Is Pop Music Now Trumping Pop Country in Substance?
“I was driving. My two daughters, Violet and Harper, who are eight and five years old, started singing along. I was so happy and relieved that my two girls were singing a popular song on the radio that had some substance and depth, which I considered to be healthy for them as kids. I know that sounds kind of parent-ish.”
This was the revelation former Nirvana drummer and and current Foo Fighter Dave Grohl had when listening with his kids to a song from one of the world’s biggest pop stars right now: Lorde. Grohl went on to tell Rolling Stone, “When I met her I said, ‘When I first heard your song on the radio and my kids sang along I felt like there was hope for my kids to grow up in an environment which is more than just superficial.'”
Between 2011 and 2013, the biggest-selling pop star in the world was not Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, or Lady Gaga. It was Adele. Her album 21 absolutely dominated popular music for two straight years, and had critics raving about the style and substance the singer exuded, while not fitting the form of the typical pop star stereotype. Lorde does not fit the pop star stereotype either. She razzes on photo reporters for blotching out her less-than-perfect skin, and tight fitting fare doesn’t seem to be her bag.
The whole theorem that pop music is just an excuse to oogle at pretty people has a problem holding up when you look at some of the recent trends in much of the pop world. Of course there’s still exceptions, and the weighty nature of Lorde and Adele can be debated. But even when looking at other Top 10 artists like Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, and Ed Sheeran, these aren’t the customary pop specimens with zero substance that are solely based on image. The pasty, short, red-headed Sheeran with his original songs and acoustic guitar is nothing similar to the showy pop performers of yesteryear. And though their names might be splattered all over the press, artists like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber aren’t placing as well in the charts or sales numbers as one might expect.
Meanwhile you take a look at country music’s leading artists, and what do you see? You see image-driven, shallow males with even shallower songs, squeezed into ultra-tight jeans that have become the spandex tights of our time. Maybe backwards baseball caps have replaced kinked hair, but the servitude to image has stayed the same. Trend-focused and willing to do anything for fame, not standing on principles or worried about the legacies they’re forging, popular country music has become the new bastion for the shallow performer and the sellout; the pop of our time, camouflaged in denim.
I don’t have any data to back my assertions up. No pie graphs or chart analyses; this is strictly anecdotal. But I’ll be damned that if in 2014, your average pop star isn’t more likely to outpace your average country star when it comes to substance and depth in their music. Recently critically-acclaimed country star Kacey Musgraves announced she’d be writing and playing some concert dates with Katy Perry. Oh how the hounds erupted about what a travesty this was. But at least Kacey Musgraves is writing her own songs, with another artist that writes her own songs, and those songs are about something more than lists of countryisms with no narrative. Isn’t this a better alternative than Dallas Davidson and three other drunk douchebags in a round robin throwing “beer, truck, girl” into a hopper and writing a song depending on however they land? It may say more about mainstream country music than it says about Kacey Musgraves that she has to reach out to the pop world to find collaborators she feels she can relate to.
Even with Taylor Swift, at least her songs are about something. They may be about some ex-boyfriend’s scarf or other trivial matter, but at least there’s a story arc. At least her songs are coherent on paper, and are drawn from inspiration. Compare that with the verses of your average Florida Georgia Line song and Swift feels like Faulkner.
“Pop” is the perennial bad word in country music to where even pop country stars tend to shy away from the term. Why? Because it infers a lack of artistic merit. Some of the biggest pop stars in the world still want to be regarded as artists of substance by their peers and fans. We already see many artists now residing in the ranks of the Americana and bluegrass worlds shy away from the term “country” even though their music may fit that term traditionally, simply because they don’t want to be lumped in with the stuff being played on the radio. This trend is robbing mainstream country of some of the critical talent it could use to create more balance and substance in the format. Country used to be the safe place on the dial, and you wouldn’t have to worry about listening to it with your kids in the car, unlike KISS-FM. Now that dynamic has flipped, and it leaves one wondering if in the future “country” will be that bad word that infers a lack of artistic merit. Or if we haven’t already arrived there.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:19 am
I unfortunately think the days where “country” artists aren’t given any artistic integrity are already here. Speaking from personal experience, whenever I tell someone I’m a fan of country music, I typically get some sort of disappointed look from them. Then I have to say I don’t listen to mainstream country radio, and their disappointment goes away.
I wonder how it got to be this way, that “pop” music consistently has more depth from its songs and artists than “pop country.” Why do you think that happened Trig?
