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Message
Where does the backlash against "bro country" come from?
Posted on 1/9/14 at 3:41 am
Posted on 1/9/14 at 3:41 am
Full disclouse I am male in their mid 20s from rural Alabama so I fit the target demographic I guess.
But it seems to be that universally that despite it being the current trend in Nashville that it receives criticism from those who discuss music. Even places as disparate as a Glee Forum where music is a hot topic but not exactly country a good many posters don't seem to like it.
What are the reasons?
Because it is popular? Standard musical hipster backlash.
Because it is "derivative"? By now all works in popular culture are so I don't understand this particular one. After all even the guys like Garth Brooks and even earlier artists like Alabama sang about the same things. Trucks, Booze, Women, rural stuff.
Because it is not "country music"? Country music has always struggled with accepting new mediums. It seems every generation there is a new style that is not country music. I personally think the South culturally benefits from the genre bending. I know the traditionalists may not like it, but its simply making a melting pot of Southern musical heritage. While commercial country is definitely focused on some inclusion of hip hop (Nelly definitely wants to be a "country artist", while Jason Aldean wants to be a rapper) it is a good thing. In the more independent music scene, country, southern rock, hip hop, indy rock, blues, and RB seem to be collasceing into a single "Southern" genre as seen by the music of Tom Waits, Ben Nichols, and Jamie M Commons. Blending of music styles is something that has always been American. So is it just musical conservatism?
Or is it something deeper? A lot of people mock it because its "rural white males in their 20s singing about rural stuff while picking a guitar". How does that make it bad? You know what you call males in their mid 20s singing about urban situations? The entire hip hop industry. In fact its funny to see how country/rap mirror each other in the rural/urban divide. They sing about basically the same things.
I am more of a musical libertarian, in that I don't stick with genres just if I listen to it I like. I really do like some of the Florida Georgia line and Luke Bryan stuff. Again I am a rural person.
Is it simply cultural bias? An inevitable fact that more of the country every year becomes more urban/suburban style? So a kid listen to FGL in the burbs is seen as a poser because they are neither urban or rural.
Rural is seen as passe.
Which brings back the Glee issue. Like it or not, it has had big effects on the current music industry of the past few years. They've done basically everything (no matter how obscure or stupid) but only a token (1 maybe 2 songs a season) presence for country (and always crossovers usually the female driven stuff). Heck they did a "tribute episode" themed on Twerking but not Country (or its related genres Blues, RB, Southern Rock etc).
So because the music is "made" for rural white (presumably straight) southern males is it seen as not being relevant/politically correct?
Some kind of token feminism? Because Bro country seems to be the only counter-balance to the generic female led country pop in today's commercial country. And what is sad no one dismisses that genre especially since is so not country music, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are simply pop artists that record in Nashville.
But it seems to be that universally that despite it being the current trend in Nashville that it receives criticism from those who discuss music. Even places as disparate as a Glee Forum where music is a hot topic but not exactly country a good many posters don't seem to like it.
What are the reasons?
Because it is popular? Standard musical hipster backlash.
Because it is "derivative"? By now all works in popular culture are so I don't understand this particular one. After all even the guys like Garth Brooks and even earlier artists like Alabama sang about the same things. Trucks, Booze, Women, rural stuff.
Because it is not "country music"? Country music has always struggled with accepting new mediums. It seems every generation there is a new style that is not country music. I personally think the South culturally benefits from the genre bending. I know the traditionalists may not like it, but its simply making a melting pot of Southern musical heritage. While commercial country is definitely focused on some inclusion of hip hop (Nelly definitely wants to be a "country artist", while Jason Aldean wants to be a rapper) it is a good thing. In the more independent music scene, country, southern rock, hip hop, indy rock, blues, and RB seem to be collasceing into a single "Southern" genre as seen by the music of Tom Waits, Ben Nichols, and Jamie M Commons. Blending of music styles is something that has always been American. So is it just musical conservatism?
Or is it something deeper? A lot of people mock it because its "rural white males in their 20s singing about rural stuff while picking a guitar". How does that make it bad? You know what you call males in their mid 20s singing about urban situations? The entire hip hop industry. In fact its funny to see how country/rap mirror each other in the rural/urban divide. They sing about basically the same things.
I am more of a musical libertarian, in that I don't stick with genres just if I listen to it I like. I really do like some of the Florida Georgia line and Luke Bryan stuff. Again I am a rural person.
