By Isabelle Foley
Sentry Staff Reporter
The problem with writing an opinion on country music is that people will either love or hate you for it. The fact of the matter is, there are hardly any people out there that “just like” country. That is because it has become more than just music, but a way of life. A way of life that has become persistently intrusive at our school.
Let me start off by saying there is nothing wrong with people who like country music. I mean obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone likes different things. I have absolutely nothing against that. I mean, everyone loves to sing along to “Take Me Home, Country Roads?” It is especially understandable if you grew up in the South, or if it is a big part of your family or life. The farthest south anyone in my family is from is New York, so it is not exactly the kind of music I grew up with. I have tried on more than one occasion to expand on that; I bought a Taylor Swift song when I was twelve (back then she hardly passed for country, now she is nowhere close), I listened to a Keith Urban station on Pandora, and I watched five minutes of the Country Music Awards. But alas, it was hopeless.
When country started to get really popular a few years ago, I first started to realize how unbearable it is. There are two reasons I cannot stand country music, but only one of them is because of the actual music itself. I do not know what it might have sounded like a decade ago, but nowadays it is pretty hard to find variety in this genre. I could come up with five simple steps to writing a country music song right on the spot: 1) Someone cheated on you and you are depressed 2) Talk about drinking beer 3) Mention your truck 4) Twanging guitar solo 5) Repeat for every new song you write.
There is the underlying issue of the lyrics. Unenlightened, repetitive and sometimes offensive. Anyone on the defensive is at this point probably thinking, “But country music tells a story!” They are exactly right, country music tells a story. One story. The same story. How many different songs can be written about a guy who cheated on his wife with her sister? I know people are also probably thinking, “But rap is always about the same stuff too, except way more explicit and virtueless! At least country is not about all that stuff.” Oh really? Can we take a moment to reflect on the Trace Adkins hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk?” Sure, it is a good laugh, but it tears any argument to pieces. Just listen to these inspiring lyrics, “Lord have mercy, how’s she even get them britches on, That honky tonk badonkadonk.”
Country music is simply not what it used to be. I can definitely appreciate John Denver and those old bluegrass hits. The problem is the bubble-gum twang we are stuck with today. To sum up, listening to modern country music makes my ears want to bleed.
The second reason I cannot stand country is because of the culture surrounding it. I do not want anyone telling me I am not a real American, or not patriotic because I do not like country music. It does not cease to amaze me how someone wearing a Confederate flag on their shirt can think that they are the patriotic ones. In case you did not hear, the south lost. We have 50 stars on our flag now. Which brings me to my next point: Arlington, Virginia is NOT “the South.” We may be resting just below the Mason Dixon line, but yuppy town NoVa is a long way from home for anyone who is truly southern.
In the two short years I have been at this school, the epidemic of girls thinking they are country because they know the lyrics to “Red Solo Cup” has become overwhelming. I can understand going to a WMZQ fest with your friends and having a great time and all, but just because you bought a pair of cowboy boots does not mean you were born in Texas. So please stop retweeting Charm of the South because you spent two hours listening to some guys in cowboy hats. I can guarantee you that wearing Lilly Pulitzer and drinking sweet tea is not the only thing that southern people do.
Ultimately, I am not sure which is more annoying; the whining voices of today’s country pop sensations, or those of the southern wannabees who went to their first Brad Paisley concert and now will not stop saying y’all. Cowboy boots do not make you country strong. Case in point, I own cowboy boots because I think they are cute, not because I think they make me southern. If you reflect on all of this and decide to continue acting the same way, fine. Just do not condemn those who decide that “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” is not their thing.
Yee-haw.
