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| MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! |
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
I will always love Kevin Costner
Hands up who didn’t cry watching “Bodyguard”!
Probably only Hannibal Lecter didn’t raise his hand. This is a kind of “ticket comes together with tissues” movie and the moment when your eyelids swell from crying, tears drop from your jaw together with your mascara, your lips contort and you sniffle disgustingly loud is when Whitney Huston sings “I will always love you” with flashbacks from Huston- Costner relationships on the screen.
The lyrics… well… it tells about… Precisely this is what it says.
The song has originally been written by Dolly Parton in 1973, who recorded it a year later and published it on the album “Jolene”. Since then, she re- recorded it numerous times, also in a duet with Vince Gill. With each new release, the song attacked the top of the Billboard magazine list and got to the first place a couple of times. Parton says the lyrics were inspired by her relationship with Porter Wagoner (hardly believable really).
However prized Ms. Parton was, it was Whitney Huston who made the song an international ever-green. In the “Bodyguard” version, she introduced the a capella intro, a pause (silence) in the middle of the song, a wider, more contrasted vocal scale and the saxophone. Till 1992, when Huston released her version, “I will always love you” seemed to be a sort of Dixie dance song, as almost all country then, coming from Nashville (not really a black region). Yet with the new version, it turned out how enriching the African- American input to Southern culture might be.
The Huston's cover is memorable for one more reason, namely the video. Firstly, uhhhh, the suit, how I wanted to look like her in that suit! Secondly, Whitney sitting on the chair with her legs wide apart and a closeup on her lips vibrating! I don't think there's a vibratto in the song, but uhhhh, how I envied these red lips! And thirdly, Kevin Costner jumping to the freezing cold lake to save little Fletch - uhhhh, that's ridiculous!
Probably most of those who cried on “Bodyguard” felt that the song mirrors incredibly truthfully their own situation (particularly if these people where in their junior high schools and only understood the chorus part “And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII will always loooove youuuuuuuu”). It’s probably one of the most popular wedding songs (of course far behind Stachursky, ay!) – what again proves the miserable command of the English language. Probably it’s also one of the most popular soundtracks to sexual intercourses (desire befuddles the comprehension skills). Undoubtedly, it is one of the saddest love songs. And it's country! Surprisingly, Dolly Parton had this bitter talent so contradictory to all this glitter and sequins of hers.
And who’s crying now?
Monday, November 29, 2010
On the origins of a specie
However unbelievable it may seem, country music was not always there. The Greeeks had to go without country, Medieval scholars, Mozart and Bach as well. That's why they are not on the TV. The birth of country, the moment since when nothing is the same, will be now investigated.
Country emerged right after the World War II. Out of numerous bad things that developed since than (e.g. my grandma's fish soup) country is a glorious exception. The post- War period caused a lot turbulence in the social and moral stratification - migration from rural areas to cities became a steady trend while the religious worldview regressed. Needless to say, sensitive individuals showed all of that in their music.
For one thing, the instrumental element in country music comes from the country music, that is the one played in the country. The other part of the mixture are the themes of lyrics which reflect the new dissapointments of city life (see the post from some time ago). Altogether we come up with a kind of popular, modern music with a certain sentiment - a music that looks back.
From where does it look back? From Nashville! What does it see? It sees four major persons who are to give basis and shape to the new music:
Bill Monroe - a guy who invented bluegrass music as a transition from the old rural tunes (associated with backwardness and embarrasment) to the possibly wide- spread genre.
Hank Williams - the founder of the Williams family and a person who put oppositions together. Man/ woman conflict? Clash them! Money vs. labor? Clash them! Desire vs. manners? Clash them! Black vs. white? Clash them!!!! All of the clashes had a down-to-earth, everyday basis, thanks to which it escaped the theoretical vagueness and naivety.
Patsy Cline- the lady of the radio era, with her country was in the air. She also introduced characteristic "Nashville style" background vocals and instrumentation.
Elvis Presley - the King took all the best from the black music and combined with top white music. Since then we got specific, black- inspired country imagery. And who, if not him, is the rockabilly person?
