Country Music Deserts George Bush
Country music has thrived for years as the soundtrack to redneck America, supplying the Republican heartlands with a diet of knee-jerk jingoism that has included flag-waving anthems supporting the war on terror.
But as the US death toll rises in Iraq and public patience with the conflict - and with George W. Bush - diminishes, many anti-war songs are emerging from Nashville, Tennessee, home of the genre.
No one has moved further than Toby Keith and Darryl Worley, two of the biggest names in country music.
In 2002, Keith had a huge hit with Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, which includes the lyric: “You’ll be sorry that you messed with the US of A, ’cause we’ll put a boot in your ass - it’s the American Way.”
Worley’s Have You Forgotten in 2003 justified the Iraq invasion as a response to the September 11 attacks. The military liked it so much he was presented with a flag that had flown over the Pentagon.
Now Keith says he is a lifelong Democrat and has claimed he never supported the war, while Worley has had a hit with I Just Came Back from a War, about a soldier returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tim McGraw - the biggest contemporary country star - has a hit single with If You’re Reading This, about a dead soldier’s last letter home, and the Dixie Chicks, boycotted in 2003 after lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London: “We’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas,” won five Grammy Awards this year.
The changing tone reflects a growing skepticism in heartlands that have disproportionately contributed the young soldiers who have been fighting and dying.Brian Hiatt, associate editor of Rolling Stone magazine, said: “Popular music is reflecting the culture, as it always does.”
Keith’s switch, however, has angered conservative country fans and anti-war activists alike. Jon Iwanski, a blogger in Chicago, said Keith had “damaged his credibility”, while opponents of the war accused the singer of opportunism.
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2007
If you say so Toby, then welcome to the rest of the COUNTRY.
Now lets do some things that really protect our country like acting responsibly and humanely, and kick some lyin’ Neocon ass…
Toby who? Time to sign up Mr. Toby and fight for your country at home.
The youth are our best hope.
Better yet, Loudmouth Keith–sign up and go to the desert! Oh, yeah. You aren’t THAT patriotic.
The Crazy Republicans have torn this country, our Constitution, our reputation, all to shreds. They have been enemy combatants against the American people; they have messed with our minds; and we are all suffering. Like the post-Apartheid era in South Africa, we must be about forgiving and rebuilding. And like Paul McCartney sang, “Let it Be! Let it Be!, Let it Be, oh Let it Be! . . .”
I think people need to stop throwing the word “redneck” around. It reeks of classism and bigotry and is essentially a slur against poor rural whites, Southerners in particular, a group who are getting as raw a deal as anyone and who face a lot of the same problems that inner city blacks do.
I may not be a big fan of contemporary country, the kind of stuff I am subjected to on FM radio. I mean, talk about sappy and ordinary. But I’m glad to see this trend occurring, and I do respect the Dixie Chicks and old, hard, and real country artists like Johnn Cash, Waylog Jennings, my uncle who plays country music, and whatever alternacountry musicians are out there.
Meanwhile, I should write an article about metal.
\m/
iwarrior, if they are getting such a raw deal perhaps they should re-think their hateful positions on issues? I have a hard time feeling sorry for those “poor rural whites” when they consistently fall for hateful propoganda and gleefully talk of killing all the “sand niggers”, “faggots”, and basically anyone that isn’t white and republican. I live in the South and I’ve never seen such hatefulness. They basically HATE everything and everyone that doesn’t look and talk EXACTLY like they do. They still proudly display their “W STILL THE PRESIDENT” stickers on their pick-up trucks with the gun racks in the back. Would calling them the “IQ challenged, inbreds” be nicer?
The great jazz drummer, Buddy Rich, was wheeled into an operating room for heart surgery towards the end of his life. Before receiving anaesthesia he was asked: “Mr. Rich are you allergic to anything?”
He answered without missing a beat: “Just country music.”
Look: This article is an advertisement, testing this site for advertising exploitation.
It’s obvious from the headline. Country music and entertainment in general is irrelevant to politics and to the Iraq war problem.
This is slop. Readers will see through it. And if this site goes downhill and is taken over by commercial and corporate exploiters, another one will crop up to replace it.
Not to worry.
Toby is a liar and a whore. He would sell his mother if he thought it would get some money. Proof is in the song he wrote, his own words which he claimed as such BEFORE the war was going badly. Fair weather patriot or just another media whore?
Fleas jump off wet dogs.
Country musics new hit.
Too little, too late, I’d say!
The attitude of many country stars and fans have turned me right off the genre. I did enjoy traditional country a few years ago.
No more!
Not ready to make nice?
Definitely “not ready to make nice” with someone who seems to be unable to remember his attitude just a short time ago. Never have been much of a country fan, except for Willie, but these flag wavers now trying to say they never supported W and the invasion…what a crock.
I don’t listen to country music and have no clue who these people are…..but we all discover the truth in our own time. And yes, some people are more astute than others and will see the truth sooner. But get some faith; their newly-found awareness and message to their apparently large audience can help turn things around for the future of this country.
Stop living in the past. The present is now and the future is ahead of us. We can’t alter what happened in the past but we can certainly alter the direction of our future if we stay focused on the positive changes that can take place by appreciating and welcoming late arivals. Better late than never!
I agree with that Gail, thankyou.
My take on this is ‘every little helps’ -in that- every drop of energy applied to waking people up and helping them to embrace a PEACE-full way of life, is worth doing, and even applauding?
After all, haven’t we *all* been wrong about some things, sometimes, and later had to eat a large chunk of humble pie, and admit to our fallibility?
~I know I have!
As to calling people names, well, I suppose once again we all fall into that trap sometimes.
Overall it probably isn’t all that helpful if we wish to (eventually) create unity among the world’s populace, ~ we could maybe find less divisive means of cathartic expression?
~ just a thought.
Singed,
‘Blueneck’,
-or ‘Greenneck’
or some other color of necked being!
(c:
It is not a question of which folk comes to their senses, it’s that when they do that they be welcomed on board and not rejected for reasons such as resentment or skepticism.
As for our “einstein” I can’t say I’ve seem such a misguided post in a long long time. The *problem* with political power is exactly that it *does* operated independently of the common man who is encouraged to be interested in idle entertainment and/or drowned in total propoganda (i.e. “news”).
