Clay Walker is “Pissed Off” About Rock Artists Playing Country
The last few weeks have seen a new wave of high profile rock artists make their way to the country format in hopes of revitalizing declining careers, most notably Poison frontman Bret Michaels who released a terrible country single called “Girls On Bars,” and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler who released his first country single “Love Is Your Name.”
Country music carpetbagging is nothing new by any stretch. In 1968, country music was how rocker Jerry Lee Lewis got back into the music business, and similar story lines have played out in country music almost since its inception. Darius Rucker and Sheryl Crow are some other rockers who’ve made the move to country music recently, and with the rising popularity of the country format and the faltering of rock on radio, there’s no reason to think the influx will stop anytime soon.
It all brings up the question of the integrity of the country genre if the influx continues. Can country continue to delineate itself from other music with so many influences and artists from other sectors of the music world encroaching on country, and are country interlopers pushing more established and worthy country artists out of the spotlight? That’s what has country artist Clay Walker concerned.
“I can’t stand to see outdated rock-and-rollers coming in to play country music. That really pissed me off,” Clay Walker told The Modesto Bee recently. “We have great singers, great country musicians. There’s no reason we have to dilute it by letting people in the format that don’t have any business being in the format.”
Clay also took issue with the influx of hip-hop influences in the genre recently. “It’ll never be the same; we will never go back to the way it was in the ’80s or the ’90s or anything like that. Which is good,” he said. “This change in the music has definitely helped country music grow … When I was growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s everyone loved hip-hop. That’s not new … But I do blame our format a little bit for feeling like we needed to add that element to our format.”
Clay Walker has been known to speak out about the direction of country music before, but it’s not always in opposition to the current tends. In January of 2014, Clay declared traditional country music was “dead,” and went on to say he wasn’t remorseful about that outcome. “I think it’s the perfect evolution and it’s the way it should be. It’s time. It’s time for that change.”
Wherever Clay Walker’s allegiances lie, he brings up an important point about rockers infiltrating country. With such a limited amount of space in the top heavy mainstream, is it best for the genre to allow established stars to strut in and pull away attention and resources from artists who’ve worked their entire careers for the cause of country? It’s likely to continue to be debated as the flow of older stars looking to re-launch their careers through country continues.
Songwriter and performer Will Hoge also questioned the trend recently, saying on Twitter, “New genre, ‘Carpetbagger Country: When Your Career Goes South, So Do You’…”
May 18, 2015 @ 9:35 am
But “it’s time for that change.” Right Clay?
May 18, 2015 @ 9:43 am
I’ll let capitalism figure all this out. These rock acts appearing in country won’t last long in my view because no one will buy this junk.
Or at least I hope I’m right on this…
May 18, 2015 @ 11:04 am
I think most people buy what they are told to buy , what they are TOLD is hip and what their friends are buying …from fashion to Apple watches to sushi to hairstyle to ” country ” music . Most popular music fans aren’t music fans at all . Music is just the campfire they gather round to feel safe and connected …not to be moved , enlightened , challenged, informed, educated or inspired . But to feel accepted as part of something . Unfortunately for music , that ‘something’ is the Kardasian Kulture . Thing is , it doesn’t HAVE to be thus . You can feel safe and connected AND enlightened , moved , challenged etc..by much much better art ( music ) than you are lead to think .
May 18, 2015 @ 12:39 pm
Nah, I think that most modern country fans are not country fans at all, but rather pop carpetbaggers. They would not like real country even if they were exposed to it.
The genre needs a new fan base.
May 24, 2015 @ 7:39 am
Junk? I’ll have you know that I was listening to crossover country from rockers, The Eagles, Marshall Tucker Bank, Charlie Daniels before most of these twitty pop country starts were born. And I appreciate that more than the nasally twangy stuff that you hear now. Besides you accept hip hop and pop but now former rockers? You’re just wrong.
May 24, 2015 @ 7:56 am
What’s REALLY sad to think about is that if the Eagles came along today , radio would have no use for theme whatsoever. Great songwriting all from within the ranks , traditional instrumentation , stellar vocal arrangements , several lead vocalists who could ALL deliver depending on the song , loads of variety in subject matter and grooves , they ALL played their own instruments LIVE and no need for auto-tune ….all of the things missing from mainstream country and/or pop radio today .
May 24, 2015 @ 8:34 am
Amen to that. I remember back around 2000, Don Henley came out and slammed modern country for more or less being an offshoot of what the Eagles were doing back in the day, as country got further from its roots, but even if he was right it’d still be a damn sight better than what’s going on anymore. The Eagles get so much hate from various corners anymore and I honestly have yet to figure out why.