Ok, so that was lesson number 1. Class dismissed.
Country emerged right after the World War II. Out of numerous bad things that developed since than (e.g. my grandma's fish soup) country is a glorious exception. The post- War period caused a lot turbulence in the social and moral stratification - migration from rural areas to cities became a steady trend while the religious worldview regressed. Needless to say, sensitive individuals showed all of that in their music.
For one thing, the instrumental element in country music comes from the country music, that is the one played in the country. The other part of the mixture are the themes of lyrics which reflect the new dissapointments of city life (see the post from some time ago). Altogether we come up with a kind of popular, modern music with a certain sentiment - a music that looks back.
From where does it look back? From Nashville! What does it see? It sees four major persons who are to give basis and shape to the new music:
Bill Monroe - a guy who invented bluegrass music as a transition from the old rural tunes (associated with backwardness and embarrasment) to the possibly wide- spread genre.
Hank Williams - the founder of the Williams family and a person who put oppositions together. Man/ woman conflict? Clash them! Money vs. labor? Clash them! Desire vs. manners? Clash them! Black vs. white? Clash them!!!! All of the clashes had a down-to-earth, everyday basis, thanks to which it escaped the theoretical vagueness and naivety.
Patsy Cline- the lady of the radio era, with her country was in the air. She also introduced characteristic "Nashville style" background vocals and instrumentation.
Elvis Presley - the King took all the best from the black music and combined with top white music. Since then we got specific, black- inspired country imagery. And who, if not him, is the rockabilly person?
Ok, so that was lesson number 1. Class dismissed.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
"Banda, Or What Can Come Out of Country"
Today a significant part of daily life in Los Angeles reflects the rhythms of rural Mexico, and a defining moment in Mexican culture draws its power and force from what happens in California. … (p. 57) The talk is about banda music! George Lipsitz insisted on sponosoring this post, so here we go!
Banda music emerged as a subtle and significant register of the social dislocations engendered by the rapid mobility of capital and the mass migrations of low-wage workers across national borders in an age of hypermobile transnational capital. More than merely about music, the banda phenomenon served as the center of complex dynamics wherein identities appropriate to dramatically new political, economic, and social realities were in the process of being developed and deployed. Banda music and the practices attendant to it signaled a new cultural moment, one that challenged traditional categories of citizenship and culture on both side of U.S-Mexico border. New demographic and economic realities threw forth distinctive forms of social organization and style, of dance and dress, that spoke to the unique and singular conditions facing migrant low-wage workers in the United States. (p. 57)
Banda music in L.A. in 1990s was a collective community response to the social disapproval Mexicans experienced in the United States. Banda enabled them to celebrate their origins and flaunt their identities in the face of hate crimes and harsh policing, low-wage labor and unsafe working conditions. … Banda offered an area when Mexicanidad was honored, cherished, and prized. (p. 58)
Banda music uses mainly brass and woodwind instruments.
The lyrics of the banda songs that became popular in L.A. in the early 1990s only rarely addresses political or social issues. (p. 61) The most popular songs were the ones displayed by Banda Machos:
• Un Indio quiere llorar (The Indian Wants to Cry) – “about a man rejected by his lover’s wealthy and non-Indian family because of his humble background”
• Sangre de Indio (Blood of Indian) – about “the struggles of indigenous people, who make up a large proportion of the people in poverty in Mexico”
Banda artists preferred cowboy styles:
• Stetson hats (called Tejanos)
• fringed jackets
• leather boots
• jeans
Women dancers generally wore:
• tight-fitting jeans or western skirts
• belts with big buckles
• black stretch tops
• cowboy boots
Men dancers were dressed in:
• button-fly jeans
• fringed leather vests
• straw or felt cowboy hats
• shiny boots
Such clothing manifested the foreign and rural origins of many immigrants, turning what might have once seemed like a source of shame into a point of pride.
The titles of instrumental numbers and the lyrics of vocals in banda songs often referred to the rodeo or to the life on ranch. Dancers frequently carried a cuarto, a small horsewhip. (p. 63)
Banda music was one of the main factors that helped immigrants of Mexico to survive in the United States. The music transformed individuals into a community.