Merle Haggard got tired of being Mr. Super War Monger, too.
I think Toby’s sudden change of heart would carry much more weight if it included a public apology to the Dixie Chicks, who were way ahead of the country curve on this one.
Yes, Gail, UN-common dreams, and MaskedMan are right of course.
We ought not to be too critical of these people, and should be glad of their sudden ability to see the light - at least as far as the war in Iraq is concerned.
I doubt they will change their minds about other aspects of politics though, and become Democrats.
So — The Dixie Chicks were right? Told ya.
Redneck should continue to be used big time, and I say that as a “good old boy” from the US South. Redneck doesn’t mean Southerner in this country. It means racist, reactionary, and fascist and all the rest of the lower rat do do low lifes North or South, and they have them in Michigan too where they persecuted Reverend Edward Pinkney on trumped charges of vote fraud, because he stood up to the rich white man’s affirmative action progrram. An all white jury convicted him on the testimony of a street drug using prostitute only, and it was clear the jury was racist as hell. Now they are damn Northern rednecks.
i’m a progressive “redneck”. i grew up rural with traditional christian values in that i believe people should be charitable and honest, giving and peaceful. what gets called christian, conservative or even country in this culture is twisted. real country music like steve earle has never supported this illegal and immoral war and occupation.
Ugh, I’m like the Typo King as of late! I’m looking back at some of my posts and wincing!
Sorry about that people.
“iwarrior, if they are getting such a raw deal perhaps they should re-think their hateful positions on issues?”
Yes, but do they all have hateful positions on things? Sexism, homophobia, and racism don’t exist in the black community? Conservatives cast the same sort of nasty aspersions towards inner-city blacks. Why should liberals do the same to these rural whites? Shouldn’t we be getting these people on our side. The Right certainly isn’t doing them any favors let alone poor and working people in general. Why should perpetuate the counterproductive notion that the left is anti-white and anti-Southerner?
What will happen to them if Progress is fully realized? It’s not helpful if they think they’re all going to get a bullet in the skull courtesy of a black person or white liberal.
“I have a hard time feeling sorry for those “poor rural whites” when they consistently fall for hateful propoganda and gleefully talk of killing all the “sand niggers”, “faggots”, and basically anyone that isn’t white and republican.”
But do all of them feel that way? And even so, does that make them deserving of disenfranchisement? Doesn’t that disenfranchisement help make them that way?
I mean, I am angry at anyone who spouts hatred and intolerance, be it a KKK member, black militant, zionist, or radical Muslim, but I can also say from experience that no one group has a monopoly on that.
It all just serves to divide and conquer.
“I live in the South and I’ve never seen such hatefulness. They basically HATE everything and everyone that doesn’t look and talk EXACTLY like they do. They still proudly display their “W STILL THE PRESIDENT” stickers on their pick-up trucks with the gun racks in the back. Would calling them the “IQ challenged, inbreds” be nicer?”
You can’t combat intolerance with more intolerance. Calling them “dumb”, “inbred”, etc. just pushes them further to the Right, who at best just use them to get votes.
Tossing verbal firebombs at them just makes it all the easier for the Limbaughs and Dukes of the world to pander to them by making them think that Progress is going to be really bad for them, when in reality, they have everything to gain and nothing to lose by standing with us.
AD-Redneck is a slur and nothing more. Keep calling people rednecks, and they’ll just get angrier.
Look, I don’t know what your experiences have been. Again, I have said before that I can understand why people hate. But you can’t let it overcome you and possess you.
I’m not saying we should tolerate bigotry. But I’d rather diffuse it than throw more of it around.
Did the Dixie Chicks’ FUTK t-shirts cause Toby to have an epiphany? If the US military was “winning” in Iraq you can bet Toby would still be wavin’ the good ol’ flag and calling all us anti-war folks traitors. When Toby goes on national TV and apologizes to Natalie Maines, admits that he was wrong AND can intelligently discuss Gandhi’s vision of peace, then I’ll be convinced he’s not just bending with the wind for a buck. His music sucks regardless.
I’ve taken a number of roadtrips across the US and I’ve got no doubt that there are significant cultural shifts in rural America.
* Some rural people have gone off to college and took back broader perspectives.
* Some of them lost a relative in this war.
* The internet.
* The cost of real estate is putting quite a bit of pressure of people everywhere.
* County music has always been related to folk music, if not a subset. Folk music, while conservative in some ways, is typically populist in nature…
* Rural people champion the Second Amendment, but they also often champion privacy and liberty. Bush doesn’t have credibility there.
* The audience of country music is shifting from Boomer to X-Gen.
* etc..
I wouldn’t denigrate this as a cheapshot at broadening their appeal. On the contrary — it speaks volumes if country GAINS in popularity as it shifts from Goliath back to the little guy — where country music has traditionally been anyway. This may be a returning to roots rather than anything particularly new to the scene.
I’m a “good old boy” from the US South, and I damn well don’t any damn body else telling me I can’t a redneck whether the bastard is a Northerner or Southerner, and that’s just that!
Progressive redneck– now that’s a real good contradiction in terms whether North or South. How about you don’t damn well know what the hell you’re atalking about?
The word “don’t” should come between the words “you” and “damn.”
I don’t see how anyone can call “poor rural whites (or blacks or yellows) rednecks. Rednecks is a derogatory term that could logically be applied to all those suit and tie guys that were banging on the windows to stop the Florida recount. Rednecks are located all over the United States! Some have money, some are not rural. The problem is when one starts to catagorize people depending on their color, religion, geographical location or the way they are dressed, that person has the characteristics of a Redneck. Just plain ignorant.
UN-common-dreams;
“..eat a large chunk of humble pie..”
Coral Gables;
“..carry much more weight if it included a public apology to the Dixie Chicks..”
Southern Dragon;
“When Toby goes on national TV and apologizes..”
Exactly, I couldn’t agree more. That the war is and always has been wrong and based upon lies, that it was a priority for Bush as soon as he took office, that Bush is basically a hate-monger and bad for the entire world - these things have been; stated publicly for years by intelligent people, obvious to anyone who bothered to gather even slightly deeper, more informed information, and have always been just plain common sense.