May 24, 2015 @ 9:28 am
Can’t figure that out either….EXCEPT that they did a kick butt, rocking it to the max song called “Get Over It” that they describe as politically incorrect. You never here it on the radio and it is a great song. So many of today’s country so-called stars are liberal left (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban…). Talk about shucking country traditions. I love the music of the Eagles. They are southwest, country, rock all rolled into one. Don Henley has more musical talent in his little finger than some of these cardboard cutouts of today.
May 24, 2015 @ 7:42 am
who would’ve thought that Taylor Swift would have been put on a pedestal like she has been, can’t stand her, she is so vain
May 24, 2015 @ 7:47 am
Amen ….
May 18, 2015 @ 9:53 am
Let’s get rid of rock and pop artists out of country music. I agree with you Clay Walker 100% and by the way how about get rid of so called want to be country singers as well.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:34 am
I agree with Clay Walker on that one. Country music needs to get rid of something like Carrie Underwood because country music needs to get rid of country women excluding Miranda Lambert like Kasey Musgraves as well as getting rid of pop stars like Taylor Swift. There’s no need for women to play country music like Reba McEntire.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:07 am
Well, when so-called country artists started playing arena rock (but somehow got away with still calling it “country” — maybe because of the hats and references to dirt roads and pick ups), they broke down the damn. Don’t cry now because the tide is rolling the other way.
May 18, 2015 @ 11:31 am
Good point JF. So many country acts have been emulating Aerosmith and Poison for years, who is really ripping off who?
May 18, 2015 @ 7:54 pm
Amen to that! Great point!!
May 19, 2015 @ 11:47 am
You mean those bro country acts, Trigger
May 19, 2015 @ 5:47 pm
Why not just say who needs these tools? We have Dale Watson, Sturgill Simpson, and many
more great singers.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:18 am
Its okay to put hip-hop in country but not rock? I’m confused Clay. These so-called “country”, baseball wearing singers are nothing but rappers in disguise. The country music industry is desperate and/or greedy, they don’t care who they promote.
December 10, 2024 @ 3:16 pm
Every time I hear a collaboration between a country artist and a rapper, I turn it off immediately. Makes me want to scream. WTF are you doing to country music?! I’m here to tell you the forefathers of country music would line up to box your ears. It’s not progress, I don’t care what they say!
May 18, 2015 @ 10:32 am
Clay Walker might want to ask himself a few questions. Clay does not know what side of the fence he is on. I will never give up on traditional country. It still exist and is being done very well by better artist than he ever was. Country music will be saved in 2015. We need to have a little faith. BTW, Whitey Morgan and 78s new album tomorrow. From the previews, it is going to be stellar.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Whitey Morgan is no Jamey Johnson or Waylon.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:38 am
Nobody said he was.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:46 am
I did.
May 18, 2015 @ 11:34 am
I like Jamey Johnson. He is from the same state as me and I have had the opportunity to meet him twice. The only thing I have to say to him or about him is “where is the new music?”
When will there be a full length album? He started off strong this year with 2 ok release then nothing. It has be a long time since “That Lonesome Song” and “Guitar Song.”
Now, Whitey is more of a modern day Johnny Paycheck to me. Whitey is stuff is pretty good, but his new album will be stellar. He is hitting his stride, and the live album was pretty good. The acoustic album early this year was very good. “Waiting around to die” is my most played song on my ITunes. I just love it.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:36 am
I saw Whitey and Cody Jinks in Chicago last week. He had the album there. It is awesome. One of my favorites this year, and by far his best effort in my opinion. As far as Clay Walker, this is another guy who fell out of the mainstream and is trying to cling to anything to try and stay relevant. I never liked his music when he was relevant.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:38 am
I don’t know who this boy is, although I have tripped over his CDs in the bins for years looking for the first country singer I ever listened to (Jerry Jeff) and the reason I began listening to country music when he released Viva Terlingua back 40+ years ago.
I like the term “carpetbagger country” – it’s dead on.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:41 am
I’m just going to say here what I said at Country California:
Wait, what? NOW Clay Walker doesn”™t like what”™s happening to country music? Uh, not that long ago he was saying that what was going on in country music was “the perfect evolution and it”™s the way it should be.” WTF ever, Clay.
May 18, 2015 @ 12:17 pm
Yeah, I think that Clay regrets saying that — or, at least, he should. He had a few great songs in the 90’s, but I could easily name half a dozen other artists in the 90’s that I prefer: Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Sammy Kershaw, Pam Tillis, and George Strait.
