Good person, Country "music" has been cast in a dark light for many years. The reason for this is stereotyping. Country music has been pigeonholed; and therefor, not seen for the entire spectrum that it truly is.
To help you appreciate Country "music", I have related it to present day culture as it pertains to popular television programming.
But first, a review of the stereotype.
Country "music"...as you know it.
Boy meets girl. Girl dumps boy. Boy sits in his pick-up truck and gets drunk. Boy then sings about getting drunk in his pick-up truck and about lost relationship. Boy gets dumped by many, many girls. Boy does a lot of drinking and a lot of singing. Then, one day, he starts to become famous. Boy now has sex with many, many girls. Ultimately, boy ends up in his pick up truck alone and dead from drinking.
Country "music" related to popular Television.
Country "music"...on Jeraldo:
Boy meets girl. Girl dumps boy. Jeraldo determines that they both need therapy, and pays for it.
During the process of healing, boy sits in his pick-up truck, gets drunk, and sings about lost relationship. Boy then comes back on Jeraldo to sing about getting drunk in his pick-up truck and singing about lost relationship. Boy is an instant success.
Country "music"...on Oprah:
Boy meets girl. Girl realizes through reading, and self-realization through self-growth, that she disserves a "better" boy. Girl starts a woman's only singing support group. Girl sings about a boy who sits in his pick-up truck, and gets drunk, and then sings about getting drunk in his pick-up truck and sings about a lost relationship. Girl sleeps with a music producer and becomes an overnight success.
Country "music"...on Rose:
Boy meets girl. Girl dumps boy. Boy sits in his pick-up truck and gets drunk. Girl gives Rose an Elmo doll that is wearing a Tom Cruse facemask and a tuxedo. Rose goes back stage for a short while. When Rose returns, the doll is wearing only the mask. Rose then sings about anything.
Country "music"...on Professional Wrestling:
Boy stocks girl professional wrestler. Girl body-slams boy on sidewalk. Boy no longer even remembers girl's name, or his own. A clip of the "incident" is used as the weekend hi-light. In the background of the hi-light is the voice of the professional announcer as he sings about the "incident".
Country "music"...on Jerry:
Toothless boy meets topless dancing girl. Girl loves boy, but dumps him because he does not respect who she secretly is. Girl turns out to be a pre-op, cross-dressing, transvestite, porn-star. Boy was already cheating with girl's best friend, who is now three months pregnant. Girl's best friend was already cheating with boy's male friend who is also the boy's songwriter. Boy and songwriter throw chairs at each other. Girl-boy and her best friend claim to love each other. They call each other "Ho". Each claims that boy is "her man". Girl-boy and her best friend start to "cat-fight". Jerry gets turned on. He takes Girl-boy and her best friend home. Steve sings the "Closing Thoughts" and reminds us all to, "be good to each other".
I would relate Country "music" as it pertains to the nightly news. But, it's too depressing.
I hope that this review has enlightened you and helped erase country "music" stereotyping.
Have a musical day.
