Academy of Country Music Awards 2009

[tomgallagher]

[/quote]
Razor/Tom I'll have to disagree with your assessment of current "Country" music.
The Country in today's Country music is more Country than it has been in past decades.
You're labeling it Pop. Not so. Very few of today's country artists have hits in the Billboard Top 40. Artists of the 70's like Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbit, Olivia Newton John, Glen Cambell, Lynn Anderson, Dottie West, Barabara Mandrell, Alabama, Larry Gaitlin, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, Roy Clark, Roger Miller, Lorretta Lynn, Ray Stevens and the Statler Bros. had huge "cross over" chart toping hits. The same could be said for some of 90's Country but to a lesser extent. Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Hank Williams Jr. Garth Brooks, etc.

Certainly the country artists that were given awards last night are more country than the ones I mentioned. Carry Underwood is Country and no way is she Pop.
[/quote]

I disagree. Strokes and folks. Most people think it is bubblegum/pop. It takes more than a cowboy hat and a pair of boots to be country.

[Mike]

I watched it and didnt think it was all that good. I also like the lesser known bands like Eli Young band and Colt Ford. On cable we have an 'Americana' channel that is like the outlaw country. The whole voting thing is lame in my opinion.

[Razor X]

It really isn't Country anymore it's Country/Pop.

Correction:

It really isn't Country anymore it's Country/Pop.

Razor/Tom I'll have to disagree with your assessment of current "Country" music.
The Country in today's Country music is more Country than it has been in past decades.
You're labeling it Pop. Not so. Very few of today's country artists have hits in the Billboard Top 40. Artists of the 70's like Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Crystal Gayle, Eddie Rabbit, Olivia Newton John, Glen Cambell, Lynn Anderson, Dottie West, Barabara Mandrell, Alabama, Larry Gaitlin, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, Roy Clark, Roger Miller, Lorretta Lynn, Ray Stevens and the Statler Bros. had huge "cross over" chart toping hits. The same could be said for some of 90's Country but to a lesser extent. Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Hank Williams Jr. Garth Brooks, etc.

Certainly the country artists that were given awards last night are more country than the ones I mentioned. Carry Underwood is Country and no way is she Pop.

There have always been crossover artists but nowadays artists can't get played on the radio if they are deemed to be "too country". 

I would classify an artist as a "pop" artist based on the style of his/her music and not by how well it performs on the pop charts, but based on your criteria, Carrie Underwood is very much a pop artist. 

There was very little real country music on that program the other night.

[Razor X]

I agree, much of country is getting to be too much like pop music.  But, that is what is bringing a lot of fans to country. 

Actually, album sales are way down so they are driving away more fans than they are bringing in.  And I don't understand the point of bringing in new fans if the music has to be changed so dramatically that it's no longer recognizable.  Artists who want to perform pop music should be free to do so but they should be honest about how they label it.

[tomgallagher]

I've noticed for some time now that people that can't seem to make the grade in other venues go out and buy themselves a cowboy hat and a pair of boots and declare themselves country. As Allan Jackson says,"I'm going Country just look at my boots".

[Tyler]

I have to disagree on Carrie Underwood.  I actually find her to be more Country than many of the younger female artists. 

[Mike]

I've noticed for some time now that people that can't seem to make the grade in other venues go out and buy themselves a cowboy hat and a pair of boots and declare themselves country. As Allan Jackson says,"I'm going Country just look at my boots".

 I agree. Look at alot of the people like Jessican Simpson or Jewel, they couldnt make it with pop so they switch to country. It seems like when a famous person gets bored they must think "hmm I can kinda sing so I should try country even though I dont like it that much"

[Razor X]

I have to disagree on Carrie Underwood.  I actually find her to be more Country than many of the younger female artists. 

That's the problem; none of the newer crop of female vocalists are very country, so it's really not a good comparison. Compare Underwood to people like Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, or Sara Evans.