May 18, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
Yep. I’ll admit I liked a fair amount of his music back in the day, but even so he was always a B-lister at best.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:55 am
Question: Why do women have such a hard time in country music these days?
May 18, 2015 @ 11:14 am
“Question: Why do women have such a hard time in country music these days? ”
My theory , for what it’s worth .
The bro stuff seemingly attracts very young women listeners who think the guys are hot and hip …not so much women who ” know what’s up ” musically and otherwise .( I’m trying to dance delicately here without offending anyone ) . Labels and radio have targeted that particular market with the bro-boys ( tats and fashion ) . Seems that market doesn’t mind been pandered to or stereotyped as the ” girl in the truck ” by all those cookie cutter bros .
I think that the women ( real country fans ) who think that mainstream radio is all just marketing bullshit are listening to better acts and better music from other sources and leaving the less discerning listeners to their country ” playpens ” . Even writers who once released songs of substance to mainstream radio ( Miranda , Lee Ann Womack , Martina etc.. ) seem to know what’s up and release shit like LITTLE RED WAGON or have jumped ship altogether , as it were , to focus on fans who appreciate them as artists .
May 18, 2015 @ 1:03 pm
Why would any woman want to be the “girl in the truck?” It seems like these type of fads have hypnotized them into believing they are so inferior to hot young men that all they are good for is looking good and bringing guys beer. They have no self-esteem anymore. It’s also part of why they go for the big bully-type guys who treat them like crap and act like it’s fine and put up with it. Or maybe I’m just saying that part because in high school was a socially inept nerd who couldn’t get a date if I tried. There, if I can be so honest about myself, why can’t these losers?
May 19, 2015 @ 6:26 am
It’s a marketing thing. Every movie has a hot chick with no personality, every book, every bad song, (and even many good ones.) It becomes very normalized. What do police eat? Immediately the stereotype is coffee and donuts. What do urban youth do? Dress stupid, loot stuff, and put graffiti everywhere. See? even though it’s obviously not true, it becomes normalized through repetition and repeat exposure.
May 18, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
“The bro stuff attracts very young women listeners who think the guys are hot.” You’re exactly right about this. It’s always been this way in pop music and now, in recent years, we are beginning to see it in the country format. When I was a kid, it was David Cassidy and Lief Garrett. The music was terrible, but the girls ate it up because the guys were hot. It’s not about the music, it’s about the image and marketing.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:29 am
People only listen to men like Florida Georgia Line and never stops. The only country woman that country music listen to these days is Miranda Lambert. Country music don’t care about women like Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. Country music sadly might have to get rid of country women like Kellie Pickler and stick with country men and Miranda Lambert. That’s why.
June 4, 2015 @ 5:33 pm
You wouldn’t be Keith Hill posting under an assumed name, would you?
And if all you want in the country format is “country men,” get rid of Florida-Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, and Luke Bryan, because they ain’t country.
May 18, 2015 @ 11:04 am
IMO his O doesn’t matter.
May 18, 2015 @ 11:07 am
I just wish the would separate Country music once and for all and get it over with. Send the pop and rock country to its own channel and leave the good music on another
May 18, 2015 @ 11:25 am
I don’t have a problem with ‘rock’ in country music as long as it’s respectable. Rock music and country music are close relatives. Rock music was born out of sort of a fusion of country (Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, etc.) and the Delta Blues.
May 18, 2015 @ 12:41 pm
Soft rock mixes well with country. The introduction of hard rock, on the other hand, has resulted in the bro-country sound.
May 18, 2015 @ 2:16 pm
Bro-country came from hip hop or pop. It doesn’t remind me of hard rock at all. When I think of hard rock fused with country, I instantly think of Lynyrd Skynyrd or Blackberry Smoke, or even Bocephus.
May 18, 2015 @ 6:24 pm
Bro-country often includes a hip-hop beat, but its defining sonic feature is the hard rock electric guitar. The original version of Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”, for example, is basically all hard rock with no hip-hop beat.
Modern country music is the home of the electric guitar.
May 19, 2015 @ 8:13 am
I’m in the Travis Tritt and Eric Church camps. Conway and the Possum and Acuff and Lefty, etc. are awesome. But, every once in a while, I want some “Drive in my country”, as Travis says. And I “Like my country rockin'” as Church says.
I grew up on Earl Thomas Conley and John Conlee and Conway Twitty, and love that stuff. However, I also grew up on Alabama and their brand of country that had this perfect blend of ballads and guitar rock country.
But, this rappy, hip-hoppy garbage from FGL, Aldean, Hunt, Brantley Gilbert, etc., is just plain foolishness and is the most shallow music out there right now in probably any genre.