April 28, 2014 @ 9:36 am
Unfortunately, I think many young people in urban and suburban America have a stereotype of country folks as unintelligent, uneducated, superficial, inbred rednecks, and the “country” music ndustry has been very willing to play to that stereotype, in the pursuit of short term profits.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:47 am
I think some of it has come down to songwriting, as it seems there has been a concerted effort by many pop artists to seize hold of their creative process and more often than not it’s produced solid results. Lorde and Adele are easy examples, but then you have cases like Lady Gaga firing her management to seize artistic control or Beyonce utilizing everyone and everything in her husband’s small camp of artists/producers (Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Timbaland, etc.) to drop a surprise album, or Kesha’s very public battle with her label to seize artistic control and go in a more lo-fi/punk/psychedelic direction. Even Katy Perry and Britney Spears tried to get more writing credits and creative control on their recent albums which claimed a more personal direction, and most people got glimpses of why both should probably stick with established pop songwriters.
And if you go towards hip-hop, you run into people like Macklemore who isn’t just writing all of his own songs, but on his own independent label. And with the success of artists like Kendrick Lamar (and his peers like Schoolboy Q on their indie label Top Dawg Entertainment), Eminem’s solid comeback effort, and even Kanye’s move sonically to a more experimental sound (even if it is a commercially-accessible Death Grips imitation), hip-hop is taking steps towards a creative boom.
Honestly, when it comes to the pop charts, I think some of it has to do with the boom in the indie scene. Many pop artists are realizing with the explosion of the internet that they don’t need to rely on the typical label architecture to realize more experimental records or take greater dramatic risks – and what’s been all the more surprising is that the modern charts have rewarded a fair number of them for their trouble.
But when you look at the pop country establishment, especially in bro-country, who’s doing that and outwardly rebelling against convention AND managing to get mainstream airplay for their trouble? Right now, you don’t really see that in the mainstream country charts, as they’re instead catering to the lowest common denominator and not taking those creative risks in the same way – mostly because they feel they don’t have to take risks to stay relevant.
And I’ll say it, the mainstream country music audience and critical press is partially to blame for this. If they aren’t willing to call mainstream country on its bullshit (which this site does and I try to do as the only country critic on YouTube), then this shit is going to keep happening and it’s going to keep selling until the trend dies with my demographic and we all get sick of it. The current bubble is not sustainable, and it’s only a matter of time and greater numbers of people clicking in before it implodes.
But the independent country scene needs to do more too – they need to work on building a web presence and building young groundswell in the same way other indie acts in hip-hop, rock, and metal do today. As much as it might be conventional to coast on grassroots appreciation, they aren’t going to change the paradigm if they don’t evolve their marketing.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:49 am
Excellent comment Mark, I agree on all points. The intrusive nature of country’s major labels has been the issue from the beginning of country, and remains today. I remember a quote from Waylon Jennings when he looked at his counterparts in rock and wondered why they got to play with their own bands, and record their own music.
As far as the social networking aspect of independent country, I couldn’t agree more. This is where indie, pop, rock, EDM, etc. are trumping roots musicians and even some labels who seem to be under the impression that the music should just speak for itself. The Americana Music Association has the same basic structure (and many of the same faces and lists of nominees) as they did when they began.
April 28, 2014 @ 3:57 pm
Interesting point. If independent country & roots artists were to do promotion / social networking in a way that is comparable with indie rock or other genres, what would that look like? I am genuinely curious. Whatever it takes to promote the music, it needs to happen sooner rather than later!
I don’t know if this is an example of an artist who’s doing things the right way, but whatever Sturgill Simpson is doing seems to be working, because he is popping up all over place. Appearing on Grand Ole Opry, WSM is running commercials about him, he is appearing on the BBC, being written about in indie rock publications, and so on. Maybe people are just hungry for authentic country music.
By the way Trigger, on a similar note, I watched some of that Stagecoach Music Festival on TV this weekend and I think you were right in that article you wrote once about Stagecoach exposing people to independent artists. At least, it was interesting to see the bikini-clad girls and shirtless guys in cowboy hats swaying along to Jason Isbell and jumping up and down to Shovels & Rope, among others.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:44 am
Why did it happen?
$$$
May 3, 2014 @ 8:13 am
I know I sound like a broken record, but the reason is that a made-up genre called “Americana” has taken the pressure off Nashville; back in the day folks like Willlie Nelson and Kris and Merle put pressure on sappy country and brought it back to real. That pressure is gone now. As Trigger accurately notes, “We already see many artists now residing in the ranks of the Americana and bluegrass worlds shy away from the term “country” even though their music may fit that term traditionally, simply because they don”™t want to be lumped in with the stuff being played on the radio.” When I ask country bands I’m thinking of booking why they’re listed as Americana, they say they have no choice. Until they start rejecting that label and demand to be called country, there’s no hope. It needs to start locally and in the trenches.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:29 am
Yes, I think it is true that much of today’s pop country has even less substance that straight up pop music. Pop country has become a lowest denominator genre, one could say a hybrid of redneck pop and white people’s rap.
