Are these songs "True Country," or not "Country" at all?
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I think it's silly to say the Beatles' rendition of Act Naturally isn't country because of who they were.
What exactly are the credentials for "being country" so you can legitimately play (or sing) country music?
Sure, Ringo's a shaky singer, but the whole presentation is, as I see it, a sincere emulation of the Buck original recording, which is no less authentic than similar performances by countless performers who've done the same on stages big and small since the song came out.
I wonder how many Forumites are "imposters" who came from city or suburban backgrounds (or the wrong country?), maybe even economically comfortable, so, despite what they may like to think, are doing "not country" music?
What exactly are the credentials for "being country" so you can legitimately play (or sing) country music?
Sure, Ringo's a shaky singer, but the whole presentation is, as I see it, a sincere emulation of the Buck original recording, which is no less authentic than similar performances by countless performers who've done the same on stages big and small since the song came out.
I wonder how many Forumites are "imposters" who came from city or suburban backgrounds (or the wrong country?), maybe even economically comfortable, so, despite what they may like to think, are doing "not country" music?
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Yeah, I think you're correct in some situations - my experience is that absolutists frequently perceive things this way. And yes, I'm using the term "artist" in that very loose, commercial sense.Earnest Bovine wrote:3. Artistic ineptitude may be more important. An "artist" (in the broad, commercial sense of the term) is often ridiculed as inauthentic if he is capable of playing more than one specialized kind of music.Dave Mudgett wrote: 1. Artistic intent
2. Audience self-identity and perception
But not everybody is so rigid. And purism is not how any of these styles of music - country, blues, rock, folk, or whatever - came into being. Styles are, have always been, and I suspect will always be born as a result of mixing of various musical approaches. To me, to innovate, one must command more than one approach. Ultimately, any musician who performs for a living has to find and hold an audience, and being rigid and inept does not help except in very special circumstances. My experience is that most working musicians - the ones I know, anyway - have to know a bunch of different styles to survive on the circuit.
The other thing is that the entire notion of 'authenticity' is arguable. The vast majority of the people who grew up, e.g., chopping cotton or tobacco and grew up in a sharecropper's shack, or spent 20-40 years on the "Cadillac assembly line" or in the pit at US Steel and drinking their lunch at Joe's bar across from the plant, are either very old or dead. If you wanna talk about 'authenticity' of, let's say, a 'true blues' or 'true country' performer singing about the classic stuff in the tunes, then there's hardly anybody active left who is speaking from actual experience. It's getting to the point where there will be very few blue-collar Americans left, since most blue-collar work has been and is continuing to be outsourced to other countries. But how may country cover bands do you hear playing "Workin' Man Blues"? Almost all of them, pretty much anywhere I go.
I think only the purest of the pure are truly worried about this type of 'authenticity'.
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I respectfully disagree. I was born in Omaha, Ne. lived in a small town of 2000, south of Omaha . My dad listened to country music, I grew up listening to country music. Not this HICK HHOP TRACTOR RAP CRAP that is coming out of NASHVILLE today. I moved with my family around the country. I lived in some big towns and not so big towns. I cling to my small town roots where you wave at people in town, that you don't know. I am into COUNTRY MUSIC. I live for the flag at the courthouse square. I am through preaching.Brint Hannay wrote:I think it's silly to say the Beatles' rendition of Act Naturally isn't country because of who they were.
What exactly are the credentials for "being country" so you can legitimately play (or sing) country music?
Sure, Ringo's a shaky singer, but the whole presentation is, as I see it, a sincere emulation of the Buck original recording, which is no less authentic than similar performances by countless performers who've done the same on stages big and small since the song came out.
I wonder how many Forumites are "imposters" who came from city or suburban backgrounds (or the wrong country?), maybe even economically comfortable, so, despite what they may like to think, are doing "not country" music?
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I always loved the song by War called 'City, Country, City'. Where they play the song back and forth between Urban R&B, then play it country style, then back and forth again.
How would they classify that one.
How would they classify that one.
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I always loved the song by War called 'City, Country, City'. Where they play the song back and forth between Urban R&B, then play it country style, then back and forth again.
How would they classify that one.
How would they classify that one.