May 18, 2015 @ 11:47 am
Hey, if a Baptist can become Catholic then a rocker can go country. 🙂
May 18, 2015 @ 12:12 pm
While I agree these rockers have no business doing what they are doing, you should retract the statement about Jerry Lee Lewis. He as well as many others were influenced by Jim Reeves, Hank Williams, and Bob Wills, and if you listen to his country hits, as well as some other cross over artists from years past, you can tell it was heartfelt real country, not a blend of garbage can metal and hip hop. I would not dare insult the legends such as the Killer, or Waylon Jennings who played and sang with Buddy Holley by comparing them to Stephen Tyler – Bret Michaels trash.
May 18, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Hey Jonathan,
I was simply referring to Jerry Lee Lewis as someone who started his career in rock, and then went to country amidst a decline. I wasn’t making a statement either about his music, or lumping him with Bret Michaels and Steven Tyler whatsoever. Really, I’m not lumping any of these guys together as far as the quality of their music, only that they started in rock. I love Jerry Lee’s country stuff, and consider him one of the best country piano players there ever was.
May 18, 2015 @ 12:13 pm
Off topic but I listened to Jon Pardi’s “the b-sides” this morning and it was pretty good. I was pleased. A little but of the bro country thing going on but nothing too offensive. A step in the right direction. I’d like to hear trigger’s opinion on that
May 19, 2015 @ 1:21 am
Jon Pardi will never be anything because he is a REAL country music artist. artists like Jon Pardi, Josh Thompson, Josh Turner, Mo Pitney, Craig Campbell, Kacey Musgraves, Joe Nichols, Montgomery Gentry, etc will never be anything because they are all TRUE country artists that make damn good modern country music. Montgomery Gentry was big back in the day but lately they have fluked out big time due to keeping their old sound from the early to mid 00’s which will NEVER be anything on modern day country radio. Joe Nichols’ days are numbered, I think he got lucky having 2 number 1’s off the Crickets album, Hard To Be Cool (which is a damn good song) stalled at #24 for weeks and then just disappeared. Mo Pitney is doing terrible with his true country song “Country” and it’s stalled out near #50. Josh Thompson always does terrible on the charts as well as Jon Pardi. Kacey can’t get any airplay either. It’s a real shame because I love true modern country music and would like to hear it all over radio.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:30 am
Maybe people listening to music in America only wants radio and forget others like music videos and albums.
May 18, 2015 @ 1:08 pm
Um Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers and George Jones all started as rockers. I guess Clay forgot about them. Plus Clay Walker has had many a session musician on his records that came from the rock world. Dann Huff anyone? Dang it, now I have “Here I go again on my own” stuck in my head.
May 18, 2015 @ 2:29 pm
Sorry to be pedantic but I don’t think George Jones “started as (a) rocker”. He was persuaded to record a few rock n’ roll tracks but he was never keen and they were released under a different name (I think it was Thumper Jones).
May 18, 2015 @ 2:44 pm
pedantic? someone’s been watching Jeb Bush on youtube lol. I think my point is still valid. Especially because Clay used one of the biggest rocker session guitar players in Nashville on his first 3 albums.
May 18, 2015 @ 3:41 pm
Yeah, George Jones didn’t have a rock career. He cut a single under a pseudonym, and it didn’t go anywhere. And he’d been playing country before that. I understand your point, but we shouldn’t make too much of that.
May 18, 2015 @ 3:55 pm
Everybody is focusing on The Possum and not the other 2 huge stars that I mentioned or the first call session rock guitarist that recorded on Clay’s big hits.
May 18, 2015 @ 4:58 pm
I get your point BEH. We shouldn’t let other artists slide just because we like them. That is why I made sure to mention Jerry Lee Lewis. In the end, if the music is great, then who cares? But with Bret Michaels and Steven Tyler, “great” was not the word I had for it.
May 18, 2015 @ 4:00 pm
However, Conway Twitty did. It has been said that he could not cut it in rock, that was the reason why he came to country. Waylon Jennings first tried rock before coming to country. There is nothing wrong with a rock star coming to country if that is where their heart has been all along, Or if country music is in his or hers soul. Ray Charles loved country music and cut a couple of country music songs that can hold it’s own next to most of country music greats. The problem with these “has beens” is that their so called country songs sounds like rock. They have no country in them, they are simply trying to be relevant again. The thing about country is that country music singers can grow old with their fans, where as pop and rock are usually just around for a season.
May 18, 2015 @ 4:55 pm
George actually began his career in Bluegrass
May 18, 2015 @ 2:32 pm
Conway Twitty and Kenny Rogers, yes, but George Jones didn’t start out as a rocker. George was pressured by Starday to record a few rockabilly songs and he reluctantly agreed to do so as long as it was under a pseudonym (Thumper Jones). Before these recordings, he had a string of country singles out, including his first hit, “Why Baby Why.”
