Is It Important to Draw Distinctions in Pop Country?
We love to paint pop country with a broad brush around here, which may not always be fair. Think about it: sure we might consider two artists like Taylor Swift and Brad Paisley pop country, but the degree of how much pop compared to country they are, or even their overall talent level can be dramatically different.
When Taylor Swift won the CMA Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Best Female Vocalist, one of the reasons it seemed like such a tragedy was that Swift couldn’t even sing on pitch in her performance on the award show itself; something that should be natural to any music performer, let alone an Entertainer of the Year.
Carrie Underwood is about as country as a New York City sewer rat, but though it pains me to say it, the American Idol product has a strong, powerful, always on-pitch voice; and unlike an act like Rascal Flatts, her perfect pitch is not due to auto tuners. Brad Paisley is pop country’s teacher’s pet, always first with his hand up to be Carrie’s co-host for the CMA’s. But he also happens to be a very talented guitar player.
George Strait and Jamey Johnson are certainly using the Corporate Nashville machine to forward their music, but the music their trying to forward seems at least attempt to respect the traditions and carry along the sound and themes of traditional country music.
There are tiers of pop country, just like there are to anything. Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and Keith Urban aren’t really country at all. Neither is Carrie Underwood, but like Brad Paisley, as a musician she has some undeniable talent. Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert are country, but still with a pop twinge and that over-polished “Nashville” sound that is caustic to many of our ears.
Some people wonder why on a website called “Saving Country Music” that I don’t talk more about people like George Strait and Jamey Johnson. It is because so many other publications already do. I’d rather write a review for an album that nobody else in the media will even listen to, than one that will just be another review out of 100. And when you live in my country music world, even listening to old school Alan Jackson is a culture shock.
But my question is, is it important to draw distinctions between pop country artists? If we don’t, do we risk being hypocrites for lumping all the music together? Or should we spread or venom in a wide, non-discriminating stream towards all who’ve given country a bad name? Or should we even care?
December 28, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
Though I’m not a fan of about any of the music on pop country radio, some of it does have traditional elements like you said. And to be fair some of the music we promote on here now also blends other styles of music with the traditional sound just not in a pop format. It might not be a bad idea to acknowledge some of the artists that still do have some roots. I can’t lie, I do like some older Alan Jackson and George Straight and other artists in that category but it’s not my favorite by any means. It’s not something I would listen to on a regular basis but I would rather hear them on the radio than all this shit that has absolutely nothing to do with country music at all.
Also, by bringing attention to these artists on savingcountrymusic.com we might get some more traffic which means we will have more people to promote the music we are all so passionate about. That means we could have more of a chance of saving country music as we view it. Just a thought, take it as you will.
December 28, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
I’ve thought about that Kunzy, and I do try to talk about better known artists when I think it is relevant. I should probably try to do that more. But I also like to talk about what I know, and honestly my knowledge base on someone like Alan Jackson is limited.
Good thoughts.
December 28, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
I think there are some definate distinctions between some pop country artists! Some are blantantly pop – ie Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, etc. And some are country that swang over to the poppier side – ie Brad Paisley, Keith Urban. I can’t be the only person that finds it totally ironic that Brad sang about being “Too Country” at one point in his career..and is so far from there now — its like he’s got two sides – the soft ballad side and the kitchsy more pop sounding songs. As for Keith Urban – I’ve always felt he had 2 speeds, too…all his songs sound the same, its just either a fast song or slower one. lol
And I think ya’ll have a great niche here – I first visited earlier this year when there was the great Jamey Johnson debate…for the record, I still think he’s true to the music…but I come back because you’re covering artists I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere.
I still don’t know where ya’ll think there is so much Jamey Johnson coverage — he’s hardly mentioned on any mainstream country blogs or played on the radio (other than “In Color”). In fact, I just hear this weekend there was a video made and sent to CMT for the second single, “High Cost of Living”, from the That Lonesome Song album…however, CMT refused to play it! I’m still trying to dig out some info on what happened there. He could use support – the fans are trying the best we can, but its so hard to fight against the Taylor/Carrie/Brad/Keith genere!
December 29, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Hey Janelle,
You might be right. Jamey’s coverage is probably not proportional to the amount of fans he has. At least he gets mentioned at all, and the CMA’s featured him pretty well. Kunzy above you had some similar thoughts. Maybe it would be smart and helpful to start talking more about people like Jamey and George Strait around here.
