What makes it country music?
 

I don't dislike country music. It's not my favorite, but it's actually quite easy to relate to most of the lyrics, and a good country song can make allow any wayfaring man to wallow in self-pity. My question, though, is what makes country music..country music? What I've noticed is they all sing in that....I guess..Southern accent? Without this accent, can it still be country?

It's all about the fiddle.

I really hate the music they play on popular country radio stations and I don't even think of it as country music. They need to start calling that crap pop country instead.

I see what you are saying though. A guy and his guitar and a southern accent gets qualified as country but if you substitute a northern accent it is considered folk music.

the label

I'm not sure I can tell you any single thing that works as a hard & fast rule to determine whether something is/isn't country.

I can, however, tell you without a doubt that a Southern accent isn't a requirement. Keith Urban (Australia), Martina McBride (Kansas), and Dierks Bentley (Arizona & New Jersey), put that notion to rest pretty quickly.

As for any arguments about "country" vs "pop country" vs "alt country" vs "rockin' country", etc., I'll agree that there's all sorts of niches, but that they'll all still reside under the broad banner of "Country".

Ok..I've never heard Urban, McBride, or Bentley. I'll give it a listen. I've just always assumed that it's not country without that twang in your voice.

making out with your sister helps, too

The "twang" of the signing (that southern accent you refer to) seems to be a big part of what constitutes Country music for most people. Beyond that, I think it's also about the musical style, which is often in major chords with fairly straight-forward tempos and rhythms as well as the typical instrumentation - guitar, bass, drums, often accompanied by fiddle, banjo and/or slide pedal steel slide guitar.

I'm not a big fan of much country music outside some of the older classics like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline, but I do find that I like a lot of songs by rock artists that are decidedly "Country" in style - "Dead Flowers" by the Stones being a prime example.

dead flowers is a fan-goshdamned-tastic song...you're the best

The Grateful Dead also had a number of songs that flirted with a "Country" style that were pretty good, as did The Band.

Wow. If you've never heard Martina McBride I don't know what country you are listening to. :)

If you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.

Cowboy Troy

I kid, I kid.

alt country and bluegrass for me pls thx

The innovator of hick-hop :D

Ugh, you know what the problem with him is? If they just had a producer who knew anything about hip-hop, it wouldn't sound so terrible.

Ok, it probably would. But...mostly because he can't rap a lick.

I think if someone was to do it, this kid should be it. He's signed to the Muzik Mafia. His name is Chance. His other songs don't sound as good. He's on myspace. I think he needs to strip it down (musically..) and stick to this sort of thing to start off. Folks will be confused. But at least it won't be as...painful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfcc6ZD-N9I

The teeth.

I mean, the lack of.

He didn't ask how to tell if someone was from Illinois....

What kind of stuff would you consider alt country?

When I think of it, I'm thinking Texas Country or Red Dirt Country...but that's probably because I'm in Oklahoma and that's the "different" country you might hear on the radio once in awhile or at a concert.

I love country music, but I hate a majority of the horrific crap that is popular now.

Give me the mid '80s and before, and I'll listen.

that dierks bentley song What Was I Thinking is the shit!

I like some so called alt country bands, 16 horespower, The Damnations, Jay Hawks...lotta stuff out there

I wouldn't be surprised if non-country music listening people haven't really heard a Dierks Bentley song, but I would bet there are a few Martina McBride songs (like Valentine) or Keith Urban songs that just about everyone is familair with. You just didn't know it was a country singer.

Yup.

And I just absolutely love the generalizations in this thread.

I've never understood the venom that goes toward country music and it's fans. It has to be the least offensive form of popular music out there, yet so much venom towards it.

I generally view this as one of those "thou doth protest too much" moments...

it took you all night to come up with that?

I like country, I like hip hop, I like hybrid music. I REALLY want to like Cowboy Troy, but he is just, flat out, the worst rapper I have ever heard in my entire life. His rhymes are awful, and his delivery is worse.

I think it was EW that had a short blurb a couple weeks ago about some of the folkier pop artists getting squeezed out by the urbanization of the pop genre, and so they are moving more towards country. Jewel, would be one example (no doubt inspired by her recent stint on Nashville Star).

personally, I listen to a ton of country, and I don't really see much difference between it a lot of the other stuff I listen to

No thanks, I'm not ready for a second helping of Kid Rock.

man shirts, short skirts

Quoting my wife about country music...

"Country music wouldn't be so bad listening to if they could get rid of that awful twangy slide guitar. I can't stand it."

One of the reasons I listen to it along with talk sports radio.

Did I mention we have been married 28 years? I love that woman but she has terrible taste in radio and music appreciation. (ducks)

"Sorry hon. I will get right on those dishes, yes ma'am." :)

I like both types of music, country and western.

Country and rap? My two least favorite genres mixed together...I'll have to be sure to stay away.

Its un-American to dislike country music.

What is it to hate country music with every fiber of my being?

I'm no expert, but I heard that means that Subby will come to your place with half-marathon induced ball sweat.

Nancy Pelosi.

What do I hear on the radio? Bubble-gum pop with southern accents and a slower tempo.