Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Appeal of Popular Country Songs

By Adam Price


Popular country songs are extremely prevalent in America. Major themes include love both found and lost, working class life, dreams, a night on the town, tragedy and pride in one's culture. Country music artists aren't afraid to sing about God, war and what America means to them. While some songs are great for a fun night, others are so poignant they'll twang heartstrings.

Many popular country songs have gotten that way through the mass appeal and fun of the actual songs. Alan Jackson's lyrics to "Chattahoochee" is yet another in a long list of great songs he's come out with and is loved worldwide. And the great song the "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus is also another evergreen favourite, that people say that don't like, but the song itself never fails to make at least half the rooms feet tap to the contagious beat.

"Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams, Sr is a song that strikes a common theme of heartbreak and infidelity. Everyone has had an unfaithful lover or can sympathize with being the lover-left-out. Cheating songs are widespread throughout the country genre. Similar tunes include hits like "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood.

Love lost, or unrequited love is seems to be a human obsession. Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss team up to sing "Whiskey Lullaby" a song about two broken hearts that ultimately die of misery from their unsatisfied love. While pop music focuses on the falling in love stage of human emotion, many country songs pay tribute to lifelong love. A prime example is Collin Raye's "If You Get There Before I Do," a heartwarming promise to the love of his life.

In a display of country grit, Johnny Paycheck wrote a song that has a special place in the heart of every wage worker: "Take This Job and Shove It" is perfect for the working man blues. Sometimes, job frustration can be cured by listening to this little ditty.

Lee Ann Womach created a song titled "I Hope You Dance," a heartwarming and inspiring blessing for the future. The song recognizes the precious opportunities in brief, beautiful lives and encourages everyone to take a risk. The sentiment of this song is so universal that it's been played at funerals as well as graduations. Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" also hopes that everyone will seize the day.

The classical elitists have quite often claimed that Popular country songs lack the sophistication of the great classical compositions. But for the most of the time, country music is a deep, complete, and heartfel style. And it's hard to not agree with the worlds of great country writer Harlan Howard when he said country music is "Three chords and a truthful story."




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