# In my foolish youth, I said "Country Music sucks". Now I know better. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2018, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870 "2018-11-02T00:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/61 "2018-11-02T23:34:40Z")
Country music has changed through the years, obviously. I like some eras better than others. I really enjoyed Loretta Lynn back in the day. I even liked Kenny Rogers quite a bit. Now a days, Kenny Chesney ain’t half bad. Especially when he’s paired up with Pink!. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/62 "2018-11-03T00:24:10Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > DBT, Old 97s, and I’ll go ahead and offer The Bottle Rockets, to round out the Alt-Country triumvirate. > > Almost everything on the Top 40 Country charts and commercial radio stations has been garbage at least since the 90s (I’d go back further to the 80s, but I have a soft spot for George Strait). But around the edges of country proper – the alt-countries, the outlaws, the americanas, the “old-timey” music, the roots rock, the bluegrass and et cetera – has always had tons of top notch music, going back to the very beginning. As the OP, this is what I was trying to say, but missed it. Thanks **DrCube**! ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/63 "2018-11-03T00:32:34Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I like some modern country, specifically the Zac Brown band. Some of their lyrical content may dip a toe into the trite country pool, but they are such good players and their vocal harmonies are outstanding, like on songs “Colder Weather” or “Goodbye In Her Eyes”. I’ve seen them live and their medley of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” seguing into “Enter Sandman” was highly entertaining. I give you Zac Brown Band at Austin City Limits: Lord, that song is gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/64 "2018-11-03T00:53:11Z")
[The Dead South - In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FzVhw8_bY) ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/65 "2018-11-03T01:12:59Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > [The Dead South - In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FzVhw8_bY) Already done 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/66 "2018-11-03T01:45:44Z")
> [@Jungian\_Camisole](#): > > I give you Zac Brown Band at Austin City Limits: > > Lord, that song is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. Jesus, what a wonderful song performed extremely well. Unreal. I will continue to maintain that the Zac Brown Band defies what people hate about modern country music and encapsulates all that is good about it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/67 "2018-11-03T03:06:35Z")
Don’t forget, there are two kinds of music, Country AND Western, and nobody does western swing like Asleep At The Wheel. [Boogie Back To Texas](https://youtu.be/VAa2QZbGsHY) [House Of Blue Lights](https://youtu.be/joNPRTJWlac) [Hesitation Blues](https://youtu.be/3yhaqr2Wsl0) [Bump Bounce Boogie](https://youtu.be/3p2iA6qcXRg) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/68 "2018-11-03T03:14:55Z")
> [@Jungian\_Camisole](#): > > I give you Zac Brown Band at Austin City Limits: > > Lord, that song is gorgeous. You do realize that’s Van Morrison, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/69 "2018-11-03T03:16:15Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Blake Shelton seems like a very nice guy but his music is atrocious. Hah, my wife would watch The Voice and I always thought he was the most entertaining part of the show. So I figured I’d give his music a chance and… hell no. I’d have a beer with him though if he promised not to sing anything at the bar. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/70 "2018-11-03T03:49:38Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Indeed. I consider “country music” to be just this side of an oxymoron. kthx ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/71 "2018-11-03T08:13:29Z")
If you like Wanda Jackson, try z Margo Price. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Q9b7QwdCWhw/maxresdefault.jpg "Margo Price - "About To Find Out"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9b7QwdCWhw) Tell me what does your pride taste like honey Or haven’t you tried it out? It’s better than the taste of a boot in your face Without any shadow of a doubt You better learn where the line is You missed a lot you’ve gotta learn about How’s it gonna feel to be put in your place Well I guess you’re about to find out ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/72 "2018-11-03T08:21:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Don’t forget, there are two kinds of music, Country AND Western, and nobody does western swing like Asleep At The Wheel. Give a listen to [Bob Dunn’s Vagabonds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBaSPU0mk1U) & [Bob Skyles and His Skyrockets](https://archive.org/details/78_blue-bazooka-blues_bob-skyles-and-his-skyrockets_gbia0015170a). Unfortunately, the Skyrockets’ “Bazooka Stomp” is no longer at the Archive, that is one swingin’ tune. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/73 "2018-11-03T08:37:56Z")
I don’t think country music has an accepted definition anymore. It certainly used to, but I don’t know whether it was a GOOD definition - just, at least there was one. Part of the difference, though, is outside of musical definitions. Being “from” a certain place used to define **people** much more than it does now. If (for example) you were from Montana, a lot of very safe assumptions could immediately be made about your background, your possible occupations, your musical knowledge and preferences, who you might know, and so on. But now, with cheap easy transportation, diverse occupations, and YouTube, a rapper or an opera singer could come from Butte just as easily as a country singer could, and a kid in Billings can listen to Tuvan throat-singers all day every day if he chooses to - his musical horizon is not limited to whichever band happens to be in town on Friday night. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/74 "2018-11-03T08:48:55Z")
missed edit window: Going even further back in history, there was a time when going to another geographical area meant you wouldn’t even know what types of instruments they’d have, how they tuned them, or even (non-music) if they agreed with you that it was eight o’clock - to them, you might be twenty-five minutes off. Geography held people together - and apart - much more strongly and definitely than it does now. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/75 "2018-11-03T18:13:51Z")
I have been listening to Esther Ofarim lately. The are a few old-time country songs in the mix. [Cotton Fields](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6qNxpuvnY) [Dirty Old Town](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUd5Xz4UU-I) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/76 "2018-11-03T22:18:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > A few months ago, I stumbled on an artist I really liked: A hot blonde country rocker with an attitude. She sang upbeat songs generally along the lines of “Don’t you dare mess with me!” but I cannot remember her name. Can anyone tell me who I’m thinking of? I know she’s on YouTube, but I can’t find her without her name. Sounds like Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/77 "2018-11-03T22:48:24Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Sounds like Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood. No, “bouncier” than either, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/78 "2018-11-04T00:41:34Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > You do realize that’s Van Morrison, right? Yep! But I like the band’s version of Into the Mystic better. The harmonies kill me every time I hear the song. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/79 "2018-11-04T11:51:23Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’ll just throw in some Goth Americana for the weird folk: > > [Jay Munly - The Leavening of the Spit-Bread](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqbtZAARH0A) Yeah, that’s weird… ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870/80 "2018-11-05T16:36:43Z")
Some more recommendations for country music you won’t hear on the radio: [Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7cmWkBoz4) [John Prine w/ Iris DeMent - Who’s Gonna Take The Garbage Out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEqJ9caPuI0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-foolish-youth-i-said-country-music-sucks-now-i-know-better/823870.md?page=5)