I have never gone line dancing. I have never owned a Camaro (though back in the 80's, I did covet the Berlinetta). Speaking of cars, I've never gone to a NASCAR event. A single night of drag-racing in my elementary school years is as close as it gets. Hmmm...what else? I've never chewed tobacco. Never voted for a Republican. Never ate a pork rind. Pecan pie? No thanks.
Country music? There was never a whole lot of it around the house when I was a kid. Maybe a couple of Ray Price records. Mom might have owned a Charlie Pride album too. That's about it.
Teen years during the era of Classic Rock gave me a supposed hatred of country music. Please, don't bring up those Marshall Tucker and Commander Cody records. So does some/any of this mean that I'm not a country music fan? Does it even matter? Maybe we should start up another of those "What Is Country?" arguments? Nah, nobody wants that.
What I find interesting about country music discussions is the sheer amount of sneer-laden condescension involved. All of it backed by absolute surety. That is NOT country music. He's a no-talent hack. Anybody who likes that stuff must not know anything about music. And on it goes.
Sure enough, I do agree with a few viewpoints, mostly that it's a shame that more traditional country has been pushed aside by mainstream country media. Yes, Johnny Cash's middle finger was well-deserved. Modern country music has more to do with pop and rock. No big mystery there. It's a huge business. All of those pretty faces and bodies wrapped in jeans and big hats. So all of the above angry complaints about the music are about as pointless as the typical collection of "values" used to stereotype its fans.
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Article comments
1 - lisa slone
Billy Ray Cyrus is a wonderful person... His music is great, maybe not the most inspiring, but great... He is more that "Achy Breaky Heart".... that was a song that gave him financial stability not who he is. His love for music, the fans, and family and God is what is important.
Billy Ray you are the most spiritual person in country music that I know-- keep singing, keep acting, and mainly keep God closer.
2 - Connie Phillips
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