Then again I recall that the superficial nature of pop country went back at least to the days of Shania Twain and Faith Hill (we used to hear lyrics like “I love the way you love me” all the time). But at least in those days country radio was also playing songs with more substantial lyrics from more traditional country artists.
I’m not convinced by the part of the article that tries to equate Taylor’s songs with substance. One could say that her songs have their own laundry list, e.g. boys, crushes, kissing in the rain, princes, fairy tales, breakups, etc. And the vapid Max Martin produced singles she released in recent years seem to fit right into the recent trend of replacing substance with image and noise.
April 28, 2014 @ 8:01 pm
In your closed, prejudiced mind thats all you can allow yourself to hear when you see “Taylor Swift” or hear her; and these are your own soiled laundry list of claims and talking points which you bring to every article and its comment section you find that says something positive about her.
So who in reality is the untalented, immature and close-minded person here; Taylor Swift or you, Adrian? I’m going to go with the one who has actually never changed their tune or their song content: and that’s you Adrian!
Congrats! You are the winner of a soul and mind full of poison and bitterness towards a young woman that doesn’t know you exist; and who has done infinitely more to impact peoples lives positively than your nrgativity could ever make a dent in.
April 30, 2014 @ 3:58 pm
I bet you were crying as you typed this.
April 29, 2014 @ 7:57 am
Gee, Adrian you don’t have a bias against Taylor Swift do you? You are truly one note.
April 29, 2014 @ 9:49 am
No, my point was that Taylor is not a good counterexample to use when criticizing pop country. She is a pop country artist. She is a big part of the pop country scene. She has contributed to trends in pop country that have been criticized on this site. For example, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” is a good example of a formulaic, overproduced song that appeals to a specific young demographic. She significantly changed her style in her “Red” album, around the same time when bro country became much more popular. If the Lord Almighty has sent a savior down to earth to save both country and pop music from the scourge of pop country, it ain’t Taylor.
April 30, 2014 @ 3:57 pm
What a great note it is!
April 28, 2014 @ 9:34 am
Great article, Trigger. Pop music is by far trumping pop country in substance now and I thought I would never see it. George Strait (for a little longer), Alan Jackson (looks pushed out by Nashville right now), Kacey Musgraves (critically successful, but not lighting the radio up), Zac Brown and Jamey Johnson (if he ever comes back), are about the only ones with substance left in mainstream country. Adele and Lorde sound like Mozart & Bach compared to the bros of pop country.
Before I found SCM and became a reborn country music fan, I spent a majority of the last couple years listening to more pop than country. As country continued to worsen, the more I gravitated away from the genre. I did this without even realizing it. More and more people are coming to the same realization I had last year, based on what I’ve seen around the Internet. It’s quiet, but gaining steam. This pop country bubble may not burst this year, but eventually it will happen. And it won’t be pretty. I think artists who “sold out” are going to have a hard time in the post bro country world. And that’s when more traditional acts will have an opening to gain mainstream attention.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:50 am
Today’s pop acts are still filled with garbage though. Sure you may have Lorde and Adele, and guys like Pharrell that might pull out a decent song every now and then, but to be honest Pop music today in general is still a pitiful and a failure of an achievement compared to what Pop music used to be 30, 20 or even 15 years ago.
With country music I think the decline has been different. If anything I think this debate falls partly into personal taste, but to me they are both currently a mere shadow of their former magnificence.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:58 am
I think what makes the problem with mainstream country different is that there was a struggle between two different genres, and country music lost. Pop country has been around for a long time, but what has changed in recent years is that pop country has largely pushed the rest of country music off the airwaves.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:06 am
You just hit the nail on the head. Pop country was tolerable (at least for me) because you still heard traditional country on the radio too. Now bro country has pushed out traditional country and are dominating the airwaves. I’ve told my pop country friends that I wouldn’t have as big of an issue with their songs if they played traditional country on the radio also. It’s not fair.
April 28, 2014 @ 12:00 pm
The nature of “pop-country” has fundamentally changed. Four years ago, pop-country meant Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now”. Now it means bro-country and country-rap.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:21 am
Eric, yes, pop country has changed, or to put it more accurately, expanded. I think the old pop country (e.g. Carrie, Taylor, etc) which was typically a mix of feminine ballads and watered down EDM, still exists. But there is now a much larger male component of pop country that is very rock and rap influenced. To listeners who don’t like loud music, this is more objectionable than the old pop country.