People who have supported Bush and the war at ANY point in time have the responsibility to APOLOGIZE for their misguided ways and eat some “humble pie” before they can be trusted or taken truly seriously. Wishy washy flip floppers who just say what has become popular are
potentially dangerous, and, unfortunately, that group now includes MOST everyone who is NOW against the war.
At the same time, it is better to speak the truth, whether you have a brain or not, so welcome aboard. Now, how to get everyone to start thinking for a change…hmmm
I remember when we readied to invade Iraq and I tuned into my corporately owned “Oldies” station. I thought for sure we’d have a fest of protest music. Not even, “Where have all the flowers gone?” got played and then I learned that, “In support of our troops, they weren’t going to play protest.”
Mainstream music, corporate radio stations are all big business and have too much to lose by not supporting the war. The Dixie Chicks definitely didn’t get the memo and Natalie Haynes spoke out. They paid–at least temporarily–but now big business is stuck with a profitable group that didn’t get all the way squelched for going against the mainstream line. But since they’re profitable, let it ride for now.
The most protest music I hear is the stuff that is interwoven in Amy Goodman’s broadcast and much of it seems alternative.
And as for the poor who are persuaded to vote against their self-interest….I personally think Thomas Frank did a pretty good job of showing how that is done by the right in “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” It’s not perfect but I think he has the gist.
two things:
firstly, i am not all that impressed with the vitriolic reactions of some of the readers expressed on these boards.
its over the top and would be so in a trailer park bingo hall.
i find the sheehan boards are quite similar to this in that they are attacking people like moveon.org - and supposedly we are on the same side.
this behavior makes you look like a bunch of really ugly trained seals and is very unhelpful for those of us trying to build a coalition of the willing when it comes to the fight of reclaiming the country from the corporations/neocons/fascists.
very little insight is offered into anything other than the bitter, pointless state of your mind with these emotive blabs.
they are self-disciptions and should be embarrassing.
it is small mindedness at its worst and we can ill afford it at this crucial time.
save your hatred, if you cannot contain it, for the other side.
don’t make it hard for people to support our side.
don’t make it hard for people to change their minds.
as mentioned in the article, these are the people who have in large numbers sent their sons and daughters to the iraqi hellhole.
they cannot be faulted if they did this because they were hoodwinked by the propaganda - they thought they were acting for the country, freedom and democracy. they know better now. they have paid dearly and do not need to be kicked again now that they have realized what is truly happening.
secondly, we see the bush infrastructure slowly dissolving - and this trend in country music is very important as part of that continuum. those anti country music jokes are just so damn clever. how do you come up with that stuff? must kill at the bingo hall.
“thank you folks, we’re here all week…try the linguini.”
seinfeld beware.
but as bush’s entourage is swept away don’t forget that his main strength lies with the corporations, whom he serves so well.
so while its fun to see thee rats desert the sinking ship like this there is no comfort here at all. the problems we face are much more serious than that.
lastly, in the future when someone else finally “gets it” and comes over to our side - if you cannot welcome them, then at least shut up.
we need all the bodies we can get.
DIED FOR OIL. Operation Iraqi Liberation.
It was 16:37 on an Arab afternoon
that my spirit split for heaven as my body bit the dune
and a shallow crimson puddle quickly sank in sandy soil
as some blood from Alabama dried for oil.
Are the babes in Bagdad sleeping without bombers in their ears?
Are the widows done with weeping? Are the deserts dry from tears?
And the victors at their throttles, are they grateful for the spoil
and the gallons spilled in battles over oil?
Mail me home to Uncle Sam, a bag of bones across the sea,
to where woods of Alabama meet the hills of Tennessee,
cut a pine and plane a coffin, dig six feet of native soil,
for a neighbor who went off and died for oil.
Up above my bones and marrow, if the county law allows,
place a life-size granite barrel where the daisies meet the cows :
“Here, quite far from cars and money,
rests this rusting mortal coil
that on Arab sands at twenty
died for oil.”
The Alabama Lady Left Behind:
I’m not old or wisely traveled, but these Alabama skies
never showed me stars or spring times any cleaner than his eyes.
And, I doubt it, but museums may preserve a page or part
of some history half as honest as his heart.
A mile of mountain up from town, beneath a pine, a stone
with no other stones around, all weathers, all alone.
holds up two names to heaven that held a world for me,
and two dates that my misfortune lived to see.
I guess we should say better late than never to people who are finally seeing the light about the futility of war, be it in Iraq or elsewhere.
Personally, I like country music (among most other types) - they generally talk about issues affecting all of us (they’re not all about trucks, beer, women, horses, etc.), day-to-day issues. And you can actually understand the words of the songs!
Admittedly, country music fans tend to be more conservative and it really, really, REALLY got on my nerves when country music radio stations played up the patriotic jingoistic bit after 9/11. I used the buttons on the radio for what they’re meant for - I either turned the radio off or changed the station.
I agree with previous posts - it’s going to take a whole lot of us, including those who’ve seen the light later than some, to get this administration turned around. We need all of us working together!!
I also agree with a previous post re: Toby Keith and his statement that “I didn’t support the war in Iraq and still don’t…” (from his website at www.tobykeith.musiccitynetworks.com). The whole firestorm that erupted around Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks was fueled by his comments. For crying out loud, she/they even received death threats! I too think he owes them, especially Natalie, a public apology.
I recommended this long ago on a post and got a few responses. Why not also push the hip-hop musicians to include anti-war lyrics in their music and spread the word to their listeners (once they purge some of the vulgarities in the lyrics)? I know some of the Rock and Heavy Metal bands do it. If we can get the Country musicians to do it, that would be great. But I wonder if it would be discouraged because NASCAR races would see a drop in attendance? Anyway, the Country Music Industry Directors ought to publicly apologize to the Dixie Chicks, give them free advertising for a national tour (and include those cities that originally refused to allow the Dixie Chicks to perform), and publicly denounce the war. Come to think of it, maybe they could form an alliance with MoveOn.Org. Maybe together, they could shake a few “kiss ass chickenshits” out of the tree??
Seems like some of you wouldn’t let your own mother change her mind without calling her names. Sheesh I too have hated this war from before it started. For goodness sake let people change their minds. It’s hard enough to admit you were wrong. For goodness sake this is good news.
It is amusing to see that the people who have been hurt the most by this administration are finally waking up to see they have been “had”.