Clearly, banda music is not country but there are similarities. The most important of them is the community- creating function of such music. There emerges the question whether country/ banda create bonds that are later charished by the people or the bonded people create the music to have one more reason to stay togather. Or is it mutual?
Banda music emerged as a subtle and significant register of the social dislocations engendered by the rapid mobility of capital and the mass migrations of low-wage workers across national borders in an age of hypermobile transnational capital. More than merely about music, the banda phenomenon served as the center of complex dynamics wherein identities appropriate to dramatically new political, economic, and social realities were in the process of being developed and deployed. Banda music and the practices attendant to it signaled a new cultural moment, one that challenged traditional categories of citizenship and culture on both side of U.S-Mexico border. New demographic and economic realities threw forth distinctive forms of social organization and style, of dance and dress, that spoke to the unique and singular conditions facing migrant low-wage workers in the United States. (p. 57)
Banda music in L.A. in 1990s was a collective community response to the social disapproval Mexicans experienced in the United States. Banda enabled them to celebrate their origins and flaunt their identities in the face of hate crimes and harsh policing, low-wage labor and unsafe working conditions. … Banda offered an area when Mexicanidad was honored, cherished, and prized. (p. 58)
Banda music uses mainly brass and woodwind instruments.
The lyrics of the banda songs that became popular in L.A. in the early 1990s only rarely addresses political or social issues. (p. 61) The most popular songs were the ones displayed by Banda Machos:
• Un Indio quiere llorar (The Indian Wants to Cry) – “about a man rejected by his lover’s wealthy and non-Indian family because of his humble background”
• Sangre de Indio (Blood of Indian) – about “the struggles of indigenous people, who make up a large proportion of the people in poverty in Mexico”
Banda artists preferred cowboy styles:
• Stetson hats (called Tejanos)
• fringed jackets
• leather boots
• jeans
Women dancers generally wore:
• tight-fitting jeans or western skirts
• belts with big buckles
• black stretch tops
• cowboy boots
Men dancers were dressed in:
• button-fly jeans
• fringed leather vests
• straw or felt cowboy hats
• shiny boots
Such clothing manifested the foreign and rural origins of many immigrants, turning what might have once seemed like a source of shame into a point of pride.
The titles of instrumental numbers and the lyrics of vocals in banda songs often referred to the rodeo or to the life on ranch. Dancers frequently carried a cuarto, a small horsewhip. (p. 63)
Banda music was one of the main factors that helped immigrants of Mexico to survive in the United States. The music transformed individuals into a community.
Clearly, banda music is not country but there are similarities. The most important of them is the community- creating function of such music. There emerges the question whether country/ banda create bonds that are later charished by the people or the bonded people create the music to have one more reason to stay togather. Or is it mutual?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hillbilly bone down deep inside
This post ain’t gonna be boring and whiny, but full of old trucks, cowboy sweethearts, and banjo tunes. It’s hillbilly music time! Or modern redneck party time! Or… Wait, before you think that I discriminate fans of country music, let me remind you that both hillbilly and redneck have derogatory meaning which is in the process of reappropriation (for quick reminder check Wikipedia). Hell, forget about those long terms and check the lyrics to know what I mean:
It’s hillbilly deluxe, slick pick-up trucks.
Big timin' in a small town.
Stirrin' it up right about sundown.
Black denim an' chrome to the bone with a little home grown.
A country girl cuddled up...
Hillbilly deluxe.
Still not convinced? For me it just takes a few music videos from 2000s to notice that things which are usually stereotypical attributes of rednecks are recommended, appreciated, and celebrated there. No more shame! Be proud of your big truck, dirty boots, bad manners, and rough style!
What I like is the appreciation of tradition (you remember where you come from), but still making innocent fun of cowboy common weaknesses while making equal fun of typical WASPs, completely lost in rural setting. As these videos show, a cowboy may seem vulgar at first, but he will get women and respect in the city. A WASP cannot do the same in a local town, despite his money and elegance.
