re: How did mainstream country music get to where it is today?

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Brooks & Dunn seemed more poppy than Garth to me. Boot Skootin Boogie? Even songs like Neon Moon seemed to be upbeat even with sad lyrics.

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Neon Moon is a all time great heartbreak song. I don't take it as an upbeat heartbreak song and B&D didn't veer too much into pop country. They just didn't have a stripped down sound to them and didn't utilize steel guitars too often in their hits.