Is it simply cultural bias? An inevitable fact that more of the country every year becomes more urban/suburban style? So a kid listen to FGL in the burbs is seen as a poser because they are neither urban or rural.
Rural is seen as passe.
Which brings back the Glee issue. Like it or not, it has had big effects on the current music industry of the past few years. They've done basically everything (no matter how obscure or stupid) but only a token (1 maybe 2 songs a season) presence for country (and always crossovers usually the female driven stuff). Heck they did a "tribute episode" themed on Twerking but not Country (or its related genres Blues, RB, Southern Rock etc).
So because the music is "made" for rural white (presumably straight) southern males is it seen as not being relevant/politically correct?
Some kind of token feminism? Because Bro country seems to be the only counter-balance to the generic female led country pop in today's commercial country. And what is sad no one dismisses that genre especially since is so not country music, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are simply pop artists that record in Nashville.
This post was edited on 1/9/14 at 3:44 am
10
Posted on 1/9/14 at 7:24 am to Libertyabides71
Holy shite man you really put some thought into this. The only people who like it are not very bright.
Unintelligent music for unintelligent people.
Unintelligent music for unintelligent people.
This post was edited on 1/9/14 at 7:29 am
Posted on 1/9/14 at 7:34 am to Libertyabides71
quote:
Full disclouse I am male in their mid 20s from rural Alabama so I fit the target demographic I guess.
But it seems to be that universally that despite it being the current trend in Nashville that it receives criticism from those who discuss music. Even places as disparate as a Glee Forum where music is a hot topic but not exactly country a good many posters don't seem to like it.
What are the reasons?
Because it is popular? Standard musical hipster backlash.
Because it is "derivative"? By now all works in popular culture are so I don't understand this particular one. After all even the guys like Garth Brooks and even earlier artists like Alabama sang about the same things. Trucks, Booze, Women, rural stuff.
Because it is not "country music"? Country music has always struggled with accepting new mediums. It seems every generation there is a new style that is not country music. I personally think the South culturally benefits from the genre bending. I know the traditionalists may not like it, but its simply making a melting pot of Southern musical heritage. While commercial country is definitely focused on some inclusion of hip hop (Nelly definitely wants to be a "country artist", while Jason Aldean wants to be a rapper) it is a good thing. In the more independent music scene, country, southern rock, hip hop, indy rock, blues, and RB seem to be collasceing into a single "Southern" genre as seen by the music of Tom Waits, Ben Nichols, and Jamie M Commons. Blending of music styles is something that has always been American. So is it just musical conservatism?
Or is it something deeper? A lot of people mock it because its "rural white males in their 20s singing about rural stuff while picking a guitar". How does that make it bad? You know what you call males in their mid 20s singing about urban situations? The entire hip hop industry. In fact its funny to see how country/rap mirror each other in the rural/urban divide. They sing about basically the same things.
I am more of a musical libertarian, in that I don't stick with genres just if I listen to it I like. I really do like some of the Florida Georgia line and Luke Bryan stuff. Again I am a rural person.
Is it simply cultural bias? An inevitable fact that more of the country every year becomes more urban/suburban style? So a kid listen to FGL in the burbs is seen as a poser because they are neither urban or rural.
Rural is seen as passe.
Which brings back the Glee issue. Like it or not, it has had big effects on the current music industry of the past few years. They've done basically everything (no matter how obscure or stupid) but only a token (1 maybe 2 songs a season) presence for country (and always crossovers usually the female driven stuff). Heck they did a "tribute episode" themed on Twerking but not Country (or its related genres Blues, RB, Southern Rock etc).
So because the music is "made" for rural white (presumably straight) southern males is it seen as not being relevant/politically correct?
Some kind of token feminism? Because Bro country seems to be the only counter-balance to the generic female led country pop in today's commercial country. And what is sad no one dismisses that genre especially since is so not country music, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are simply pop artists that record in Nashville.
You watch Glee?
Posted on 1/9/14 at 7:36 am to Libertyabides71
1. You watch Glee?
2. It's mainly fake.
2. It's mainly fake.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 8:38 am to TN Bhoy
All music is essentially "fake" is it not? Randy Owen of Alabama didn't grow up in the depression. Music is written for an audience like all creative commercial work.
