Country Music Research Paper

While debating what to choose for the group music genre, it was quickly realized the whole group liked country music. It seems only fitting the class should choose such a genre, as it is popular here in Texas and country music is a big part of the culture of everyday life. The sub genres in this essay are Bluegrass, Nashville or “pop” Country, Texas Country, Outlaw, and Alternative Country. When discussing the favorite songs and artists of the group, it was realized that even though some may like different subgenres of country, such as bluegrass or outlaw, they all have the same special country sound that everyone knows, connects to, and loves.

The beginning of the genre of country music began in the 1920s in Atlanta, Georgia.

On June 30, 1922, the very first recording of what was considered to be country music was produced by fiddlers Henry Gilliland and A.C. (Eck) Robertson. The first country singer to have a hit song was Vernon Dalhart in May of 1924 with the song “Wreck of The Old 97”. This marked the beginning of the launch of country music all throughout the United States. Country typically uses instruments like banjos, fiddles, and all different types of guitars. Today, there are a wide variety of subgenres that are all very different and add in their own types of instruments but still stay connected to the traditional country sounds.

Bluegrass country was introduced in the second half of the 20th century and is different from mainstream country music due to its “high and lonesome sound”. The style that is associated with Bluegrass originates from settlers that were migrating to the southern states and would write music about the struggles and adventures they had moving across the country. Bluegrass music is usually about dealing with struggles such as money or not being able to get a job, or having to leave something, whether it be leaving home, leaving this life (or passing away), or leaving a relationship. In the song “Leavin’” by James King, the artist sings “Now you had me fooled from the day that we met, Sweet lies you told me I'll never forget, But you can't keep lying and love and you'll find, ‘Cause leaving would take that load off my mind”. This song is about how he was lied to by someone he loved, and how his love for that person blinded him from the truth. This song provides a prime example of the idea that many of the Bluegrass genre songs revolve around.

Nashville country is defined as the sub genre of country music that originated in Nashville, Tennessee in the 1950s to revive country music sales that had been taken over by rock ‘n’ roll.

Today’s Nashville country is a constantly growing industry with many popular artists, bands, producers, and record labels. Many of the new songs that are played on the radio seem to be defined as this subgenre. Although not all new popular artists and songs fit this upbeat rhythm type, it appears that this genre is becoming the go This type of country is sometimes known as the pop of country music with faster beats and upbeat rhythms. It is different from the country sounds of the 1800s and early 1900s that consisted of a more honky tonk and twang sound. The first artists to make headway in this genre were Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, and Patsy Cline. This kind of country music became less popular during the 1970’s and 80’s because new artists were singing new genres, but Nashville country came back full throttle during the 1990’s. Along with the comeback arrived an assortment of new artists, including but not limited to Billy Ray Cyrus, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Kenny Chesney. Some classic Nashville country songs include “Don’t Rock The Jukebox”, “Ring of Fire”, and “On the Road Again”, and more recent hits such as “Teardrops on My Guitar”, “Big Green Tractor”, and “Live Like You Were Dyin’”. One of the most well known songs in this subgenre is “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. The line, “You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess, It’s a love story baby just say yes”, provides an upbeat rhythm which Nashville country is known

for.

Texas Country (which originated in Texas and Oklahoma) is generally known as a more popular subgenre of country music because of its well-known themes and relatable lyrics. Starting roughly in the late 1800’s, during the era of cowboys, Texas country has grown in our history and our hearts. With its catchy tunes and story telling lyrics country has survived all these years and has even become more popular. Over the years talented country singers such as George Strait, Deana Carter, and Billy Joe Shaver have all become famous with their amazingly written songs such as “Fool Hearted Memory” and “Strawberry Wine”. Both of these great songs follow the unwritten rule of country songs by having the lyrics be about girls, good memories and being sad about both of these things. Texas country has stuck around and even been revived with many new, young singers today such as Aaron Watson, Josh Abbott Band, and Granger Smith. The lyrics from Aaron Watson’s, “Shut Up and Dance”, “When you're in my arms it makes me feel, Like I own a mansion on top of the hill, But it's not how big's the house it's how happy's the home” are just one example of the typical country style that each writer personalized. With all of these catchy classics it’s no wonder there are huge numbers of Texas country lovers and writers.

Outlaw country is also considered to be a very different subgenre of country. It was mainly popular during the 1960s and 1970s. The term “outlaw country” came from the song “Ladies Love Outlaws”, which suggested that ladies liked the bad boys or “outlaws” and their music.. These “outlaws” were mainly men from the era, such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, that had sort of rugged and tough lyrics that sounded more like rock ‘n’ roll. However, there were also female outlaw country singers as well, including Tanya Tucker, Jessi Colter, and Sammi Smith, who had very successful careers event though the industry was dominated by men. Popular topics that outlaw country singers sang about were drugs, drinking, and their prison days. The outlaw country singers were not considered “typical” country singers, so they dressed differently than the rest. The typical outlaw wore lots of leather and had long and messy hair, which was a contrast to the traditional country singer outfit, the “nudie suit”, a rhinestone-covered suit made popular by Elvis Presley. A well-known outlaw country song is Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”. One line from this song is, “Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns, But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die”. These lyrics portrayed the rough lifestyle that outlaw country is all about. A few other popular songs from this subgenre are “Whiskey River”, “Cocaine Blues” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”.

Alternative country is really a combination of two different types of music, old time country music and rock ‘n’ roll. This style of music is not as well known as other types of country, but its popularity is growing after appearing on the Austin City Limits T.V. show and the largely attended annual music festival held in Austin, Texas where the music is played for the public. This genre has a diverse group of musicians that differ from the mainstream of country music but still sing country that tends to sound more like rock. However, many of these songs are influenced by some well known old country singers such as Hank Williams Sr. and Johnny Cash. A well known song from this genre is “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle. Although it’s not really the lyrics that classify it as Alternative country, rather the rhythm and the mixture of rock ‘n’ roll with country, a popular line from the song is, “It’s before my time but I’ve been told, He never came back from Copperhead Road.”

Although each sub genre has its own special identity, they all relate back to the simple “country” genre. The country music genre seems to be a major hit not only in the south, where it was originated, but all over the world, because the everyday man or women can relate to what the artists say and how they express their feelings through the lyrics. This is why country music, whether it be Outlaw, Bluegrass, Texas, Nashville, Alternative country, or any other known sub genre, is, for the most part, loved by all who hear it. Even though everyone has their own favorite song with the exact lyrics that perfectly sum up what they like about country music, whether it be from the slow, heart-wrenching songs of Patsy Cline to the fast paced, bass guitar rhythms of Johnny Cash, country music has a little something for everyone. With the popularity of country music and the constantly growing fan base, one would expect it to remain on radios around the world for generations to come, and affect all those who listen in the positive and meaningful way as it has for centuries.