Perhaps I'm a day late and a dollar short. But I wanted to weigh in on the conversation concerning today's country versus yesterday's. I spent 28 years in commercial broadcasting and I'm happy to say that all those years were spent playing good ole country music. I must say there has been a change in the sound of today's country versus yesterday's. The general manager of the last radio station I worked at use to say that today's country is nothing more than bad rock-n-roll. While I don't totally agree with that statement, I don't totally disagree with it either. The bottom line is there are those of us who love the traditional sounds and there are those who love the contemporary sounds. There use to be an old saying which was "the times are a changing", however it's not the times that are changing, it's the people that change. Country stations in the Pennsylvania area now play The Allman Brothers, the Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd and they call these groups "Country Legends" but you have to pull teeth to get them to play one from Charley Pride, Gene Watson or Stonewall Jackson. You still hear George Strait and Alan Jackson, but other than that, the sounds of traditional country in these parts is all but dead. May it rest in peace... Respectfully -- Bob
Hi Crook and Chase, I just wanted to weigh in on the "new country" vs. "old country" debate. I am a huge country fan today because of Carrie Underwood. Until Carrie came along, I only listened to country radio maybe 10% or 20% of the time. After Carrie came along, I started listening to country music 24/7. I like all country music, but my favorites are Carrie, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, etc. As Hank Williams Jr. said when he accepted the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, it's all about changing and molding country music. The old stars are great, but don't hate the new stars. The new stars are changing and molding country music. They might have a different vision than the older stars had, but they're taking country music to new heights of popularity. For that, they should be commended. Thanks for reading. --Rob in Altoona, PA
I think that some people should consider the possibility that it's not that country music has somehow gotten away from its roots, it's just that they've gotten older. Everyone likes the music they grew up on best, and it makes sense that they want to hear it. But I kinda resent that they want to make me grow up on it too! - -'Cause you know what? I like Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town. If you get your way, then I don't get to hear the music I like. So I don't think you should get to hide behind this whole traditional country music argument. This is just a matter of some people liking one kind of music because that's what was popular when they were younger, and other people liking the newer stars because that's what we're growing up on. That's what I think. -- Jeremy, South Carolina
It's funny. It wasn't so long ago that the parents of this country were lamenting over the music of those outlaws Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Or they were blasting Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton for taking country "pop". Now, we look at all four as legendary artists. And does anyone remember that Conway Twitty was as "pop" as any new country act of today? Does anyone remember that George Jones recorded quite a few less-than-stellar novelty songs? Have we forgotten that one of the most successful country artists of all time - Eddy Arnold, who had the very downhome moniker "The Tennessee Plowboy" - recorded with an orchestra and owes much of his success to the crossover sound of his "country" music? The song "Murder on Music Row" implies that there is one sound that makes up country music, and we've somehow killed it. But whose "country music" would all of you "traditionalist" fans have today's artists copy? Buck Owens? Because his music was very different from that of The Statler Brothers. Merle Haggard? Because his music wasn't anything like Barbara Mandrell's. Hank Williams? Jr. or Sr.?...because there's a world of difference there. The fact is, what you think of as "traditional" country music has really only described a handful of the artists who have made country music through the years. The rest - and I would suggest the best of the truly creative, groundbreaking, memory-making music that has been created in this genre - came from the artists who didn't let their music be defined by someone else's idea of what "country music" should be. From Hank Williams all the way up to Keith Urban. -- Lynn, Illinois
I completely agree with "Scully's" response to new country versus old. Some of the new artists do not produce real country music and do not belong on country stations. Sound effects such as ringing phones should automatically disqualify a song from being country. It seems as though it is just the industry forcing this garbage down our throats regardless of what the listeners want. There are many newer country artists such as John Corbett that have really good country music and they do not get any airplay because it is no longer the style of music that the industry wants. It is as if any music they push these days has to be cross genre for multiple station air play or they won't promote it. I am also disappointed that country radio stations rarely play any of the classics like Elvis, Charley Rich, Willy, Cash etc. But I guess if they did it would really show how bad the new stuff is when it is played along side the real thing. -- Lee
Hi there, my name is Amber and I'm 15. I listen to you all on Clear 99 in Central Missouri, and when I turned my radio on to the Countdown on Sunday morning, I found myself getting a little defensive when Keith and Rascal Flatts were mentioned in the letter about Traditional vs. Country music. Yes, I may be very young, but I still adore the oldies-but-goodies. That said, it doesn't mean that these new artists have to have their exact sound. If every country artist had basically the same sound, it just wouldn't be the same...country would be too generic. Also, I love how many new artist's music has a slight rock or pop feel, but yet they still manage to keep it country. It adds to the music, and draws in fans of other genres, which in a round-a-bout way would be promoting country music as a whole. What I'm saying is that the difference is good! There will always be artists out there who stay traditional, so pure country will never die out. Anyways, music is to enjoy, not to be picked apart for the slightest things. :) -- Amber
