Evolution Of Country Music

The year is 1986 and Hank Williams Jr. has the charts topped with his hit song “Country State of Mind”. The song could basically define country music; talking about hunting, fishing, throwing back a cold one, and the good Lord above. Fast forward to 1996 where Brooks & Dunn are topping the charts with their single “My Maria”. Another great country music hit in 1996 was released by Alan Jackson. In his single “Little Bitty”, he sings about life, and how it goes on no matter what. It is hard to believe that 2006 was ten years ago, and the chart topping songs were Trace Adkins’ “Ladies Love Country Boys” and Josh Turner’s “Your Man”. Both the sound and lyrics of country music have gradually changed over the years. Country music has drifted away …show more content…
Influenced by mountain folk music and Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers, the beginning of country music began. Rodgers’ song “Blue Yodel” was released in 1928 and just a little over ten years later, Nashville was named country music capital. Country music launched; taking over the nation as new country artists began developing. In the late forties bluegrass music was introduced by Bill Monroe. Rockabilly artists such as Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis became common household names throughout the fifties and female artists such as Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline made their way into the heart of country music in the mid-sixties. Ferlin Husky and Buck Owens introduced West Coast Country style music in the seventies; around the same time Willie Nelson began singing outlaw country. “King of Country Music” George Strait released his famous album Strait Country in 1981. The sound of country music really changed in the 90’s when artists such as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill began singing pop styled country music, starting the subgenre of country pop crossover. From this moment, people began complaining about the change in the sound and meaning of country …show more content…
Times are continuing to change, and who knows; in twenty years, country music might just make its way back to the original honkytonk, outlaw sound. What used to be country is still considered country and today’s hit country songs are just branched off of that. “What is country music, today? It’s a melting pot of styles and attitudes and boundaries are made to be crossed over”, says Brian Myles. (Myles, Brian). Whether you are a fan of Willie Nelson and the sound of honky-tonk, or you prefer the pop based Luke Bryan, we are all country music fans. We all enjoy the simple things in life, spending time with our loved ones, and most importantly, having the time of our lives. Tracy Lawrence’s hit song Time Marches On says it all. “The only thing that stays the same is everything changes, everything changes” (Lawrence, Tracy). Those who were born, or raised in the era of outlaw and honkytonk country need to understand and accept the fact that times have changed; the music, the way people dress, technology, everything is changing. People just need to stop complaining, and go back to enjoying life. Grab a few good friends and a cold beer, head to the lake, and crank up whatever “country” music you like, whether that is Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, or Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia

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