Karaoke Forums

A few givens here
1) Country music is a major force in the music world, has some eternal icons such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
2) There are varying degress of Country music fans and singers. While there are a fair number of people who "like" country and also like other genres, there are hard core "LIKE" country musicians, singers, and fans.

There are areas in the country (when traveling to West Virginia) we could not find a rock and roll station and everything on the radio was either country or gospel or talk show or news. There have been times in SS where 30 to 50 subs out of maybe 75 (need to double check this but it is close) were country.

Ironically, my family were from the midwest and south, and my mother was a country music fanatic. My first band to go on tour with was country band and I made a pile of money doing so in the summer when I was only 17 years old.

But - I actually converted the band from country to hard rock (the bass player went on to win a Grammy) and we once played with Metallica (co-bill) in Frisco. I can write country music, appreciate decent country music, but it is not my genre.

And, honestly, there are facets to some elements of country (the accent), the look, the  over all lifestyle, that some people totally identify with and love versus, Goth, Alternative, Punk, Techno, and Dark and its dress and look (which much of my music is) that are pretty distant from country. But I have written country originals and subbed them here to show, well, figure that one out.

There is a danger zone here in critiquing a country submission. That is, while the singer may be (sometimes not) open to "technical and specific comments on the voice and performance" singers often have followings in any neck of the woods and let us be honest. Some people just like certain singers and would rate them a 10 because they do. This is all find and good, but at the same time, you can comment and etc. and it hits the fan.

Chamjam, myself, I would say a number of veterans here are well aware of what is just plain good stuff whatever genre and what is pretty iffy. And honestly, whereas over the last year or so, the bravest have dared to go in and rate something which is really lukewarm not a 10 thereby toppling a sweetheart or really popular male from the Elysian heights of 10dom.

Honestly, quite frankly, I would say it is far more dangerous in countryland to critique than those who sub in other genres.

Kinda of ironically really. For one I and Seby live in the South and when I met her Seby had a southern belle drawl which I actually found pretty sexy.

But we do see the rise and fall of newbies who do not understand that the rating scale is not 9 to 10 and giving an 8 can result in severe repricussions if you have anything up to rate.

Now here is something I am peronnally curious about. In the real world what percent of listeners like 1) rap  2) hip hop 3) alt 4) rock etc. Record sales, what sells the most? And here is a scary one. Is country music the most popular music in America? How popular is it now versus how popular it once was?

I know this has to be regional? I am wondering. We have subbers from all over the world here. How popular is country in U.K.? I know it is in Japan- at least I heard as much.

Is there a country music fan on the planet who likes Rap and Hiphop? If Rap and Hiphop were submitted here for rating - would it have a chance of getting a fair rating? Any rap or hip hop singers in the top singers here? How many of the top rated artists here are Country?

So.. opening the barn door. Just wondering.

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There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie

I was one of those cruising main street in the late fifties till the wee hours of the moring on $.75 in gas.. There were 2 types of radio stations country and rock...If you wanted the old stuff you had to watch Lawrence Welk or drag out the little 45 rpm,s..

I was mainly country but after spending time all over the world with other types my appreciation of music and alll genres grew through the years..  When you say rap  Tex Ritter was rapping in the forties.. Find Boll Weevil.. (rap is nothing new just a new twist maybe)Soon after Baby Got Back came out  I was singing it on a regular basis if I didnt that cute lil gal that played pool would bug me till I did... My favorites right now are Tilt Ya Head Back.. And I've done Dont Cha a couple of times...

 So when you ask if there is a country chap that likes rap this old old country not only likes it but sings it... Music is music is music...If it comes from the heart and sets souls free it is classic....

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yep I agree with Kary up there... I love country.. but I flip thru every radio channel there is when I'm in a car.. including pop, hip/hop rap, country, sometimes even classical...

and I've pretty much sang every genre there is already .. I don't ever like being tied down to one particular genre and told "SIT STAY YOU MUST SING COUNTRY AND NOTHING ELSE".. good heavens.. I submitted Ice Ice Baby here a few months back... and my next sub was probably a country one and then back to 80s, etc.

2 Live Crew were awesome.. Beastie Boys.... Alan Jackson, George Strait, Sawyer Brown, Paula Abdul, Rob Thomas, Gretchen Wilson, Trick Pony, Shakira, Beyonce, etc.. just goes to show you how messed up I truly am musically  LOL

Now someone go sub me some "Baby Got Back" please

What? you didn't save my version of that foxey? i'm crushed!...

I live in COWBOY country..i'm surrounded by ranchers..and the Rodeo Grounds are only half a mile from my house. I can hear em..and smell em all summer long.[schild=4 fontcolor=00BFFF shadowcolor=EE82EE shieldshadow=1]SADDLE UP!!![/schild]



I like country..but i love 70's..cuz i was a teen then...actually..i love all kinds of music. And with 2 teen girls...and son in his twenties...i sing everything from metallica, guns n roses, sir mixx alot, korn, shakira. I think my shakira song is still up here too.....etc....you name it..we try it. And as my bud from Greeley says..Music is music...it's what touches you...or makes you shake your bootie...