Hello, I'm Nathan from Missouri. In response to Scully's letter, I somewhat agree. I've always loved country music. Most people criticize me on my taste of country music sense I'm only 28 years old. While I like some of the new/current country, I grew up listening to the older/traditional country. My favorite artists to list a few include Hank Williams Sr., Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, on up to Willie, Waylon, Merl, and Johnny Cash. I wish it were easier to find stations that played these artists, or even stores that carried the albums. I find it some what funny that the new artists say these are the people who inspired them, yet to compare the two types it's like apples and oranges. I feel that the older artist wrote their music from the heart and from their own experiences more so than the newer artist whom I personally think most of their music is to sell, sell, sell, without any personal connection to their music. --Respectfully, Nathan
It seems to me that country goes through cycles, go back to the 80's, you had country, and outlaw country, and eventually the country picked up some of the sounds of the time and the big mega-stars showed up and outlaw kinda went to the wayside. But as the mega-stars go along and start picking up the pop sound of the 90's then others comes along and create their own flavor of outlaw country. I won't deny that there's plenty of stuff that is only getting played because the artist is considered country and there's plenty more that could be played. But country is country because it connects with the blue collar and rural population. --Jeff
C&C -- My girlfriend and I have been long time listeners and I heard the comment you guys made about the person that didn't think that some of the new artists should be on the country music stations. I have never written a music station before but I had to write and give an opinion about what I thought about that. It's because of the new artist that both of us listen and keeps us excited about listening. I used to listen to the pop stations but got tired of listening to some of the music they play. Honestly if the country stations didn't play those new type country artists we wouldn't hear them because I don't think the pop stations would play them. You do hear a few cross-overs on the pop stations but not all. Keep playing those new artists.....if you didn't I think you would lose a lot of listeners. Thanks for reading my comment :o) -- God Bless - Paul
Lorianne & Charlie -- I just want to tell you I agree with the gentleman that thinks that singers like Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts do not belong on country stations, and many others of the so called new country. I am appalled at the way we have strayed from traditional country music. I'll take Alan Jackson or George Strait, or George Jones, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, or Reba any time. Thanks for letting me comment. By the way we have many radio stations in our area that only play traditional country. -- Cal
Hey Crook and Chase -- My name is Matt. I am 16 and I am from Central Missouri. I listen to you guys on 99.3 (Clear99). This is about this guy that likes his country (traditional), I like the older artist and the new comers that still have the older sound to it. BUT I do like the new sound of country music, I think it will be interesting to see how artists deal with this transition. Love you guys -- Matt
I think that country artists like Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban belong on the country radio stations, because the world of country music is changing just like the rest of the world. Scully I have a question for you -- Do you even have a clue how many years that (Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts) have been around? Also, what do you think of Travis Tritt and Cowboy Troy? -- Lily, Strasburg, IL
I agree with the guy from Oregon. Country music has gotten way off track. There is too much good music out there that doesn't get enough play time. George and Alan got it right when they recorded Death on Music Row. (Murder on Music Row) -- Steve from Missouri.
I agree with Oregon. The music we hear now is not country, in general. We truly, only have a handful of country music artists on country music labels. Even Garth Brooks is not country. The hat does not make him country. A traditional country music artist does not have the type of stage show Brooks puts on. I stopped listening to him because of his stage shows. Lots of listeners must agree with me about country music and wanting it to stay traditional. George Strait is an example. Most of the artists on country labels DO belong on rock labels. -- Jerry
Lorianne and Charlie -- I don't see where there is old time country music. Since I am older then both of you I can remember when Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings and others who were considered that new Rock and Roll. I think if it is good music what does it matter what label we put on it. Just think of Dolly and Kenny Rogers songs especially since Dolly had a song that was in both cultures. As had Conway Twitty with "The Rose". If the songs appeals to you it is a good song, doesn't matter if it is Country, Blues Grass or Whatever. -- Margaret, Athens, Ohio
We totally agree with your listener about where country music is going to rock country. My husband won't even listen to the radio anymore. He says it is all rock. Too bad we can't have a show with the old country, for all us old folks. -- The Metzger's in Ohio
The letter that started this discussion: Greetings from Oregon: I listen to you on KCMB in NE Oregon and enjoy your weekly program. I have been a fan of country music for years, and will continue to be for years to come. I am just disappointed in where country music is going and how much time is devoted to non-country performers, i.e. Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, et al. They are not country. Their music is popular at best. We need to keep them on pop music stations where they belong. Thank you for your time. All the best -- Scully
ONE NOTE: WE HAVE OMITTED ALL PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT ANY OF THE ARTISTS. OUR INTENTION IS NOT TO BE CRITICAL OF ANYONE'S MUSIC - WE PERSONALLY HAVE VERY VARIED TASTES AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS OF COUNTRY MUSIC. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU COUNTRY FANS THE CHANCE TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS. THE MUSIC, TV AND RADIO SHOWS THAT COME OUT OF NASHVILLE ARE ALL ULTIMATELY FOR YOU... SO WE ALWAYS LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!! THANKS FOR RESPONDING!
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