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Country music in the 2000s essay
Country music history
Country music in the 2000s essay
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1980’s-2000’s Country Music Country music has recently become more radical. In the past country tunes were sluggish and slow, but a group of up and coming artists would revolutionize the music industry forever. These new artist did more for the southern/western genre than anyone in the past. They sold millions of record. Cumulatively they made billions of dollars! Artists had gigantic concerts that attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators. Their songs began to do something no country artist had done before… top the pop charts. The 1980’s brought forth some of the most dominant and influential country singers of all time, while seasoned veterans, who were previously successful in other decades, continued to create great music. In the 1990’s the money began to flow. Artists composed albums that went Diamond (sell over 10,000,000 units) and sold out stadiums. The “good time” singers of the 2000’s sang songs about love, drunkenness, and the party life. These topics appealed to regular folks and attracted new followers. Overall, this period of country music brought light to the genre and delivered great wealth to its artists. The country artists of the 1980’s are the most famous in the history of country music. The 80’s was a period when the older singers from recent decades, such as George Jones, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, etc., still continued to churn out hits. Their style was popular but new faces were coming to the scene. George Strait, “The King of Country”, came to Nashville and stubbornly wore his western attire (cowboy hat, Wranglers, etc.) which by the 80’s was being done away, but with the help of Mr. Strait was being brought back into style! He sang western cowboy music and barroom swing music which became popular v... ... middle of paper ... ...itional, clean cut, and much acclaimed vocalist. The 90’s was a boom for country music when entertainers and rock-a-billy singers were common, and they attracted colossal crowds. Finally, came Y2K and fresh folks to sing the country style and connect with the people who love the genre so dearly. From George Strait to Garth Brooks to Tim McGraw, these names have come up on more than just the country charts but also the pop charts. Also, they drew in a substantial amount of wealth. They have changed more than their genre but also the entire music industry. Works Cited Dooley, Sean. "Top 10 Country Artists of the 2000s." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Kallen, Stuart A. The History of Country Music. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 2003. Print. Kingsbury, Paul, and Alanna Nash. Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America. London: DK, 2006. Print.
Times have changed, and along with the times so has country music. American country music lovers have went from Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings, just two of the many classic oldies, to Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, two very appealing country music artists. However, it is not only the tune of the music that has changed, it is the image, the appeal, and overall the type of icons the media is portraying these modern music stars as. Icons such as Lynn and Jennings had identifiable features within their music as well as their appearance that spoke sweet southern belle and rugged twang. Whereas Underwood’s and Bryan’s appeal now is much more sexualized than it was during the oldies. These changes affect the way modern day singers are marketed compared to former country music stars, instead of focusing on talent it is now looks.
The Male Vocalist of the year was given to him in 1984 as well as the Top Male Artist and Overall Top Artist award in 1986. He had Number One Top Country Artist of the year award in 1987. George collected the Hot Country Singles and Tracks Artist in 1995 and 1996 and the Top Male Country Artist and Overall Top Artist in 1996. Strait obtained the Male Vocalist of the year and Album of the year for “ Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind ?”
For almost 90 years, The Grand Ole Opry has withstood the test of time to become one of the tried and true traditions in country music. From the show's humble beginnings as an obscure radio program, to it's renowned place today as one of the premiere stages for music, The Grand Ole Opry has had an extremely colorful and interesting existence. Over the 88 years that have passed since the show's inception, The Grand Ole Opry has featured many talented performers. Those performers, along with social changes and economics, have all contributed to the growth and success of The Grand Ole Opry.
Smoke on the Mountain did an excellent job at utilizing each of the seven components of a play in the production of the show. The first two components are plot and characters. The plot is the actions in a show and the characters are the people who carry out the actions of the plot and they both require the other in order to be developed correctly. When Vera Sanders explains to the congregation why they are all similar to June bugs she is developing her character and in turn, developing the plot. She begins by telling a story when a June bug flew into her lemonade one evening while she was sitting on her porch. She was incredibly upset about this because that June bug contaminated her drink. Her emotions, thoughts, and actions about this ordeal were logical and believable to the audience which allows her character to be developed. She goes on to explain how, like the June bug that flew into her lemonade, we are all inadvertently flying into the drink of sin. This correlation between us and a June bug started out very strange and confusing but through logical steps and details given by Vera, we were able to make the connection and understand her reasoning. Believable actions and stories like this are what build the plot. This is why characters and plot go together. The next component Aristotle listed is the theme; the abstracted subtext (aka the hidden message) in a show. There were two themes in—overcoming tribulations and sin and becoming unified as a community through song. The vast amount of songs that were performed during the show made me believe that unity through song was the central theme. Just like the community in the play, when I was participating in this show, I felt the power of music through and found myself on the e...