“Need You Now” didn’t strike a chord with me, though I’d agree it was better than most of the other pop country from the past 5 years or so. I thought some of the pop country from back in the 1970s was decent. E.g. I thought Glen Campbell had some good songs and I sometimes still listen to “Country Roads Take Me Home” though John Denver wasn’t a country artist in many respects. I was less fond of the pop country of the 1990s and 2000s. I don’t recall hearing a crossover song that I thought would be a classic since “I Hope You Dance” in 2000. I thought Martina had a few good songs and a couple of them crossed over, but in general I didn’t think the pop country released around the millennium that much better than mainstream pop.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:57 am
Man oh man.Great write up.
I would break it down like this – I get in my truck to go to work,turn on the top 40 country station,it stays there for about 3 seconds.Awful.Turn to the next country station,same thing.Then I go to the classic rock station and it’s some awful repetitious Boston or Aerosmith song.We’re lucky enough to have a classic country station where I live,but much like the rock station,they play the same old same old.Then I turn on the modern rock station..I don’t even have words to describe it..So I turn on the top 40 POP station and that’s where it stays.Why? Because compared to the other mainstream stations (especially today’s”Hot Country”),it’s the most interesting,original music on the radio.. Hell,I’m at the point where I even choose to listen to friggin Kesha over Luke Bryan or FGLine,and damn near everyone else on top 40 country!!
Then I unexpectedly wound up watching a lot of Coachella coverage on AXS TV last week,more than I ever thought I would.Ellie Goulding,Aloe Blacc,Lorde,ZZ Ward (and several others I can’t think of the names of),were actually good,entertaining,ARTISTS.It was quite a pleasant surprise.
So to answer the question “Is Pop Music Now Trumping Pop Country in Substance?” The answer is HELL YES.By MILES!!
April 28, 2014 @ 1:41 pm
I found myself listening to soft pop or middle of the road milktoast.
It was pleasant in comparison to shrill, loud power ballads and better tasting than a dog’s breakfast bro country.
April 28, 2014 @ 5:44 pm
RWP wrote: “Then I unexpectedly wound up watching a lot of Coachella coverage on AXS TV last week,more than I ever thought I would.Ellie Goulding,Aloe Blacc,Lorde,ZZ Ward (and several others I can”™t think of the names of),were actually good,entertaining,ARTISTS.It was quite a pleasant surprise.”
Same here. I didn’t get to watch as much as I would have liked, and by the way, thank you AXStv. One band you didn’t mention is Haim. 3 sisters fronting the band. Fantastic live. Then i listened to their album and it was so far from what they do live it was astounding. If they ever record a live album, I’m all in, but the studio stuff, not so much.
Then I caught quite a bit of Stagecoach this past weekend. For the most part it was really good. Then the headliners hit the Mane Stage.
April 28, 2014 @ 7:39 pm
I watched the Stagecoach coverage on AXS too, and like you said, it was pretty good except for the headliners, though I expected that. Most of the press aren’t mentioning the interesting performers though.
The festival is organized Goldenvoice and AEG Live, and unlike Clear Channel, I don’t think they’re automatically opposed to including independent artists. They already independent music can be profitable, because they also put on Coachella.
April 28, 2014 @ 8:31 pm
Yes. Unfortunately, it seems like festivals like Stagecoach are the last bastions the lazy, trend-following, mainstream-loving people can get a glimpse of other styles of music.
Looking very forward to AXS coverage of the upcoming Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Gonna be some good stuff there as well.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:41 pm
Whoops, I meant to say “They already *know* independent music can be profitable, because they also put on Coachella.”
But yes, I agree. Passive listeners certainly aren’t going to hear diversity on the radio dial. And the Jazz Feast coverage should be good, though I noticed that most of the performers have little to do with actual jazz, but hey, I’m not gonna complain.
April 28, 2014 @ 10:28 pm
Applejack wrote:” And the Jazz Feast coverage should be good, though I noticed that most of the performers have little to do with actual jazz, but hey, I”™m not gonna complain.”
Yeah, isn’t John Fogerty on the bill?
But I’m gonna hear some bands/artists I’ve never heard before. Some I’ll like, some I won’t. That’s OK, because I never would have heard any of them through traditional channels.