At least when Conway moved from rock to country, his music sounded country and he was still in his prime. The rockers moving to “country” nowadays are in the twilight of their careers and their “country” music still sounds like rock.
May 18, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
George Jones was pushing the limits back then and the old timers and traditionalist of the time thought of him like some think of the new singers of today. 20 years from now people are going to say “why don’t they make good old country music like Darius Rucker did” Trust me, it’s the same old thing.
May 18, 2015 @ 2:59 pm
No it’s not the same old thing.
George Jones’ musical heroes were Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell. You can hear Hank and Lefty elements in Jones’ music.
Who are Darius Rucker’s country music heroes? Do you hear them in his music? What about Steven Tyler’s country music heroes?
May 18, 2015 @ 3:35 pm
Well, Charley Pride is one. I think he’s pretty well respected in the country music world. It shouldn’t be about checking off boxes though. Steven Tyler isn’t country and isn’t trying to be. He’s just in it for an album and the look.
May 18, 2015 @ 4:19 pm
Even at his most bubble-gummy, I very seriously doubt you’d have ever heard Charley Pride sing a line so mind-numbingly bad as “you’re so money, money, money.” I mean, for fuck’s sake, when Huey fuckin’ Lewis says you’re not country enough, you are quite obviously made of SUCK AND FAIL.
May 18, 2015 @ 4:59 pm
I have to agree with MH . There is NO country influence in a Sam Hunt song . Not lyrically , not musically , not vocally , not arrangement/instrument-wise , not harmonically and not groove-wise . None whatsoever . None .
May 18, 2015 @ 1:16 pm
Clay Walker is notorious for being an asshole, so I don’t take much he says all that seriously.
May 18, 2015 @ 7:53 pm
I could name an assload of other country artists who are assholes too, especially some of the older artists like Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks for example.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:39 am
Well, is that your personal opinion of those two artists or do you know people who’ve been around them? The people I know both claim Tritt and Garth are very nice.
May 20, 2015 @ 4:54 am
This is interesting to me since Clay Walker was one if my favourites when I first really got into country music. I’m just curious as to how he got that reputation.
May 18, 2015 @ 3:01 pm
I am not sure about the whole “don’t let the rockers in” attitude. I am not sure how you would keep them out, its a free country and they can record any old type of style they want. In fact, as someone else said above, the market will decide. If the music is good, I will buy it. as i have said many times before on this sight, i love the country songs by the Stones, Eagles, and other efforts like some of the hair band songs with country leanings. I was just thinking about this concept from a different angle this morning, before this post, from the rock versus pop perspective (as opposed to the real country versus pop country argument found here). Back in the day, poppy rock songs got onto the pop stations, and then the same argument was made about good rock versus pop rock. as i grew up, i knew i would need to search for the good rock, i wasn’t going to find it on AM radio or even the pop playing FM radio stations. Sure, occasionally a good song would creep in or a good band would slip a few in, but usually even in those cases, it was the shorter songs, clearly aimed at being singles. So i did not rely on those outlets to find or hear my music. Maybe I bitched about it, as you all do here, but mostly I just went and searched out the good stuff. i remember reading Kerrang magazine (a British hard rock rag) and reading about G’n’R and going to my independent record store to buy the “Live Like a Suicide” EP even before Appetite was released. Sure, they ultimately got onto the radio in a big way, but that was a real anomaly in my book. Point being, i was not going to wait around for radio to show me what to listen to. Radio is there to make money and that means pandering to the lowest common denominator. I wanted depth, meaning, creativity, not something that the gen pop really wanted. It seems to me that for you all (which includes me), complaining that country radio sucks is a waste of time. sure it will be cool if they play a song by Blackberry Smoke or Stapleton or Dwight on the radio, but i say just seek out the good stuff and go buy the release and listen to what you want. What do you need radian for? Go ahead, feel bad for the masses that don’t know what they are missing. …..and don’t waste time fighting a losing battle with the corporate drones focused on the bottom line and not on the quality of what they play. It was that way for rock and roll since i started listening in the 70s and it will be that way forever more. Not sure why anyone thinks country stations will be different. Its fun to wish, but as Blackberry Smoke recently stated, “Wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first for you brother.” Its a good cause you all fight for, to remake country radio into a safe place to tune, and it would benefit all the starving artists we love, but i think its wasted energy. instead, maybe direct your efforts to thanking Mr. Trigger for all the great bands he highlights and then go buy their releases and support them that way.
