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Why were so many country music videos in the '90s so strange and shitty?
Posted on 6/8/26 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 8:56 pm
This is something I started thinking really hard about one hour ago. Overall it was a good era for country music but so many of the videos are shockingly bad and random and disjointed bordering on creepy that could scare small children.
Budgets were often too small to compete with pop and rock.
Technology was in an awkward transition.
Early digital editing, primitive CGI, and video effects that seemed cutting-edge in 1994 often look dated today. The same issue affects many TV shows and commercials from that era.
There was a tendency toward literal storytelling.
If a song mentioned a pickup truck, viewers got a pickup truck. If it mentioned rain, there was rain. Rather than symbolic or abstract imagery, many directors illustrated lyrics directly, which can look cheesy decades later.
— ChatGPT
———————
The Direct-to-Camera "Stare Down"
One of the most hilarious tropes of '90s country videos is the artist singing directly into the camera lens while walking through a completely unrelated environment (like a random field or an empty warehouse).
The Budgets Didn't Match the Album Sales
In the 1990s, country music exploded. Artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Alan Jackson were selling diamond-certified albums. But while pop and rock artists were getting million-dollar budgets to shoot cinematic masterpieces on 35mm film, country labels were notoriously cheap with video production.
— Gemini
Budgets were often too small to compete with pop and rock.
Technology was in an awkward transition.
Early digital editing, primitive CGI, and video effects that seemed cutting-edge in 1994 often look dated today. The same issue affects many TV shows and commercials from that era.
There was a tendency toward literal storytelling.
If a song mentioned a pickup truck, viewers got a pickup truck. If it mentioned rain, there was rain. Rather than symbolic or abstract imagery, many directors illustrated lyrics directly, which can look cheesy decades later.
— ChatGPT
———————
The Direct-to-Camera "Stare Down"
One of the most hilarious tropes of '90s country videos is the artist singing directly into the camera lens while walking through a completely unrelated environment (like a random field or an empty warehouse).
The Budgets Didn't Match the Album Sales
In the 1990s, country music exploded. Artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Alan Jackson were selling diamond-certified albums. But while pop and rock artists were getting million-dollar budgets to shoot cinematic masterpieces on 35mm film, country labels were notoriously cheap with video production.
— Gemini
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 9:04 pm
16
Posted on 6/8/26 at 8:58 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
I never thought Independence Day was strange or shitty 
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:00 pm to BeachDude022
quote:
I never thought Independence Day was strange or shitty
I challenge you to skip to the 1:55 mark
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:01 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:02 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
What chu talking about Willis?
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:02 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
I think 99% of all music videos are strange and shitty, and forgettable.
The remarkable ones are rare, and memorable.
The remarkable ones are rare, and memorable.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:05 pm to ItzMe1972
quote:
What chu talking about Willis?
Early '90s, should've read. Country music videos eventually caught up to the other genres, but it went through a very awkward phase there for a while lol.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:20 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
There was a tendency toward literal storytelling.
Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee
You’re welcome.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:21 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
They were usually pretty low production and low effort but I still love those 90s videos.
But go back and watch videos from some rock and pop acts and you’d be surprised how shite a lot of those videos were.
But go back and watch videos from some rock and pop acts and you’d be surprised how shite a lot of those videos were.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:23 pm to ItzMe1972
Nah. Toby Keith's videos are all mocking or being obnoxious on purpose
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:26 pm to Nado Jenkins83
I always found the Travis Tritt obsession with being handicapped along with the videos having nothing to do with or matching the song pretty strange.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:20 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Perfect example, “The Heart Won’t Lie.” Duet between Vince Gill and reba McEntire. It’s a really good song, but the video is ridiculous. She’s in Navy Boot Camp or something and he is her harsh instructor. I remember one scene where he’s yelling at her while she is running through the mud in the rain at night. Even as a kid, I thought it was pretty dumb.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:27 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Why don't you ask ChatGPT why hundreds of users on Tigerdroppings believe 'Violent Hip Swivel' is a shite dick?
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:34 pm to Smeg
quote:
Why don't you ask ChatGPT why hundreds of users on Tigerdroppings believe 'Violent Hip Swivel' is a shite dick?
That's really clever!
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:36 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Because that simple wholesome shite is what made us happy!
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:38 pm to Chucktown_Badger
Or God Bless Texas.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:43 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
I challenge you to skip to the 1:55 mark
I know the song, but I’m putting one of my kids to bed so my speakers are off. I strongly invite anyone to skip to this point but turn off your speakers. It makes this part that much delightfully bizarre.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:50 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
challenge you to skip to the 1:55 mark ?
I'm confused. The old grandma's hand slapping is what was weird to you or the girls face at exactly 1.55?
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 10:53 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 10:59 pm to deeprig9
quote:
I think 99% of all music videos are strange and shitty, and forgettable.
The remarkable ones are rare, and memorable.
All of this^^
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