Country Music

TheHonky-Tonk SoundThe Western SoundThe Rockabilly SoundThe Nashville SoundGarth Brooks
The Lyrics

Long before music was used for widespread entertainment purposes, there was country music. In the 1920's country folk music was considered 'Hillbilly' and its originators were the people of the Appalachian Mountains. Although that was how it started, in the eighty years of country music, the sound of country music has changed dramatically.

The HoNkY ToNk Sound

 

In its earlier years, country music was called Honky-Tonk music. Earnest Tubb and Hank Williams were two known artists that originated in this era. With the repeal of prohibition in 1933, people could now enjoy their honky-tonk music in their favorite pubs and roadhouses. The first person to put the actual words 'honky-tonk' into a song was Al Dexter in "Walking the Floor Over You"

The Western Sound
 Between 1930 and 1940 another form of country music emerged called the Western Sound of country. This sound romanticized the life of the cowboy. It made him seem lonely and heroic. The most famous musicians of this time were Gene Autry and the husband and wife duo Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
The RockabillySound
 Changing again with the changing times, country music altered in the 1950's with a sound that became known as Rockabilly- a mixture of southern hills music and the blues. This sound was faster paced and held more of a consistent rhythm. It was the artists in this genre that helped give staying power to the era of country music. These were artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Carl Perkins and, of course, Elvis Pressley.
The Nashville Sound
 In the 1960's country music finally found its home in Tennessee. In 1935, when national broadcasting of country music had begun, the Grand Ole Opry played a large part in creating what was, and still is today, called The Nashville Sound. But it wasn't until the young artists that were driven to Nashville in search of stardom created this sound of country. Some of these artists were Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly. Artists from many different genres have also crossed over into country during this time; artists like Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Conway Twitty are just a few.

This era of country was the beginning for what we know today as country music, Contemporary Country. Mega-stars such as Brooks and Dunn, Reba McIntire, Vince Gill, and Garth Brooks have helped shape the our current idea of country music.
 
 

Garth Brooks: a Mega-Star

Garth Brooks was born into a talented family. His mother Colleen Carroll was a country singer in the 1950's. He started playing the Banjo at 16, and decided he wanted to be a singer when he was in college. Graduating with a degree in advertising, Garth started playing in a place called Willie's Saloon in Oklahoma after he graduated.
 
 

A Quick Timeline:

1985- he made his 1st trip to Nashville and was rejected

1986- he marries Sandy Mahl

1987- goes back to Nashville and networks meeting James Garver

1988- Signs with Major Bob Music and gets a chance to perform for Capitol records who

he signs with later that year

1989- released first self-titled album

1990- His album goes gold; releases "No Fences" and tours international
 
 

1991- He sweeps the Academy Awards and is recording songs like "Voices that Care"- for the troops in the

Persian Gulf and "Lets Open up our Hearts"- for the schoolchildren.

- Releases "Ropin' the Wind" and starts playing sold out shows 1992- He hosts Saturday Night Live, and in the same year, wins a Grammy.
 
 

1993- Released "the Chase" and "In Pieces"

1996- Released "Fresh Horses"

1997- Released a Double Live album and an album that was based his character

in the film The Lamb Chris Gaines, and is named entertainer of the year

2001- His retirement album "Scarecrow" was released





One of the most hardworking people in showbiz, Garth has been one lucky man. About the only bad that has happened to him was his marriage that ended in 2000. He is considered an American music icon. He has sold over 100 million albums making him the biggest selling solo artists of all time.

One of the reasons that Garth was so popular is he helped reinvent the genre. Ask Men.com said that if country were cool, then Garth would rate pretty high in the coolness factor. Even people who don't like country can appreciate Garth and his talent because he sings about everyday life and moving from the past to the present. With his wild stage shows, his beautiful ballads, and witty humor, he has made country music appeal to everyone. In the 80's and 90's, when the world was overrun with New Kids on the Block and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation, Garth made country music "cool," even if it was only for a short time.
 
 

The Lyrics of Country Music

(All the lyrics are from Garth Brooks' albums)

Just as the musicians singing the music are important, so are the words in the music. As the types of country music have changed, so have the lyrical subjects of the music itself. With the original topics of the music consisting of history and folk tales, the topics have changed along with the music.

In the Honky-Tonk Sound of country, the lyrics focused on people having a good time. With the repeal of prohibition, people had something to sing about: their music, their alcohol and their friends.

In the Western Sound of country, the lyrics focused on the life of the man. They dealt with issues such as: women, loneliness, and loves lost.

"That Summer"

I went to work for her that summer, a teenage kid so far from home. She was a lonely widow woman, hell bent to make it on her own. We were a thousand miles from nowhere, wheat fields as far as I could see; both needing something from each other, not knowing yet what that might be. 'Till she came to me one evening, hot cup of coffee and a smile, in a dress that I was certain, she had not worn in quite a while. There was a difference in her laughter; there was softness in her eyes. And on the air, there was a hunger, even a boy could recognize. She had a need to feel the thunder, to chase the lightning, from the sky, to watch a storm with all its wonder, written in her lover's eyes. She had to ride the heat of passion like a comet burning bright. Rushing headlong in the wind now where only dreams have been burning both ends of the night. That summer wind was all around me, nothing between us but the night. When I told her that I'd never, she softly whispered that is all right. And then I watched her hands of leather turn to velvet in a touch. There has never been another summer that I have ever learned so much… I often think about that summer; the sweat, the moonlight and the lace, and I have rarely held another, when I haven't seen her face. Every time I pass a wheat field and watch it dancing with the wind. Although I know it isn’t real I just can't help but fell her hungry arms again…

 In the Rockabilly sound of country, the lyrics focused on the drifting, lonely cowboy. The lyrics made the cowboy seem like a hero but yet a loner at the same time. This was around the time of the launch of television, therefore the cowboy image of the 'Lone Ranger' and other popular western's, helped solidify the image of the cowboy and the Rockabilly Sound. "Rodeo"

… Well if it ain't no woman flesh and blood it's that damned old Rodeo. Well it's bulls and blood it's dust and mud, it's the roar of a Sunday crowd. It's the wide in the knuckle, the gold in the buckle he will win the next go round. Its boots and chaps, its cowboy hats, it's spurs and latigo. It's the ropes and the reigns and the joy and the pain and they call this thing a rodeo. She does her best to hold him, when her love comes to call, but his need for it controls him and her back is against the wall. And it's "so long girl I'll see you" when it's time for him to go you know that woman wants her cowboy, like he wants his rodeo…

 In the Nashville Sound, the lyrics drift from the cowboy subjects to more real life situations. The songs started to become more about life's lessons, and less about the cowboy. Along with the cowboy image, the country style of music (string instruments, harmonica and the guitar) has remained a consistent representation of country music. The lyrics today also focus on coping in times of tragedy, religious subjects and honoring leaders of the past that we have not seen previously in country music. "The Dance"

Looking back on the memory of the dance we shared beneath the stars above, and for a moment all the world was right. How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye. And I am glad I didn't know the way it all would end, the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I'd a had to miss the Dance…
 
 

 References:

www.askmen.com, www.rougstock.com, www.cduniverse.com/asp/university/cy/cy_origin.asp, www.geocities.com/ddriver41

Pictures and Garth Brooks info:

www.planetgarth.com, and www.garthbrooks.com

The lyrical info:

www.pine-net.com/felton75/links.htm, www.lyrics.astraweb.com