Old Town Road - Story Of A Song Noah King Mus 133: Introduction to Planetary Music June 9, 2024. “Old Town Road” is a 2018 single released by rapper Lil Nas X. This release was then followed by a remix performed with Billy Ray Cyrus the following year. The “Old Town Road” is a journey of a man, but it speaks to the journey all people must take if they wish to achieve their dreams. From difficulty to success, the song takes us along the route to fame and fortune which can be made despite your situation and starting point. It asks us to look into ourselves and find pride, as well as to be who we are, despite how we might be perceived. The song also poses the questions of how we define our music and who gets to make those decisions. Lil …show more content…
However, there is some disagreement with the genre placement of the song. This is-it-country-isn’t-it-country became a major controversy after the initial release of the song. After making it onto the Billboard Top Country 100 list, which would of course more than suggest that the song is in the country genre space, “Old Town Road” was unceremoniously pulled due to claims that the song was not fitting with the description of country music. This controversy raised the concerns of many across the music stratosphere as concerns of the pulling of “Old Town Road” being due to the race of Lil Nas X being drawn. It is no secret that in the United States, country music has largely and historically been dominated by white men, this is not to discredit those of color who have earned a space in the genre, rather it is to point out a historical trend. The concerns that “Old Town Road” being pulled due to the race of its performer are possible, however the possibility that the song lacks many of the features to be considered country are not invalid either. Thus the controversy is over. The issue comes down more to what is and isn't a country, and on a broader scope, how do we divide the lines of genres as
Country music is “a branch of American Popular Music (Country Music)” that dates back to the 1920s. The music itself is a combination of folk music arising from the southern United States, with “cowboy” music from the Wild West. The beats, the harmony, and the flow are generally simple and allow for listening at ease. Lyrical analysis separates country music from mixing with other categories, as it is associated with ballads and stories – the songs are fit to tell. Any and all accompaniment is, in general, strings, fiddles, and harmonica. While modern music balances the artist with digital sound, country music remains true with unity of said instruments. When describing country, upon interpretation the term “twang” is used; twang can range
“Peoria State Hospital? What’s that? Oh is that the Bartonville Insane Asylum haunted house? That place is scary!” This is what pops into many people’s mind when they think of Peoria State Hospital. Peoria State Hospital, PSH, is not just a scary haunted house; it is a very important part of history. PSH was one of the first mental health facilities of its kind. Peoria State Hospital is considered a pioneer in the treatment of mentally ill patients due to the innovative treatment methods it used. PHS influenced mental healthcare not only in Illinois but across the entire United States as well. This facility became terribly downtrodden in its later years due to the launch of new local facilities and programs and the degradation of the buildings. Toward the end PSH was eerily similar to the hospitals they sought to replace. Peoria State Hospital marked a major turning point towards the improving of mental healthcare by helping people with and curing, their mental illness not only in Illinois, but in the entire country (Bittersweet).
The human race is an incredible group that expresses their feelings in numerous ways! Singers and rappers express their feelings through song; poets express their feelings through their poetry, and artist express their feelings through their art. Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is a 33-year-old American hip hop recording artist from New Orleans, Louisiana, he produced a political and controversial rap song entitled “Georgia …Bush” An incredible seven and a half minutes of music as a tribute to New Orleans, and to criticize the way president George bush handled hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq, and the way he was governing the country. The setting for this song takes place in New Orleans; right after Hurricane, Katrina destroyed most of the city. The music video featured a large pool of water, destroyed communities, as well as human remains. This song was a massive controversy. Did Lil Wayne go too far when he published this song? Did he let his feeling get the best of him?
Country music, as we know it today, was first called “Hillbilly music”. The name “Country” was not widely used until around the 1950s. The creation of this Hillbilly music, very much like American culture, was influenced from many different cultures and styles of music.
