like some of the REALLY OLD FART stuff. Remember Ray Stevens, The STREAK?? Buck Owens & Roy Clark on Hee Haw?? More recently Cledus T Judd?? Or “Save a horse, ride a cowboy” BIG and RICH (whom I DEARLY LOVE TOO)!! And Toby’s Red Solo Cup!!
Blakes Old Red and Austin, Some Beach and SO MANY MORE!!! The Dixie Chicks were an EMBARASSAMENT and FAKE! Blake is an HONEST and TRUE RED NECK!!
COUNTRY is a WAY of LIFE and MORE IMPORTANT an ATTITUDE (Bad Ass REDNECK)!! And BLAKE has IT!! Leave him alone!! Yes country has a “swooning love song” ROMANTIC side, BUT it ALSO has a ROCK-n-ROLL side and now a POP side!!
LOOK at WHAT and WHO brought COUNTRY BACK to POPULAR (from almost DEAD) in the 80’s!! SAWYER BROWN started and brought in a NEW WAVE of Country fans!! The Tractors and so many more!!
PS To all you “old-farts” (assholes and not)… I can BUY ALL the OLD RECORDS at YARD SALES for 10 cents each (boxes for $5)…and upload it into my computer!!
So WHAT HAVE YOU DONE for COUNTRY LATELY?? Like Blake, Toby, Carrie, Miranda, Kelly Clarkson and Pickler and all the NEW YOUNG stars!
January 28, 2013 @ 7:49 pm
Blake Shelton is going to be one of those OLD FARTS one day…….probably sooner than he expects.
Country Music does NOT sound like country music today……and these artists like Blake DO NOT LAST because of it……they sound like pop music or rock……..
Why do they keep trying to change Country Music???? Remember, it’s the Senior Citizens that have most of the money…..teenagers tastes changes in a flash…..look what happened to LeeAnn Rimes….too much too soon, now nothing.
NONE of the new artists can touch Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Charlie Pride, George Jones, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Conway Twitty, Ray Price, Vince Gill……
Blake will never have the longevity all the greats had……..he’s just the next big thing, FOR NOW. Hope you enjoyed your short stay in what you are calling country music.
January 29, 2013 @ 12:20 pm
I agree with Blake.. Don’t know why him giving his opinion is horrible and unexceptable but all you people bashing the artists of today is ok.. Not so good when the shoe is on the other foot is it.?
Besides lets be honest people like Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert are far better than those old washed up old farts.. They are living legends..
January 30, 2013 @ 10:11 am
@ o.o
Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert are living legends? not even close just two more singers of corporate country and corporate marketing.
January 30, 2013 @ 11:17 am
“just two more singers of corporate country and corporate marketing.”
That’s a FACT. Living pseudo-celebrities…..maybe.
January 30, 2013 @ 9:02 am
I think, like with everything else as of late, this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. We have become a bunch of people who get ‘offended’ at everyone and everything and then squak about it as loudly and publicly as possible. The people who gave that comment so much power are the very same people who were so ‘offended’ by it. And then there are the ever present followers who always jump in like a banana with the bunch to add fuel to the flame. Did it take an ounce of their success away? I mean did Ray Stevens magically and suddenly become less famous, less successfull, less important, because Blake Shelton made a comment voicing his ‘opinion’ on a genre of music? I mean one minute we are squaking about our rights to freedom of speech, and I’ll be damned, the next we are boycotting people for using that right. Sheesh, c’mom people nut up, get your feelings off your sleeves, prioritize just a little, and look at the BIG picture where you will hopefully see that this petty crap doesn’t even reach the top ten issues of importance today. Peace, Lisa out!
January 30, 2013 @ 10:33 am
Really kind of hard for me to boycott Blake Shelton. How do you boycott someone you never supported in the first place.
January 30, 2013 @ 11:17 am
Love comments like this….I’ll take a shot.
“I think, like with everything else as of late, this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. We have become a bunch of people who get ”˜offended”™ at everyone and everything and then squak about it as loudly and publicly as possible.”
– I don’t know that many were offended as much as shocked at the arrogance and lack of respect Blake showed.
“The people who gave that comment so much power are the very same people who were so ”˜offended”™ by it. And then there are the ever present followers who always jump in like a banana with the bunch to add fuel to the flame.”
– I don’t know that there are “followers” anywhere, but people that have the right to respond…i.e. fans and other artists.