This is a music forum. Like I said in my OP I figured Glee would be met with derision but it has had undeniable effects on the music industry of the past 5 years. That is no commentary on quality.
But yeah, I started watching when it was new and got invested. Its new teacher ego bait for the most part based on the inspiring teacher part.
This is a music forum. Like I said in my OP I figured Glee would be met with derision but it has had undeniable effects on the music industry of the past 5 years. That is no commentary on quality.
But yeah, I started watching when it was new and got invested. Its new teacher ego bait for the most part based on the inspiring teacher part.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 8:56 am to Libertyabides71
2/10
No one writes an essay on bro country if they aren't trolling.
Regardless, I think the backlash is because it's hoaxie, it's cheap to produce, takes zero talent to make, it agitates those who enjoy talented musicians because of its cheesy, no talent required formula, and it panders to teen girls, the twirps that want to frick those teen girls,and idiots
This
Waylon Jennings
=/=
This
shite
This
=/=
this
No one writes an essay on bro country if they aren't trolling.
Regardless, I think the backlash is because it's hoaxie, it's cheap to produce, takes zero talent to make, it agitates those who enjoy talented musicians because of its cheesy, no talent required formula, and it panders to teen girls, the twirps that want to frick those teen girls,and idiots
This
Waylon Jennings
=/=
This
shite
This
=/=
this
Posted on 1/9/14 at 8:59 am to Libertyabides71
quote:
But yeah, I started watching when it was new and got invested. Its new teacher ego bait for the most part based on the inspiring teacher part.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 9:36 am to PGT Beauregard
There's backlash because it straight up sucks.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 9:40 am to Libertyabides71
1. If the unibomber's manifesto were about shitty music, I imagine it would look similar to your post.
2. I really hate it when someone says something just sucks without reason or explanation but that's exactly what I'm telling you about your music. It's just awful.
2. I really hate it when someone says something just sucks without reason or explanation but that's exactly what I'm telling you about your music. It's just awful.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 9:55 am to LucasP
It appeals to rednecks that just jump in the ol' truck and turn on the radio and wanna hear music about the redneck shite they like to do... and celebrate it..
I'd imagine the great percentage of those people dont care about music enough to discuss it on message boards, thats probably while you wont find a great deal of support for it here...
edit: And its offensive for these bro's to claim Merle, Willie and Waylon as influences, when they have nothing in common except being under the grand umbrella of "country" music...
I'd imagine the great percentage of those people dont care about music enough to discuss it on message boards, thats probably while you wont find a great deal of support for it here...
edit: And its offensive for these bro's to claim Merle, Willie and Waylon as influences, when they have nothing in common except being under the grand umbrella of "country" music...
This post was edited on 1/9/14 at 9:57 am
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:04 am to Rickety Cricket
quote:
There's backlash because it straight up sucks
This.
Even beyond what everyone else said, I honestly just don't like the way it sounds.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:11 am to HeadyBrosevelt
Country music to today is a cheap money grab gimmick. It has no soul. Its all about playing pop music to get on the radio. All you have to do is mention beer and a backroad and you can land on the charts. Waylon is my favorite artist of all time. His music didn't need and gimmicks...cause his came from the soul.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:21 am to Libertyabides71
Not only do I not care for the sound, but lyrically, they try to cram as many "redneck" cliches into one song (someone posted a great youtube video a few weeks ago)--trucks, beer, hunting/fishing by the creek, radio turned up, etc.
I don't mind songs about loud car radios or pickup trucks, as long as they have deeper meanings.
Here's a song titled 6x9 speakers, but the main message of the song is about the invicibility you feel as a teenager:
Max Stalling 6x9 speakers
Here's a song about pickup trucks, but the main message is about the bonds you share with your grandpa, friends, kids:
Jerry Jeff Walker Pickup Truck Song
I don't mind songs about loud car radios or pickup trucks, as long as they have deeper meanings.
Here's a song titled 6x9 speakers, but the main message of the song is about the invicibility you feel as a teenager:
Max Stalling 6x9 speakers
Here's a song about pickup trucks, but the main message is about the bonds you share with your grandpa, friends, kids:
Jerry Jeff Walker Pickup Truck Song
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:50 am to Ric Flair
quote:
Country music to today is a cheap money grab gimmick.
Without videos, they'd never make it. Their success is not based on their music, but on their appearance and show portrayed on the screen.