“Redneck” America contributes the bulk of the soldiers, the labor, the very “heart” of “the Heartland”, and this administration has taken their sons and daughters, their homes and property, their savings, their jobs, and all but made it impossible for them to ever send their kids to college.
This administration has screwed “Heartland America” over in favor of war profiteers, the corporations and the banks.
Claudius-There is a lot of political, socially-conscious hip-hop out there. It just doesn’t get as much attention as the party/gangsta/bling stuff.
Milesofmusic- Good post. I’ve been trying to say that for a while now. Thanks.
It’s hard to decide — should one be smug that chickenshite Toby has jumped on the I-never-supported-the-war bandwagon, where the vast majority of thugs will be in the coming years, or to be appalled at the sheer gall of the pretense?
He should sign up with Hilary’s campaign, they’re cut from the same red-white-and-greenback cloth.
“Now Keith says he is a lifelong Democrat and has claimed he never supported the war…”
I’m no fan of his, I hate his music in fact, but he made these statements publicly years ago. Heard them myself, which was stunning to me, which made them so memorable.
“Seems like some of you wouldn’t let your own mother change her mind without calling her names. Sheesh I too have hated this war from before it started. For goodness sake let people change their minds. It’s hard enough to admit you were wrong. For goodness sake this is good news”
It isn’t enough to change one’s mind, one has to attempt to make amends; it’s particularly necessary for those who have willingly been a symbol for the evil they renounce. Vets who come home & risk obloquy for actively opposing the war in its entirety, someone like Adam Kokesh, the most eloquent of the Iraq vets at the ANSWER protest; someone like Lt. John Kerry in 1971 (buried long ago in an out of the way grave in favor of his robotic replacement).
Now that Toby Kieth is supposedly, conveniently against the war, howsabout he donate back all that money he made from songs supporting it?
Toby Kieth = War Profiteer.
Come on people, there are some issues not being dealt with here with all this ‘forgive & forget’ crap. Anyone with half a brain and doing a little due diligence would certainly have spotted Bush & his cronies as crooks well before the election coup of 2000. Do you suppose the fascist Nazis after WWII wouldn’t have tried their system again if we had all just said “That’s ok, nevermind, you are forgiven.”? If there is no penalty for doing wrong, and supporting a lying propaganda machine through use of any medium is certainly doing wrong (eg. the flag waving country music genre in general), then we are doomed to seeing Bush, Hitler, Stalin, Amin types pop up again and again.
I, also, am from the south, and grew up as a teen in the early sixties. In my life I have seen the ‘colored only’ signs, confederate flags flying on US government buildings & property, but also witnessed & was part of the war against the war represented by the anti-Viet Nam war faction that eventually, just as now, became the majority of the US population.
We were vilified for our stance then, just as the Dixie Chicks in this illegal war, but prevailed because our ‘values’ were based in real morals, logical ethics, researched information, and a firm committment to care about others. In contrast, ‘rednecks’ (a term I equate with ignorance rather than the demographics of place, race, or income) choose to live in the past, believe whatever someone in a position of authority says must be true, and have assimilated ‘values’ coming from primarily a bunch of hateful old men (read: politicians, corporatists, popes, & biblical references here). Ultimately, the peace sign of their choosing is always represented by the dollar sign of the times.
Many of them, George Bush included, do not make the effort to read or seek out new information because they are fearful of finding out their whole world is based on lies. Yes, that’s what I said, “Rednecks are afraid”. To assuage their tender egos they resort to overcompensation through use of tools such as hatefulness, violence, macho, and aggressive behavior. They are really scared little boys, however, and don’t feel safe unless they outnumber their opponents substantially. Confronted with a powerful opposition, their cowardly streak comes to the surface, and they turn tail & run…hence Toby Keith & similar ilk.
Writing that I am encouraged by a joke a friend told me awhile back:
Q: What are a redneck’s famous last words?
A: Watch this….
It’s a bit funny, but there is a deeper message here. Through the stupidity of their actions & positions those undeserving of evolving sooner or later glean themselves from the gene pool. For humanity’s sake let’s all hope it is sooner.
PMS:
There’s a second part to that joke, it asks:
Q: What are his friend (or brother or cousin)’s last words?
A: Well sheeeit, I can do thaaat!
Many people now do not back the war ONLY because it isn’t going well. Hardly based on principles, rather it is the attitude of bullies, who typically only start a fight or support a fight they think they can easily win. If Iraq WAS a cakewalk, the ones clamouring for the troops to come home now, would instead be beating the war drums for more “war”, more blood, with other countries on the neo-con “list”.
…Continuing along the more upbeat theme of, “It’s better that they’ve *at last* seen the light (and joined the Sensible people) than they never see it at all” ::: ~ well, I’ve been thinking for some time now that it would be great if we could gain more support from the Christian community.
If we could get endorsement for our anti-war stance from among the Christians, that would have a major impact upon Bushbaby’s continued presence on the stage.
And yes, -a lot of ‘Christain’ fundamentalists will likely *never* wake up and condemn the current idiotic wars, ~ but I believe many of the less fanatical ones would? (and actually *have*, -from what I’ve been hearing lately).
I think this achievable, and well-worth trying? Many Bushbaby supporters are having *big doubts* as to his competency and his war-making obsessions, so are now ripe to hear a new view of things…
And no one likes to be made to look a fool!
Those who *did* swallow the Repug’s lies over Iraq but who have now ’seen the light’ often get really REALLY angry, and then become some of the most passionate anti-war activists, — (take Cindy Sheehan for example).
So our job is to continue to make the ‘the voice of peace and sanity’ heard over, or in between, the war-drum cacophony emanating from rightwing media sources.
And in terms of philosophy, even though we are probably not very adept at quoting endless passages from the Bible, (!) I think most of us are able to present the basic notion that Christ *didn’t make wars*, but was (in fact) in favor of PEACE-full human relationships? -and even the more garbled Old Testament gives us, ‘Thou shalt not kill’.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
There’s another important point in all of this, which is that *people listen to their own* -as it were.
(eg): If a black-clad Goth ‘weirdo’ or green-haired punk approaches Joe or Jolene Public and tries to engage them in discussions about ending the wars, Mr and Mrs Average will not be so likely to listen, than if ‘one of their own’ were to speak the exact same words?