AXS has probably done more for my musical catalog outside of of SCM than anything. Their festival coverage is unmatched anywhere. In fact, their music is unmatched anywhere on TV, especially compared to traditional (and I use that term loosely) outlets like MTV, VH1, CMT, GAC who have all gone the way of scripted reality and/or reruns.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:38 am
The only headliner I made it all the way through during Stagecoach was Hunter Hayes (I can’t believe I just said that).Sure none of it sounded anything like Country Music,but the kid is crazy talented.He played acoustic and electric guitar,drums and keyboards all in the first 3 songs I think.It’s too bad none of that comes out in his studio songs..He came across as a pretty likeable kid too I didn’t even attempt to watch Brantley,Luke or Aldean.
I wish they would of shown more of the opening acts,Shovels and Rope etc,got only 2 to 4 songs shown,but that’s more than what any other channel is showing of them.
April 28, 2014 @ 11:17 am
Trumping? I won’t give you that.
Maybe ‘Overwhelming with Mediocrity’, but not trumping.
April 28, 2014 @ 11:33 am
Miranda has many thoughtful lyrics.
April 28, 2014 @ 4:44 pm
She’s had several good songs, but I wouldn’t say her song selections are good across the board. She’s had hits and misses, lyrically and musically.
April 28, 2014 @ 11:56 am
Not a single one of those pop artists are anywhere close to Brandy Clark.
Her skill as a composer is up there with Bob Dylan and Elton John.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brandy-clark-mn0001063645/credits
April 28, 2014 @ 3:22 pm
No doubt, but Brandy Clark isn’t anywhere close to mainstream country’s radar, unless you count her co-writes with Kacey Musgraves, and those also get mostly ignored by radio. I think it goes without saying that if you try and search out the substance in country, it will still blow most mainstream pop artists out of the water. But a head to head comparison with the top of the two genres, and pop wins.
April 28, 2014 @ 5:36 pm
It may be true that the mainstream country audience isn’t as aware of Brandy Clark as they should be,but she is certainly in the radar of mainstream artists. Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, and even Kacey Musgraves turned to her for songs before she had ever released a single CD. And her CD was considered one of the best (top 10) by most serious country / americana reviewers. It’s only a matter of time before she is one of the most important artists in country music.
April 28, 2014 @ 7:03 pm
I hope you’re right Karl. At the least, it would be cool if she became a Keith Whitley type, where maybe she doesn’t have huge commercial success herself, but is seen as a powerhouse songwriter with a solid performing career.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:21 am
Been reading this site for about 6 months, first comment now!
I don’t know how many of you live in an area with FM-HD stations, but in Chicago the “shadow” station to US-99 (pop country) is The Wolf, a “more than Top 20”, commercial free, no DJs, Country station. That’s where this week alone I’ve heard Brandy Clark, Jennifer Nettles, Chelsea Bain, Maggie Rose, and American Young.
Yes, they play bro-crap and pop country too, but when they mix in the women not represented in the CMT Countdown, along with George Strait and Don Williams, I’m finding music that’s better than the pop music of this article.
And while I know it’s dangerous to say this here, I’d put Eric Church up against anyone on either side of the aisle for songwriting abilities. Love or hate the music (I’m a fan for the most part), the lyrics are some of the most intelligent you’ll hear today. Plus he’s the anti-bro.
Thanks for a great site, I learn much here!
April 29, 2014 @ 10:56 am
Thanks for reading Greg!
April 28, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
I am sad to say that I absolutely agree that pop is now trumping mainstream country. We have come to the point where country music, historically known for coming up with the most profound lyrics in all of popular music, now produces the most repetitive and brain-dead lyrics and themes.
Lorde’s sonic style does not even remotely appeal to me, but I have found that I would much rather listen to her songs than to at least half of the songs on country radio, simply because her lyrics are so vastly superior.
April 28, 2014 @ 4:42 pm
Eric, how do you think Lorde’s songwriting compares with Taylor’s?
April 28, 2014 @ 5:56 pm
The two are very difficult to compare. If we consider the sonic component of songwriting, Taylor’s songs obviously have far greater melodic variation than Lorde’s. With regard to the lyrics, Lorde excels at thematic expression (she would be great with political songs, for example), whereas Taylor excels at storytelling.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Lorde has not much of an impression on me, perhaps because I am very far from her target demographic. I heard “Royals” a couple of times and did not find the music to be very listenable. She does seem to be a more politically opinionated person, from what I’ve heard.
March 14, 2016 @ 6:51 pm
They both suck.
April 28, 2014 @ 12:26 pm
There may be stronger substance in Pop at this point, but the repetition in all mainstream pop radio formats is unbearable.
April 28, 2014 @ 1:06 pm
Even when Bob Dylan is sleeping he’s more creative than most others are while they’re awake.
There’s only one Dylan.
