The Steel Guitar Forum

This post isn't meant to criticize Kenny Chesney, or anybody else, or any kind of music.

What is it about Chesny that makes fans think of him as country? I don't mean to start a flame war over whether or not his music is good. I do want some opinions about why he is on country radio stations. The station managers must know that fans won't change the channel when he comes on.

I think it's the sound.

Darryl Hattenhauer wrote: What is it about Chesny that makes fans think of him as country?

I think it's because he has a Steel player.

To me, he looks a bit like this guy:

http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2005/Xtra ... ussell.jpg

It's the hat.

He is country to the current generation just like in my generation we had Buck, Ray, George and all of those. The previous generation to mine thought Roy Acuff, the Delmore Bros, etc. were country and these new upstarts like Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, and acts like that came along and changed everything.

Face it, country music like every other kind is continually evolving and always will. I like the old Acuff stuff, Hank W. and other classic stuff but I also like Chesney's music. What's not to like? The musicians are second to none, the stage show is high tech, high energy, and the record production is top notch!

I'm 68 1/2 years old as we speak, but I refuse to live in the past. I try to keep my chops as updated and modern sounding as my arthritic fingers will allow. My band does mostly the old stuff but we throw in some of the newer things also and will continue to do so. Our next addition to the set list will be Chesney's "Shift Work".....JH in Va.

.....and the boots. He's only one of the new breed that fit your criteria.

Kenny's been around for awhile now. He's had some traditional and not so traditional hits. I've never bought any of his CD's , but his voice is alot better now. He's recorded good songs,hit after hit!

"Shift Work" with George Strait is on Strait's Troubador" CD. Kenny's new duet with Reba is Country all the way. Yes, he uses Steel and in his band. I also hear he's good to his band!

His writing appeals to me more than alot of the other artists on the radio.

Darryl,I've often wondered the same thing about some of the other contemporary such as Big and Rich,Rascal Flatts,Montgomery Gentry,Cowboy Troy,etc.A cowboy hat and a TOKEN steel guitar waaaay back in the mix,don't make it country.Poco with Rusty years ago was closer to country than anything that's being called country today,I do think a lot of it has to do with the lack of good writers today,You don't hear songs today like the ones that were written by writers such as Cindy Walker,Harlin Howard,Willie,Buck,Chris,Floyd Tillman,Hank Sr.Merle,etc,When will anything be written that will be as fresh 20,30,40, years from now and stand the test of time,such as Cold,Cold,Heart,Crazy,I Can't Stop Loving You,Silver Wings,Help me Make It Through The Night,Crazy Arms,this is not just true in the country field,in the pop field,where will the next Stardust,Moonlight in Vermont,Deep Purple,Moonglow,come along?On the so-called country side you have monster hits on such crap as Bo-donk-a-donk[whatever the hell that is]Ride a horse not a cowboy,Batter,Batter,Batter,Oh well.DYKBC.

Earnest Bovine wrote:I think it's the sound.

I believe you nailed it Earnest!

I'm convinced you guys hate everything current. No matter what, nothing will ever be good enough.

YEP!

Kenny's steel player is Jim Bob Gairrett from Billings, Montana. He plays a Mullen Royal Precision D-10.

Brett

Brett,
Yes, he plays well and complements Kenny! Sonny Garrish has complemented Kenny as well on his CD's.

Please don't let the negative comments of the forum discourage you Brett, or any new player to what is heard on the radio.

Fats Domino is more Country Today then all them new breeds put together who call themselfs Country. You take away all them great Musicians behind them and they can sing their way out of a paper cup,the bag is for air. PS; Like I said before, we have to give them respect even tho they don't want to give it back to us. Hum! Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.,And to think,I played drums behind Kenny Chesney At an Academy of Country Music After Party. WOW! I'm that new breed. shame on me. wait to Clint here about this!

Whatever!

The only thing I'm sure of is that all of the side players are outstanding and could play in a variety of top positions. The competition for those jobs is staggering.

