Tackling Misconceptions About Country Music

Country music is perhaps the most misrepresented music genre in the world. Whether it’s from people who have never listened to country music, but still hate on it, or people who have only listened to the stuff on modern country radio that also misrepresents country music. Today I will correct three of the biggest misconceptions about country music in an attempt to give you a more accurate representation of country music.

The lyrics are meaningless

"You're not supposed to say the word 'cancer' in a song. And tellin' folks Jesus is the answer, can rub 'em wrong." These are the opening lines to Brad Paisley's "This is Country Music," a song that I believe captures what makes country music special from a lyrical stand point. People often have this idea that country music is all about tractors, trucks, drinking, girls, and other stereotypical elements of rural American life. While there are many country songs that sing about these subjects, they’re not what country music is about. "It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, or mama, yeah that might be true. But this is country music and we do." These are the next two lines of the song. What these lines along with the rest of the song explain is that country music covers all sorts of different topics that aren't heard in other genres of music, including cancer, faith, small town life, and patriotism, among others. But the lyrics that sum up what country music is about the best are in the chorus. "This is real, this is your life in a song."

What makes country music special and the reason why people should listen to it are the deep and meaningful lyrics. While not all country music has to have super deep lyrics, country is at its best when the lyrics are relatable, tell a story, or give you something to think about. Perhaps all three at the same time. Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” tells the story of a child who is excited to wear a coat that the child’s mother made, who is then made fun of for looking poor. The narrator then tells the children that the coat is worth more than all their clothes because of the meaning behind it. “One is only poor, only if they choose to be” is the big message of the song and a message that can resonate with many listeners didn’t grow up with much.

People often say that country music lacks substance, but this is simply not true. In “Whiskey Lullaby” Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss sing about a man who comes home to find his wife cheating on him. He’s so hurt that he becomes an alcoholic and eventually drinks himself to death. The wife feels so guilty about his death that she also turns to alcohol and drinks herself to death. This kind of powerful storytelling is very common in country music.

A big misconception about country music lyrics is that they are just sad all of the time. While this is probably the most accurate misconception about country music, it’s still wrong. Looking at the Country Music Association Song of the Year award winners since 2000, I found that 12 of the 19 winners were sad songs. However, there are still plenty of happy country songs. “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” by Travis Tritt is about the narrator finding joy in living a simple life and having a day to do anything the narrator wants. “Check Yes or No” by George Strait is a classic country love song that tells the story of childhood sweethearts who, 20 years later, are still very in love with each other.

The sound

When it comes to the sound of country music, people often mistake it for bluegrass music. This is excusable as the genres can sound similar and have very similar instrumentation. However, there are differences that present themselves after listening to some of the songs in each genre. According to GrizzlyRose.com, Bluegrass mainly focuses on unamplified instruments. Country, meanwhile, uses amplified instruments that give it a “fuller” sound, that is probably more appealing to the mainstream.

The rhythm of country music tends to be simple, but what I think is most appealing is that real instruments are used. While pop and other genres of music begin using computer generated music, country, more often than not, has real instruments that, I believe, make for a better sound. Whether someone likes how country music sounds is a very subjective thing and I may not be able to convince you that it’s good, you’ll have to find out yourself. What I can do is point you towards songs that I think have great country instrumentation that you can go and listen to.

Picture from Google Images

Probably the instrument most common and most noticeable in country music is the fiddle, or violin as people outside of country tend to call it. “Amarillo By Morning” by George Strait has some great fiddle portions in it, including a great solo at the end. “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” by Jon Pardi also shows off the fiddle well. If you’re looking for something faster, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band or “Callin’ Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks show that the fiddle can be used for a fun sound.

When it comes to the steel guitar, songs such as “Fourteen Gears” by Midland and “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by Alan Jackson are some good songs to listen to. The banjo isn’t super common in country music but it is still used. “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban and “Fly” by Maddie & Tae use the banjo nicely. Guitar can be heard in basically any country song. Some general good sounding country songs that I think are worth checking out are “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackosn, “Run” by Geoge Strait, and “Even Though I’m Leaving” by Luke Combs.

It’s just for white, southern people

Perhaps the most important misconception about country music is that it is only for white people from the south. It’s undeniable that country music is dominated by white southern men, however there are plenty of country singers who don’t fit this description. Charley Pride and DeFord Bailey are two black country legends. Darius Rucker and Kane Brown are both black and are big stars in modern country music. Keith Urban was born in New Zealand and Shania Twain was born in Canada. If country artists can come from a variety of backgrounds, there is nothing stopping people who are not white or from the south enjoying the music. I’m an example of this. I am an immigrant from Costa Rica who grew up in New York City and country is one of my favorite genres of music. Also, according to the Country Music Association, in a 2019 report country music is growing amongst Hispanics and African-Americans. 

Picture from CMAWorld.com

Country music is a great form of music that is often misrepresented by people who haven’t given it a chance. Country music has meaningful lyrics, brilliant storytelling, and lovely instrumentation that create music that can be enjoyed by anyone. If you have listened to multiple country songs that show off the various elements that make country music special, but still don’t like it, that’s fine. Music, at the end of the day, is subjective and not everyone will find country music enjoyable, but you should give it a chance before saying you don’t like it.

Works Cited:

“Research.” CMA World - Country Music Association, Feb. 2019, https://www.cmaworld.com/research/


“Difference Between Bluegrass and Country Music.” The Grizzly Rose, Grizzly Rose Member Https://Www.grizzlyrose.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2016/10/Night-Logo-Compress.png, 7 Sept. 2018, https://www.grizzlyrose.com/difference-between-bluegrass-and-country/


“Past Winners And Nominees: 2019 CMA Awards: Wednesday, November 13 on ABC.” 2019 CMA Awards | Wednesday, November 13 on ABC, https://cmaawards.com/past-winners-and-nominees/?appSession=81505NZ591GXSH9G912HYEL4MB9MBTE1783KS3BYV4PI3QD2E067YD5N4XQW882X25LDB82G4T5VRFW1P29YXI179MQ7JG88FWO141U5A58HAO28K184J4889H091NF8&PageID=2&PrevPageID=1&cpipage=4&CPISortType=&CPIorderBy=.