“Did it take an ounce of their success away? I mean did Ray Stevens magically and suddenly become less famous, less successfull, less important, because Blake Shelton made a comment voicing his ”˜opinion”™ on a genre of music?”
– No, his comments don’t have the power to effect legendary careers, but (again) the lack of respect and arrogance should be something that concerns people.
“I mean one minute we are squaking about our rights to freedom of speech, and I”™ll be damned, the next we are boycotting people for using that right.”
– Who was talking about freedom of speech? Or who said Blake shouldn’t have the right to say what he said?
“Sheesh, c”™mom people nut up, get your feelings off your sleeves, prioritize just a little, and look at the BIG picture where you will hopefully see that this petty crap doesn”™t even reach the top ten issues of importance today.”
– Agree music (or sports or the upcoming SuperBowl) aren’t on the level of world hunger and oppression, but people do have their passions and hobbies they take seriously. Or for actual artists, this is their lively hood and their life…so to them this might be a top ten issue.
I always hate this argument…”well in the big picture”, I guess we should all just quit our jobs and life cause “in the big picture” what can we really effect.
I would ask you, why did you even comment? In the big picture, why do you even care enough to comment?
This comment was a matter of respect, pride and being humble, which Blake didn’t show much of.
February 22, 2014 @ 4:05 pm
No one is “offended”, as you use it, just because they reply with an opinion to his opinion.
And certainly no one is trying to censor his freedom of speech (btw, I think you misuse that concept. The government only can censor freedom of speech, not private entities. The flip side is that no private entity is obliged to give anyone a platform for their speech).
Personally, I’d love for all the “entertainers” who presently purport to represent country music, to shout their real feelings, in luding their disdain for and contempt of, real country musicians and fans, loud and long. Maybe it would wake some people up as to the hypocrisy of these people using country as a path to fame and fortune while having no heart or soul for the music, while not even understanding what the country genre, with all its rich heritage, entails. It would show that they themselves recognised that they didn’t have what it took to succeed in their first and true love, pop or rock, so they took the “easy” path of country (and doesn’t that in itself say something, when you consider what the greats of the past in country came from, to call the genre as presently constituted, “easier”-easier in distinguishing themselves to youth in a crowded rap and pop field). It would show that they lacked the primary distinguishing characteristic of country music since its inception, from Jimmy Rodgers and the Original Carter Family-authenticity. Maybe then real country fans would be able to be more wary of every new “face” which comes along using country as a springboard for what they really want to do. Pop especially was made for superficiality, that’s it’s defining characteristic, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, for pop. It is what it is, But it’s the kiss of death for country, whose primary characteristic is and always has been, authenticity.
January 30, 2013 @ 11:01 am
Well, ol’ Blake has a point! And not just the one on the top of his head.
Country has evolved! It’s turned into pop music now, most of what I hear on the radio sounds like the Backstreet Country Boys or some Justin Bieber song about a pickup truck. I like a little rock in my country, and it’s got to have some soul, but it seems to me like it’s 90% bubblegum pop sung by pretty boys…..What I like ain’t grandpa’s music…it’s my daddy’s music and the music I was raised on, and it beats the livin’ $#!! out of the Disneyfied overproduced elevator muzak they call country today. (with one or two notable exceptions, I ain’t sayin’ there’s nothing good anymore, but….)
Just one man’s opinion….feel free to disagree, this is still America. Sort of.
January 30, 2013 @ 11:40 am
@ o.o…….Living Legends???? LMAO,,,,,that’s a good one.
You and NWCBOY should get together.
Obviously you both are in love with mainstream FM country….such shit.
I’m glad to hear people out themselves with their love for Non Traditional Old school
Country…makes it easier for us Country fans to ignore them lol
” Country is a Way of life? An attitude? And being a Redneck is your eyes is a good thing?? You make us all laugh if nothing else with comments like that.
Sawyer Brown?????? Plllllllleeease girl!!! You can add those guys to the list of who
Helped to make country the bullshit that is on the radio today.
I saw Sawyer Brown at a festival (unfortunately) and that midget singer was sooo bloody arrogant… He would even stop a song to tell the crowd that they deserved more applause for certain songs because they were such big hits!! A total asshole!
What made it worse,their set ran long and shortened Mark Chesnutt’s set…one of the few decent guys to come out of the late 80’s & 90’s.
Enjoy your pop country…we won’t be.