[BALDANDRE]

Ok....not EVEN a fan of country..

but like ALL types of music there are cycles, influences and changes ...

you just have to be patient for a "country" old skool revival cycle...

it'll come...it always does!

[Razor X]

Ok....not EVEN a fan of country..

but like ALL types of music there are cycles, influences and changes ...

you just have to be patient for a "country" old skool revival cycle...

it'll come...it always does!

I'm not sure that it will come this time.  You're right, the pendulum has always swung back and forth in the past, but that was before all the radio stations were owned by a few conglomerates who decided what everybody from coast to coast gets to hear.  They're marketing music to the soccer mom demographic, which means no drinking or cheating songs, no sad songs or songs that are too serious.  So all you get are songs that are insanely positive and don't say much of anything at all.

There's plenty of good country music out there, but it takes some effort to find it, because for the most part, it isn't on the radio or the mainstream awards shows.

Newsweek has an article about it:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/192377/page/1

[BALDANDRE]

Ok....not EVEN a fan of country..

but like ALL types of music there are cycles, influences and changes ...

you just have to be patient for a "country" old skool revival cycle...

it'll come...it always does!

I'm not sure that it will come this time.  You're right, the pendulum has always swung back and forth in the past, but that was before all the radio stations were owned by a few conglomerates who decided what everybody from coast to coast gets to hear.  They're marketing music to the soccer mom demographic, which means no drinking or cheating songs, no sad songs or songs that are too serious.  So all you get are songs that are insanely positive and don't say much of anything at all.

There's plenty of good country music out there, but it takes some effort to find it, because for the most part, it isn't on the radio or the mainstream awards shows.

Newsweek has an article about it:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/192377/page/1

Aww, my pessimistic friend (I see your SBG tag line)...just wait and see...

no, not instantly ( we all say the KIDS want instant gratification )...

but just wait...

underground, off the chart stations, clubs start hosting or playing an inventive young , very "hip" kid... goin' way old skool...

it becomes 'country hip" again...

patience young Luke...patience....

you'll get yer sh*t kicker country!

[Razor X]

Aww, my pessimistic friend (I see your SBG tag line)...just wait and see...

no, not instantly ( we all say the KIDS want instant gratification )...

but just wait...

underground, off the chart stations, clubs start hosting or playing an inventive young , very "hip" kid... goin' way old skool...

it becomes 'country hip" again...

patience young Luke...patience....

you'll get yer sh*t kicker country!

I've been waiting for about 15 years now ...   

[BALDANDRE]

Aww, my pessimistic friend (I see your SBG tag line)...just wait and see...

no, not instantly ( we all say the KIDS want instant gratification )...

but just wait...

underground, off the chart stations, clubs start hosting or playing an inventive young , very "hip" kid... goin' way old skool...

it becomes 'country hip" again...

patience young Luke...patience....

you'll get yer sh*t kicker country!

I've been waiting for about 15 years now ...   

Hmmm, makes sense..RAP is the new POP....

and POP is the NEW COUNTRY...

thanks goodness for those fancy record albums and players!

[nomad]

Every music genre goes through changes, everyone bitched that some of the old metal bands went top 40 and they've been bitching about country as well, they make the changes that the masses want so they can sell their music. I know sales are down now so now more than ever all genre's of music are doing what it takes to get the sales they can. We shouldn't act like this is new its been going on forever, if you don't like a particular music then don't listen. That's one of many reasons I listen to a wide range of music, I look for what I like and don't whine about those that I don't, I just don't listen.

[Razor X]

Every music genre goes through changes, everyone bitched that some of the old metal bands went top 40 and they've been bitching about country as well, they make the changes that the masses want so they can sell their music. I know sales are down now so now more than ever all genre's of music are doing what it takes to get the sales they can. We shouldn't act like this is new its been going on forever, if you don't like a particular music then don't listen. That's one of many reasons I listen to a wide range of music, I look for what I like and don't whine about those that I don't, I just don't listen.

So we're not allowed to express an opinion?