May 19, 2015 @ 1:30 am
One of the best things i’ve read in quite some time. Beautifully said, man.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:11 am
This.
May 18, 2015 @ 5:25 pm
Well, this is a crusade led by the clueless. If Clay Walker wants to be pissed off, more power to him. But he’s pissed off at the wrong people.
So, he’s pissed off at people for trying use every possible advantage to make money? That would be like me being pissed off at my artistic neighbor for trying to make it in the tattoo business even though he has no tattoos.
Maybe if the country music machine was more accepting of artists making actual country music and less accepting of whatever the hell it is they’re calling country now, there would be far fewer carpetbaggers. I have no qualms whatsoever with Steven Tyler or Darius Rucker or Sheryl Crow or Kid Rock or whoever trying to “go country” *cough cough*. They’re not “going country” they’re making the same kind of music they always have and it’s being released to a format where it might get played.
I do, however, have a problem with Bret Michaels, only on the grounds that it’s such a gawdawful song. And he has proven to be capable of better.
May 18, 2015 @ 5:28 pm
The Stones,Eagles,the Dead,the Beatles,Kiss(Hard Luck Woman) all have country songs that blow away anything today..what would be nice if today’s country artist listened to more older rock n roll as opposed to Creed/Nickelback(it’s these influences that have ruined country more than rap).. As far as the hick hop is concerned, it’d be great to get a rural Tupac out there that could make the ultimate redneck jam while also showing some IQ and a vocabulary that went beyond “country boy” “mud” “redneck” “tires”, and NO,the trying too hard Yelawolf is not the answer…although I hate his voice,Sunny Ledfurd comes close to mixing country with outside influences without all the clichéd lyrics
May 18, 2015 @ 6:19 pm
I don’t know about the other 4 bands in your first list, but the Eagles made some excellent, deep country music. In particular, I consider “Lyin’ Eyes” to be one of the greatest country songs of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-NlR54PqLw
May 18, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
The Stones didn’t have any country songs?? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VyK1bZZ7E-s
May 18, 2015 @ 9:52 pm
I’m sorry, but this song sounds like a parody. The fake twang goes over the top, and the lyrics seem deliberately disjointed.
“And then there are the parts that seem to be making fun of the country culture:
And the preacher said, “You know you always have the
Lord by your side”
And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran
Twenty red lights in his honor”
“Well the preacher kept right on saying that all I had to do was send
Ten dollars to the church of the sacred bleeding heart of Jesus
Located somewhere in Los Angeles, California
And next week they’d say my prayer on the radio
And all my dreams would come true”
May 19, 2015 @ 1:29 pm
Far away eyes is a horrible example. For stones country, Honky Tonk Women anyone??? Covered by more country artists than Rocky Top! Then there is “Sweet Virginia”, “Dead Flowers”, even “Wild Horses” if you want to stretch a little. The Stones have a deep affection for country – even covering “Bob Wills Is Still The King” during their 2006 tour.
May 23, 2015 @ 2:27 pm
I agree. I hate, hate, hate that song and have no idea why it gets played on SXM 60.
May 18, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
I agree with you. Some of the Eagles more country sounding songs I have always enjoyed. I don’t recall them ever marketing themselves as country, they just made some good music. And God knows they sound more country than anything on mainstream radio now.
May 18, 2015 @ 6:04 pm
Looks like AJAX needs a fourth verse to GONE COUNTRY:
He’s a graying rock front man,
The boomers don’t buy like they used to…
May 18, 2015 @ 7:56 pm
I enjoy the newer country music and older neo-traditional country, but when I heard that manlady he/she freak from Aerosmith was releasing a country album i was disgusted beyond belief. Country music has been dying for awhile, but assclowns like Tyler and weirdos like that Posion douchebag will destroy this genre even further than bro country has. I think the genre will continually get worse from here on out, till there is absolutely NOTHING country left.
May 18, 2015 @ 8:22 pm
You’re all talking around it. The younger generation doesn’t want to acknowledge the legacy of country music. Plain and simple. Talking about George Jones and Conway Twitty like they’re some talking points shows the lack of respect. All these young country artists have rap CDs in their pickup trucks. Get real.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:31 am
Younger generation don’t seem to care about country music like Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert and young listeners only wants mainstream like pop music (like Taylor Swift). That’s all people listening to music these days. Am I crazy?