The "artists" today are taking the following lyrics of the Goodman/Prine song a little too seriously and they are trying to make the perfect country and western songs.
"I was drunk, the day my Mama got out of prison/And I went out to pick her up in the rain/But, before I could get to the station in the pick-up truck/She got runned over[sic] by a damned ol' train"
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:52 am to Ric Flair
Seems everyone read the title and not the post. 
I get everything posted itt, especially Ric Flair's position. In fact I agree with most of it. Not a big fan of Jason Aldean. Then again I made it clear I listen to individual artists/songs not genres. A good deal of it sucks but some of FGL/Luke Bryan's material is actually really good.
I was asking more of where it comes from. And why the derision specifically of it but not the rest of mainstream music which is all corporate sellouts?
The criticism leveled in this thread can threw at mainstream pop, Carrie Underwood/Taylor Swift, Hip Hop. Its simply marketing what sells. Music is marketed to teenage girls because they are the ones who have always bought music hence the Beatles marketing to girls all the way to the Itune era.
Like I said mainstream country has always alternated between the two extremes of authentic and fake. I think it is better now. I certainly believe FGL singing about being dudes in rural Georgia/Florida is probably their real experiences more than a Conway Twitty sang about.
I listed a bunch of independent "country" music as well in the OP.
I was thinking why that specific subset of a specific genre becomes the catch all for the criticism of the whole genre and music in general. Like it is acceptable to hate on the type of music because of political correctness.
Cultural bias and political correctness is where I brought the point up about Glee. Specifically in their song choices for their straight male supposedly teenage male characters in the burbs of Ohio.
I get everything posted itt, especially Ric Flair's position. In fact I agree with most of it. Not a big fan of Jason Aldean. Then again I made it clear I listen to individual artists/songs not genres. A good deal of it sucks but some of FGL/Luke Bryan's material is actually really good.
I was asking more of where it comes from. And why the derision specifically of it but not the rest of mainstream music which is all corporate sellouts?
The criticism leveled in this thread can threw at mainstream pop, Carrie Underwood/Taylor Swift, Hip Hop. Its simply marketing what sells. Music is marketed to teenage girls because they are the ones who have always bought music hence the Beatles marketing to girls all the way to the Itune era.
Like I said mainstream country has always alternated between the two extremes of authentic and fake. I think it is better now. I certainly believe FGL singing about being dudes in rural Georgia/Florida is probably their real experiences more than a Conway Twitty sang about.
I listed a bunch of independent "country" music as well in the OP.
I was thinking why that specific subset of a specific genre becomes the catch all for the criticism of the whole genre and music in general. Like it is acceptable to hate on the type of music because of political correctness.
Cultural bias and political correctness is where I brought the point up about Glee. Specifically in their song choices for their straight male supposedly teenage male characters in the burbs of Ohio.
This post was edited on 1/9/14 at 10:55 am
Posted on 1/9/14 at 10:54 am to Libertyabides71
quote:
All music is essentially "fake" is it not? Randy Owen of Alabama didn't grow up in the depression. Music is written for an audience like all creative commercial work.
It's pretty sad if you think this is true and explains why you like whatever "bro country" is.
Posted on 1/9/14 at 11:16 am to Libertyabides71
Haha you like bro country
Posted on 1/9/14 at 11:17 am to SUB
quote:
All music is essentially "fake" is it not?
What in the frick?
Posted on 1/9/14 at 11:26 am to Libertyabides71
Probably get flamed for this, but I am a really big Eric Church fan. His first album Sinners Like Me was absolutely incredible, then Carolina was very good as well. His newer stuff is turning into this "bro country", I guess, but I don't care. Will still go see him in concert anytime. Puts on a damn good show!
Posted on 1/9/14 at 11:39 am to Libertyabides71
It sucks because people are tired of the typical "1-5-4-1" chord progressions that are more suitable for children's sing-a-longs.
People don't want to listen to lyrics like "All I want to do is put a drink in my hand" and "Tan legs and some Dixie Land delight, ridin’ round, windows down on a summer night."
I'll respond accordingly though to your post:
The peasants have always outnumbered the intellectual elite.
But they sang about it poetically and/or in a manner that was relatable on a deeper level. And if they didn't sing about it poetically, they incorporated a musical style that fit the lyrics. Luke Bryan singing about life on the dirt road isn't believable. Eric Church singing about drinking sounds more like someone making fun of music as opposed to being a respectable country artist.
