For the first twenty years of my life, I wrote off country music. I didn't like the sound (too cliche). I didn't like the lyrics (ditto). I didn't like how emblematic it sounded of growing up in the South, an element of my identity I've always wrestled with. I liked a couple of Brad Paisley songs, and yeah, I guess Johnny Cash was cool. It's only been in the past year that I've realized that the world of country music is much more diverse and powerful than I gave it credit for. This started to change last year when I was introduced to an artist named Jason Isbell. After hearing glowing recommendations from a music critic online I followed, I decided to listen to his album Southeastern. And I was blown away. From the first song, "Cover Me Up", Isbell pulled me in with his expressive voice, somber tones, and captivating songwriting. And the rest of album was pretty damn good too. Recently in class, we've been talking about country music, and even though I've found a country artist I appreciate tremendously, I must admit I'm still incredibly new to the genre. We listened to songs by Sturgill Simpson, Brandy Clark, John Prine, and Don Williams. We've also heard a little bit of Pistol Annies and Kacey Musgraves. Our professor's suggestions have also included Margo Price and Chris Stapleton. And through folks like these, more songs have entered my regular rotation. We've also discussed quite a bit about why country is so powerful and why it resonates with so many people. Chiefly, I've learned, there are two reasons. One is that country has always been used to tell stories. The genre lends itself incredibly well to the use of narrative. The second is that country is about authentic people. It doesn't present its figures as glamorous, but real. Country knows how to articulate personal struggle, heartbreak, love, and the details of everyday life. This, I think, is why country has always been the music of working-class people. Because the world of country mirrors theirs on some level. People from Small Town, Arkansas can find themselves easily in the words and sounds of people like Randy Travis, Waylon Jennings, and Reba McEntire. I'm hoping from here on out that I pay more attention to country music and resist the temptation to write off the whole genre because of some of its worst figures (bro-country is still awful in my eyes). People like Jason Isbell and Johnny Cash have important stories to tell. They may not always be my stories, but they are the stories of people around me. I owe it to my community to pay attention.
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AuthorSam Coker Archives
April 2018
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