Country Music
I have a confession to make. I enjoy listening to country music. Don't get me wrong, I don't listen the highly over produced popular country crap that radio has to offer. I can't stand the likes of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Billy Ray Cyrus, etc. If you listen to the likes of those artists you may as well be listening to Britney Speares, or Christina Agulara, or Celine Dion. No, the kind of country music I'm referring to is real country music. I'm talking about Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr, Rodger Miller, Red Sovine, etc. Speaking of Red Sovine, I challenge anyone to listen to his song Teddy Bear and not shed at least one tear. I get a lump in my throat every time I hear that song.
I used to wonder what the big deal was about Hank Williams. Why is he so highly revered as a country legend? If you too are wondering what the attraction is, download his song Whiskey, Weed and Women. It is a truly excellent tune.
Why am I musing about country music today? It occurred to me thismorning that of all the play lists I've created on my Real Jukebox, the one I enjoy listening to the most is my country play list. Lately I've grown fond of Kris Kristopherson's song Pilgrim. It starts off with Kris explaining what the song is about. His voice is so incredibly deep he sounds like a lion. The song was inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, men who are deeply religious on one hand, yet complete drug abusing alcoholics on the other. "He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction" is just one of the great lines in the song.
Another fun song to listen to is Good Old Boys by Waylon Jennings. Of course that is the theme song for The Dukes of Hazard, so it has nostalgic appeal. The full version of the song is great.
Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash are responsible for starting a movement in country called the outlaw movement. At one point they were all part of a supergroup called The Highwaymen. I guess I'm a fan of the outlaw country movement.
All of the country artists I enjoy listening to have one thing in common. They are all writers. Willie Nelson wrote Crazy for Patsy Cline. Speaking of Willie, he has the best voice in country music, and he is an amazing guitar player. His live performance of Ghost Riders In The Sky with Johnny Cash is outstanding.
My first job in Radio was at a Country station called CHOW. CHOW ran a promotion giving away tickets for a Willie Nelson concert. The sales rep who put the promotion together was kind enough to give me two tickets to the show. I gave the tickets to my parents because they are big Willie Nelson fans. They absolutely loved the show. He is an incredible live performer. I would like to have seen the show myself, but the intrinsic reward I received for sending my folks was well worth it.
I like all kinds of other musical genres; classic rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, classical, punk, etc soforth. If you too enjoy many different genres, but have not foyered into country music, I encourage you to experiment. Try downloading The Conversation by Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. It has a great driving rhythm. The song is literally a conversation between Waylon and Hank Jr about Hank Williams Sr. It'll get your toes tapping, and spark your interest in country music.
I used to wonder what the big deal was about Hank Williams. Why is he so highly revered as a country legend? If you too are wondering what the attraction is, download his song Whiskey, Weed and Women. It is a truly excellent tune.
Why am I musing about country music today? It occurred to me thismorning that of all the play lists I've created on my Real Jukebox, the one I enjoy listening to the most is my country play list. Lately I've grown fond of Kris Kristopherson's song Pilgrim. It starts off with Kris explaining what the song is about. His voice is so incredibly deep he sounds like a lion. The song was inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, men who are deeply religious on one hand, yet complete drug abusing alcoholics on the other. "He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction" is just one of the great lines in the song.
Another fun song to listen to is Good Old Boys by Waylon Jennings. Of course that is the theme song for The Dukes of Hazard, so it has nostalgic appeal. The full version of the song is great.
Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash are responsible for starting a movement in country called the outlaw movement. At one point they were all part of a supergroup called The Highwaymen. I guess I'm a fan of the outlaw country movement.
All of the country artists I enjoy listening to have one thing in common. They are all writers. Willie Nelson wrote Crazy for Patsy Cline. Speaking of Willie, he has the best voice in country music, and he is an amazing guitar player. His live performance of Ghost Riders In The Sky with Johnny Cash is outstanding.
My first job in Radio was at a Country station called CHOW. CHOW ran a promotion giving away tickets for a Willie Nelson concert. The sales rep who put the promotion together was kind enough to give me two tickets to the show. I gave the tickets to my parents because they are big Willie Nelson fans. They absolutely loved the show. He is an incredible live performer. I would like to have seen the show myself, but the intrinsic reward I received for sending my folks was well worth it.
I like all kinds of other musical genres; classic rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, classical, punk, etc soforth. If you too enjoy many different genres, but have not foyered into country music, I encourage you to experiment. Try downloading The Conversation by Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. It has a great driving rhythm. The song is literally a conversation between Waylon and Hank Jr about Hank Williams Sr. It'll get your toes tapping, and spark your interest in country music.
posted by Matt Swanson at 1:36 PM
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