Watch out POP, here comes COUNTRY
Pop music is actually popular music. Pop music often includes the more famous genres of music, such as rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, soul and funk, and country music have never been categorised among the pop music genres. Why? Because the audience for country music is limited (mostly from Southern United States) and not internationally renown, like the other music genres. Most contemporary stereotype youngsters’ categorise country music as old and silly. They feel it’s meant for the more matured audiences, like their parents and grandparents. Most country singers (back then) are not considered hip or trendy. Matter of fact, fashionably, they all look the same, with the cowboy hats and boots, and I do agree with them, country artists back then are plain. But why there is a sudden change of heart among the youngsters lately?
Country music is becoming more popular or should I say Country Pop. Country pop has always been around since the 1960s and some may call it Nashville Sound. Some of the first artists to come out from this genre were Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold and Patsy Cline. They were accepted in both country and pop music (back then pop was rock n roll). In the 70s, singers like John Denver, Glen Campbell, Lynn Anderson and Olivia Newton John were also considered pop. Not forgetting the famous Carpenters. All these artists have gain success in both country and pop charts, but why weren’t they as popular as the present artists like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain and a lot more. I feel fashion and sex plays a major influence in nowadays music. You can find the most popular music and videos filled with sex elements and trendy fashions. That’s what attracts the audience, especially the young ones, who are the major supporter of pop music. I feel Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, opened the part for Dixie Chicks and gang to bring in more fans to country music. Their different arrangement of country music and their trendier and youthful appearances blasted them into popularity with the young. Trendy music videos also have helped them proclaim themselves as country pop artist. The number one watched musical show like “American Idol” did help Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler to bring more followers to country pop, not only in the United States, but worldwide. Not forgetting those handsome, trendy and sexy new cowboys and cowgirls we have nowadays, who are starting to make a big impact on the youngsters. For instance, Taylor Swift, who is just 18 and is capturing the young pop audiences. Now, is country pop killing traditional country music? Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional country music and everything about country music, but I feel some of the critics are silly. I am proud that country music is gaining popularity through pop. I feel country music should move on in accordance with time, but never forget their roots. There should be a mixture of the young and old. It’s the right time for traditional country music to embrace country pop as their family or they will lose out. I don’t believe pop in country would kill the arts of traditional country music because the popularity of country pop will eventually bring in more audience to the country music world. Moreover, I don’t think the new artists will forget their roots. Take for instant LeAnn Rimes. She was popular as a pop artist, but she did go back to her roots and made a traditional country album, which introduced the old country songs. Some of the younger generations never heard of those traditional songs before LeAnn sang it, and now they are influenced. Same goes with my blog. Frankly, it’s not a big concern to me if the country music sounds too much like mainstream pop music even without an even more pop-sounding subgenre, because I always believe traditional country music will never die, just like rock n roll. Did gospel music die when traditional country music became popular? Guess not!
The enemy is not within country music, but from the other music genres. For many years the pop music industry are held by other music genres and they feel threatened by country pop. This is all about money and who takes control of the pop charts makes the most bucks. I think hip-hop is topping the charts now. For instance, the 2007 Grammy’s Awards, when Carrie Underwood was not allowed to sing her country pop songs, matter of fact they made her sing a traditional country number and one from the Eagles, which is rock. Isn’t that strange and bias? You can never hear country pop on radios or find country pop music videos on MTV in some part of the world, and some people have never seen a musical country video, but thank you to YouTube and CMT for being unbiased. It’s all about hip-hop nowadays. Not that I hate hip-hop, but I think they are getting silly. You can find hip-hop music filling the top 10 hottest songs on the billboard charts, but I feel country pop is creeping and threatening those music genre. Hip-hop is slowly dying. YES! Believe me they will die soon, unless those “booty shaking girls” starts taking off their clothes. Can’t wait for that to happen, “boobs shaking girls”. Frankly, I am getting boarded with those ass shaking videos. I need some good music for my ears not my eyes. I love country music, regardless if it’s pop, traditional, bluegrass, western, bakersfield, outlaw, honky-tonk, rockabilly or even plain Cajun. Country music is always sweet and meaningful to me. Don’t get me wrong, I also love other music genres, but country is my soul. Go Country Pop! Start booty kicking with your two steps!
