Country Music: A Brief Overview
Country music is a type of music that originated in the American South. Its roots go back to the blues, church music, Southern gospel, and spirituals. It also draws influences from American folk music such as Cajun and Creole. Today, country music can be found in many different genres, including the cowboy western genre of New Mexico and Texas country.
Song about Going Through Hard Times
This country music song about going through hard times is a powerful piece of inspirational music. The song is aimed at the listener's significant other, and it encourages them to look past their current circumstances and seek God's guidance. The song was written by Martina McBride, a powerful vocalist who has made a career out of writing inspiring songs.
The Lyrics
The lyrics describe a young man who is struggling to get out of bed in the morning in search of a new job. The band's name is somewhat outdated, but the lyrics are timeless. This song's main character grows up understanding the lessons his father taught him. This song is very popular and is a popular example of the sentiment.
Songs About Hard Times
Many country songs are about hard times. The lyrics are often about the struggle of blue-collar workers, who are often the most vulnerable to an economic downturn. They don't have a lot of extra money to pay their bills and can't afford to lose their jobs. Despite this, country songs generally have a light tone and are often a critique of American consumerism.
Musical Style
The musical style of country music developed in the US western states. The genre is based on traditional American music and has undergone significant changes throughout its history. Some of the most prominent changes came during the World War II era, which saw the rapid mobilization of civilian populations. This led to an increase in industrialization and urbanization, and millions of Americans from rural areas moved to cities to work in factories and office buildings. This dramatic transformation of the lifestyle from agrarian to urban spurred the emergence of new styles of country music. One of these was honky-tonk, which was based on traditional country music and dealt with the problems of an increasingly urban and industrialized society.
Musical Style
The musical style of country music consists of simple chord progressions and repetitive rhythms. Many country songs feature strong choruses and great vocal harmonies. The emotional content of the songs generates enduring appeal.
Influences
In the early 20th century, country music received a great deal of inspiration from rock and roll. Johnny Cash helped establish the term rockabilly. He incorporated elements of black rhythm and blues and American gospel into his sound. As a result, rockabilly became one of the most successful branches of rock and roll. It spawned a new genre in Great Britain and was copied across Europe during the late 1950s.
The African American Influence
Thomas Benton, who created a painting that depicted the country music genre, wanted to show the African American influence. However, he did not want to go to Nashville to capture this scene. He painted the mural in his Kansas City studio and later shipped it to Nashville. However, he never questioned the inclusion of black musicians in country music.
The Evolution of Country Music
The earliest country musicians resisted drums and used only string instruments to accompany their simple harmonies. However, by the mid-1930s, drummers were introduced to most groups. Later, in the 1950s, the influence of western swing music spread to the genre, and eventually, most groups included drummers in their music. Kenny Rogers, meanwhile, introduced the country boogie sound with his "El Paso" album.
Popularity
The popularity of country music has increased significantly over the past several years. According to the National Recording Industry Association, 76 million Americans listen to the genre weekly, and Millennials account for 57% of this group's listeners. However, the genre has also suffered from some setbacks. Album sales in the genre have decreased from the 33.3 million albums of the previous year, while individual song downloads are down by 16% over that same period.
Country Music in the 1990s
In the 1990s, the popularity of country music skyrocketed, with some artists like Garth Brooks achieving worldwide fame. His albums have sold over 113 million copies in the U.S. and are certified as (128x platinum). Other successful artists during this time period included Clint Black, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, and the newly formed Brooks & Dunn.
Country Music Goes Global
Although the genre is traditionally associated with rural America, it has found success in many other countries, including Japan. The genre has a long history in the United States and has roots in folk music and bluegrass music. Despite these limitations, the genre has enjoyed a steady increase in popularity worldwide in recent years.
