What is country music?

bandteacher1 · 03-05-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vboon26

Didn't all music originate here?

You're kidding, right?

Daktari · 03-05-2010, 10:07 AM

I'm thinking country music is a coming together of the Celtic Irish/Scottish folk music which in America evolved into mountain music,(and later Bluegrass), merging in the 20th century with the African influenced music, blues, spiritual, gospel. I guess this happened out of the main big cities, hence the label 'Country'.

The boundaries or labels between different types of music are becoming more and more blurred. This is a good thing because it's all false anyway. Labels help organise things in a record store or places like Amazon but it's music at the end of the day. Either you like it or not.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of mainstream country but I do think The Zac Brown Band are excellent and I like Keith Urban and also Brad Paisley's guitar playing. It does not matter to me what label is attached to it if I happen to like it.

Gordon.

p.s The truth is, if we go back far enough, most music has it's routes in Africa probably along with life itself.

Necromancer · 03-05-2010, 10:38 AM

I will suggest, only by my own personal opinion, and without searching the internet for articles about the history of country music. I agree with other views that influeneces from other countries & cultures do obtain a place with the developement of the country music genre, (and so does about everything else, to be technical) but.., I see country music simply as an american heritage, as with blugrass, etc.

Confederate Country · 03-17-2010, 05:04 PM

every song tells a story. A great way for expressing feeling.

Skate62 · 03-19-2010, 11:40 PM

Seems music catagory preferences depend on whatever style of all music "you" enjoy to sing, play or dance to the most. The best of the best music crosses all barriers, and it seems to transend time too... Philosophical thread... I like it!

bubu · 03-20-2010, 11:13 AM

It is by the definition of music that there are no boundaries. Who are we to label things and impose our opinion on other people?

Degree7 · 03-20-2010, 05:37 PM

My persoanl favorite subgenre of country would be Bluegrass.

TheReverend · 03-20-2010, 06:55 PM

I dont like country music but I also dont think its folk or blues music either. Its not quite either of those, like the very basics of the music is different enough to have its own name.

Neapolitan · 03-20-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbc

What are the defining characteristics of country?

Just like anything else Country music draws from all sorts of influences then becomes codified. One of the defining aspects of American Country Music is that it's influenced by the traditional (folk) music of the Scotch-Irish people from the Appalachian Mountains.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiki

The border origin of the Scotch-Irish is supported by study of the traditional music and folklore of the Appalachian Mountains, settled primarily by the Scotch-Irish in the 18th century. Musicologist Cecil Sharp collected hundreds of folk songs in the region, and observed that the musical tradition of the people "seems to point to the North of England, or to the Lowlands, rather than the Highlands, of Scotland, as the country from which they originally migrated. For the Appalachian tunes...have far more affinity with the normal English folk-tune than with that of the Gaelic-speaking Highlander."

Other influences are Cowboy songs, Gospel, Jazz (Western Swing had strong influences from Jazz and Rockabilly from the early era of Rock and Roll is also another.) If you follow Country through its history you can see how it follow what was popular at the time too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

An excuse to reclaim Folk music as an American only phenomenom.

I don't know about that, for one modern country is closer to Rock then "Folk" in the original meaning of the word.

Obi · 03-25-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandteacher1

You're kidding, right?

No, he was being deadly serious.

03-05-2010, 10:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
Daktari Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Originally from Lancashire, England, lived near Largs, Scotland and now live in Rocky Face, Georgia Posts: 154	I'm thinking country music is a coming together of the Celtic Irish/Scottish folk music which in America evolved into mountain music,(and later Bluegrass), merging in the 20th century with the African influenced music, blues, spiritual, gospel. I guess this happened out of the main big cities, hence the label 'Country'. The boundaries or labels between different types of music are becoming more and more blurred. This is a good thing because it's all false anyway. Labels help organise things in a record store or places like Amazon but it's music at the end of the day. Either you like it or not. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of mainstream country but I do think The Zac Brown Band are excellent and I like Keith Urban and also Brad Paisley's guitar playing. It does not matter to me what label is attached to it if I happen to like it. Gordon. p.s The truth is, if we go back far enough, most music has it's routes in Africa probably along with life itself. Last edited by Daktari; 03-05-2010 at 10:13 AM.

03-20-2010, 05:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
Degree7 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 25	My persoanl favorite subgenre of country would be Bluegrass. __________________ Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.

03-20-2010, 06:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
TheReverend Strong and Quite Strong Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: When you get out on the interstate, take a left after the gas station Posts: 64	I dont like country music but I also dont think its folk or blues music either. Its not quite either of those, like the very basics of the music is different enough to have its own name. __________________ One day dude, one day I'm just gonna get off the bus, an I'm gonna run into the woods an I'm never gonna come back. And when I come back, I'm gonna be the night master

03-05-2010, 10:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	I will suggest, only by my own personal opinion, and without searching the internet for articles about the history of country music. I agree with other views that influeneces from other countries & cultures do obtain a place with the developement of the country music genre, (and so does about everything else, to be technical) but.., I see country music simply as an american heritage, as with blugrass, etc.

03-17-2010, 05:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
Confederate Country Groupie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Selby North Yorkshire Posts: 3	every song tells a story. A great way for expressing feeling.

03-19-2010, 11:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
Skate62 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 4	Seems music catagory preferences depend on whatever style of all music "you" enjoy to sing, play or dance to the most. The best of the best music crosses all barriers, and it seems to transend time too... Philosophical thread... I like it!

03-20-2010, 11:13 AM	#16 (permalink)
bubu Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 112	It is by the definition of music that there are no boundaries. Who are we to label things and impose our opinion on other people?