Work boots - one blue suit
Size too small - won't wear at all
Unless somebody kicks gets hitched
It don’t fit and makes me itch
The rivalry seems like a common theme in country mythology. Men frequently drink and fight while their women seem not to mind. What is funny is the metaphorical language – “my car is bigger than your car”, “my tires are the highest,” etc. Pure poetry!
As Blake Shelton’s song “Some Beach” shows, the city guys can be very annoying at times, yet a real cowboy stands everything, showing his disgust only by doing classy ‘facepalm’ gesture.
Driving down the interstate
Running thirty minutes late
Singin' Margaritaville and minding my own
Some foreign car drivin' dude with the road rage attitude
Pulled up beside me talkin' on his cell phone
He started yelling at me like I did something wrong
He flipped me the bird an' then he was gone
But when two singers like Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins meet, you know from the start who’s gonna win the confrontation with the city elite.
Yeah, I got a friend in New York City
He's never heard of Conway Twitty
Don't know nothin' 'bout grits and greens
Never been south of Queens
But he flew down here on a business trip
I took him honky tonkin' and that was it
He took to it like a pig to mud, like a cow to cud
We all got a hillbilly bone down deep inside
No matter where you from you just can’t hide it
When the band starts bangin' and the fiddle saws
You can’t help but hollerin', Yee Haw!
I’ve got to admit I really like this song. Hillbilly bone somewhere?
So maybe another one that is catchy and fresh. It also shows another common theme - the hidden world that people from the outside don’t get and don’t have an access to. In this case this is the forest at night where pretty cowboy boys and girls dance, kiss, and sing while one of them holds a worn out American flag.
Hey now honey child we'd be runnin' free and wild
No one care what you do
Ain't no law to answer to
Dance around in the dirt
Listen to them crickets chirp
Hear old Jake start to howl
When he hears that ol' hoot owl
Give you all I got to give
That's how we live up on the ridge
All in all, I must say that though the message of these videos may be simple, it is a powerful and nice one. After all, do pop songs about similar things (let’s have a party and be ourselves) carry more message? Rarely. Popular country songs stand up against pretentious hypocrisy and admire simple guys from the neighborhood having fun their own way.
Of course it's just a part of the large picture. As we had said in one of the first posts, country songs tend to tell sad and tearful stories, but I wanted to show the mainstream songs that people dance to in bars. As all music genres, country has many variations, also in song themes.
What is interesting, I found out that also musicians playing mix of country and southern rock do not hide their hillbilly roots. So at the end I present to you some rock! Notice that themes of tradition, rivalry, manhood, big trucks and a hidden place also appear here, as in typical country videos!
Welcome to the home of a hillbilly
Yeah baby
It’s a land of barbed wire, moonshine, whiskey
Park your car before you get it stuck
Go on grab you a beer
And get on up in the truck
It’s going down tonight
It’s all on me
It’s BYOB, and I got all we need
Yeah boy I’m bout to show me a city slicker
How to kick it in the sticks with the critters down on
Our side of a barbed wire
Money grows in rows
And if it don’t you’ve gone broke
So we
We hang out by the bon fire
Just some good ole boys having a dang good time
We crank it up down here
We get loud down here
Throwin down in the dirty dirty south down here
Be an all nighter with the hippies and the hicks
Jocks and bikers they all came to kick it in the sticks
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Looking pretty
There's always certain dress code. Even if you don't realize that. Most often when you don't realize it. So, there is a certain dress code for country music- associated events too. This page offers a guide, with a liittle bit of cruel jokes:
I’ve been to many concerts and rodeos and wondered if some people have mirrors in their house. If they had a mirror, I don’t think they bothered to look in it. Sometimes people mistake country fashion with plain old redneck fashion. There’s nothing wrong with looking a little redneck, but believe me it can be done fashionable.
Let’s start with a few Don’ts
* Don’t ever use your cleavage as a cup holder for a water bottle or beer unless you are in desperate need of attention. Be on the lookout for the redneck paparazzi, which is when friends split up and one poses in a way that you are the background of the picture. This is cool if you’ve always wanted to be the most famous redneck on the internet, but not cool if that wasn’t your intentions.