May 18, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
Two words: Sturgill Simpson
May 19, 2015 @ 12:13 am
I think Steve Earle is a good reason why rock should be combined with country. Now granted Steve plays a lot of differnent styles but i can listen to an almost hard rock song by him like “here I am” and then listen to ” guitar town” without a problem because he does it so well. There’s also a lot of good rock bands that use country elements like my all time favorite band if all time Social Distortion. Check out mike ness’s solo albums. It’s heavy on the country but has a good mix of rock. There is nothing wrong with mixing the two styles when done right. Back in the days of Cash and Waylon these guys would perform popular rock and pop hits even. Waylon played bass for buddy holly. Cash played with Elvis and jerry lee. I’m in no way sticking up for this electrified hard rock bro hick hop bullshit in anyway or standing up for wrinkled assholes like Brett michaels or Steven Tyler. but to say stay out of country if you’re a rocker is bullshit. Country even mixes with metal when done right. Check out James hetfield of metallica doing Waylon’s ” don’t you think this outlaw bit…” Check out rebel meets rebel. And fuck genres anyway. If it’s good music it’s good music. Country isn’t even my favorite, I just love this website because there are people here who are like minded about music here. (I still like a lot of country though)
May 19, 2015 @ 12:21 am
“And fuck genres anyway.”
You will find this sentiment to be extremely unpopular on SCM…
May 20, 2015 @ 12:54 am
Don’t give a shit about what others find unpopular or popular on this website. That’s the whole point of a website like this. I like good country and I like other types if music as well. If it’s good it’s good and it doesn’t matter what genre it is. I guess I’d better stop visiting this website because others don’t agree with me.
May 20, 2015 @ 7:43 am
Actually dissenting and unpopular viewpoints are encouraged here. But yes, the idea that genres don’t matter is unpopular with me. Don’t know about everyone else.
May 19, 2015 @ 5:38 am
I don’t agree with the “fuck genres” thing, but James Hetfield’s “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand” was pretty badass.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:27 am
i agree with most of what you say here, but i am curious, this whole site seems devoted to the concept that the older country guys should be revered, that its a damn shame they can’t get on the radio, and that the young whippersnappers won’t listen to them, but then you go and say that aging rockers that have great legacies are just “wrinkled assholes”? You had me totally on your side when you brought up Social D and the Mike Ness solo albums (as my friend once said, “never underestimate Social D”), i always forget to mention them in my oft repeated list of great country songs by rockers. …but then you blow your argument by acting all ageist (not that i am PC or anything, it just seems to me that these “wrinkled assholes” like Steven Tyler deserve respect, i mean c’mon, the guy wrote Dream On, Walk This Way and Sweet Emotion to name just a few [ and i’d argue Aerosmith has deep cuts that blow those songs away]). Let him do his country jam, if it sucks none will buy it and it will sink without a trace, no harm no foul. …and if its good, then hey, you get a good quasi-country album.
May 19, 2015 @ 9:32 am
You can respect artists like Steven Tyler, or even Bret Michaels if you want to, and still think it’s unfair for them to flee to country music when their career starts declining. I don’t take anything away from Steven’s musical contributions. But I’m also not going to overlook that some of the spotlight he’s stealing could go to an artist who has worked their entire life to be a country star.
May 20, 2015 @ 1:01 am
I still like Aerosmith especially the old stuff. I even liked Aerosmith before I knew who mike and social d were. I even have a Poison greatest hits floating around somewhere. Doesn’t mean their aren’t assholes though. And I can respect what they did in their prime and still think what they are doing now makes them assholes.
May 20, 2015 @ 1:11 am
And just because someone is old doesn’t make a difference. I mentioned the older guys because everyone knows who they are and is familiar with their background. I am not against michaels and tyler because they are old. I’m against the awful songs they both put out
May 19, 2015 @ 6:33 am
…and your Steve Earle point was good too. I love him, whether its country or rock 9or bluegrass or folk or whatever else he chooses to play). In fact, when he did Copperhead Road, they used to play it on my local rock radio station and i went and bought my first Steve Earle album even though i was a die hard Def Leppard and Iron Maiden fan. Crossover is great when its done from the heart. i say let ’em play what they want. Great case in point, one of the best songs on Slash’s first solo album was the song with Fergie on vocals. ….wait, what? Fergie? Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie? Damn straight, that girl sings her ass of on that song (and on a bonus track version of Paradise City where she even out Axl’s Axl at his own game. Go find it and tell me i am wrong. So, what if everyone said, sorry your just a pop princess, go away? Slash listen and gave her the chance and man, she smoked it. I’d buy a rock album by her in a second after hearing her work on that song. Again, crossover is good if its done from the heart.
May 19, 2015 @ 1:37 pm
SD is a great example. I agree with your point and I’ll add Jason and the Scorchers and the Georgia Satellites. By the way, the Scorchers’ Warner Hodges is now playing for the Sats’ Dan Baird in Homemade Sin. Real rock and with that country twang. Nothing better.