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ummm.. yeah I maybe do have that song somewhere .. I have so many of everyone's songs that I get lost when I wander in there!!

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I was raised on pop and rock music, not country. I never liked it much, aside from a few crossover hits, because I don't like the "twangy" kind.  My husband worked at country music radio station in the 70's, so he knows and likes it a lot more than I do, and I have been forced to listen to a lot of it.  I moved to Lubbock about 8 years ago and now I'm in Alabama, so in order to fit in more with the local karaoke scene, I have learned some country songs.

I don't know how popular country is, but I would say it's more so than it used to be.

I think that MOST of today's country music sounds a lot like 70's pop music (Eagles-type stuff) and is not as "twangy".  A lot of country singers like The Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain have crossed over so far that you can't even call some of their stuff country.  Shania releases rock and country versions of the same song.  So I think this has made country music more appealing to the rest of the country that was not raised on the stuff.

That's my opinion, for what it's worth!

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~Suzanne Lanoue~

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I was born and raised in Georgia, still live here to this day.... and let me tell you, I believe I was overdosed on country music......I still like a little bit, but I'm VERY VERY picky about it.  I LOVE rap and hip-hop new age RnB is great, I'm very ecclectic, on my Ipod I have Queen, Garth Brooks, and Christina Aguilera in the same playlist.  Not sure if anyone has noticed but I've never subbed a country song and I don't plan on it either, I just don't enjoy it, listening to you guys sing it is ok, but myself... I just can't feel it... So I'm standing storong, no country shall pass through these lips

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My top 3 bands are Neil Diamond, Insane Clown Posse, and Reverend Horton Heat.  That pretty much covers Hard and Soft Rock, Country, Rockabilly, Rap, and Vocal.
And if you have a XM Satellite Radio like I do, you can always find a song or genre for everyone.  I have done various types of songs many I've only done once and still people gave me compliments to it.  And this being Austin where I live in, I could be entertained by numerous music everyday.  And when the SXSW music fest comes, many soon to be big stars come to display their music.

I gotta agree, the new country does not appeal to me, but still many Texas country artists stick to traditional ways (Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Kevin Fowler) and they appeal more to me

Actually, that is true. As a rock band on tour when we wind up in playing some "lesser gig" (bar in the middle of nowhere, high school, or something just like not concert) and someone would come up to me and say
"I like long hair... on girls... so can you play any country?"

Those were the days I thanked God for the Eagles and Jackson Brown. I would look at Pat Luck and say - it's gonna be an Eagles night.

Country has evolved. I must admit I no longer have my mother's 78 speed  Hank Williams records. I think that's why after we were present at a Jackson Brown concert, the band members and I came to a truce when I started writing things simliar to "Life in the Fast Lane".

There is New Country. But I will admit shamelessly - when I hear Texas_ML sing anything - it takes me all the way back to my mom and burning love of hard core love of country. And still think.. that sounds mighty fine.

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There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie

Ok! My turn! I have to admit I am not a rap fan or a hip hop fan at all. I can appreciate anyone who attempts to do those genres for the technical aspects attributed to being able to successfully do them, but I really dont care for them. When listening to either one, I really and honestly force myself to simply listen to how well the individual has pulled the genre off! However, and, and dont tell anyone, last year, at a request for about 50 of my students, I really crossed over and recorded a song for them that I never would have believed I would have done. I actually, only because they asked me to, recorded Dragula by Rob Zombie and let them hear it! They thought I was really cool to do that for them. I almost never found someone to teach me how the song went but I did it! Whew! Now that is over! They say confession is good for the soul, how come I feel really red faced all of a sudden!
I am not too pleased with the way country music has turned. I actually tell people if they want to have a career in country music, dont go to Nashville because Nashville has forgotten who they were and where they came from.  To me, the best country music out there is coming out of Austin with people like Kevin Fowler (more traditional).  Willie Nelson is doing a lot of producing in several studios in Austin along with Asleep at the Wheel.  Nashville has some artists that still hold a great appeal with me, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Merle Haggard and a few like that. Big and Rich and their cowboy rapper are doing nothing more, in my opinion, than making a lot of money trying to make fun of country music. At least that is what most true country muisc lovers think. Although they have done one song I really did like "Why Does Everbody Want To Kick My _ss?"
What do I think about rock? Hey l grew up with a little of all of it! I always got a kick out of listing to Zeplin "Whole Lota Love,"  Deep Purple, Hendrix ( I actually spent weeks when I was 14 learning how to play the National Anthem with my guitar behind my head!) Uriah Heap, Motley Crew, the list goes on and on, when I was 16 I loved it. I even planned on being the first rock star to graduate from my high school after all Buddy Holly was from Lubbock not far from me, and Roy Orbison was from Wink which is only 45 miles from me. My mom once met Elvis when he was stationed at Fort Hood, where she grew up, so I figured I could pull it off. We had a really good band. We were doing some of the old Chicago stuff. The music was great but when I would sing, something just did not gel.  One night while waiting for the horn section to show up, I started doing an old Merle Haggard tune that I had heard on the radio and suddenly everything seemed right! That night, we changed genres and started playing country. I have never looked back.  My brother, who was playing drums for me at the time now has an incredilbe Southern Gospel group. He went to Nashville a few years ago and did a video that had international viewing audience for several months. I have stayed with the country music I found so near to my heart. I just dont do anything else very well and I know it.  I am one of the original performers for the Brand New Opree in Odessa, Texas ( a great country show that usually has over 3,000 in attendance twice a month). I have played most of the clubs in the area, I have opened for some of the greats of country muisc along the way and continue to have audiences on a weekly basis. I have 4 cd's out and have sold more than I can count. I come to SS not to be discovered but to have some fun and meet people.  In April, I will be doing a show for the National Guard units that are scheduled to return from Iraq.  There are supposed to be over 3,000 in attendance along with all the TV stations and radio stations to cover the show after a  big parade in their honor.  I am doing this as a free show to show my gratitude and support for our troops.  
All of this comes down to the point that I love country music, I like everything else, even if I  dont know a song it does not mean I dont like it. I dont really care for rap and hip hop but good old 70's and 80's rock are great to me. I also love the 50's stuff.  And I have to say, Jean, I am in complete awe my friend at your very kind comments regarding me. I feel completely overwhelmed because I know you are the real deal.  I have complete respect for you and every sub you put up. I love your talent my friend. I wish I had just a little of your talent. Thanks for your always kind words. I know you do not say things like that to get me or anyone else to come back and say kind things to you. I just really mean it my friend. Thanks!--Mike