* Don’t try and rock the bikini top under the cut-off overall shorts if you are in the um, heavier category. Fat rolls hanging out of the sides aren’t fun for anyone to look at. Again, lookout for the redneck paparazzi. With cell phone cameras they can get pretty sly, and even look like they are reading a text when in fact they are taking your picture.
* Don’t wear anything too tight, and too short. Leave a little for the imagination and remember there are a lot of people who will be seeing you who really didn’t want to see that much of you in the first place.
* Think that by throwing on cowboy boot on with a skanky outfit that you look like a cowgirl.
Now I hope that you aren’t currently committing one of those country fashion don’ts. If you are don’t worry, there is hope.
The Do’s
* Bling is in. Still. I thought it was going to be a passing fad that was over in a year or two. That’s not the case. Bling is popular in country fashion from jewelry, shirts, and pants. If it has bling on it, buy it. You’ll shine.
* Chunky Jewelry. Chunky strands of turquoise and other gemstones complete with a pendant. Usually the pendants are a Concho, Spur Rowel, or Cross. These usually have crystals on them. They are a great accessory with your tank tops and t-shirts.
* Vintage designed shirts. These include tank tops, t-shirts, and long sleeved t-shirts. They’re usually adorned with a vintage western design and of course crystals.
* Black, Turquoise, and Silver. This combination is classic and I don’t think it will ever go old.
* A good pair of jeans. It used to be that Wrangler was your only choice for jeans. Not anymore. Now there is Cowgirl Tuff, Miss Me, and more. Yes, a lot of the new western jeans have crystal designs on them.
* A flowing sundress and cute cowboy boots. There are so many awesome designs for cowboy boots. I think it’s a shame that so many of them get covered up by jeans. This look is a casual country look and it can show off those boots!
* A cute pair of cowboy boots. There are so many designs of cowboy boots. There is a wide range of prices too. The higher the quality the longer they’ll last. Buy as high of quality of cowboy boots as you can afford. (It also makes a difference how often you’ll be wearing them.)
* Flip Flops with (you guessed it) bling! These were big last year and are coming in strong again for this summer. There are a lot of varieties of bling flip flops, find your favorites for your summer country concerts.
* Animal prints. This is another one I’m surprised is still popular, but it is. Zebra prints, leopard prints, and more. Zebra prints are still number one.
* Peace signs. Cowboys and hippies used to never get along, but now peace has come to the Western World. You can find peace signs on hats, clothing, jewelry, and purses.
* A leather purse with cowhide and crystals.
* Cute Western Charm necklace. I’ve seen a variety of these and they are cute! An interesting note is a lot of these Western Charm necklaces don’t have as much bling as a lot of other products to.
A few suggestions...
1. There are a lot of options when it comes to country fashion. If you’re pants are sporting crystal pockets pick a shirt that is not embellished. You can add a pendant, ring, or earrings with crystals if you want to add more.
2. Try the sundress and cowboy boots. It sounds like a crazy mix, but it is cute. You can either show off some super cute boots or go with a more “rustic” look with your dirty worn cowboy boots.
3. You can add a little bit of country to any look by wearing a chunky jewelry necklace or western charm necklace. There are also cute leather cuffs and big bracelets. These can add a “Rock & Roll” flair to your western style.
4. Just because you can dress head to toe with crystals, doesn't mean you should. You don't want to look like one big rhinestone. Mix and match accessories and outfits until you find your personal style.
Remember that country is all about feeling carefree. Don’t stress out about getting the perfect “country look”. If you go to enough concerts or rodeos you’ll see how others dress and you can decide what you like and dislike. Country is more than a look, it’s how you feel!
Well that's on the part of country fans. But, woooahaaaa!,country artists enter the fashion business. The first to bring the boots at the red carpet was Steve Wariner , who represented an upscale men’s fashion line back in the ‘90s. Country superstar Reba McEntire followed the good example a few years ago and launched her REBA brand, a line that includes clothing, footwear, home collections and other products. But now, two more country stars are looking be fashionistas, too.
