Pastoralism In Country Music

Country music originated in the 1920s in Tennessee. The genre was influenced by folk music from the Appalachian Mountains and revolved around themes of love, faith,

Southern music known today as country music became popular in the 1920’s. This was music that was based on folk music of cowboys in the southeast (Collins English Dictionary, 2003). In most of the early music the artist played stringed instruments like fiddles, guitars, banjos and some were even playing harmonicas. When this type of music started some people called it

Since its inception, country music has proven to be? as a powerful outlet to express the view of the contemporary culture. As a result, the lyrical value of such songs provides listeners an insight to the changing climate of social and political ideologies. During the 60’s defined gender roles dominated social lifestyle and was were? mimicked in music. In recent years, a resurgence of idealistic, stereotypical gender-specific roles have cropped up in country songs, creating a subgenre labelled “bro-country.” Jody Rosen of the New York Times first coined the term “bro-country” in order to describe songs that use lyrical tools idealizing dominant, hegemonic gender roles present in culture. Songs such as Tim McGraw’s “How I’ll Always Be,” Luke Bryan’s “Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’, Every Day,” Sam Hunt’s “Make you Miss Me,” and Dierks Bently’s “Different for Girls” use the lyrical discourse, under the lens of “bro-country”, to highlight dominant, male gender-specific roles, while simultaneously reinforcing prominent, often negative, views of women.

The prevailing ideologies that define masculinity within country music, and with even greater prominence in the “bro-country” subgenre, remains engrained within the concept of being an outdoorsman. Luke Bryan’s “Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’, Everyday,” acts as a laid back anthem to said country-man, whose song’s lyrical substance indicates that a true country boy yearns for a life within the rural setting. Luke describes “the prayer that a country boy makes” as one

Country music is a genre that some might absolutely love and some might absolutely hate. It is a style of music that developed in the southern and western U.S. and often contains lyrics relating to the lives of people who live in the country. While there are a lot of different types of country music, a very popular country artist of this time is Eric Church. Church brings a bit of a twist to country music, with really telling us how he feels. Talking about one of his songs in particular, “homeboy” about a lost young man needing to “come on home, boy.”

Country music as a whole has developed from hillbilly boogie, to honky tonk, to what we commonly hear on the radio today as Nashville sound, or country pop. The honky tonk

The folk genre has origins all the way back to the 19th century, which in many ways is mirrored by many popular genres in modern musical genres. To make it easy folk music is merely, “ballads and songs which are composed and conveyed vocally, without being written.”(Mclean 12) Though what we distinguish ‘folk’ today as stylistically very different to what ‘folk’ was during the 19th century, at its basic form, it still holds the same standards and concepts, describing the simpler times. Through vigorous research, it’s hard to overlook the past and expansion of folk music originating from the south, and how it could help understand the significance for observing and expanding the dynamics of southern race relationships. Equally, race

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

What do you think of when you think of an old country song? Is it singing about plowing the fields, find a young lassie to dance with in the bar, getting drunk with the boys and so on. If That Ain’t Country by David Allan Coe tries to shine a new light on what country is and that is white-trash hicks, which he suggests are forgotten people in the world. We listen to this song and will giggle at some of the lyrics or are startled by how some parts are pretty racist, but it has a very true side of it that shows that country folk aren’t all classy, church going folk.

With the new additions to artists in the country music industry, everyone tried to put their own spin on things to make them stand out. When the first country music artists began their styles were ballads and Yodeling. Slowly styles changed to a more classical twist, where artists used guitars and pianos in their recordings. Now-a-days artists have turned to a pop country kind of style. They are able to use computers to produce specials sounds that aren’t usually produced by musical instruments.

Many music histories recount Peer’s disgust and disregard for the country and hillbilly musicians he produced, published, and managed in the 1920s and 1930s. Specifically, with regard to Peer’s description of the first country music recording by Fiddlin’ John Carson as nothing short of “pluperfect awful.” Again, in American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy to MP3, authors Starr and Waterman claim, “Peer apparently had no inkling of the commercial potential of Carson’s fiddle playing and singing on songs such as ‘The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane’ and ‘The Old Hen Cackled and The Rooster’s Going to Crow,’ which Peer later described as ‘pluperfect awful.’” Again, the Starr and Waterman text lacks a citation as to the source of this quote or event. Perhaps, it is because they viewed this as an accepted and commonly held fact since it can be found in dozens of other works and in the interpretive signage at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol. Barry Mazor in his 2015 Peer biography sought for the lineage and veracity of this long held

Blues and Country music: Origin, Stories, and Influence Music has been around for more than 100 years. Each year, the style of music is critiqued into something new. There are many genres in music history, as well. However, the genre's of music are completely different from one another. Each genre has its own unique way of expressing their stories and influencing the world.

Many country music songs are about family and the small things in life that are most important such as love and friendship. Unlike Rap music, country music is more calming and is something that the whole family can listen to without having to worry about explicit words or vulgar stories being portrayed through the lyrics. Another thing that country music artist do a great job at is creating their songs so that they are very easy to relate to and that its not all about the money or cars. I believe that country music also focuses more on the harmony aspect for the elements of music, which gives it a more peaceful feel to the songs and something that you can listen to in the car on your way home from work. However, I also believe that Country music does a wonderful job on telling stories through their songs just like rap music does and the only difference between the two is what the stories are

When looking at country music from the early 20th century, to what it is today there has been some change but most of the concepts have stayed the same. Much of the country from the early times had music about religion, or hardships that were being faced. This is the same as in the present, there are many songs about turning to religion to find hope. There are also the instruments that are used, the bajo, and other stereotypical country instruments are still used to today. This sound that they have, and that these instruments make are what really categorize the music as country. The sound of country has been modified but the underlying sounds have stayed the same, and the messages that are being sung about have been consistent throughout time. This shows that country is very much like its older counterpart with a few modern changes that are made.

American country musicians have always kept a strong backbone with country and their faith. So many country music songs have told the truth in God's word and fans have found grace in the ballads and gospel sand by some of His greatest problem children and strongest believers.