In this lays the *VALUE* in the message of prior war supporters like Toby Keith and Darryl Worley, who are now (quite literally) *changing their tune* !
If THEY are now saying “Oops, the war was a big mistake” then their fans are really gonna listen to that message?
~Just a thought, - from a tie-dyed in the wool ‘Psychedelic-neck’!
“the news is out-(Hank Williams)
“Country Is”(Tom T.Hall)
“I’m proud to be a Coal Miners Daughter”(Loretta Lynn)
‘Still” (Bill Anderson)
“I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive)Hank Williams
so”There Will Be Peace In The Valley For Me”(Red Foley)
What do I know about these newer country stars? Zilch! Their songs don’t do it for me.
Their appearence? they remind me of wind up toys.
I doubt many of them even knows or cares about what a cotton field is. Their idea of poverty is to had to settle for a used car at 16.
Their songs remind me of an old record player needle sticking in the same track and repeating itself for 5 minutes.
If they have any real opinions they are given to them by their agents.
At least with the old country stars you got real stories and feelings with their songs.
TOBY WHO IS RIGHT
Me paying 13 15 or 18 dollars for one of their cd’s will happen right after hell Freezes Over.
Country Music use to be Country Peoples Music ,but today it is hard to find any real land that could be classified as country in this USA. Been to a Barn Dance Lately? How about fishing anywhere where a no trespassing sign isn’t? And there is No Mountain Dew left Can’t hear the Whipperwills either anymore.
THE WAR WHEREVER IT IS STILL MAKES MONEY FOR THE POWERS THAT BE AT THE EXPENSE AND COST OF LIVES OF THE REST OF US. Hey. that last line is the only thing that is the same since Country Was.
Music is in the ear of the beholder.
I am definately NOT a CONTEMPORARY country Music fan. I also do not like Rap/Hip/Hop.. regardless of the message.
(There is maaaayybe a handful of tolerable rap/hip/hop songs I can listen to)
but strickly, musically speaking. Contemporary country and well.. music in general (with exceptions of course).. Is some of the most BANAL music.
However, the above artists Loretta Lynn, (and I like old Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline and JOhnny Cash.. and some others…..) I respect them.
I like the term JINGOISM. That for me sums it ALL up. Contemporary culture a lot of times employs Jingoistic methods to get folks all riled up and waving their flags. Even Democrats and some Liberals fall for it. Afraid that if they don’t wave that flag that they will be labled a traitor or worse.
I try very hard to employ my reasoning skills. I was born in this country and my family extends back to it’s founding.
I respect our Constitution and I think that the American landmass is very beautiful (where we haven’t destroyed the environment) and I think that some cities and towns are really cool places culturally…
That is how I break down my “Love” of this country.
I don’t like my Govt right now.. I don’t like the economic system and I don’t like what our economic system has led to culturally with Mass Marketed culture and ideology. I see through the fakeness. It makes me cringe.
If I see an American Bald Eagle on any webpage or truck or any other piece of art I CRINGE. (Would love to see one in the wild though…)
and I cringe when I see the American Flag.
Sure. we could take back those symbols… but for me.. right now they are tainted.
However, I don’t believe that waving an American Flag makes anyone more patriotic than someone else. In fact.. if you have to HIDE behind these symbols in order to reflect your beliefs.. and you can only speak in simple sentences.. I don’t trust you.
It scares me in fact. It IS what the Nazi’s did. They employed Propaganda VERY well. They understood the EMOTIONAL triggers of such symbols.
Our country is NOT the American Flag or the Bald Eagle. It SHOULD be something far more complex. If the majority of citizens can’t dissect what this country is about beyond those jingoistic symbols, then Houston.. we have a problem.
WE have failed to have an engaged citizenry…
Namaste
Caelidh
Well SOME country music NEVER supported that phoney “cowboy” OR the phoney war!
Just because a guy doesn’t work in an office, or wears boots instead of Birkenstocks, it doesn’t mean he’s an idiot.
I’m proud to be one of the few who called Bush exactly what he was even BEFORE 9/11.
You can download some FREE tunes on my website, and you’re welcome to spread them around if you like them, too. www.spartacusjones.com
Liberty & Justice,
sj
www,spartacusjones
Note: The reason I’m diving into the Redneck debate, is because I feel there are readers here who are not from the U.S. who wonder why Americans are silent on the atrocities being committed in our name in Iraq.
iwarrior is right. And he is wrong. Redneck denotes a man with literally a Red Neck. He is an outdoor worker, poorly educated, uses poor grammar, and gravitates towards music he can identify with. He identifies with the “might-is-right” crowd. For the most part, his kind are sheltered, religious, intolerant, dogmatic, simple-minded throwbacks, that only will accept you, if you have a confederate flag or country music playing from your house. They are children in mind. They are spiteful, back stabbing, self-centered opportunists. Many of them secretly belong to the KKK.
They are 100% republican and make up at least half the American population. This is what country music is all about and why I won’t tolerate it.
I feel they deserve every misfortune that comes their way, since they supported, illegal political church donations, and dishonest local election canvassing operations to keep control of the government despite their loss of majority due to years of unchecked immigration.
In short, they made this mess, and I think they should suffer along with the rest of us, with their 4X4’s up on blocks and the air conditioners turned off of their single-wide trailers while their “kin” hobble around on artificial legs because they were too dumb to oppose the war.
And what’s really aggravating, is that right now, we need these Azzholes to purge the crooks out of washington!
we are going to have to do something here…. I still can’t believe it…… we are going to actually have to extend an olive branch and try to get these hillbillies on board.
This is exactly why the repukes are running old jed clampet (Tennessee Fred Thomson) so these dumbphucks will say: Hey, Fred’s just like kinfolk! I think I’ze vote for em.”
But to pretend this “redneck” problem doesn’t exist and we shouldn’t talk about it is not advisable. Drunks can’t change their ways unless they first admit they have a problem. Same with tobacco-spitting rednecks. Although there are rednecks all over the U.S, the most intolerant ones seem to be in the South. It’s true all our biggest problems in the U.S. have come from the South.
At the continental convention the whole south walked out because Thomas Jefferson included slaves as free men on the first draft by blaming King George the III for the slave trade.
During the Civil War, same dispute recurred.
and now, during economic slavery of the middle class to huge corporations, these same southerners have started and supported this military buildup and catapulted us into a world-wide religious conflict.