January 8, 2010 @ 1:32 am
Jamey Johnson is literally forefronting the circle’s return to it’s traditional roots. Bring on the wave, but whether he knows it or not, he’s almost our only hope.
January 12, 2010 @ 9:29 am
I to mention Jamey as pop country is absurd, Yes he is at awards shows and his name gets brought up, not because of his involvement in todays Pop-country, but inspite of his bucking the system
January 14, 2010 @ 4:34 pm
I Say Fuck Em All…Let Lucky Tubb And Bob Wayne Lead The Way…Kill The Bastards…And What System Has Jamey Johnson Bucked…He Got Fucked Over Once He Left Then They Let Him Have A Little Creative Control He Didnt Buck Anyone
January 21, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Jamey Johnson’s music is very close to traditional Nashville Country like Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty, with pedal steel “Country in Your Face” solos at the end of his songs.
You might say that with songs like “In Color” he is walking the line between country and Pop, yet he is forwarding the cause. There are a lot of Country acts from Texas and other states that are excellent and have a lot of talent, and songs we should hear on country radio. But this whole “Country’er than thou” mentality, simply because you’re not in Nashville is a bunch of crap.
Jamey Johnson is Country, he is the “Jesus figure” of country and the ONLY hope of changing country back. If there was any. Listen to his song “When the last cowboy’s gone.” And tell me I’m wrong!
There is no hope of Changing “Country” as George Jones said, “They stole our Image.” Whoever they are, they’ve also stolen our label. So get a new one. I propose that “true counry” singers find a new label. I propose “Honky-Tonk” Music. When someone asks me what I sing I tell them “Honky-Tonk Rhythm and Blues.” check me out at kcroberts.com
January 21, 2010 @ 10:14 am
I been drunk, I been in jail, don’t that make me country
filled hay wagons, bale on bale, don’t that make me country
I’ve worn a suit and a tie, does that make me city?
I’ve had cowshit in my eye, it was pretty shitty
My Dad was raised up on a farm, I guess that makes him country
He joined the Army, I was born, I wonder if I’M country
I grew up in many small towns, I guess that makes me Townie
city streets or woods and creeks, I just got around see?
So big ol hats,do-rags or tatts, I dont care-how you puff up
just play guitar and sing your songs and then just shut the fuck up
April 5, 2010 @ 2:02 pm
Thank you for this post. First of all I want to say that I’m a Carrie Underwood’s fan. Not a huge fan but still a fan. And I HAVE TO admit that she doesn’t sing country music. I grew up with my dad listening to country music and I know that’s not it. But I realize, just like you and perhaps many others, that the girl does have a voice, a voice that is undeniably beautiful. It’s such a pity no one guides her back to the country’s roots – I actually think she can do a pretty good job. She comes from a small town, and she’s got this genuine feel that the cruel Hollywood whirlwind somehow hasn’t destroyed.
I’ll continue to support this girl as long as her album doesn’t have too much of that Cowboy Casanova trash. And still hope that some day she can return and sing REAL country (cannot be 100%, that’s too optimistic, but at least not pop country). With a voice like that she can really do something.
April 5, 2010 @ 2:26 pm
Oh and regarding your question, yes we should. I’m not saying this just because I like Carrie Underwood, but because the extent to which pop country music singers is so great now that we shouldn’t just lump them all up.
Carrie may not sing country but at least she can sing. I’ll try not to mention anybody else because you’ve said enough on this site. But Carrie can sing and once in a while she sings something country-like (or when she does covers).
I don’t know about Miranda or Reba but as Carrie’s fan, I felt like being slapped in the face after she didn’t win the award for Female Vocalist at the CMA. And to give that to somebody who can’t carry a tune…
ACM is coming (I wonder if you’re gonna write anything about it) and it’s gonna be the same with Ms.Swift sweeping all the awards she can be nominated for. I guess if she’s nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year her fans would still be happy to vote for her 24/7. But seriously…why bother calling yourself a SINGER when you can’t SING????
This is singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qGhNN-67-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvaDJTUmrU
Well not really country (in case you would want to bash it lol) but at least that’s how a song should sound live.
So in a nutshell, YES PLEASE DRAW A LINE!