April 28, 2014 @ 1:28 pm
GAG’s top twenty…yep, gag.
http://www.gactv.com/gac/pac_ctnt/text/0,,gac_26058_47218,00.html
April 28, 2014 @ 2:25 pm
I think it’s all going to have to bottom out before it can get better. By bottom out, I mean it has to become so trite and such a parody of itself that the current fanbase jumps ship for something else. The people that listen to this stuff are not real country fans. They are passers-by, enjoying the current fad. They have no stake in the genre, and so as soon as it becomes “uncool” they’ll be gone.
I think is may have happened in the rap world already. A few years back, it was all guns, money, weed, and cars. A faux-gangster/ pimp movement that produced forgettable, talentless hacks with no knowledge of the lifestyle they glorified. People stopped listening and it all fell apart. Now, they’re starting to rebuild, and the genre is considered at least somewhat respectable as an artform again.
I’m hopeful and confident this will happen in country music, too. It’s just a matter of when.
April 28, 2014 @ 2:37 pm
Speaking of Katy Perry she is doing a CMT Crossroads with Kacey Musgraves that will be shown in June. According to Kacey they are going to be doing a few older Dolly Parton songs together and a few of Kacey’s things and some other country stuff. Should be interesting to see what happens there with that.
April 28, 2014 @ 4:55 pm
After reading the article and comments, I feel like REM, losing my relig……..oops, I mean losing my music. The new pop-pop country image isn’t just image-driven males in tight pants, it’s females gone Hollywood in superficial sexy videos with mindless repetitive lyrics and formula music.
Nashville became NashVegas a long time ago and the real stuff when outlaw and underground.
Does pop-pop country music mimic culture or does culture mimic the pop-pop country music? I think music mimics the culture and, baby, it’s a crazy mess out there without much substance. Follow the $$$ as Trigger says. Oh, and you won’t catch me wasting time or $$$ on Kacey and her pitchy friend Katy.
Sorry for the snarkism, am sad for the state of music and sad for all the goofy kids who think they are country music fans.
April 28, 2014 @ 4:59 pm
I definitely agree with this article. The country station(s) are so terrible I can’t tolerate it for even a minute. When I hear any of the new country songs my blood boils. My gf listens to the pop station almost exclusively, which is not really my cup of tea for lack of a better expression. But, I find the pop station more tolerable than most stations, not just the country ones. The rock station is really hit or miss for me. The classic rock station is so repetitive, I can’t stand hearing the same old songs anymore. Radio just sucks in general.
April 28, 2014 @ 5:10 pm
All in all?
Yes…………….yes it is!
April 28, 2014 @ 7:22 pm
I stopped listening to country radio when I bought my first iPod back in 2005. I could still tolerate half the songs but I was starting to see the direction things were headed in. This is the least familiar I have ever been with current country music. When I look at the charts I barely recognize half the artists. I don’t know any of the songs. I know in the first 0.5 seconds of hearing any modern song that it isn’t good. Bad instrumentation sets the stage for a bad song. This article inspired me to actually read the lyrics of one of these songs. What better example than ‘Cruise,’ which I heard was #1 for a significant amount of time:
Hey baby
Yeah, when I first saw that bikini top on her
She”™s poppin”™ right out of the South Georgia water
Thought, “Oh, good lord, she had them long tanned legs!”
Couldn”™t help myself so I walked up and said
Baby you a song
With each word it just keeps getting worse. For my own amusement, I read the words out loud as one would read a poem. If I would have kept going it would have brought me to tears and made my ears bleed listening to myself. The songs are just as empty as the lives of the people that listen to it. How pitiful…
To clean our ears out I’ll contrast the above nonsense with the last song that came through my speakers on my way home this afternoon…
Cowboys don’t cry, and heroes don’t die
Good always wins, again and again
And love is a sweet dream, that always comes true
Oh if life were like the movies, I’d never be blue
But here in the real world, it’s not that easy at all
‘Cause when hearts get broken, it’s real tears that fall
And darlin’ it’s sad but true, but the one thing I’ve learned from you
Is how the boy don’t always get the girl, here in the real world
April 28, 2014 @ 10:45 pm
“For my own amusement, I read the words out loud as one would read a poem.”
Then you’ll love this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix-FyGavWw
April 30, 2014 @ 5:12 pm
Oh man that made my day! Hilarious!
May 3, 2014 @ 5:47 am
That was bloody amazing. Thanks so much for sharing that!
With regards to T-Pain, do country artists name drop rap acts that are actually good like Public Enemy? Probably not as the non-tuned, politically charged and rapid fire (and smart) rap by someone like Chuck D would probably leave them crying in a corner somewhere.