When I hear 'twangy' country, it often sends chills up my spine. It's physically painful for me to listen to. I could say the same for certain types of rap and other 'garbage' (no relation to the band 'garbage' - who I happen to like) that plays on the radio on a regular basis.

HOWEVER... I have discovered (partly through this site) that there are folks I don't mind hearing sing country. There are some 'country' voices that are just so darned good, I don't care what they sing. I also tend to like FOLK singers, and there is a crossover between country and folk.

I can even appreciate good vocals on rap... of course pitch doesn't come into play so much as timing, clarity of speech and dynamics, but I have critiqued rap songs on here and given even given 10s on some of them. What can I say? I guess I'm just a weirdo.

well... I can tell you this:
I was reading in the paper just a couple days ago about the ratings of my city's radio stations. The TOP music station is a country station. The other poppish and rock stations are quite far behind. The only station that tops the country one is the talk/sports station.

Now.... ya gotta remember. I live in Alberta... I'm pretty damn positive that country music isn't NEARLY as popular in any other province. Mainly because SO many big-time country artists are from Alberta. (Paul Brandt, Ian Tyson, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Terri Clark to name a few) Could this be because we're basically Canada's Texas? Lots of farmers, lots of ranchers, big oil..... sheesh.... there's even a few towns in Alberta and Texas which share the same name (Beaumont, Grand Prairie, Calgary, Jasper)  .... freakin wierd if ya ask me.

....anyways, I'm babbling.... let's talk about ME! HA!

I've ALWAYS liked Country music..... when I was in school it was something I'd never admit, because you'd get made fun of if you liked country music... NOW.... only a few years later, it SHOCKS me to know how popular it is with kids!! My neice is in 9th grade and most of her friends love it..... I went to an Emerson Drive concert (who are also from Alberta, btw) and the place was PACKED with 17 -18 yr olds.... same goes with bars and clubs.... the busiest ones are the country bars!

there was a VERY brief period where I was into the the pop-ish.... R&B stuff... during my clubbin-party-days which lasted a whole 6 months.... Other than that.... it's ALWAYS been country for me.... I grew up on Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.... then discovered Faith and Martina.... I used to like Shania, but she makes me sick now. ICK! lip-sync much? And I absolutely cannot STAND Big & Rich..... and Cowboy Troy??? WTF IS THAT ALL ABOUT?!?

there are very few new artists that I like right now..... I do, however FRICKEN LOVE Miranda Lambert!!

ok.... now I'm really babbling, but there's my two cents! Blame JVJ! he asked!

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Being from the Memphis area here in Tennessee we have several different styles that are popular.  Of course country does seem to be the most popular until you get down to Beale Street and then it's a lot of Blues which I love, too.  Rock-a-billy was always good around here with Sun Studios.  And of course rock-n-roll.   We even have a lot of rap and hip-hop around town but I can't honestly say I've developed a liking for that.

As for my personal taste in music there isn't much I don't like.......Country, Pop, Blues, Soft Rock, Rock-N-Roll, Rock-A-Billy, etc.   Since joining SS I've rediscovered the standards such as the Rat Pack and some of the others and have gone out and bought some CD's of these and find that I really enjoy this type of music as well.  SS has also given me a new appreciation for the showtunes and Broadway type music.  I've also found that I love hearing some of the rock singers on here.  So I guess SS is stretching my love of music quite a bit.

I catch myself changing the radio station all the time from Rock, Country, Oldies and we also have a Soft Rock station that I enjoy.

But when it all comes down to the nitty gritty......my heart is still in the country.  I love the old country classics as well as the new country.

I guess I just love music period.  

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