I don’t exactly disagree with the NewsBusters blogger’s response; I just have trouble detecting any semblance of logic in it. I don’t even understand the point he thinks he’s making. (In fairness, the worst part was the anti-white bit, which came from a commenter rather than the author.)

I had the same response to that Rodney Atkins quote. He’s trying to make a point about the universality of the song type, but what’s more striking to me is how he’s revealing the extent to which the writers were willing to write into a stereotypical and superficial vision of the rural south.

Alison Bonaguro picked up the same two articles (Washington Post and NewsBusters) for the CMT Blog, but you heard it here first. I’m not above celebrating small victories.

As for the contents of the article, I think the most revealing thing to me was in Rodney Atkins’ comments regarding how “These are My People” was written. By trying to emphasize the fact that both songwriters were born in cities in an attempt to make the song seem more “universal,” I think Atkins is revealing the problem with country radio today. While many of these “down-home songs” appear at the surface to be personal to the singers, a song like “These are My People” has no emotional connection to anything. Instead, it’s merely a calculated, impersonal attempt to reach as many people as possible. While I’m fine with a decent, catchy pop-country song now and then, I wish more country artists and songwriters would at least try to write and record music that goes deeper than talking about ” a bad mamajama down in Alabama” or “being a country man/boy/woman/thing/etc.” Like one of the previous commentators said, not all “small town” songs are bad. It’s the job of the artist to put some thought and emotion into the song to make it personal and to ensure quality work. Unfortunately, there just isn’t a lot of that on country radio right now, and it’s a shame.

(Sorry about the long-windedness, guys…I guess I got a little carried away there.)

Gosh, I have something in common with the self-proclaimed “borderline marxist” Steve Earle! I too feel a moral imperative to preach my political message, except I do it to counterbalance leftist twits like ole Steve-o in oder to keep a level playing field. I’ve been working on writing a parody of a Jamey Johnson song to be titled “Mowing Down Obama”. (Okay, I’ll try to control myself…)

Weird mistake. Thanks for catching it.

Yay Peter Cooper!
I think the Rucker thing is tragic too. I want to hear those real country songs, because I’m not impressed with what I’ve heard from him so far, but I feel he’s got the potential. Ticks me off.

That Washington Post article was great. I was telling a friend at lunch today that the problem isn’t the theme or “form,” it’s those practicing said theme. As rural communities fade away, it’s just going to become more of a prominent topic—often defensive or dim-witted in concept and content, unfortunately.

The thing about the article is the distinction between a good hometown-pride song was never made. While “Small Town U.S.A.” is lame and cliched, “Famous In A Small Town” has a clever and interesting lyric. The article never really took a position on those kinds of songs, it just talked about how many of them are, which is just fact. I would have liked to see the writer take more of a position than that, which is why I agree with the Peter Cooper comment posted above. Very few of these songs end up being good and fresh- most are boring and pandering.