Well, well, well its about that time of the semester, everything is being summed up ready for completion. I’d firstly just like to congradualte everyone for putting in a big effort for our blog, its been quite fascinating reading everyones post and responses.

This Blog for me, like many of us is the first I have ever participated in; I have learned a great deal form this blogging activity, I never understood why people would even want to blog, now I do; it can be quiet satisfying, especially when you know your reaching the outside world. We have had some high profile comments outside our blog group, which I am still finding difficult to comprehend, I think that at the very least this indicates our blog has been a success; for example one of my blog post on the Kernaghans was commented on by Steve JW Roberts who is Lee Kernaghans Personal Assistant.

It amazes me how easily our blog reaches out to the world, the internet truly is a wonderful medium; while I have learned a great deal about country music, I have also learned some new internet presentation skills such as adding pictures and videos to posts, which I think adds an attraction factor to blog posts. This project is by far the most satisfying assignment I have ever been apart of! I has changed my perception on the Country Music Industry, and I hope what we have done will help to alter other peoples perception as well.

My Perception of Country Music Has Changed!

Previously I have been rather critical of the country genre, in one of my previous blogs ‘A different way to think about country’ I suggested that “I don’t really enjoy the sound; in fact, I would pass up listening to country music for most other forms of music”, this blog has helped to expose me to the country music scene, I have found that now I don’t mind country music so much, I am not going to run out and buy a Cd or anything, but I am far less likely to change the radio station or put in a Cd when a country music song comes on. With continued exposure to the country music genre, who knows I might even become a country music lover, but at this point I’m content that I have come to find I really quite enjoy folk country styles of music (Lisa Mitchell Inspired), I may even add some to my collection.

This blog has facilitated much learning capacity for the country music beginner,  we have brought to light so many different country related topics. My knowledge of the country industry is now much greater than the Australian country music awards and the Tamworth music festival, both which previously I avoided watching or reading about. I have even began to notice the country songs in my favourite genre, bands like Yellowcard and Panic at the Disco, have country sounding tracks incorporated on some of their albums and these to the dismay of most people that ride in my car are now some of my favourite songs.

The posts I have most enjoyed doing were the ones based on feminism in country music, music reviews and the modern cultural constructions of country music. I have been able to take a lot of information away from this blog, although our posts were not always academic, just the analysis of country music from sources such as myspace, youtube, news articles and websites has helped shape my perception of the country music genre. The combination of sources has allowed for wider audience participation, this construction of our blog has therefore supported the Country Music Industry in a postive way. I hope that now everyone has developed a far more authentic view of country music; I know that I have been able to develop many new ideas of what country should be, such as a form of expression, comedic and serious incorporated with life’s various issues, family, love, political, feminist etc… There is one thing I know for sure I’d rather be a Hillbilly or bluegrass country lover than a Lapdancer! How about you?

The great thing about this activity has been the fact that the blog will continually be exposed to the outside world but….

Just Like the final song an artist plays at a gig the blog is coming to a close… will there be an encore, only time will tell…

So for now I bid you all a fond farwell…

“Goodbye Y’all”

I sure have enjoyed being apart of this blog!

Post by: Ryan Witt

The following includes a summary of Keith Negus’ chapter called’ The Corporation, Country Culture and the Communities of Musical Production’.

  Throughout this blog site the history of Country Music has been looked at on a number of occasions. However, I do want to bring it up again this time to discuss how technology has effected the emergence of the genre and the cyclical changes Country Music has seen over the years. According to Negus (1999) Country Music can be traced back to the movement of people from Scotland, Ireland and Northern England to the ‘new world’ and their subsequent meeting with the musical styles of African-Americans and immigrants from other parts of Europe. The music that resulted was known as ‘country cutlure’ and ‘Hillbilly style’. Country Music operated as a commercial business long before the modern recording industry and radio broadcasting was around to produce and distribute music. The introduction of new technologies such as the radio and phonograph did however offer a new way of cultural production and communication. ‘These new forms of technological mediation were used together as a way of discovering, refining, modifying, organizing and ultimately bringing about the standardisation of country music’. (Negus, 1999, p. 104). Radio and Phonograph allowed country music to be widely distributed and the first country records date from the 1920’s. Performers such as Jimmie Rogers, who was known as the father of country music, brought popular appeal to the music and it was seen as more than ‘ethnic’ regional music.  His commercial success, that was during a time economic hardship in America, was evidence that country music was both creative and a commercial phenomenon. The radio performance event ‘ The Grand Ole Opry’ was of crucial importance to Country Music. It was a radio variety show and helped to form the link between country music and the city of Nashville. Studios, label offices and promotional teams were set up in Nashville.