Oh, finally the lasso- thisrty market will be satisfied!
Toby Keith's clothing is described as combining the influences he brings to his own wardrobe— part rocker and part biker—with a "country sexy" look that includes oilfield imagery in the logos. The successful musician/actor specifically asked that his brand, which targets men ages 25-54, feature more sleeveless shirts, signaling a nod to the fact that he’s personally removed the sleeves from so many of his own shirts.
Thank God somebody thought about it finally! These sleeves were driving me crazy!
Taylor Swift, on the other hand, designed something for ladies - cotton sundresses available in three styles: a tie-back dress, a printed tie-back dress and a printed tier dress. The singer/ designer shares: If I couldn't see myself wearing them, I wasn't interested in making them. Well, how thoughtfull.
Usually, however, country stars are dressed by stylist - check out their achievements (feat. the best and only - Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift)!
So, who's going shopping today?
I’ve been to many concerts and rodeos and wondered if some people have mirrors in their house. If they had a mirror, I don’t think they bothered to look in it. Sometimes people mistake country fashion with plain old redneck fashion. There’s nothing wrong with looking a little redneck, but believe me it can be done fashionable.
Let’s start with a few Don’ts
* Don’t ever use your cleavage as a cup holder for a water bottle or beer unless you are in desperate need of attention. Be on the lookout for the redneck paparazzi, which is when friends split up and one poses in a way that you are the background of the picture. This is cool if you’ve always wanted to be the most famous redneck on the internet, but not cool if that wasn’t your intentions.
* Don’t try and rock the bikini top under the cut-off overall shorts if you are in the um, heavier category. Fat rolls hanging out of the sides aren’t fun for anyone to look at. Again, lookout for the redneck paparazzi. With cell phone cameras they can get pretty sly, and even look like they are reading a text when in fact they are taking your picture.
* Don’t wear anything too tight, and too short. Leave a little for the imagination and remember there are a lot of people who will be seeing you who really didn’t want to see that much of you in the first place.
* Think that by throwing on cowboy boot on with a skanky outfit that you look like a cowgirl.
Now I hope that you aren’t currently committing one of those country fashion don’ts. If you are don’t worry, there is hope.
The Do’s
* Bling is in. Still. I thought it was going to be a passing fad that was over in a year or two. That’s not the case. Bling is popular in country fashion from jewelry, shirts, and pants. If it has bling on it, buy it. You’ll shine.
* Chunky Jewelry. Chunky strands of turquoise and other gemstones complete with a pendant. Usually the pendants are a Concho, Spur Rowel, or Cross. These usually have crystals on them. They are a great accessory with your tank tops and t-shirts.
* Vintage designed shirts. These include tank tops, t-shirts, and long sleeved t-shirts. They’re usually adorned with a vintage western design and of course crystals.
* Black, Turquoise, and Silver. This combination is classic and I don’t think it will ever go old.
* A good pair of jeans. It used to be that Wrangler was your only choice for jeans. Not anymore. Now there is Cowgirl Tuff, Miss Me, and more. Yes, a lot of the new western jeans have crystal designs on them.
* A flowing sundress and cute cowboy boots. There are so many awesome designs for cowboy boots. I think it’s a shame that so many of them get covered up by jeans. This look is a casual country look and it can show off those boots!
* A cute pair of cowboy boots. There are so many designs of cowboy boots. There is a wide range of prices too. The higher the quality the longer they’ll last. Buy as high of quality of cowboy boots as you can afford. (It also makes a difference how often you’ll be wearing them.)
* Flip Flops with (you guessed it) bling! These were big last year and are coming in strong again for this summer. There are a lot of varieties of bling flip flops, find your favorites for your summer country concerts.
* Animal prints. This is another one I’m surprised is still popular, but it is. Zebra prints, leopard prints, and more. Zebra prints are still number one.
* Peace signs. Cowboys and hippies used to never get along, but now peace has come to the Western World. You can find peace signs on hats, clothing, jewelry, and purses.
* A leather purse with cowhide and crystals.
