That debate is evergreen, and everyone has an opinion. Mine is that it sure isn't the current Country Pop that dominates the Country music radio. Your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, do not remove tag under penalty of law.
But the question has been asked for decades. It was an old question back in 2001 when George Straight and Alan Jackson won CMA Song Of The Year. Now you might like rock and roll with a little spice from a banjo or a fiddle (I mean, who doesn't?). But the question remains: granted it's pretty, but is it art?
Murder On Music Row (Songwriters: Larry Cordle, Larry Shell)
Nobody saw him running from sixteenth avenue.
They never found the fingerprint or the weapon that was used.
But someone killed country music, cut out its heart and soul.
They got away with murder down on music row.
The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame
Slowly killed tradition and for that someone should hang
(oh, you tell them Alan).
They all say not guilty, but the evidence will show
That murder was committed down on music row.
For the steel guitars no longer cry and fiddles barely play,
But drums and rock 'n roll guitars are mixed up in your face.
Old Hank wouldn't have a chance on today's radio
Since they committed murder down on music row.
They thought no one would miss it, once it was dead and gone
They said no one would buy them old drinking and cheating songs (I'll still buy'em)
Well there ain't no justice in it and the hard facts are cold
Murder's been committed down on music row.
Half of Nashville wouldn't know country if it walked up and blessed their hearts. Those two would know.
ReplyDeleteI blame Eddy Arnold. I felt that way from the time he started using an orchestra with his recordings. I always felt that he was more of a pop singer than country anyway. I enjoy nearly all forms of music but hated the changes that were made to country music.
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