now that we’ve mentioned it May 19, 2008

Ok, initially i thought ok wow country music is a massive genre to go nit picking and see where it is left out in mainstream society as ive mentioned before i believe it is very much a thriving genre on its own with its own award shows, television stations, radio programes a festivals around the joint. Im now, after reading alot of the blogs, noticing how influential country music is. Listening to alot of music lately, I hear many similar attributes within mainstream music and top 40 stuf that appear or are strongly connected with country music. whether it be the lyrics, the instruments, the style of vocals or just in general where the artist has come from its interesting to me that country music is subtely every where.

Someone who came to mind, who i know isnt seem to be country, but when you look at who she is really all all influences are country and many of her songs and style to seem to have country in them. Kelly Clarkson. Winner of American Idol some years back and now quite succesful in her own right is a country girl at heart which you can hear in alot of her music if you really listen carefully.

I work in a pub which has a juke box. which has a virety of songs it plays randomly when noone has selected songs to play. As I’ve worked different hours somehting I have noticed with the jukebox after starting thinking about country music is how much country music actually gets played WITHOUT people chooseing it to do so. Im curious to know and if any one else knows whether jukebox’s purely select randomly or do they kinda go off what has been selected alot. Becuase i often hear the same song a few times with in the one week. Just a though I had whilest at work and yet another casey chambers song came on.

Also, weekends we have a band that plays in the pub, cover bands mainly. and cover bands that often play the same songs to get the crowed reved up. One song I have noticed that gets played every single week by the various cover bands we have play is “Sweet Home Alabama” which to me, is a typical country song, singing about back home sweet home, in the southern blue skys and what not. This song is a great party sing along song who i my self have known so bust out singing along. Not bieng country’s biggest fan it made me laugh how apparent country music seems to be around the place now that we’ve mentioned it.

By Sophie Adams

The Comedy in Country Music May 19, 2008

In reading through the majority of our group’s posts, I see that most people are inclined to look towards academic articles and informative pieces about country music, its components and history. Although this is definitely needed to give people a wider knowledge about this genre, I feel inclined to show some more of the lighter side of country music and concentrate more on the music.

Throughout learning about country music I have found that it is a genre of emotional highs and lows. When its sad you can hear the tears in the voice of the singer. Its heart wrenching and it makes you feel sadder than any other music you have heard before. However, when its happy, it makes the sun shine. It really makes you smile and want to tap your foot, your hand, or anything you can. You just want to feel the beat and become intertwined in the overall glow of the song. It is this latter emotion that I feel is what people most know country for.

As I have said many times before, country to me is the average Joe battling to make a living but having a damn good time doing it. There is so much humour in the lyrics, that really shows how amazing the country people are at looking at the bright side of any situation. So for this blog, I just wanted to share some of the funnies songs I have heard and the best country videos I have found on the internet.

One of the funniest country music singers I have come across is Brad Paisley. His song “Me Neither” was one of the first country music songs that I have really listen to the lyrics of. I Heard it in a steak house and I was laughing about it all the way through my meal. It’s about being shut down but having an ‘I don’t care attitude’ despite the embarrassment. Unfortunately I cant find an official video for this song, but go and have a listen anyway, I’m sure you’ll laugh at it in no time.

Some other great Brad Paisley songs are “When You’re A Celebrity” and “Online”. These two particular songs are also amazing for the high profile cameo’s from actors who have helped Brad Paisley out. I was really surprised when I saw just how many famous names he got to participate.

Another song that deserves a notable mention is “The Truck Got Stuck” by Corb Lund. It’s not a terribly catchy song but listen to the lyrics and you’ll be laughing so hard that you wont even care.

There are many other great songs that I have heard, but these are definitely my favourite’s and the videos are some of the best I have seen. If you find any more though, please let me know. They are a great way to end a bad day. Just sit back and have a laugh!

By Jacki Tipton