I have come to find that for country music, people either love it or hate it. Which are you, and why?
As a child (early 60's) Country was Hank Sr. and other nasal singers which set my teeth on edge and made my eyes water.
As I got older Country became, to me, what was on Hee Haw, which I will admit I would appreciate more now than then. But it seemed Country music was a variation of
"Where oh where are you tonight,
Why did you leave me here all a-lone?
I searched the world over and I thought I found true love,
But you met an-other and (Bronx Cheer) You were gone."
Then Country seemed to split into factions, Not only was there the Hank Sr. stuff, now there was the Campbells, Gatlans and Rodgers. And they crossed over. Except I worked with a guy who listened to the Hank Sr. AM station on a small radio with the speaker and circuitry tuned to the human vocal range .... did I mention Hank Sr. makes my eyes water and puts my teeth on edge? Also hurt my ears.
That guy and his tinny AM radio was in the mid '70s and I haven't willingly listened to Country since.
What I've heard that made the crossover was ok, but was it country?
What I've seen by exposure to Pop Culture Country music has become as big buck performance 'art' and as commercial as any other form of music. I must say there is a level of dishonesty to it. And there is a whole aspect about Country Music that I've seen in Pop Culture that I would address but we don't discuss those things here.
In conclusion, if 'Country" is the twangy stuff about how you can lock me up but you can't keep my face from breaking out, If I can't change it or turn it off I'm putting in the ear plugs.
If it's the "New Country" it's nothing more than background noise. If I'm paying attention to it I'm listening for the hook.
Not to be confused with Blue Grass and Folk.
"Their taking a steam roller
And running over my two holer,
I'm gonna lose my out house ..."
"Well now its time to say good-bye to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You're all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality"
Flatt and Scruggs made a good impression.