The Steel Guitar Forum

There is always a post going about modern (urban) country music, and the absence of the pedal steel in the mix. I think I have at least part of an answer that may make sense. First you have to accept the axiom, that the pedal steel is basically a melodic instrument. It fits best in songs where there is infact an actual melody under all the lyrics. When I think of the music I hear on the radio I don't like, it's usually because there isn't a lot of melody to listen to. They remind me of the old folk rock stuff where there were a lot of chords banged out on the guitar, but the vocals were just so much yelling. I would venture a thought that things are produced this way, bucause the modern day hunks, and cuties doing the music ( with some exceptions of course ) couldn't carry a tune in a bucket if they had to. Or have all the melodys been used up? Hmmm? I think not. Guess I'll have to continue listening to the mucic I bought because it was good, and let the radio do whatever. If a good song gets produced by accident I might buy the CD. Thanks Joe Gilanti for keeping the music un-country

John

John

. . . pedal steel . . . fits best . . . where there is in fact an actual melody. . . . When I think of the music I hear on the radio I don't like, it's usually because there isn't a lot of melody to listen to.

Very good point! I remember a backyard party and jam, with one 17 year-old strumming away nonstop: no beat, meter, lyrics, licks, chord sequence, or even recognizable song. Every other player who got into it eventually gave up and packed it, and when finally done, the 'lone ranger' offered his comment:

"What can I say? I play rock and roll."

If ever a face needed a slap and an ass a swift kick!

There may be some truth to your melody theory. This Pop phenomenon is nothing new it's been going on at least since the late 70s. The current rendition is the Southern Rock phase which suits me fine. I posted a comment recently about the song A Different World, which has a very traditional feel and stone cold country pedal steel. It got NO INTEREST!

I agree there is very FEW songs today with a melody,I guess that's good because most of the biggest so-call stars that stay in the top twenty could'nt sing them any way.There is only a very few such as [Josh Turner,or Dale Watson]that has the voice and range to handle a real song.Most of this crap today is sung in almost a monotone,they all sound like clones,No originality at all.believe it or not at one time there were artist such as Eddy Arnold,Jim Reeves,Faron Young,Hank Snow,Ferlin Huskey,Marty Robbins,THAT COULD ACTUALLY SING A MELODY AND SING IT DEAD ON PITCH.Today it's mostly just TONE DEAF people with two or three loud distored Les Paul's to cover up their inadequate insufficient vocals.It's gotten to the point that most of the young generation really BELIEVES that acts such as Chesney,Big and Rich,or Cowboy Troy are country artist,and crap such as Bo bonk a donk,or Batter Batter is country music.The best place to hear real authentic music,great pickers and good vocalist is around the country in your local VFW,American legions,Shrine Clubs etc,etc.In many instancies these weekend warriors will be FAR BETTER than anything you will hear on FM radio or see on GAC or CMT,without a doubt!

Kenny Chesney's Keg In The Closet is very melodic. It's pop-rock but features steel. He carrys a steel player. He co-wrote the song. He sings with a smooth genuine country nasal tone.

Big & Rich's new single "Lost in the Moment" has a melody. I had it going through my head when I woke up this morning. I love it!

erik wrote:Kenny Chesney's Keg In The Closet is very melodic... He sings...

HAHAHA!!! WHOOOO-HOOOO!!! ROTFLMAO!!! (Cough, cough) Hooo, baby... what a hoot... we gotta move this to Humor...

Let me ask a simple question:

How many of today's chart songs will turn into timeless classics that everybody will sing along or hum or whistle in 30 or 40 years? Any new "Cold Cold Heart" or "Yesterday" or "Proud Mary" or "Today I Started Loving You Again" out there??? I don't think so.

Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Beatles, Stones, Willie, Harlan Howard, Chuck Berry,...their songs are classics that you can sing along at a campfire, at home, in the bathtub, behind the wheel....

Almost none of the songs of today will be remembered or sung in the future, that's my prediction.

Kind Regards, Walter

No matter, I won't be around to know.

You need to listen more carefully. Modern country does have melodies.

The drummer plays them!

Right on Bob.

