Country Music: Whatever Happend to & How I Feel about CM Today.....

This is from the Trisha Yearwood Webboard......it's my response to a post entitled "Whatever Happend To..." about different country artists and the general state of country music, as you can see, I had more to say than I thought I did! LOL!


Okay, here's my total rant for the week....sorry for being so long, but seriously, if you agree, please let me know....here's what I think........

QUOTE(Erik @ Sep 5 2005, 09:31 AM)

Quote by MDerin:
All too true, I'm afraid. If I hear one more "song" by those woozing Muzik Mafia hipsters Big & Rich, I think I'm going to throw up!

Amen MDerin & Erik-I can't stand Big & Rich, and most of what's on radio (even country) today! My CD players are getting the workout of their lives! LOL!

As for Clay Walker, I'm going to see him this Dec. in Vegas. I saw him in Reno in March of 2003, and OMG- YOU HAVE TO SEE CLAY IN CONERT! He is one of the BEST concerts I've ever been too-(and I've been to about 50 in my life)-he puts on one HECK of a fun, entertaining and touching show. I took my friend, who absolutely HATES country music, to the Clay Walker concert, and even SHE walked out saying "wow, what a great show. I like him. Maybe country music isn't so bad!" Seriously folks, I think CW is HIGHLY underated....

then again, so is Phil Vassar, he TOO puts on one heck of a fun and entertaining show-and with Phil, he can SING, SING, SING too, as well as write- he's like the total package-I also think Phil's really underated too!

I think Toby, Kenny & Tim ARE all very talented, but ENOUGH.....

Phil Vassar, Clay Walker, BILLY DEAN, Julie Roberts, Rebecca Lynn Howard: they're all JUST as talented and just as remarkable...when do they get the attention, spotlight, accolades and AIRPLAY?????????????????

(Okay, I know Clay & Billy kinda had their hayday back in the early-mid 90s, but still, I can never get enough of them-esp. Billy!)

[COLOR=red]It's SO NICE, REFRESHING and WONDERFUL TO SEE TRISHA BACK, in the spotlight, #1 on the charts, and EVERYWHERE WE TURN!!!! It's FABULOUS, and about dang time! SHE DESERVES THIS ATTENTION, THE ACCOLADES & MUCH, MUCH MORE......

Right now, Trisha, Keith Urban and Wynonna are my only hopes for real artristy remaining in country music!

I ADORE CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON. I applaud her for sticking up for herself, doing what she believes is right, and being totally open and honest with fans! I admire that and respect it too. It's too bad more artists aren't like that! I agree that CDJ is a great talent, a heck of a songwriter and still has a lot of music left in her.....

CYNDI THOMPSON, imho, did the absolute right thing by leaving Capital Records. Capital is nitorius for messing with its artists including our very own, GARTH...they let go of Deana Carter, Suzy Boggus, Billy Dean and many other talented people-stupid!!!!!

ANYWAY.......I think Cyndi knew that a singers' lifestyle was not the one she wanted, and did what was best for her. I'm sure at times, she might regret not being able to share her talent and songs with others, but feels better about doing what was right for her....and I so applaud that! It was sad to see her go, b/c she was so talented and different, but at least she walked away early enough, and on her own terms.....

There was a time when I myself wanted nothing more than to be a HUGE country singer with #1 songs and albums and screaming fans....but today, at 21, that is NOT my dream anymore. It IS such a HARD life, and so much of the recording industry and music BUSINESS is a sell-out. It's very hard for artists, especially new ones, to make the music THEY want to make. And that has to get very frustrating for them......

I was raised to believe, and still do: iif you can't do things honestly, and believe in it and give it 110%, than don't do it all.......

I think Cyndi Thompson and CDJ are shining examples of this philosophy! And although, we fans might think "oh, they're so lucky to have that contract (and they are actually) I'd give anything for that deal," nothing in life (or art, music or jobs) is really worth anything if you don't love it, belieive in it and can sleep at night because of it!!!

I really like REBECCA LYNN HOWARD and I think she can really sing. I do think though that she's still young enough (and unique enough) to keep trying-I really do see her succeeding in the future.

MICHAEL PETERSON-oh, I miss him! I absolutely adored him and his music. I have both his CD's-and still listen to them! What a talent! He was such a great songwriter and singer, and a cutie pie too! I really wish he was on radio today with #1 hits of his own. He so deserves them. I hope things happen for him soon, if that's what he wants!

It's difficult for me to watch country music, something that I so dearly loved growing up, just slip away. I'm sure it is for you all too.

I agree that everybody deserves their place in the sun and their time in the spotlight. I'm sure very artist works hard at what they do, it is a tough job and very demanding....

but I'm SO sick of the same five or six artists that are played over and over and over and over and over and over again on country radio......

I'm so sick of these same five or six people being put out EVERY freakin' WHERE you turn....

yes, they're talented, yes they CAN sing, yes, they're creative, etc, etc, etc...but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...let's LET EVERYONE HAVE A TURN, and for the love of God, WHY is a new artist pushed aside now if their first single is NOT a #1 hit....that's so stupid, sad and evil-it's all about money now, and because of that, real artristy, creativity and quality are so often lost.......

I'm glad and grateful that I still hear true artists and singers such as Trisha, Reba, George and Garth on country radio, but even so, not half as much as I'd like, or as they STILL deserve!!! Class, and classicly talented artists never get old!!!

I think there should be room enough for everybody. I don't think the actual artists compete with eachother like the media forces them too, it's really sad......

anyway, that's my 2c, well, more like my 10c worth.....

this is something I've been thinking a lot about lately, more than usual, and I've been wanting to explain it to people for a while now, so I'm sorry for the length, but I just had to state it...

thank you for listening, I'm off my soapbox now.....

Many Blessings,
-SL