Rednecks still adamantly believe that there’s nothing wrong with mixing religion into government! Until we restore a separation of church and state, and until the bible belt of the south quits trying to fund and coerce holy wars in the middle-east, we cannot expect to stop this madness.
Our situation in the Redneck south is as grave as that faced by England and Ireland, on the verge of civil war. Our rednecks are armed to the teeth and hate anybody who doesn’t look, act, and believe as they do. But we may need them to physically oppose enemies of the constitution in the future.
So I’ll start with the Olive Branch: I’m a left-wing liberal like Thomas Jefferson was, and I want all good Americans to join us in opposing the enemies of America; be they foreign or Domestic. Although dangerous, I will support the Southern tradition of being armed to the teeth in accordance with the second amendment.
What I didn’t tell you before, is that if it weren’t for the South, we would not have a Bill of Rights period. The first ten amendments were demanded by the southern states because they didn’t trust the Yankees.
Thank God for the South and the Bill of Rights. Long Live DixieLand!
better?
pacplyer
Some poster said:
“If there is no penalty for doing wrong, and supporting a lying propaganda machine through use of any medium is certainly doing wrong (eg. the flag waving country music genre in general), then we are doomed to seeing Bush, Hitler, Stalin, Amin types pop up again and again.”
But I say:
Retribution is not the answer; that is what got those CM fans all lathered up to sign up for war! War on a people that had no connection with 9/11 whatsoever! And, even while Osama Ben Laden is as free as a bird!
The only retribution we should be discussing is impeaching Bush and Cheney and their war planners. As far as those who bought into what Keith was selling, they have paid with the lives of their children who went to war, and there are plenty. Seems to me that is the highest price to pay for seeking revenge. What those people need now is an open door to join the peacemakers. That is those who themselves are not seeking payback from ordinary people. Let’s work on nurturing peace in our hearts, first. For Bush and Cheney we just want justice to be served by impeaching them before they leave office, or trying them in a court for war crimes and treason.
pacplyer-I think your views epitomize what me and milesformusic are saying. If we keep up this line of thinking, we’ll have another Civil War. I could refute what you’re saying, but I’m tired of responding to such hateful nonsense.
The Right has inner-city blacks to villify. I guess rural, poor, blue-collar whites are who The Left feels they have to kick around.
Like miles said, why make it hard for people to stand with us?
This was a very enlightening, interesting, though disturbing discussion - thanks guys, from a Brit, soon to be US citizen, living in Oklahoma.
I’ve just noticed that Joni Mitchell (whose motives I believe ARE pure) has released a new song called “Shine”
(lyrics at http://jonimitchell.com/musician/song.cfm?id=Shine)
Included in them -
Shine on lousy leadership
Licensed to kill
Shine on dying soldiers
In patriotic pain
Shine on mass destruction
In some God’s name!
We need more like this.
Assholes like Toby Keith supported this war and are now too cowardly to admit it. When these macho singers talk about wanting to put a boot up the Iraqi’s ass, I say, I want to put a boot up theirs. They used their medium to make money–and if they didn’t believe in the war, then it makes them all the more dangerous–they did what they did just as the mercenaries–they got 18 year old ignorant kids all riled up and probably are responsible for many of them going to sign on to this god-forsaken war. No, we don’t need collaborators on our side. While Merle Haggard made Oakie from Muscokee during the Vietnam War, he grew up and wised up and was one of the first to recognize what a sham these wars are. Oakie from Mucokee at least rings true–its about a country boy who thinks he’s doing the right thing by disliking hippies, saluting the flag, etc. It has a certain amount of innocence we can forgive–plus, it has a catchy tune. Toby Keith’s songs on the war make me sick–he makes me sick, but he is laughing all the way to the bank and now that it is unpopular to support the war, he will no doubt shift with the winds. Yet he is still a whore. He and his songs-in-arms comrades need to apoloigze to the Dixie Chicks and to all those poor, illiterate kids who were fired up by their crap music and are now dead with the deaths of Iraqis following them into the next world. There are some people we just don’t need on our side regardless of what some say on this post.
I am southern, and I, too, love the old guys–Hank Williams, Jim Reeves–and a few more modern ones like George Strait–But Toby Keith is a piece of crap and I despise him. He supported this war and now he is lying about it. If you collaborate with the enemy, the least you can do is fess up to it and apologize. The same goes for McGraw. I didn’t like their music before–I despise them and their songs now. I am like some other posters here–they need to take all that blood money they made and donate it to a Veterans for Peace fund or for medical care for the vets–they sure won’t be getting it from this broke-ass government. All we will hear will be as it was when Clinton was in office–gotta tighten our belts–gotta make sure money is cut off from the VA, from welfare moms, from education, from all the things that go into making us a civilization–gotta sacrifice so you can have a projected surplus that people can fight over–trying to decide how to spend it ha ha. This macho shit of Keith’s and McGraw’s is part of the reason we are in the fix we are now.
Geez….I think these recording artists who begin coming out against the war have at the very LEAST an obligation to apologize for recording such AROGANT pro-war and AGGRESSIVE songs like Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White & Blue” and admit their actions that appeared Pro-Bush and nationalistic and truly get on-board and attend rallies and public events saying this war is wrong and we must get our troops out now! Anything less looks like a weak/shallow attempt at saving face.
The Dixie Chicks deserve an apology as well from all those who now want to join the rest of us patriotic americans.
peace
“Now Keith says he is a lifelong Democrat and has claimed he never supported the war…”
This of course is a blatant lie. He DID support the war, otherwise how could he sing this: ““You’ll be sorry that you messed with the US of A, ’cause we’ll put a boot in your ass - it’s the American Way.”
Therefore, he supported the war. It doesn’t matter whether he really believed it or if he did it for the cash or if his producer pushed it on him or whatever.
I’m not sure which is the worst thing about him: he’s a liar, a jingoistic propagandist, a coward, an opportunist?
Did he vote for the $87 billion too?
