Entry #4: Is Country Music More Than Just Twangy Guitars and Cowboy Hats?

    Hey there, fellow music lovers! I know that many of you have different musical tastes, but it's no secret that country music often gets a bad rap from others. I prefer to look at the bad rap that this genre receives from an unbiased perspective. I know that a lot of people listen to country music and see cliches, but I believe there might be more to it than the stereotypes would have you believe. I've been wondering about why country music gets so much hate and what it says about our culture and our relationship to music.

    To start off, country music is a genre that has always been polarizing. For some, it's the ultimate expression of American culture, a celebration of the heartland and the values that define it. For others, it's a relic of a bygone era, a hodgepodge of cliches and stereotypes that has long since lost its relevance. Most people of this generation now listen to genres such as pop, hip-hop, and rap.

    I remember the times when I would first start to get to know my friends, or anyone for that matter, and a lot of times we would find ourselves asking each other "What kind of music do you listen to?" I feel like everyone has asked or has been asked this same question. Many of the times that I've heard this question asked, the responses would be along the lines of "I listen to pretty much everything, except for country," I don't recall many times where country WAS one of the people's genres. I even had this one friend who did happen to enjoy and listen to country music, but when he was playing it around another friend of mine, they would ask "What is this? This is some kind of cowboy cotton eyed Joe type of music," which could be taken as an insult. I thought it was pretty funny but my other friend, on the other hand, felt disrespected and changed it back to the usual hip-hop and rap style of music.

    So I started digging deeper into why country music could get negative feedback from people. As I was thinking, I found that maybe some people don't enjoy it as much as others simply because the genre is too formulaic or that it relies too heavily on cliches. It's also quite possible that it's too focused on rural or "red state" themes and doesn't speak to the experiences of people who live in urban or suburban areas. It could be too conservative for some listeners in ways that it doesn't embrace diversity or progressive values. At the same time, music changes over time, so it's possible some people could argue that country music has lost its authenticity over time and has become too commercialized and polished.

    As I said, music evolves over time, which means that country music also could have influenced other genres of music. For example, many modern pop songs incorporate elements of country music, and some of the biggest pop stars in the world, such as Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, got their start in country music.

    As for myself, I don't heavily listen to country music, but I like to indulge once in a while, especially on road trips. While it's true that country music has been criticized for being too formulaic and cliched, I personally find a lot of value in the genre because of its ability to tell stories and evoke strong emotions. Some country songs are upbeat and celebratory, while others are melancholy and introspective. Many country songs deal with themes like love and heartbreak, family and community, and the struggles and joys of everyday life. I find that country music has a nostalgic quality that reminds me of a simpler time, while also appreciating its ability to capture the complexities and contradictions of modern life. It might also have something to do with the fact that as a child, my family often listened to this kind of music and I'd visit my grandparent's farm. When I listen to country music, it reminds me of green forests and muddy roads. I, for one, enjoy country music when I go on road trips or just out in the nature, it's cozy and comfortable for me. 

    How do you feel about country music? I'm interested to hear about your thoughts. Overall, music brings people together in different ways, so everyone should let everyone else listen to what they want to. If you like a genre of music that people don't agree with, it doesn't matter, just listen to what makes you happy.