Regards, Craig
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Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
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Truth is, I think it's more parody than emulation. It's bad, man...I mean really bad. If they wanted to do an homage, or tribute, they'd have picked a band member that could sing better, and someone would've chipped in so George could afford a solid body guitar. They were clearly out of their comfort zone, and I won't be one to blindly jump on the "They're famous, so they can do anything they want and everyone will love it" bandwagon. It was embarrassing that they'd even choose to release something that amateurish.Brint Hannay wrote:I think it's silly to say the Beatles' rendition of Act Naturally isn't country because of who they were...Sure, Ringo's a shaky singer, but the whole presentation is, as I see it, a sincere emulation of the Buck original recording, which is no less authentic than similar performances by countless performers who've done the same on stages big and small since the song came out.
Look, I liked a lot of Beatles stuff, but that song borders on painful to listen to.
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I'm really thinking that if it weren't for the Beatles, the Byrds and even for the Rolling Stones with their version of "I'm Moving On", I would have never got interested in Country. I think they prepared many others here, including me for listening to Country Music, without prejudice.
And believe me I had to take some offensive words from others about Country Music, fourty or so years ago. I won't repeat what I heard because it was a load of rubbish.
And believe me I had to take some offensive words from others about Country Music, fourty or so years ago. I won't repeat what I heard because it was a load of rubbish.
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Parody of Country Songwriting
Look out!
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I also think that "(Changed His Name) From Brown To Blue" was meant humerous, although the lyrics are sad. But what do I know.
Georgie Fame with "Move It On Over":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suZmKsHMsWs
Georgie Fame with "Move It On Over":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suZmKsHMsWs
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Nice try...Ernest!Earnest Bovine wrote:Yes, not the Fab Four's finest feat, but it does sound better than the dull and lifeless Buck Owens record. With those ridiculous lyrics, it does seem like a parody of country songwriting.Donny Hinson wrote:I think it's more parody than emulation. It's bad, man...I mean
Anyhow, the Owens' hit wasn't a parody, but more a country novelty record, not unlike Sheb Wooley's "That's My Paw" or Bobby Bare's "All American Boy". The Beatles AN song is garage-band quality (except for the drumming, which isn't half-bad). Funny, but IMHO, at this point in the career of the Beatles, Ringo was arguably the best musician of the bunch.
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Is FAR AWAY EYES by the Rolling Stones "country" or not? It features a Sho-Bud pedal steel throughout and cliché country lyrics. It was a #1 hit in the USA.
Here's the VIDEO -----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyK1bZZ7E-s
Here's the VIDEO -----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyK1bZZ7E-s
Nice try, Donny.Donny Hinson wrote:Funny, but IMHO, at this point in the career of the Beatles, Ringo was arguably the best musician of the bunch.
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Hey, I'm a big Tommy Emmanuel fan! But...I'm not about to pick up a guitar and try to do what he does.Jerry Hedge wrote:From what I've heard the Beatles were big Buck Owens fans. Since they were all on EMI owned labels they asked for advance copies of albums of two American Capitol Records artist. Buck and the Beach Boys.
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Is it Country?
If you have to ask "Is it Country", it probably isn't.
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I love Jimmy Rodgers but he sounds more like blues than country. The Carter Family sound more like folk than country. But they are the beginning.
Also it was once called country and western.
Now I would include Bob Wills although he might sound too swing like.
Most definitely country is Working Man Blues and American Beauty by the Dead.
Brothers & Sisters by the Allman Bros, sure.
Harvest by Neil Young of course.
Patsy Cline & Eddy Arnold, too refined for country. More pop than country. Didn't Eddy want to be a pop crooner anyway? Rose Maddox real country, possibly comical.
Goose Creek Symphony, most definitely country for old hippies. Now we really get into country for hippies.
Doug Sahm-Sir Douglas, Flying Burrito Bros., Gram Parsons, Emmyhare Louis, etc.
Modern day real country, I'd start with the Derailers, they sound a little like the Beatles. Come to think of it so do the Jayhawks.
Also it was once called country and western.
Now I would include Bob Wills although he might sound too swing like.
Most definitely country is Working Man Blues and American Beauty by the Dead.
Brothers & Sisters by the Allman Bros, sure.
Harvest by Neil Young of course.
Patsy Cline & Eddy Arnold, too refined for country. More pop than country. Didn't Eddy want to be a pop crooner anyway? Rose Maddox real country, possibly comical.
Goose Creek Symphony, most definitely country for old hippies. Now we really get into country for hippies.
Doug Sahm-Sir Douglas, Flying Burrito Bros., Gram Parsons, Emmyhare Louis, etc.
Modern day real country, I'd start with the Derailers, they sound a little like the Beatles. Come to think of it so do the Jayhawks.