Gwen Thompkins-NPR Correspondent
The Liberal Left of this country is full of pretentious, egotistical and elitist individuals who believe that anything without their stamp of approval is not worth much. They continue to ridicule and mock traditional American values, the people who live in the Heartland and most of all, country music.
Country music has always been the brunt of jokes by so called mainstream America. People like Gwen Thompkins, who did a report for NPR on the popularity of country music in Africa can’t help but mock anyone who listens to it. Even as she reporting on the immense popularity of country music in Kenya, most specifically, she couldn’t help but remark how most country singers are a bunch of racist rednecks. Those weren’t her exact words but they are gist of her feelings.
So why all the hostility to country music especially as more and more Blacks are getting involved in it. We now have Charlie Pride, Cowboy Troy, Darius Rucker, and Rissi Palmer all making country music. And though Charlie hasn’t put out a new album in a while he still travels the world singing his music. They are even thinking of doing a movie about his life. Even Nelly did a duet with Tim MacGraw and Beyonce has even done some country as well. With more Blacks making inroads to country, it seems counterproductive to keep labeling Nashville as racist. Besides that is not the real reason why the Left hates country anyway. After all, the Left is full of proud KKK type bigots. So what is it?
1. Country music is patriotic.
Those who sing and listen to country music are overwhelmingly proud of their country. Being patriotic doesn’t mean we are blind to America’s problems but instead we view America through a more forgiving lens. We know we have committed atrocities on our soil-abortion is still being done to the most vulnerable and innocent and needs to stop-even so we are willing to fight to improve conditions for all. To stop living in the past and start taking care of the present and the future. They hate country music because it speaks of real love, family, tradition, God. It speaks of everything people hold dear.
2) Because it is simple.
Don’t equate simple with stupid. It most certainly is not. It is some of the most profound music around but it is its simplicity in lyric and form that make it accessible to everyone and the Left does not like that. Even Alan Jackson openly admits to being ” a singer of simple songs, I’m not a real political man. I watch CNN but I don’t think I could tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran.” It is that kind of straightforward humility that people can relate to. And it is that kind of down home feeling of just being an average Joe, no better nor worse than anyone else, that the Left absolutely despises.
3) It’s timeless.
Britney Spears will not live on in immortality but Loretta Lynn
will. Coal Miner’s Daughter speaks more to our shared human experience than “Oops I Did It Again.” Almost any Trace Adkins song reminds of the fraility of family and how fast time does fly. Songs like “You’re Gonna Miss This.” or “Then They Do” speak to us as we watch our children grow up and leave the nest. While Kanye West will one day be forgotten, Trace and his timeless message of loving your family will continue on.
4) Because it is real.
If you don’t stand a little prouder when listening to “Riding with Private Malone” or “Bumper Sticker on my SUV” you have no heart. If you don’t cry when hearing “Christmas Shoes.” And Dolly’s new one “Jesus and Gravity” really uplifts your spirit. http://cnettv.cnet.com/dolly-parton-better-get-livin/9742-1_53-50003376.html You don’t find that kind of music in the pop, rap or hip hop world. You find it in two places, country and soul. Both genres are the last bastion of authentic music and true talented artists. Yes, the Left hates anything that is good, uplifting, touches your spirit, which is why I will always be a fan of country music.
While I love a bunch of different styles of music, heavy metal, soul, pop, rhythm and blues, etc. I have a special affinity for country music. First of all, I love to laugh. Though most of my humor is sarcastic, I find other humor to be just as great as well. And no genre of music is more funnier than country music. Only in country can you talk about how alcohol helps White people dance (Brad Paisley, “Alcohol.” ) or “How Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” (Joe Nichols)-wow, didn’t realize a lot of the funny songs are about alcohol-hmm that is interesting. Especially since I am both an epileptic and LDS and don’t touch the stuff. Though most of Brad Paisley’s songs are hilarious. Whether it is ‘I’m Gonna Miss Her’ about a guy who chooses fishing over his woman or ‘Celebrity’ which is a look at today’s treatment of celebrities, all of them tickle your funnybone. My favorite by Brad has to be “Online” though because it hits closest to home for me. Though I have never lied about how I looked online I did have one guy accuse me of sending him a fake picture. That it was a picture of a model and not me. Which I thought was both sweet and insulting.
So that is the first reason I like country music. The second is that it talks about things I care about. Trace Adkins “Songs About Me” says it all. I do care about God, country and family. (Okay that is not exactly the line but you get the gist.) Carrie Underwood speaks of faith in “Jesus Take the Wheel” and the overwhelming need for revenge in “Before He Cheats.” So it speaks to the good side of me and the petty side. It can make you smile or it can make you cry.
Lastly, I like country music because I am a writer and many of them are story songs. Songs like “Don’t Take the Girl” by Tim McGraw or pretty much any song by Kenny Rogers. And if I could find me a man like Tommy in “The Coward of the County” I would be set. Sure Kenny has typical love songs that are not quite story songs like “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton or “Blaze of Glory” and “Buy Me a Rose” but the thing I like about Kenny is that in three to five minutes he can take you through someone’s entire life-that is amazing to me.
Shania Twain’s songs have been my love life’s soundtrack. From the frustration of finding the right man in this song to laying down the law in Any Man of Mine. I can easily relate to all her songs. She also talks about the sweetness of finding real love in “From This Moment On.” Shania is definitely the new queen of country.