Theresa may be on to something. If Kenny was more country in the past, then maybe now he's just crossing over a little, trying to branch out.

But that still leaves me with the question of why a lot of country fans like music that others think isn't real country. I imagine the young people like the new stuff more than we geezers do, but is it young city people? Young wealthier people? Young women?

Expiring minds want to know.

Darryl,
I think Kenny is going back to more country routes . I like his single
with Reba.

I think it's songs we relate to.
Simply, nothing else. For instance "Don't Blink"! Listen to the song.

Theresa,You say Kenny is going back to the country route,Does that mean he has'nt been on that route,I still think some of these guys and gals are NOT getting good material,like Trace Adkins,to start with he had some good songs and I think he's one of the few that has a good voice,but look at the absolute crap they have him record.Someone on another post LONG ago was putting down the old country music because of the content,THAT"S what made it REAL.They wrote Love songs,Cheating songs,drinking songs,Songs about mother,family,songs about murder,GOD,heartbreak,and happy times,about REAL LIFE,That regular folks can relate to.Some were morbid,some happy,that's what real life is about.Not a whole lot of that going on these days.Maybe some of you can think of some of the songs,or artist today that will be classics 30,40,or 50 years from now,Hank Sr's music still sell today,You can still hear background music of his music in many places today,I wonder if Kenny,RF,Big and Rich or Cowboy Troy,will still be popular 56 years after they are gone.May be wrong,but don't think so.DYKBC.

I would venture to say that the majority of folks on the forum got their first interest in the steel guitar from listening to country music.

In twenty years, how many taking up playing the steel will say, "I heard my first steel on Kenny Chesney and Big & Rich albums". Don't think so..
Neither has the talent of a june bug...IMO

If Kenny took his hat off, I believe he would be all washed up

Yep, I think it's the sound!

I have a little different take on it I guess. There is a lot of junk in country but there always was. I really believe that if they turned down the bass and got rid of the rock drummers and some of the rock guitars it would sound good again. There are really a lot of great pickers now like Paul and Brent, they are just not featured like they used to be. There are some good singers mixed in with the bad ones, and some good writers too. I don't think songs like Batter Batter were written by song writers, maybe by their kids?

I think you're right Howard. I know some of the singers now days do have a good voice. Quieten down the drums and rock guitars..more steel time. And give them a good song to sing.

Also, even back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, I thought at least half of the country was bad. I really liked Porter, but some of his songs were just awful to me. I would guess that out of a dozen songs on anyones album, I might have liked just a few.
There's a classic country station locally. They play a lot of good stuff, but then again, you'll hear Elvis on there occasionally. Elvis country? Give me a break!!

I just want to know what happened with him and that Zellwinger...Zillwonger...ZellMiller...Zellringer...whatever her name was girl he was married to for a couple of days.

"COWBOY HAT now thats what makes a person Country"?.Throw in a steel guitar for bits and pieces that are drowned out by Fuzz tones or distortion thats assures one its Country.Well thats what a lot say on this Forum....Generations do change the sounds, however this generation has reverted back to the past with another form of Rock not a new type of Country ....Gone are recognized intros-turn arounds Twin fiddles and endings.. ...In our day we may have changed some things about Country but the music was still recognized easily as Country..I'd be lying to myself if I thought I could or wanted to sound like anyone out now...But I still find a lot of good out of some new stuff and I have reverted back to listening to not only Country stations.. There are a lot of stations that still survive with all kinds of good music of the past and present...Jazz ,Pop,Rock and Country....Plenty of good music out there to like...Those that support the new Country feel the same way, deservingly so...If singers and musicians don't keep up with the tides of changes they simply are left behind... I did the best I could with what I had and thats what is happening now...History judges everything....I'm just happy I had a history...

Theresa,

I know you get aggravated at some of us. Don't take it personally. We still like your comments. Made me laugh a little with that "whatever".

I'm just happy to be alive.

Dennis