Sometimes people ask me why I like country music and I have a hard time answering the question. I know I love it more than any other kind of music, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. Believe me, it's a lot easier to explain your love for "Kind of Blue" or "Odessey & Oracle" than to put your admiration for George Jones into persuasive words.
And then an old country song comes around on my i-pod that just makes me say "wow". So I decided that whenever that happens I will just stop everything and do a quick post here to let the music do the talking for me.
Here's tonight's installment of Why I Love Country Music:
Lefty Frizzell - Always Late (With Your Kissess) (buy album).
Am I crazy, or is this sh*t crazy good?
P.S. I'm not a talker. Maybe you are? If you can explain why old country music is so good, please do so in the comments. I eagerly await your contributions....
P.P.S. I also love both "Kind of Blue" and "Odessey & Oracle."
P.P.P.S. I was drinking wine when I wrote this post. I like wine.
P.P.P.P.S. I must be kinda drunk because "Sweet Child O' Mine" just came around on my i-pod and it really made me say "WOW". It's a great song! Peace.
Where do we go now?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Why I Love Country Music, Vol 1: Lefty Frizzell
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9 comments:
yes, here's a tough question...
Difficult to say why we love something (or someone)
For my part, I can say I love country because first the music is beautiful. I love all of its components : Celtic and British ballads, blues, and other European immigrants'musics (the yodeling comes from Central European workers in the Kentucky mines, the mandolin comes from Italy, etc...)
And of course the whole is even better than the sum of the parts.
Another reason is that I'm French and this music sounds kinda exotic for me, but not alien at all. What i love the most with traditional music from a foreign country is that it can really speak to you even if you're stranger to it.
In my opinion nothing beats traditional American music (mostly blues, gospel and country).
It is the source of rock'n roll. As a lot of people of my generation (I was born in 1970) I I grew up with pop/rock and country (and blues as well) are the core of this music.
And then, the lyrics of course, but even if, being a foreigner, the music strikes me first.
The gravity and humor, the fact that the singers don't take themselves too seriously..
country music is warm and hearty and provides a sort of comfort when you're living in a urban environment.
And last but not least it carries values that I like : sincerity, and a sort of laid back attitude (even in a fast bluegrass piece) in a world of speed. Of course the only thing I feel reluctant about is that some of the singers and the fans are very conservative politically.
sorry I wasn't too short
nicolas,
That's exactly what I was looking for! I have a music blog because I like to play records for people, but I'm not real good at talking about them.
I think the magic of old country music has something to do with the mixture of both humor and gravity in the same song. Cool stuff.
nicolas,
One more thing. I think you would REALLY love this blog:
Old Blue Bus.
Lots of old country, blues, and folk. (Just promise you'll still check back here from time to time...)
well to be perfectly honest, this thing about gravity and humor is a quote from Bruce Springsteen while introducing a Johnny Cash song in one of his acoustic concerts (I think it was "Bring my love to Rose")
He said JC took rebellion out of rock n roll, social consciousness of folk music and humour and gravity from country music.
He had said it all.
Well Bruce does have a good way with words.
In the words of Charlie Pride, "I don't know why I love you, but I do."
Not you, Paul; the music. ;-)
Don't worry Paul, I still love you. And "Sweet Child 'O Mine".
Lefty goes good with bourbon. Not sure about GNR but from my high school days I remember people drinking wine coolers with that on.
Anon,
Everything on this blog goes with Bourbon. It's one of the drinks of choice at STWOF, along with Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Gin, Wine, Beer, and Coffee.
I'm not a huge GnR fan, but damn if it didn't sound good after 3 or 4 glasses of red wine. (Wine Coolers are not a drink of choice here at STWOF).
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