Kenny says the guitar taught him to score? Sure he was referring to the babes not his musical talent.

Was so refreshing last night to see a real artist that could carry a tune on the grand ole[rock] opry last night,Mr Mel Tillis,He was finnaly inducted as a member,after 52 years,Bet it really made Mr. Fisher's day to hand an award to OLD GREY HEADED Mel.

Walter Stettner'You hit the nail dead on the head.Very LITTLE,maybe just a FEW of the songs or artist of today will stand the test of time.Does anyone really think Chesney,Cowboy Troy,Big and Rich will be selling millions of dollars worth of records 30,40,or 50 years from now.Go in many big record stores and see how many Hank Sr.CD's are there,If they were not selling they would not be taking up the space.Why is tv flooded with info mercials with ads for 40's 50's and 60's classic country music,classic rock,70's soft rock,etc,IF this great music was not selling I don't think these co's could afford to run these ads.That proves without a doubt that real music never dies,This crap today that is being force feed on the public WILL NOT stand the test of time.And Theresa don't be surprised you might hang on longer than you thinkI thought along the same line 30 or 40 years ago,and I'm still alive and kicking[not to high]but here just the same.

erik, I suppose I should have snipped out the reference to the song and just left the "Kenny Chesney... he sings..." part. Sorry about that.

My "honesty" comment is still valid. The honesty that comes from the heart, the soul, the experiences of life... that applies to Kris, Willie, et al. How does it relate to the Chesney tripe? He just can't sing.

...the music I hear on the radio I don't like, it's usually because there isn't a lot of melody to listen to.

This is true of most music today... pop and country.

Popular music of the 1930s and 40s was all about Melody and interesting chord changes. Some incredible songs were written in that era. Today the emphasis is on the beat, rhythm, feel of the music. With music of the 1980s, 1990s, and new millennium… you have to search far and wide to find a good Melody that stands alone and sounds good on the pedal steel guitar. The emphasis has changed. I completely agree with the original post.

That's right Doug,The songs of the past such as Misty,Moonlight in Vermont,Harbor Lights,Stars fell on Alabama,in the country field songs written by Cindy Walker,Floyd Tillman,Harlan Howard,Willie,The Beatles,etc,what did all these songs have in common?Beautiful lyrics and beautiful melodies.What tops the charts today?Crap such as Batter,Batter,Bo-donk-a donk,Ride a horse not a cowboy or whatever the hell that is.Go figure.

I agree. That's why I quit listening to "Top 40" country radio about 15 years ago. The only time I hear any current country is when I have to learn a particular song for one of my bands.

I agree with Michael Douchette, Chesney can't sing but all the girls think he is easy to look at.

Can't sing and looks like a farm mouse. And I hear little, very little steel in any of his songs unless he has added a steel lately. He got on that Caribbean kick trying to do up a lazy Jimmy Buffet and couldn't hang there either. Very little melody in his repertoire.

Mark,[the girls find him easy to look at],Just proves the say'ing,You'll NEVER under understand a woman,I come from a female dominated family,Two grandmothers,mother,five aunts,two wives,two daughters,two stepdaughters,love them all,but still never figured any of them out,maybe they are all just SMARTER than me,at least that's what they all say.

Charles you and me both, along w/4 daughters and all the other women you mentioned. Only thing I have learned is that women are emotional, and men are physical. But what is emotional about Chesney? Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmm.

Can any of you guys sing or write songs? Can any of you entertain a large mass of people AND sell recordings?

I dare every one of you fretboard-staring, stone-faced curmudgeons to try any of the above and then tell me how easy it is!

Can't sing and looks like a farm mouse.

Right on, Mark. (I'll have to remember this one. . .)

Can any of you guys sing or write songs?

Songwriting isn't exactly rocket science. Almost any fool can write a song, even a hit song. Hit songs today, by and large, are hits because they get sex-symbols to sing them, not because they're great songs.

How many 50 year old, fat singers have one on the charts right now? How many of today's chart songs will be remembered 20 years from now?

No, it's all about sex appeal and image, nowadays. Anyone who thinks otherwise is pretty out of touch with reality, IMHO.