Ever experience people who clearly have no grasp of country music by what they say?

I think Michael Nesmith is more influenced by western music than country.

 

John Denver and Johnny Cash being exceptions who have fallen into both.

 

No grasp of country music? that would be me.

 

There is a difference between country and western?

 

No never met anyone like that before...

Country music begins and ends with Garth Brooks as far as I'm concerned.

 

Yes, this is the generalization and stereotype that most people operate with. You hear the name and lump it all into one bucket. But much like bill Haley and the Comets and YES are both considered rock music, they are not the same. Country music has some amazing songwriters, vocalists and world class musicians. The difference between Patsy Cline, David Allan Coe, Chat Atkins, Marty Stewart, Dolly Parton and any pop act on the charts today is vast. There is something for everyone to like but not if you live under gross generalizations.

 

Yes there is, it was two separate categories that got filed together in record stores in the 50’s. Country was more eastern us (Appalachia) and western was Western swing, Cowboy folk songs and the soon to be Bakersfield sound. But you are correct that there hasn’t been a difference for a very long time.

 

The same conversation I have with my wife, I point out there are some great country artists and songs. Just not the shooting your gun at the ceiling hoedowns that Country + Western has you imagining.

Country gets a lot of airplay over in the UK on BBC Radio2

 

With a genre as broad as ‘country’... I always get a kick out of a thread where the OP holds himself up as the gatekeeper... the one who knows what ‘real’ country is.

 

If country music isn't folk music, then why is it called "country", a word that very much descriptive of the music of rural folk?
And a music that traditionally uses traditional folk instruments, and is originally derived from european folk songs and the blues (another "folk" genre).

 

There are lots of people who have no grasp of country music...

Unfortunately, a great many of them are in the current country music charts!

 

Country music has given itself such a bad name - "drinking coors in my boat" etc - I do love me some Drive By Truckers, Isbell etc (my favorites - and I have many albums - and one on the way) - but man there is some garbage out there.

 

OK, who called the genre cops? What are they doing here when they could be hassling the metal kids?

 

I think, perhaps,that folk music means different thing on either side of the Atlantic. Genuinely curious: What is your definition of folk music and would you, please, give some examples of folk musicians that Europeans regard as country?

Please be assured, I am in no way trying to start an argument here. I really am interested!

 

The instruments are used in different context and ways. All music has to do with people and people's experience, regardless of what country it comes from.

 

In response to the thread title usually when I hear someone say

"I love Florida Georgia Line"

 

And apparently on this board as well.

 

Wings? Most people here would say Kirstie Alley was not in the band...

But I hear you. Most people cannot explain genres in music, but they know they like it. That's how the thunder rolls.

 

I direct those people here.
Anthology of American Folk Music by Harry Smith

IMO it starts here. America Roots music...... covers black/white... blues , folk , country , Appalachian songs and songs that are derivative of music with roots in Africa, British Isles , France etc.

Many 60’s artist covered these songs , practically the whole Folk movement including Dylan, Airplane , Grateful Dead to name a few.

It’s all music.
Peace

 

Indeed, I may go so far as to say that pretty much all music not done by royal or papal commission is folk music. And verily yea we thus subdivide it into categories, 'cos it suits us to do so.

 

Try being a fan of modern bluegrass, LOL. The popular opinion is that it's music for "hicks" played by the kid from Deliverance.

 

This could evolve into a substantive conversation, but it appears to be mired in the OP's and participants' expectations, of how they believe others should think...without taking into account, how they themselves think. Like I used to say, "I think you left the irony plugged-in, Grandma".

A good topic, yet started because some hardcore fan didn't like a headline in a publication that wasn't even intentionally aimed at the hardcore fan.

 

Can't wait until this is available on 180gram vinyl

 

.....'is PEOPLE music.' (Fixed that for you. . )Agree we subdivide it into categories 'cos it suits us to do so.

 

“Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to guarded by men with a firm grasp of genre border policing.”