Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Murder on Music Row.....

Don't get me wrong. I'm no music aficianado. But, I am a fan of all kinds of music. My interest ranges from classic rock to country to classical. A lot more of the former two, and less of the latter, but safe to say, if the music is good, I'll like it. I also understand that one's opinions are based on personal tastes, so I'll start out saying that my tastes are biased, based on my own personal history, a history of music that I've listenend to during the different phases of life to this point. If one were to peruse my iPod, you'd find all kinds of music, but this little gripe session has to do with Country music.

As time goes on, I'm starting to appreciate Toby Keith more and more. Not just his music, but also his stand against the politics in Country music. Tonight, I'm more aware of the machine promoting Country music than ever before. The reason Mr. Keith has snubbed back the CMA has got to do with the reasons for who gets the awards. Never has it been much of an issue to me personally, but a young lady named Taylor Swift was just awarded the CMA's 2009 Entertainer of The Year, among other awards. Now, I have nothing personal against the young lady. I'm sure she's talented, creative, and deserving of some sort of award. But it is obvious to me, and it's got to be pretty obvious for me to notice, that the CMA's intent is not to award the best Country music entertainer to the most deserving, but to the talent that is most likely to grow the Country music brand. Ms. Swift's greatest talent is in her ability to reach and attract more young listeners to Coutry music, not in her dazzling performance of the art.

I'm guessing that I'm not alone in the opinion that Country music is morphing in to some sort of hybrid genre that is growing out of "Country" music. A few years ago, George Straight and Alan Jackson performed a song called "Murder on Music Row". They were a bit ahead of me in their idea. Country music is being hijacked by this offshoot branch of performers who are not so much Country, as they are Pop-Folk music. Keith Urban is a perfect example. He's no more Country than are The Eagles. Neither are "Country". Again, I'm a big fan of the Eagles, in fact, they are one of my favorite groups. But, Country.... they're not. And neither is he. And Taylor Swift? Hardly. She writes her own lyrics and music, so I won't deny she's talented. But she's a "Country" music star about as much as is Steven Tyler. Guess they've stuck her in Country, because the Teen-Pop genre is filled up, or no longer exists. Let's see..... she's not Rap, not Rock, not..... well, you get the point. Why not stick her in Country? Yep, that's the best fit. Not.....

If I were King for a day, one of my missions would be to kick all the imposters out of Country music and begin a new category. Teeny Bopper. That works best. To quote Bugs Bunny, what a bunch of maroons....

Garth, Vince, Brooks and Dunn, Reba, George (Straight and Jones), Charlie (Pride and Daniels), Alan, Johnny, the list goes on and on. Country music. Not the stuff that's being used to pull in loads of listeners. Us old folks are dissalusioned with the new Country. At least I am. These days, I have to search for something called "Classic" Country on the radio to find the good stuff. Why don't they call the new stuff "Suburbia"? Pardon my french, but somebody needs a Boot Up Their Ass....

But then again, I'm not King.

Until next time....