Country music is one of the most popular genres of music throughout America. There are many influential figures that have changed the way country music sounds, and how people interpret it. Two important people who have made a huge impact on country music overtime are Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan. From their early life, their career, and how society views them, they have opened the minds of people and country musicians all over the country. Johnny Cash’s songs help people to experience his life growing up through the Great Depression and how people lived back then. Through Luke Bryan’s songs people could understand what life was like for Luke growing up in Georgia and all the hardships he faced. Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan are two of the many country singers that have influenced country fans to be more optimistic and hopeful.
When a person thinks of rock music in the 50s, they usually think of Elvis Presley, “the King of rock and roll”. However, he seems to exhibit a more stereotypical American approach to music. As Americans, we like everything that entertains us to be bigger and better than before. Presley certainly delivers this idea through his outfit,
People were imagining and seeking a way out of the chaos. From this, came the singing cowboy idea into Hillbilly music. Fans adored the idea of the singing cowboy: the free feeling, being one’s own boss, no worries, and the vast country-side absent from the rest of the chaotic world. People saw that these cowboy artists had beautiful women, loved singing, played the guitar and were quickly becoming famous. The cowboy/western trend quickly spread across Hillbilly music. In Nashville, the industrial center for Southern music, the Grand Ole Opry was formed. The Opry’s vast broadcasting helped to disperse Hillbilly music to the nation. It stands as a monument to the original upbringing and tradition of country music still today. The Opry began using this cowboy/western trend to show fans that Hillbilly music was about the working-class family. They used hay bells, overalls, flannel clothing and boots in most of the performances. This gave fans, still mostly Southerners, a sense of pride and acceptance of who they were and what they stood for in society. They no longer had to feel any less than their Northern brothers and sisters. The Southern, lower-class people took on the role of certain pastimes and traditions that would last throughout American
Hank Williams Jr will always be remembered, He made a huge turning point in country music. He started young and seen his dreams and where he wanted to be, He didn't let anyone or anything stop him from getting there. Hank took his own spin on country music, and made it his own. Not following the “trend”, But doing what he wanted. Taking his dad with him , never forgetting that he's one of the reasons he's here.
Growing up, my dad controlled the radio almost always, and his choice was the local country station. This lead to hearing my fair share of Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Martina McBride. They often sung about beer, front porches and Jesus, and none of that really resonated with me.I never truly hated the music, it was absolutely inoffensive listening, but very few songs struck a chord with me. That is until I heard the Dixie Chicks. They made beautiful use of harmony, melody, instrumentation, emotion and storytelling that worked together beautifully.
Darius Rucker, the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish has made the transition from platinum selling pop rock artist to country singer in the past few years. On a recent episode of Oprah, Darius sat on Oprah’s couch as she declared to her audience, “Country music is the real soul music!” Rucker’s solo debut release, Learn to Live reached No. 1 and has remained on the Billboard charts for 30 weeks. The CD’s first two singles, “Don't Think I Don't Think About It" and "It Won't Be Like This For Long,” each hit No. 1, making Rucker the first male artist to get two debut singles atop the Hot Country Songs ch...
Pecknold, Diane. 2007. The Selling Sound: The Rise of the Country Music Industry. Durham: Duke University Press.
Many would argue that country music isn't country anymore; straying too far from the older generation of fiddles, violins and guitars by incorporating a "pop" feel and focusing more on the beat than the content. Pop music is typically viewed as up-beat and differs from the sad, lonesome sounds of country from the past. I would agree that today's country has a very different sound than previous years, however, still incorporates the down-to-earth feel many of us can relate
Although folk music played a big role in most of these artists’ performances, folk links back to the blues, and is similar...
Hiram “Hank” Williams was an inspiration to millions of people around the world. He wrote several songs that many people love and know today. He introduced a new generation of country music. He also inspired two generations of his own kin to pursue the life and career that he once desired. He was the very first country music legend. Even after departing the earth, Hank has received many honors such as being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This reward shows that people still love and respect his work and life accomplishments. Hank is resting in piece knowing that people continue to enjoy his music.
Country music was brought over by the first European settlers. In medieval times, storytelling was a tradition that allowed history to be recorded when few were able to read and write. When the first British settlers came to America, they brought this tradition with them, along with songs that they had learned in Europe. The people who settled the Appalachian Mountains and the West did not have an easy life and their music gave them an outlet to express their hardships.