Revolution means change, don’t look at me strange
So I can’t repeat what other rappers be sayin
You don’t stand for something, you fall for anything
Harder than you think, it’s a beautiful thing
April 28, 2014 @ 7:33 pm
The thing is Taylor doesn’t write about anything trivial to her or her fans. A real, specific person did, out of the blue, break up with her, mail her things back to her, but keep a scarf of hers. Her songs are not made up according to a formula. They are Taylor Swift writing and singing her truth. As Kristofferson put it.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:18 pm
Have you seen factual evidence that this incident with the scarf and everything actually happened? It sounds believable for a young girl, certainly, but so do many other songs recorded by other singers that were not autobiographical. For example, people who are not familiar with Toby Keith’s biography might hear “American Soldier” and believe that it was about him. If Carrie Underwood were a mother, some people might have thought “Jesus Take The Wheel” was about an experience she had. And I’d heard “All My Exes Live In Texas” many times before I found out that ol’ George has only been married to one woman.
April 28, 2014 @ 9:46 pm
The identity of the boyfriend in “All Too Well” is so obvious (and such a major celebrity) that it would be difficult for Taylor to twist the facts of the relationship without running the risk of him taking to the tabloids and calling her out.
April 29, 2014 @ 7:05 am
Google the song “All Too Well” for the story.
April 28, 2014 @ 7:49 pm
The lyrics to All To Well are not trivial. Some of the best lyrics written in 2012 in any genre.
April 28, 2014 @ 8:10 pm
Tom,
I understand why you and others may see that line as a shot at Taylor Swift. The primary reason I said that was to point out that not everyone is going to be able to relate to the subject matter of her songs, but that at least her songs actually have subject matter and a story. I went on to compare her to Faulkner (though obviously in an embellished manner, but still), so though I have my criticisms of Taylor Swift, as I do with really any artist, I wouldn’t take that line as a slight. At least it wasn’t meant to be.
April 29, 2014 @ 7:03 am
Triggerman’
I understood and liked your comment, Except for the word trivial.
I don’t think Miss Swift has ever written much in her young career that didn’t come from an authentic place deep inside. All the many Song writer of the year awards she has received demonstrates that. The Idea of her songs being trivial is a grand misconception.
Tom Harvard……67 year old Taylor Swift fan.
May 2, 2014 @ 10:17 am
Tom, I think you just gave “Tom Swifties” a new definition.
May 2, 2014 @ 8:14 pm
Don’t rush to judge Taylor Swiftly.
April 29, 2014 @ 7:12 am
The only thing wrong with this article is the spelling of Britney Spears…
April 29, 2014 @ 8:05 am
When rap started becoming mainstream and infliltrating pop radio, I tuned out. That was a long time ago, I then listened to country radio 100%, it was a major part of my life as driver. The tide has turned, now that Bro-country has infiltrated country radio. I have started listening to pop again and at this time it superior many ways, except for the radio’s problem of repetition.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:46 am
As the saying goes about the 2 major political parties – dime’s worth of difference.
April 29, 2014 @ 10:51 am
Certainly. Even Katy Perry has a few songs with more substance than the current popular country crop.
April 29, 2014 @ 11:57 am
Here’s something else to think about: the ladies.
The Top 40 Pop world plays female artists. Lorde and Adele get airplay. When Lady Gaga was an emerging critically-acclaimed artist, she got airplay. The country world, especially pop country, does not play many female artists, even award winning ones like Musgraves. It would appear it’s difficult to get industry support if you don’t fit into the same mold as Luke Bryan. This includes songs about trucks and having a penis.
I’ve been listening to the local station literally all day (for an experiment) and I’ve heard only 2 songs by female artists. I have heard zero songs that stood out in the same way “Royals” and “Someone Like You” do.
April 30, 2014 @ 4:59 am
And don’t look now, but Paramore has another Top 10 song on iTunes.
April 30, 2014 @ 11:17 am
Adele and Lorde is better than Bro Country. I don’t see how they are unique. I guess I can see how Adele( who I am fan of) would stand out. Lorde music isn’t unique for pop music. I don’t think she stands out at all. When I heard her song she didn’t standout for me.I guess its just me. Imegan Heap Lykke Li, Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do CD, and Lia Ices is who I would consider standing out for mainstream pop. Their music is very far from mainstream.
Yeah Bro Country is terrible.