   After the introduction of radio came sound in the cinema. It was important for the dissemination of Country Music and also helped to form the western and cowboy images adopted by performers.

   During the 1960’s the entire US music industry underwent a period of corporization that involved a number of merges and takeovers. By the 1970’s country music was incorporated into an expanding and controlling music industry. Changes occured in music radio and cross-overs began occuring. Artists including Olivia Newton John, Ann Murray and John Denver moved from the country charts to pop charts and back again.

It is suggested that country music reached one of its lowest points with the Film ‘Urban Cowboy’, featuring John Travolta. According to critics the film threatened to reduce country music to ‘a little more than superficial pastiche’. 

However, just a few years later country music was booming. This was due to rock influenced music and music videos. Artists like Garth Brooks who performed stage shows similar to rock tradition and Shania Twain who used sexy pop glamour marketing techniques in her videos. With the pop charts declining and country music having more stations than any other genre of music, newspapers were proclaiming that country music would become the new mainstream and Nashville would be as significant as Los Angeles. Yet, this was not to happen. 1994 was the peak of Country Music and 95 to 96 were seen as the levelling off period. Sales began to fall again by 1997. This boom was in many ways was the latest stage of the county music cycle.

The Book was written in 1999 so I believe that Country Music is still going through the cyclical stage and maybe soon we’ll see another boom for this genre.

Negus, K. (1999). ‘Music Genres and Corporate Cultures’, Routledge, London.

By Rachelle Fenning

In one of my earlier blog posts entitled ‘Take Your Pick! Are you a hillbilly, a lap dancer or bluegrass picker?‘ I reviewed an article by George Lewis. It is proposed in the article that one of the themes that has appropriated in the past 50 years for many female country singers is their expression of feminism in their music, to address the need for the change of standards and ethics for women within society.

Elizabeth Cook continues this Country Music feminist tradition, it is through her recent 2007 single ‘sometimes it takes balls to be a woman’ from her album ‘balls’ that she keeps the tradition alive…

(This is an excellent song, It is both well written/performed and most importantly her voice is exceptional!)

Elizabeth Cook believes ‘having balls is just the beginning’

You can find out more about Elizabeth Cook on her official webpage and MySpace for a free listen to more awesome tracks!

Post by: Ryan Wit

Country music has evolved over time from folk music a genre that stretches back hundreds and hundreds of years, from countries all over the world, some typical examples include Irish and Scottish traditional folk music. In light of this evolution I recalled an up and coming Australian artists that is a little bit country with a whole lot of folk!

You may remember Lisa Mitchell from one of the many reality television programs sweeping our networks. Lisa was a contestant in Australian Idol in the year 2006. Lisa was different from most contestants for a number of reasons; firstly she was the youngest contestant at only sixteen years of age, she could write and play her own music and showed that she can perform exceptionally well in her preferred genres of folk and country music.

 Play the video below to watch her on Ausrtalian Idol 2006

Lisa is now seventeen years old and resides in her hometown Albury; she is most certainly one of the up and comers to lookout for. On May 21 Lisa launched her new EP called ‘Welcome to the Afternoon’, since Australian Idol she has moved more into the folk genre than the country genre, but she is an exceptional Australian artist that should be exposed to the Country music and mainstream charts.

In my opinion Lisa possess a country type voice and comprises lyrics and music typical of the country and folk genres. Lisa Mitchell maybe the answer country/folk music has been waiting for, she’s young she’s talented, the youths of Australia will relate to her, it is possible that someone of her character could open up the flood gates and push country/folk music into the mainstream. Lisa’s best asset is her unique sound, which is emphasised through her subtlety nasal vocals. I think it is her subtle combination of country/folk and pop that will see her break into the mainstream, whether this will help other country and folk artists; time will tell. Lisa Mitchell is definitely someone to get behind and lookout for in the future.

Play the video below to see her song ‘Incomplete Lulluby’

Post by: Ryan Witt

The last few posts I have done have all been on articles from the “Country Update” Magazine, so I thought I would just do a quick post to tell you what else you can find in the magazine.

It’s a great source of information on all things country. This particular artist had feature articles on Adam Brand, Garry Allen, Tamara Stewart, The Flood, Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson. There are also other, smaller articles on things such as the Grammy’s, the Dusty Reunion, a Farewell to Smoky Dawson, the 36^th CMAA Country Music Awards the winners of the 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth and the 2008 Toyota Star Maker and also many, many articles on artists such as the Davidsons Bluegrass Brothers, Corb Lund and The Yeehaa Boys. There are also many pages on Reviews and upcoming Festivals.

