Country aint country no more

What I'm finding is music that was once primarily for adults, now aimed toward frat boys. All sound alike, wailing guitars, songs about tail gates, beer, tractors and trucks. It has no heart or feeling, especially in light of the death of George Jones. This used to be music about heartbreak and pain, where is the pain in trucks and beer?

My most favorite singer James Otto tried to bring back what Ronnie Milsap brought to the front burner all them years ago, country soul that is, but sadly not enough people wanted to hear more after "I Just Got Started Loving You" hit #1 for James back in 2008. (shaking my head over their sheer stupidity)

God bless you and James and Mr. Milsap always!!!

Holly

P.S. To me, NO ONE sings with more heart and passion than James. No one.

Check out my most favorite singer, James Otto, when you can! I love him SO much!!! (smiles)

Odd you should mention Ronnie Milsap as country, because , back in the 70s and 80s when he was biggest (Back on My Mind, Stranger in my House, Smokey Mountain Rain, etc) I pidgeon-holed him with the crossover country artists like Kenny Rogers and Mickey Gilley especially.
Perfect example of how as you get older, the country music of your 'heyday' is what you compare to as 'real country', as opposed to myself, who was lamenting the limited airplay of artists like Waylon Jennings, David Allen Coe, Tammy Wynette, Wanda Jackson, Emmy Lou Harris, Tom T. Hall for 'your' country music (Until Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks re-started 'my' type)

Just interesting as an example (And I hope from my list ings, I had no problem with Milsap and Gilley, they just weren't Tom T.)

You Can't Fool Me...I'm a Moron!

I loved it when Ronnie got the ACM Pioneer award back in 2002 and to me Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnut, and Tracy Lawrence singing "What A Difference You've Made In My Life" together is the cheery on top, their voices blended perfectly. (smiles)

God bless you and them and Ronnie always!!!

Holly

P.S. Here is the clip of that wonderful memory in its entirety. (smiles) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkfocqh35vc

Check out my most favorite singer, James Otto, when you can! I love him SO much!!! (smiles)

Any song that ain't got a fiddle playing in it is *suspect.

That is how I feel about all country instruments. Lyrics are one thing, but if country instruments are not backing up them lyrics, then it is most definitely not a country delivery.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

Check out my most favorite singer, James Otto, when you can! I love him SO much!!! (smiles)

I remember "Achy Breaky Heart" I loved the song back then when it came out. It was quite a popular trend to back then as was line dancing.

I remember 90's country well. Mmm I secretly loved it. I was one of those that denied ever liking country music and listened to pop music. But I remember my grandparents and family memembers alike would have it on their radio and would listen to it and I would secretly love it and all of the songs that came on back then. I think my last favorite song was Kenny Chesney "all my life"

I love his music even today and really don't feel ashamed to deny it to anyone. He is fun and fun music to party with. I miss him well. I loved "no shoes no shirt no problem" Partied with that well for awhile and definatly increased my social life with that album. No shirt mmm no problem for me at all Kenny :)

When country music became huge there was country singers who could really write songs with lyrics that you could relate to and told a story that taught lessons to everyone. Take for instance Patsy Cline was one of the most talented female artists in country music and her songs were such a joy to listen to but after Patsy's tragic death in a plane crash there wasn't many female country singers with the talent that Patsy Cline had. But while legends like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash and Hank Williams reigned supreme in country music it wasn't until the 70's and 80's that country music had adopted a new image to keep up with the times and while singers like Glen Campbell and Eddie Rabbitt made their debuts we saw that this new breed of country music would be huge and when singers tried to make a comeback they knew that they couldn't attract this new audience. For example Marty Robbins tried being successful in the 80's when he released his comeback single Some Memories Just Won't Die in 1982 but he passed away from a heart attack before being successful in the 80's and he was known for the song El Paso in the 50's and other country hits. In the 80's female country singers like Juice Newton and Sylvia made their debuts and female country bands such as The Judds had hits that soared on the charts. But with country bands such as Restless Heart and Exile were known for male singers that could sing with talent this marked the start of hearthrob artists. Just like in movies country music had a crush factor with artists like George Strait and Dwight Yoakam making their debuts and when Dwight Yoakam released his debut album Guitars Cadillacs Etc. Etc. in 1986 Dwight Yoakam had a crush factor and drawn many fans to his concerts. But when the 90's began good country music started to fade with the debuts of Toby Keith Martina McBride Trace Adkins and LeAnn Rimes and others. But if you look at today's country music you won't find another Johnny Cash or Patsy Cline