Sure. I'll give you this one. But it doesn't mean the evolution of country music is any good.
How would that be deeper? It's not a race or ethnocentric issue. It's an objective analysis of a musical genre that fits a formula in order to make record labels money. You can even hear the similarities in the songs' structure.
Appeal to authority. You have none. Sorry.
It's that honky-tonk! Badonkadonk! That's not culture. That's idiocy. That's also not urban. Suburban, sure. Maybe. I guess it's the music for soccer moms who think they're redneck and country.
LOL Glee.
A bit confusing here on your part, but if you're saying that Swift and Underwood are acceptable because they're female, I think you're wrong. I think they're accepted by the same people who accept bro country. They're also vanilla wafers who pack as much depth as a teaspoon.
People don't want to listen to lyrics like "All I want to do is put a drink in my hand" and "Tan legs and some Dixie Land delight, ridin’ round, windows down on a summer night."
I'll respond accordingly though to your post:
quote:
Because it is popular? Standard musical hipster backlash.
The peasants have always outnumbered the intellectual elite.
quote:
Because it is "derivative"? By now all works in popular culture are so I don't understand this particular one. After all even the guys like Garth Brooks and even earlier artists like Alabama sang about the same things. Trucks, Booze, Women, rural stuff.
But they sang about it poetically and/or in a manner that was relatable on a deeper level. And if they didn't sing about it poetically, they incorporated a musical style that fit the lyrics. Luke Bryan singing about life on the dirt road isn't believable. Eric Church singing about drinking sounds more like someone making fun of music as opposed to being a respectable country artist.
quote:
Because it is not "country music"? Country music has always struggled with accepting new mediums. It seems every generation there is a new style that is not country music. I personally think the South culturally benefits from the genre bending. I know the traditionalists may not like it, but its simply making a melting pot of Southern musical heritage. While commercial country is definitely focused on some inclusion of hip hop (Nelly definitely wants to be a "country artist", while Jason Aldean wants to be a rapper) it is a good thing. In the more independent music scene, country, southern rock, hip hop, indy rock, blues, and RB seem to be collasceing into a single "Southern" genre as seen by the music of Tom Waits, Ben Nichols, and Jamie M Commons. Blending of music styles is something that has always been American. So is it just musical conservatism?
Sure. I'll give you this one. But it doesn't mean the evolution of country music is any good.
quote:
Or is it something deeper? A lot of people mock it because its "rural white males in their 20s singing about rural stuff while picking a guitar". How does that make it bad? You know what you call males in their mid 20s singing about urban situations? The entire hip hop industry. In fact its funny to see how country/rap mirror each other in the rural/urban divide. They sing about basically the same things.
How would that be deeper? It's not a race or ethnocentric issue. It's an objective analysis of a musical genre that fits a formula in order to make record labels money. You can even hear the similarities in the songs' structure.
quote:
I am more of a musical libertarian, in that I don't stick with genres just if I listen to it I like. I really do like some of the Florida Georgia line and Luke Bryan stuff. Again I am a rural person.
Appeal to authority. You have none. Sorry.
quote:
Is it simply cultural bias? An inevitable fact that more of the country every year becomes more urban/suburban style? So a kid listen to FGL in the burbs is seen as a poser because they are neither urban or rural.
It's that honky-tonk! Badonkadonk! That's not culture. That's idiocy. That's also not urban. Suburban, sure. Maybe. I guess it's the music for soccer moms who think they're redneck and country.
quote:
Which brings back the Glee issue. Like it or not, it has had big effects on the current music industry of the past few years. They've done basically everything (no matter how obscure or stupid) but only a token (1 maybe 2 songs a season) presence for country (and always crossovers usually the female driven stuff). Heck they did a "tribute episode" themed on Twerking but not Country (or its related genres Blues, RB, Southern Rock etc).
LOL Glee.
quote:
Some kind of token feminism? Because Bro country seems to be the only counter-balance to the generic female led country pop in today's commercial country. And what is sad no one dismisses that genre especially since is so not country music, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are simply pop artists that record in Nashville.
A bit confusing here on your part, but if you're saying that Swift and Underwood are acceptable because they're female, I think you're wrong. I think they're accepted by the same people who accept bro country. They're also vanilla wafers who pack as much depth as a teaspoon.
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