We’ve all heard it, the majority of us have even said it, “I listen to everything except country music”. It’s a widely accepted answer, one that haunts the community of average music enjoyers. I have been that person who would say I liked a little bit of everything but avoided the genre of country like the plague. My most listened to for the month on Spotify, however, proves that is no longer the case.
When you think country music, you probably think of redneck, middle of nowhere, dudes singin’ about beer, trucks, and girls. Yes, that seems to be a big trend amongst male country artists as a whole. If that’s your taste, far be it from me to tell you not to listen. However, some of us avoided listening to or even acknowledging the more favorable side of country music because of our initial impression of the genre.
I grew up on the Maryland-West Virginian border, so my childhood was a challenge to avoid country music. Every town event, local restaurant, or sports game was a typical place for those rootin’ tootin’ tunes to be heard. In my efforts to be “different”, I proudly announced my disdain for the sound. However, I’ve done some self-reflection since then and made a few discoveries.
What is considered country music? There is a huge divide among opinions. Some believe that hybrid genres, such as country-pop, isn’t country while others stand firm that country is anything with a southern twang to it. I want to raise the idea that country music is a much more diverse genre than we have expected it to be in the past.
I have a firm belief that there is at least one song for everyone in every genre. So, in a dry spell of new music and a nagging for curiosity, I decided to do some exploration into the one I previously despised.
By no means am I claiming to be well-versed in country as a whole, however, I’d like to say that I’ve officially dipped my toe into the waters. Let me get this out of the way: I am a Swiftie. I started there, with Blondie herself. On a normal day, I stuck exclusively to her stuff post-Speak Now era. I heard her earlier albums before, but never paid them any mind and decided I’d do a close listen of them.
It was then that the door opened for me to Kacey Musgraves’ older work, Dolly Parton, and The Chicks. I understand these are the more widely accepted artists in country music since they double with pop, but it was all completely new to me. There are plenty of musicians out there who go beyond our standard idea of the genre.
I understand that my week of venturing out into this genre is limited to the artists I felt were a safe bet when I gave them my first listen. I’m not a connoisseur of country, not by a long shot. However, I tested my theory and proved myself correct in one regard: there is something for everyone in every genre. Now, I ask you to do the same. What is one genre you have avoided? The one you claim to loathe or simply have a disinterest in? Go listen to a few songs, pick an artist, and hit shuffle. You never know if you don’t try.
Who knows, you might even buy your first pair of cowboy boots because of it.
