How 2000's Country Has Shaped Country Today

 What kind of music do you think of when I say “country music”? Perhaps it is the 60's and 70’s country or 80’s and 90’s? Well for myself I personally think about the 2000's to present day when i hear “country”. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that growing up, I only listened to 80’s pop and rock, not country music. Yet, as I have grown older I have found myself resonating with country music in a deeper way than any other kind of music. Not In a cry to breakup songs over a boy type resonating, but an emotional tie whether that be sad, happy, angry, or even joyful. So why don't we look into what has shaped “late country” into what it is today. 

I'd like to my blog on thinking about how late country has formed throughout 2000’s to present day by What kind of music do you think of when I say "country music"? Perhaps it is the 60's and 70's country or 80's and 90's? Well, for myself, I personally think about the 2000s to the present day when I hear "country." I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that is growing up; I only listened to 80's pop and rock, not country music. Yet, as I have grown older, I have found myself resonating with country music in a more profound way than any other kind of music. Not In a "cry to breakup songs over a boy" type resonating, but an emotional tie whether that be sad, happy, angry, or even joyful. Why don't we look into what has shaped "late country" into what it is today? 

I'd like to my blog on thinking about how late country has formed throughout the 2000s to the present day by talking about some of the biggest artists during the friendly crossover period, "Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers who appeal to different types of audience, for example (especially in the United States) by appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical styles or genres." (Crossover). 

1. Our first prominent artist goes to Tim McGraw,

     Tim McGraw came into the 2000's headfirst as he released his album 'A Place In The Sun' and his song 'My Next Thirty Years' written by Phil Vassar, took the world by storm, and rightfully so. 

His lyrics 

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era, and the turning of a page

Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord, have mercy on my next 30 years"

Encapture society's emotion of the "unknown" going into the 2000s. Which, for many, were quite scary. Many thought that the 2000s would bring the end of the world. However, here we are, surviving through a pandemic. But, it is "The ending of an era, and the turning of a page, time to focus in on where I go from here." Yet, here we have Tim McGraw explaining that we are not alone, which is what I think has created this "deep" connection with county music for the first time.

 

2. The next artist is Carrie Underwood, 

    We all know and love her, the American Idol winning superstar. However, Carrie Underwood has shown us more than we might realize. We have seen a WIDE variety of genres from this talented artist. Some might say, "oh, I miss the country, Carrie!" or "She should really do all pop music." Yet, She doesn't quite seem to care about what anyone else thinks. For example, she came to fame under her carnival ride album, All-American Girl. During an interview, Carrie speaks about how she felt as though we needed an upbeat tempo, "We thought we needed to write something uptempo, since we already had a ballad / mid-tempo song finished. Ashley said, "We've got this one thing that could be uptempo called 'All-American Girl.'" She laughed and said, "It's not about me, is it?" We said, "No, it's about this husband and wife, and the husband always wanted a boy, but he ended up with a girl." She said, "Great, sounds like my dad!"" (Lovelace). If you listen to the song below, I think you will agree that is just what she did! Number three goes to a song that all of you might know, (if not listen to the song below)

3. Number three goes to a song that all of you might know, (if not listen to the song below) Rascal Flatts's 2000 hit, Bless the Broken Road. 

    Similar to Tim McGraw, the band Rascal Flatts wrote this song specifically to touch those who feel as though life just is not going to get any better, that this "broken road" has led us straight to Him, or even not on a spiritual level. It is all going to be okay. "We got to talking about the circuitous route you take in life and how sometimes you think things are horrible and are never going to get better, but they lead you to something that ultimately is a lot better, whether it's a relationship, spiritual path, business or whatever." (Hanna). Yet the lyrics are what I believe has helped shape country music into that "I felt that" type of music if you will. For this explanation, I am going to write the lyric meannings in a separate colored text.

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through (pushing through life when it feels impossible)

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

That every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you (every decision we make is not an accident, religious or not. However, no matter how blind sided we are throughout life, we will always find our way back home.)

Yes, He did

I think about the years I spent just passin' through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there, you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

Yeah

And now I'm just a-rollin' home

Into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, mm, mm

For a few closing remarks, I believe that it is vital for us to think about what genre of music we really resonate with. For myself, it is country music, but the country might not be for everyone. Perhaps it's hip hop or even the blues! No matter what that music genre is, hold it close and dear because music is forever changing.

Works Cited

Crossover Music. 10 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossover_music. 

Hanna, Jeff. Story behind the Song: Rascal Flatts, 'Bless the BROKEN ROAD'. 12 Feb. 2020, theboot.com/story-behind-the-song-bless-the-broken-road-rascal-flatts/. 

Lovelace, Kelley. Carrie Underwood, 'All-American Girl': Story behind the Song. 14 Jan. 2015, theboot.com/story-behind-the-song-all-american-girl-carrie-underwood/.