May 1, 2014 @ 6:21 pm
Until some of those discussed above can make me sit and feel emotions like this song does, I’ll keep on listening to real country. I remember thinking that Chris couldn’t carry a tune very well sometimes, but he has a depth and a gift for writing that none of the above can hold a candle to. (I guess George Straight was mentioned)……. The force of pop junk is causing people to forget what real music is and feels like. I don’t want to feel all anxious and disjointed and not even be able to feel the melody in a song. What’s the point? That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RLiuPRMJy8
May 2, 2014 @ 10:05 am
I 100% agree. I use to refuse to listen to pop music. It just wasn’t good. I would sometimes flip through the stations and if I came across a catchy song I would leave it on for a minute or two. Now I find myself actually preferring to listen to pop. I can go 5 songs without being completely annoyed where as on country, every other song isn’t even good. It goes Luke bryan, FGL, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton and then repeat. The people I use to hate like Kenny Chesney don’t even get played anymore and I would take them anyday. Unfortunately we don’t have any alternative stations around us. So if I have to choose pop or country. I choose pop
May 2, 2014 @ 12:36 pm
It is really funny and disturbing how pop/bro country has completely taken over the airwaves. I am an independent country singer/songwriter, so I like to go to alot of concerts. I live in Augusta, GA, and Lady Antebellum played a show here the other night to which I took my wife to go see. Though they are not my cup of tea, they still put on a great production, but that is exactly what it was, a scripted production, like watching a play with guitars. Not to knock Lady A, they are actually one of the mainstream acts I can tolerate, I mean at least they write the majority of their songs and don’t fill them with cliches. Now their opener was another story altogether. A young guy, tight jeans, spiky hair…I think he was the epitome of what Jackson Taylor is singing about in “Country Song”. Anyways, this kid gets up there with his “prop” guitar, and sings song after song of bro-country cliche music. I love my wife, as she has taken notice of this souless trend, and began counting the cliches on her fingers…each song ended up with 4 or 5 of the “Hey Girl”, “Tight Jeans”, “Good Stuff” aka booze, “Moonlight”, “Riverside”, “Hop in my truck”…all that bullshit…listening to this garbage spew from the mouth of some no talent hack actually caused me to leave my seat and go buy an $11 beer. As an independent artist who writes songs from my soul, and refuses to compromise my atristic integrity, I felt sick. I actually had a label rep out of Nashville contact me about 6 months ago. He was trying to convince me to come to Nashville, told me things like “We will market your brand”, “We will bring in the best song-writers to work with you”, “We will get you sponsorships with such and such clothing so you can have a trendy style”, “We will put J’s on your feet (refering to Justin Boots)” All this crap, that I don’t want to have anything to do with. Needless to say, the conversation didn’t end well. The other night though, I came to a disgusting realization as I watched all these women drool over this kid..and that is that today’s country fan is no longer the hard-working ,blue collar, down-to-earth person. It is the Generation Y/Millenial. All this new generation cares about is outward appearance, instant gratification, entitlement…they have no culture and no soul…thats the end of my rant.
December 21, 2014 @ 11:59 am
And a fine rant it is , Brian . Indeed ” The times they are a changin ‘”… again.
It ain’t just the music …its pop entertainment in general . EVERYTHING is geared to the lowest common denominator …fake reality shows , situation comedies being totally one note sex-centric , sequel after sequel of movies that ‘worked’ no matter how bad the original or the follow-ups might be ,and generic cliche songwriting and productions that ears have embraced and become accustomed to .
The good stuff IS still out there. But not mainstream whatsoever. You have to work harder to find it .
I have lots of publishers tell me how my songs could be improved . But there is a complete disconnect between what PUBLISHERS are SAYING a song should be and what people are actually recording . Even the gatekeepers are out of touch with things , it seems . The stuff that gets recorded for mainstream consumption is far far inferior to what most REAL writers produce and are capable of producing . And far different from what most song ‘ evaluators’ tell writers they should be doing craft-wise . Frustrating ? You bet . BUT as opposed to the past when they could hold up a GREAT song to you and show you the target you should be aiming for , today’s stuff is mostly recycled and often craft-free using musical chants and production tricks to do the job a great lyric or a fine fine solo once did .
And that’s MY rant . ..All the best !
December 21, 2014 @ 11:41 am
I see so many comments on here talking about kasey. I do not think she is the answer to our problem at all. I hate that nashville is pushing her so hard. I can not deny she is a talented song writer. But I hate her voice and her concert was so boring I left early. Brandy amazing writer okay singer never seen her live.
I think stuff on the radio is horrible. I think some of the mainstream acts ie: miranda has great material but it never gets released or radio doesn’t play it. One of the most underrated songs in the last two years was all kinds of kinds. Great song. Great message but radio didn’t play it. On her knew album she has another Sunday in the south and holding onto you. Those are number 1 worthy songs..but will get ignored.