The entire magazine is one of the best sources for country music that I have ever found. It has countless articles and information on everything country and not just the really specialised country genres but all country, so its suitable for everyone who wants to know about the country genre. At only $6.95 a magazine, it is definitely worth the money for the amount of useful information you get. Definitely worth it when you are looking to broaden your knowledge on country music.

This particular magazine is found at most newsagents, but I definitely think that country music is still under publicised in magazines and media. I went into several newsagents etc and there were generally only two country music magazines available, including this one, and they only get a small number of magazines per month. Perhaps if more magazines and sources like this were available for country music information, more people would be interested in the country music genre.

“Country Update” Magazine, Issue 48 on shelves now. (Edited by Bob Anthony Jnr, Produced By Country Update Pty Ltd, February 2008 )

By Jacki Tipton

By the end of the first decade of the twentieth century three streams of music were being distinguished: blues, jazz and country music. Although their origins were similar these three genre’s of music have followed quite different paths. Jazz is performed in classical music halls and has become known as art music, while the blues have gone on to become known for the most part as commercial folk music. Peterson (1997) questions why country music has gone on to become an element of commercial popular music rather than follow the path of jazz or blues. He continues by saying that country music is subject to the laws of supply and demand in the market, yet it has not simply murged, melded and disappeared into mainstream popular music. It has managed to retain its lyrics and images of working class men. So how has this genre remained so individual and not morphed into other genres??

Peterson (1997) suggests authenticity and originality is the reason. Country music is original and believable. Even though it is authentic it is always changing and mixing with other genres, but with in these changes remains familiarity of the songs telling stories about life; love, work, hardships. Country music has managed to keep its identity distinct from popular music, art and folk. We should be proud it is separate from the mainstream music.

Peterson, R. (1997), ‘Creating Country Music’, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

By Rachelle Fenning  

Through the posting of blogs and comments, i’ve realised this site gives automatic reference to other posts that may be talking of similar topics. So i took word press’s sugestions up and checked out a couple. One I saw interested me as it spoke about how the digital age is effecting country music, and how over the years of the introduction of the digital age, country was holding its own and being the strongest in physical sales. The blog is from businessweek.com and titled “Fine on the media”  it mentioned how, and which seems quite obvious now that i look at much of the research that is coming together, how country is based on loyalty to an artist and thrives on the community aspect and relationship between artists and fans, which can be lacking in other genres. I thought this was kinda of nice see, although not good difital age effecting music.. but how coutnry has been one (until recently) to stay strong in the digital age and only recently have sales start to decline. Its a score one for the country music genre!

After reading all the recent blogs and comments, I’m thinking more and more as to what is considered country music with intodays society and media Also, country music is great, the soul, the subject, the hybrids so where are the gaps and why do they exisit that country still finds it hard to get through to pop culture. Country has showed its head occasionally over the years in the top 40, and  yes there are many gaps in the top 40 charts that dont include “country” I went in search of what is country music, because I thought maybe country music is being over looked as people are so aware of the stereotypes maybe people arent aware they listen to country. Just a thought i had. So in my search I found and artcle titled “quest for country music, the” by Neal, Jocelyn R.

The article was quite interesting in how it spoke of country music today, what it was and how its staying. Looking at the cycle in which country music seems to be in. It mentions how as soon as country music starts to cross over to mainstream top 40 or considered radio freindly commercial country pop with such artists as Shania Twain seeming to bridge gaps getting country music more coverage, there are those who stick to the roots of country and go back to the honky tonk twang of stereotyped country. Even such well known country artists are seen to critisize their own industry with in their lyrics. Dixi Chix released their succesful song “long time gone” with the lyrics portraying the irony “We listen to the radio to hear what’s cookin” / but the music ain’t got no soul.”  The article had previously stated how country music industry, represented by faceless record labels, radio stations, and the abstract notion of commercial enterprise, is painted as the culprit who interferes with and threatens the heartfelt honesty and artistry of the country musician. Showing how some stations etc wont play the country music which are getting more media coverage and attention due to it not staying closer to the roots of country and elaborating and creating hybrid styles of country. It seems to me, and I wondered if any one else had these thoughts that country music doesnt get the recognition it deserves out sides its own mainstream popular country industry becuase it likes to keep it that way.