At the end of the day, racism and prejudice will always exist in some form for whatever reason is most convenient. Additionally, it’s not as if fans of country music are all raging bigots who dream of segregation and a return to slavery-driven southern values. After all, there are plenty of ‘southern pride’ songs that don’t feature race, nativism, and are beloved by most without an ulterior message that is appreciated by Stormfront. After all, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama features anti-segregation lyrics. Charlie Daniels Band wrote and performed The Devil Went Down to Georgia, lyrically referencing the south as far as Georgia by name alone. Yet both of these are hailed as quintessentially southern pride songs, meaning that southern pride isn’t the same as white pride. The reason the comparison matters, then, is because there is a significant overlap between the two. It is certainly possible to enjoy country music without wishing for a return to Aryan values, and the majority of country music doesn’t advocate it. But enough popular songs feature nativism as a theme to the point that it shouldn’t be ignored. There is a tangible connection between Southern Pride and nativism through music, and a definite connection between nativism and the White Pride movement. Music connects people and spreads ideas; culturally relevant music tends to stay around for a lifetime. Music has power, and the power of hate music is not one that should be
As long as we’re examining race, how is the success of a white rapper such as Eminem different? Plus, Eminem didn’t have a successful career in rock, for example as Darius Rucker did. Yet, Eminem’s career has been enormously successful, and there was little discussion of how odd it was that a white man would choose to perform in this genre. Is country music a genre that has been appropriated so much by white artists that black artists abandoned the genre altogether?
Country music originated in the Appalachian mountains of the Southern United States and has traditional folk roots that date from the early 20th century. The commercial history of country music began in the Southern United States in the 1920’s, during a ‘period of intense modernization’ (Ellison, 1995). It wasn’t until this time that country was considered a viable music genre. It was first identified as ‘hillbilly’ music in 1925 and later became known officially as ‘country’ by its designation on the Billboard Music charts (Shmoop, 2014). Widely considered the ‘Mother Church’ of country, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville became the home of many emerging and already established artists (Tichi, 1994:21). Coupled with the rise of radio and barn dance programs, country’s popularity increased greatly. Ellison (1995) describes country’s evolution from ‘rustic radio programs’ to a genre with an ‘extensive national network of fans unparalled in other forms of popular music’. During the 1930’s, the Great Depression assisted in the spread of country music throughout the US, with many poor unemployed Southerners migrating north, t...
The lyrics of country music reflect people’s lives as times changed. According to "Poetry For The People: Country Music And American Social Change", published by Southern Quarterly in Ebsco Host, country music depicted “the white, Protestant and working-class Southerner”, “addressed their pain, their dreams struggles, beliefs and moral dilemma”.
Country Music is everywhere. It may come blaring from a neighbor’s house, blasting the radio from a car or truck, or even playing quietly in a restaurant; but why exactly is Country Music so popular for people to listen to? When it comes to Country Music, the lyrics comes straight from the artist`s hearts where people can relate to them; the rhythm and beat are unique to the specific song, and the artist knows exactly how to tell a perfect story in the song.
The content of both country and rap show much similarity, as it is unappreciated by many. The majority of rappers compose about drugs, or about how somebody they are close to has been shot, or even someone that they have shot. While country singers talk about how all they have done lately is drink or got into a fight at a local bar over a specific girl. In majority of the music that (mainly) rap artist have produced lately, you can notice the increase in disturbed behaviors. While country is more depressing.
The debate whether commercialism has stripped country music of its authenticity is one that requires further examination into who ultimately holds the power. The sometimes-drastic changes made in music leaves people questioning the tastes of consumers when in fact they are the bystanders of an overpowering industry. Fans are people who buy the albums, go to concerts, and request songs on the radio, not the execs that market the music, and yet their opinions/tastes aren’t taken into consideration. Fans carry a lot of clout in regards to what they define as commercialism gone wrong and acceptable country music. Despite what may seem fair, those who are financially invested in its success drive the commercialization of music.
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
Country music can be defined as a unique music genre. ”The songs often have repeated sections or refrains, and the words, are clear and prominent” (Yudkin 274). This helps not only get a song stuck in someone’s head, but makes it become more popular. There are so many voices, origins, and instrumentation that can be used to make pop country original and meaningful. “As one listens, the basic core formula, which consists of a straightforward chord progression, a resonating chorus or bridge, and a memorable story, will most often be the foundation of country music songs” (Turcotte). There are so many themes love, drinking, values, working, and loneliness. The artist also has to make it authentic with intimacy, and heart-felt songs. You hear a lot of different instruments during a country pop song. Mainly acoustic guitar, steel guitar, bass, and fiddle. Artists do not have a good ole country song with out powerful lyrics. Then it is up to the listener to interpret the song. Even with all the other genres out there these day country pop still finds a way to keep it characteristics
The 'Standard' of the 11 November 2006 http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar525600>. Wells, Paul F. "Country music." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006.
A. Title: The title of this poem suggests that it is about a small country town with one road, most likely in the middle of nowhere. Very few people and very few things around for a person to do with their free time.