THIS IS N O T COMMERCIAL……….and OUR ALBUM WARGAMES - THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA IS FREE ON REQUEST FOR BONA FIDE ANTI WAR GROUPS……..please see below…..NOT ONE..but EIGHTEEN pertinent exposess of the Bush/Cheyney/Neocon debacle …
1. VIETNAM ALL OVER AGAIN
2. WAR GAME
3. MY COUNTRY ( US/UK Versions)
4. WESTERN MEN AND EASTERN WARS
5. ONE THOUSAND DAYS
6. A FEW GOOD MEN
7. 10 DOWNING STREET
8. COMMANDER IN THIEF
9. PLEASE SAY IT AIN’T SO
10. COME FLY (Rendition)
11. THEY FOUGHT A WAR (For You and Me)
12.JUST ANOTHER BLOODY DAY (Not a single bouquet)
13. COMMANDS FOR HEROES
14. IN THE NAME OF THE STATE
15 SECURITY ALERT
16. NEVER AGAIN
17. WAR IS OLD FASHIONED
18. WHAT AMERICA MEANS TO ME
email roger.carteruk@gmail.com for your free copy
WAR GAMES
and The Battle for Am eri ca
What really lies behind the War on Terror?
What really are the NeoCons Planning?
Who is directing Bush?
How safe is the US Constitution?
President v People? The Pentagon v The People? Wall Street v Main Street ? The Far Right and the danger to the Bill of Rights? A Benign Dictatorship? SSUSA?
THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA HAS BEGUN
from the use of UN Resolution 1441 as the springboard for the invasion of Iraq the real truth behind the aims of American Foreign Policy has been clouded in conflict. Post 9/11 witness the Patriot Acts; the Secret Surveillance; the media leaks that denigrate opponents; the flame of intolerance for free speech; the rising power of the NeoCons; The Secret Court - is this the America that led freedom? Or is this the moment in history to witness the deliberate destruction of Liberty ?
Listen to the Battle Cry on War Games - the Battle FOR America - a battle for the very soul of America :
18 profound tracks mapping the dark nightmare that could become the USA of tomorrow; Hear the warnings of the threats now being posed in “In the Name of the State”; “Security Alert” the expose of dangers now in “Commander in Thief” and the secret torture prisons which are the theme of “Come Fly” : Ponder these portents of a frightened America as civil rights erode.
Listen to the Tributes to the Troops on “Commands for Heroes” and the appeal of ” A Few Good Men”
Hear too the call to the real patriots with the emotive
“What America Means to Me” and the resonating “My Country”
Reflect on the scene Imagined or Real. A changing History recorded in memorable songs and music .
NOW! and including the Timely rendition of
Vietnam all Over Again?
This album explores a Hidden Agenda
Behind US Foreign and Domestic policy.
Portrays a stark picture of America in
Turmoil and Dark Forces at work
Sister album to “In the Name of the State” - a frightening vision of a future America under fascist domination
Music and Vocals: Barry Butler
Lyrics: Roger Antony Carter
Barry Butler
Roger Antony Carter and Barry Butler
______________________________
Why did it take them five years?
Toby’s a lifetime democrat, eh?
That’s strange…sez here he’s in the red…
http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Toby_Keith.php
Hey spartacus jones,
Thanks for the music!
Anything that might end the killing even a second sooner; I’m for it.
I dont know who these people are, never heard their music before and it is probably all about $, but goddess knows that is the american way.
First, let’s end these wars…
Country Music IS George W Bush. Country Music is the Music of American Republicans.
This article is a desperate attempt to “save” Country Music, because everybody knows when America kicks out the GOP in 2008, Country Music goes with it.
Country should have invested in non-political and non-American artists a long time ago. The CMA shot itself in the foot and hiring Elton John or hosting the CMAs in NYC is not going to do anything to save Country Music now.
In a the new Global Village, Country Music is an old dying American Bigot.
Toby’s a lifetime democrat, eh?
That’s strange…sez here he’s in the red…
http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Toby_Keith.php
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ouch. Good catch, munkeystyle…
I’m a lifelong fan of real country music-Buck Owens, Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride but I’ve been troubled by the blind support that the music and its fans seem to give to the Republicans since the roots of the music deal with the working man and his struggle for survival and meaning in a changing world. Of course the genre has been hijacked by wealthy, slick promoters who don’t care about the roots but are more interested in the lowest common denominator and what sells. In any case, I am surprised by Keith’s apparent change of heart. The Dixie Chicks have always been alright with me and I’m still ashamed of Bush.
Anyone who doubts Bush, Cheney, and all their gang of criminals should be staring at the walls of a cell for the rest of their days should check out the videos at this site:
http://tv-links.co.uk/listings/9/4752
RE: Coyotita September 24th, 2007 10:15 am
Since you responded to something I said I’ll return the favor. Unfortunately I sense you have tried to twist my words by assuming I am calling for retribution. Instead, what I am demanding is justice.
Let me ask you this. If you have an infected wound, then apply an antiseptic, are you exacting retribution from the cells causing the threat to your well-being? No. You are cleansing the infection so the rest of the body can live as it should.
We currently have a severe life-threatening ailment in the body-politic. Ignorant ‘rednecks’ instead of trying to cure the illness are perpetuating the damage by supporting the beliefs of some off the wall witch doctors instead of doing the hard lifting of learning a reality based scientific cure. Gullibility is to blame, but I can’t hold it against them because they are just doing what they have been trained for generations to do through biblical propaganda, primarily in small rural closed communities.
Unfortunately, many of these people have migrated into the cities. There is no such thing as an ‘urban cowboy’, but the myth abounds. There are plenty of urban bigots, racists, and yes ‘rednecks’ however, which means the disease has spread.
If you will take the time to view some of the videos on the link I provided above you will see we have much more insidious enemies to deal with than ‘rednecks’ or the country musicians they prefer. These are greedy, power mad, people lusting for world domination, and they don’t care about anyone unless they can control them as tools for their insane inhumane designs.
A good friend of mine believes one of the best ways to train people to ‘do right’ is a smack followed by a carress. The smack gets their attention, and the carress makes sure they understand their corrected behavior is done out of love instead of a desire to hurt or punish. Unfortunately, people like George Bush never got the smack, and with only the carress his deviant behavior became just positive re-enforcement of his misdeed(s).
Don’t get me wrong. I am all in favor of extending an olive branch to those who have seen the error of their ways, actions, and thinking, but for a true paradigm shift there must be consequences (the ’smack’) involved or it is just enablement of aberrant behavior.