May 20, 2015 @ 1:04 am
Jason and the scorchers. Hell yeah. Totally missed them in the musicians I mentioned
May 19, 2015 @ 1:12 am
Let the listeners decide they will either support it or not? Success or flop….can’t fool the listeners! Genres are not far apart anymore
May 19, 2015 @ 6:00 am
It’s good to see where the line is. Classic rockers making country music = Not OK. A bunch of dude bro frat boys running around in skinny jeans singing about getting drunk on a beach/plane/dirt road, and telling women to wear the shortest shorts they can find or they’re walking = Perfectly fine.
May 19, 2015 @ 9:29 am
Who said that? I think you can disagree with aging rockers using country to revitalize their careers and pushing more authentic country stars out of the spotlight, AND be against Bro-Country.
May 19, 2015 @ 9:40 am
Well, YOU didn’t say it or even imply it, but one could deduce that this is Clay Walker’s view given his statement on the “perfect evolution” of country music.
May 22, 2015 @ 9:17 am
I don’t think it’s aging rockers that the country establishment should be worried about since most older rockers can write a better country record than most of what’s being currently produced. It’s the Jimmy Buffett wannabee bro-country singers that are diluting country music.
May 19, 2015 @ 6:30 am
I love U2, and Van Halen, Michael Bolton, and Miles Davis, Coltrane, and all that. But I don’t want any of it in my country music.
“You got your pop in my country!”
“You got your country in my pop!-wait, no you didn’t.”
Ah Reese’s commercials from the eighties, they were funny every time.
May 19, 2015 @ 11:14 am
Artists should do whatever they want. The world according to Clay doesn’t exist and shouldn’t.
May 20, 2015 @ 9:11 am
Johnny Cash… Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of multiple inductions in the Country Music, Rock and Roll and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.
May 21, 2015 @ 9:28 am
Maybe Alan Jackson, George Strait, Jamey Johnson should record a rock album. I wonder how well they would be received by rock fans.
May 22, 2015 @ 6:13 pm
Trigger, what do/did you think about Jimmy Buffett’s foray into country music with License to Chill in 2004? It seemed fairly well-received at the time, and featured plenty of genuine country talent.
May 22, 2015 @ 6:39 pm
I’m not Trigger, but…
I really wasn’t too keen on it, to be honest. I liked “Boats to Build” and “Sea of Heartbreak,” but beyond those it was kinda meh. I think Buffet by himself could probably make a decent country album if he really wanted to, though.
May 22, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
Never heard of it.
Early Jimmy Buffett though, when he was still hanging out in Austin and such is some much underrated stuff.
May 22, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
… WHAT?!
It was the album where he covered Hank Williams’ “Hey, Good Lookin'” that also featured Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait. It was released as a single and reached number 8 on the charts. Certain performers were also featured on other tracks.
Here’s a live performance from the 2004 CMAs with your favorite artist presenting it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wWqJUsoums
May 26, 2015 @ 11:27 am
Clay was a younger entry into the “Hat” genre during the 80’s when a return to a more traditional songwriting style was in vogue. And that’s the thing…styles in writing, singing and production change all the time. Billy Sherrill caught a little flack for putting strings on country singles. And how stagnant would songwriting have become if artists didn’t pander to the ‘kids’ and cover country/rock/folk songs? If carpetbaggers’ aren’t allowed access to the country community, how could Ray Charles and Solomon Burke have recorded their soulful takes on the music? Which means…
What IS “Country Music” anyway? If you long for the days of ‘Urban Cowboy’ then, since I’m older than you, I’m gonna call ‘BS’ to that. I’m a George Jones/Bakersfield-style fan, so Bob Wills and Carter Family fans will call ‘BS’ on my opinion. If country is just a litany of homilies and pre-WW2 traditions, then the goobers making the interchangeable hits of today are the pinnacle of country success.
The biggest flaw in the current is, to me, the narrowcasting of music in general. By co-opting the country music genre for the current wave of singles artists ( have you ever listened to a Luke Bryan album all the way through?), a single style becomes identified with the broader “Country Music” tradition. That may not be as much of a problem for fans as it is for reviewers and older listeners. Judging by my experiences playing country music recently, kids buying Taylor Swift can appreciate Patti Loveless or Patsy Montana if they have an opportunity to hear anything besides Spotify playlists. And more listening opportunity means more chance that traditions can find a thread through change in commercial patterns so country music can grow without becoming unrecognizeable. Here’s hoping this new wave soon finds its trough!