It seems it likes having the associations of the stereotypes and thats what it thrives on. Also mentioned within the article what seems to happen when the country industry does start to cross over “hybrid style faded from prominence, country retrenched itself in the sounds and styles of its own past.

I also see how country should be rewarded in staying true to its self but the gaps with in the media and top 40 charts is that they like it that way…

When I was at the Tamworth Country Music Festival I heard mention of this sub-genre in country music called “Blue Grass”. I sort of shrugged it off, mainly because everyone talked about it in relation to Kasey Chambers who would have to be my least favourite musician, however when I looked at the CMT website a few days ago I noticed a blog on Bluegrass. It detailed some great new music from a hand full of Blue Grass musicians but it didn’t really satisfy my curiosity. After all, what is Bluegrass? There are so many Bluegrass bands but until recently I had never even heard the name, never mind even hearing the musical style. So, with this in mind, I have set out to try and shed a little lite on the country sub-genre that is Bluegrass.

Bluegrass is a form of American roots music, inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as jazz and blues. In bluegrass music, each instrument takes a turn playing the lead and all the rest take up the role of backing music, as opposed to most music where the instruments work in conjunction to make a joint melody. Bluegrass is distinctively acoustic in instrumentation, not using electrical instruments of any kind. It relies on stringed instruments such as fiddle, five string banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, and upright bass and are often joined by the resonator guitar.

There is a wide debate among musicians, fans, and scholars though, over what instrumentation constitutes a bluegrass band. Since the term ‘bluegrass’ came from Bill Monroe’s band, “The Blue Grass Boys“, many consider the instruments used in his band to be the ‘traditional’ bluegrass instruments. The instruments used in this instance were the mandolin, the fiddle, guitar, banjo and upright bass. Besides instrumentation, a distinguishing characteristic of bluegrass is vocal harmony featuring two, three, or four parts, often featuring a dissonant or modal sound in the highest voice which is often described as the ‘high lonesome sound’.

This form of music was originally played by rural ‘black’ dance bands but then was turned down in favour of jazz and blue forms until being re-discovered by ‘white’ musicians.

It developed during the 1940’s mainly with “The Blue Grass Boys” who were thought to be the very beginnings of the Bluegrass style. The style however, remained solely with “The Blue Grass Boys” until the late 40’s when other Bluegrass bands began to emerge. Throughout the late history of Bluegrass there have been a few different generations with their own style. The first generation of Bluegrass music (1940‘s) was very pure and was considered the ’Golden Age’ of Bluegrass. The second generation emerged around the 1960’s and was mainly consistant of musicians who were somewhat involved in first generation Bluegrass but were now producing a more mature sound. However, in 1980’s Bluegrass took a fairly large leap into the third generation. Now Bluegrass had an increased availability of high-quality sound equipment. Due to this large change, an electric bass became a generally, but not universally, accepted alternative to the traditional acoustic bass, though electrification of other instruments continued to meet resistance outside progressive circles.

Since the late 1990s, several mainstream country musicians have recorded Bluegrass albums and Bluegrass has gained wider publicity through movies such as George Cloonies “O Brother, Where Art Though?” and even “Cold Mountain”.

I actually quite like the Bluegrass style, and I have actually heard that Kasey Chambers is a lot more interesting with the Bluegrass style in her music. It is a very twangy style but it is one of those styles that you can’t help to tap your foot down. To me, it seems like typical ‘hoe-down’ music and I kind of want to organise a barn dance now. It has a truly distinctive country sound and is a really fun style of music to listen to.

By Jacki Tipton

Emma B. Miles wrote in a poetic gush, of country music:

“Crude with a tang of the Indian wilderness, strong with the strength of the mountains, yet, in a way, mellowed with the flavour of Chaucer’s time – surely this is a folk-song of a high order. May it not one day give birth to a music that shall take a high place among the world’s great schools of expression?”

The extract above is from ‘Lap Dancer or Hillbilly Deluxe? The Cultural Constructions of Modern Country…’ (Lewis 1997). I wanted to draw your attention to it separately as I think it is an important way to look at country music from an historical point of view, it is worthwhile to read the extract, and apply it to what we now know and think about country music…

I for one, have not heard allot of country music, when I have heard it, it’s mostly been comedic and silly, which is one reason why I am not a fan, the other is just that I don’t really enjoy the sound; in fact, I would pass up listening to country music for most other forms of music. However after reading the extract, I’m more willing to give country a listen, as there’s something about the wild natural description of country music by Miles that leaves me wondering and wanting to know about the elements of country music that I haven’t heard…

What does everyone think about the extract?

Post by: Ryan Witt