Good for Toby Keith, but his way is the cowards way. Now if he had displayed the courage of the Dixie Chicks, by taking a brave stand against tyranny BEFORE the majority of the country ’saw the light’ I might be able to respect him. Instead, he has a long way to go to prove himself through actions rather than just words. At the moment I am greatly inclined to believe his turnaround is more a matter of business than art, money than morals. When he comes out with a CD containing clearly sung & understood lyrics that expose the lies & cover-up regarding 911, I’ll listen & consider him an allie; until that time he remains suspect.
NorthPark wrote: “Country Music IS George W Bush. Country Music is the Music of American Republicans … Country Music is an old dying American Bigot.”
Tell that to Steve Earle, you ignorant dumbass. Sounds to me like YOU are an American Bigot.
RE WAR GAMES……….just to clear a little point up…many of the 18 songs were written back before Bush and Blair did the double-cross deal and invaded.Barry in the States and me in the UK have tried every approach to get these songs played by the main media but as most of you know, thats all stitched too and we are almost pariahs for the material we have produced. A few indie stations have played it here but let me tell you since 2004 NO DISSENT is heard on our media either…odd for a democracy, eh - well you know we like to EXPORT democracy so there aint too much for us guys at home ….
Yeah, right, Toby! How ’bout writing an anti-war song and recording it? Then try to get it played on corporate radio. Thank god for the independent stations, few that remain. Didn’t anybody listen to John Fogerty’s “Deja Vu All Over Again”? I ran right out and bought the CD and play it LOUD! Thanks, John.
Rats from a sinking ship…Let’s see what Toby has to say/sing in the run-up to the war upon Iran, will hop…I mean, jingoism spring eternal?
Toby Keith has been as pro-war and pro-republican as is possible. It is not good enough for him to just meld into an anti-war democrat.
It is quite possible that his “wonderful patriotic” songs encouraged a few to sign up - or perhaps inspired enough misguided patriotism that meant a parent didn’t attempt to prevent their child from signing up.
If nothing else, he set the standard for standing behind your country no matter how vile and reprehensible it’s actions were. He also set the standard for shouting down and demonizing those who had the sense and courage to speak out.
“Entertainers” such as Keith have blood on their hands. If they wish to be accepted as “converts” then they need to get out there on TV ,radio and stage and explain how they and their fans have been wrong. They also have some apologies to make to fellow artists.
Until that happens? - I’m not ready to make nice.
Ok well, they’re “bad” people. “Evildoers”. Let’s go kick their butts! They’re “rednecks”. Baaadddd people. Ooooh!
I thought villifying groups of people was a conservative thing. Y’know, like uh…Bush.
The Left truly is dysfunctional.
Well, if you people want a Civil War, I’m headed to Canada with my family. The only people I want to shoot at are the ones with all the power, and they certainly aren’t going to be found line-dancing in saloon or state fair.
We’re all rednecks and niggers to THEM.
I mean, a lot of people on the Right and Left think the music I love, respect, and care about, the music I listen to, the music that has been a huge part of my life, is either evil or just plain garbage.
Ellen Goodman and Brent Bozell would go on a date putting my cd collection one item at a time into a trash compactor.
People have villified us too.
We supposedly hate women and ourselves (those subliminal suicidal messages) worship Satan, huff paint, kill cats, burn churches, ditch school, and shoot up classmates and co-workers. Not to mention that the bands we love don’t have any talent or anything to say nor is there any art to be found in that horrid, horrid racket they make!
I mean, it’s all so negative. Skulls. Death. Tattooed white boys howling, growling, screaming, wailing, playing those heavy chords…
The tritone! Gasp! They’re conjuring the devil!
country much is an indigenous music, unique to the us, like the blues and jazz.
why all the derision.
george jones
merle haggard
buck owens
tammy wynette
hank williams
johnny cash
elvis
roy orbison
the everly brothers
chet atkins
for a few.
great american music from great americans.
Music is important.
Music, theater, and now, motion pictures have always been important outlets of dissent. Bob Dylan, Mozart, and the movie “The Day After Tomorrow” are just a few which come to mind.
Conversely, nationalist songs in Germany did a lot to push that population over the cliff. Country music helped push Ronald Reagan into office (”God Bless the USA”) and “might-is-right” ballads entice the poor and uneducated to enlist in the U.S. military or to join the dark armies like BlackWater.
It matters not what music you personally like. The issue of this story is that artists complicit in the Corporate Country Music Industry are finally finding some remorse for goading all these backward Americans into participating in crimes against humanity.
I hope that is the beginning of significant trend.
And yes I agree with iwarrior. We’re all rednecks in the eyes of the ruling One Percent Doctrine. And I’ll concede with him that to vilify any particular group is self-defeating. So I, like Toby Keith, retract my earlier post and claim that I’m a lifetime Libertarian, not a left-wing liberal.
I really am actually a Libertarian! (a financial conservative) , but rednecks automatically assume that if you’re not one of them, then you’re one of those worthless liberals (so I don’t even bother to dissuade their misconceptions anymore.)
Bush presides over the most LIBERAL government spending policies in American history. We’ve got to hold this guy accountable, freeze all his family assets, and deliver him to the Hague for war crimes tribunal. It doesn’t matter how dumb he is; don’t give him a pass for being a puppet. He is the Captain of the ship, and the ship is the H.M.S. TITANIC.
Good posts all.
pac
Toby Kieth is a knuckle dragging pimple on the butt of humanity.
And you’re a fag.
concerning the comment that to criticize country music rednecks is the same as what they do to blacks and just adds fuel to their fire i think is wrong.the “cause” most country music types are promoting is a neo con,fascist agenda. make no mistake they will seek to displace you liberals economically, politically and spiritually and anyone else who challenges their sense of entitlement. they are fighting for an old dying bigot of an agenda that seeks to keep an oppressive plantation type paradigm alive. not only are these totalitarian autocrats dangerous to the freedoms of the rest of us they themselves are actually boxed in by a dinosaur non eclectic paradigm that is in fact extincting the culture. remember blacks were fighting human oppression country music is fighting to oppress others with their version of what america should be. i will be vitriolic in my assessments because hitler ain’t gonna rise again in america. we are a nation of human rights, privacy and freedom for all who adhere to what we stand for as outlined by our constitution and bill of rights. screw the fruits of facism give me freedom or give me death……………pam mata