* Cute Western Charm necklace. I’ve seen a variety of these and they are cute! An interesting note is a lot of these Western Charm necklaces don’t have as much bling as a lot of other products to.
A few suggestions...
1. There are a lot of options when it comes to country fashion. If you’re pants are sporting crystal pockets pick a shirt that is not embellished. You can add a pendant, ring, or earrings with crystals if you want to add more.
2. Try the sundress and cowboy boots. It sounds like a crazy mix, but it is cute. You can either show off some super cute boots or go with a more “rustic” look with your dirty worn cowboy boots.
3. You can add a little bit of country to any look by wearing a chunky jewelry necklace or western charm necklace. There are also cute leather cuffs and big bracelets. These can add a “Rock & Roll” flair to your western style.
4. Just because you can dress head to toe with crystals, doesn't mean you should. You don't want to look like one big rhinestone. Mix and match accessories and outfits until you find your personal style.
Remember that country is all about feeling carefree. Don’t stress out about getting the perfect “country look”. If you go to enough concerts or rodeos you’ll see how others dress and you can decide what you like and dislike. Country is more than a look, it’s how you feel!
Well that's on the part of country fans. But, woooahaaaa!,country artists enter the fashion business. The first to bring the boots at the red carpet was Steve Wariner , who represented an upscale men’s fashion line back in the ‘90s. Country superstar Reba McEntire followed the good example a few years ago and launched her REBA brand, a line that includes clothing, footwear, home collections and other products. But now, two more country stars are looking be fashionistas, too.
Oh, finally the lasso- thisrty market will be satisfied!
Toby Keith's clothing is described as combining the influences he brings to his own wardrobe— part rocker and part biker—with a "country sexy" look that includes oilfield imagery in the logos. The successful musician/actor specifically asked that his brand, which targets men ages 25-54, feature more sleeveless shirts, signaling a nod to the fact that he’s personally removed the sleeves from so many of his own shirts.
Thank God somebody thought about it finally! These sleeves were driving me crazy!
Taylor Swift, on the other hand, designed something for ladies - cotton sundresses available in three styles: a tie-back dress, a printed tie-back dress and a printed tier dress. The singer/ designer shares: If I couldn't see myself wearing them, I wasn't interested in making them. Well, how thoughtfull.
Usually, however, country stars are dressed by stylist - check out their achievements (feat. the best and only - Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift)!
So, who's going shopping today?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Rock vs. country - who wins, who cares?
While listening to the songs from our last post, I was again struck by the emotions and message of Johnny Cash’s Hurt. What a song! What a singer! But, as a curious spirit, I did some research and found out that this song wasn’t originally Cash’s idea at all, although it seems like written for and about him. It’s actually a cover of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. Well, this band definitely doesn't play country… if you are not familiar with them to know what I mean. (But, to be fair, they record ballad-like songs also, yet… not exactly folk love songs not exactly folk love songs.
It made me wonder how many rock songs were transformed by country musicians into their genre and who won the competition then. And does somebody have to win? I personally like Hurt by Cash better, but does it mean the original is worse? Or just different? Or maybe the first version should remain the same and left alone, especially by musicians from opposite music sides?
Hurt
Now it’s for you to decide. After some further research, I present to you 10 country covers of rock songs, first the original, then the cover. Some of them are ballads (surprise!), so the difference between rock and country becomes somehow blurred for me then. But if you had to choose which one is country, I think you wouldn’t make a mistake.
10 country covers of rock songs
1. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2. Fat Bottomed Girls
Queen – what else is left to say about them? I’m not surprised country musicians cover their songs. I’m not surprised anyone would cover their songs – they are always smash hits already, so you’re on the safe side. If only you have some vocal abilities to measure with Freddie...
3. Take It Easy
4. Shine
Dolly Parton doing the alternative rock song – nice!
5. Stairway to Heaven
Yes, I know! Calm down – yes, she’s singing it. Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven! Does the law allow it?! Wait, before you’re going to burn her alive, listen to her voice. Trust me, it’s good. Dolly Parton may seem to be the personification of tawdriness, but what a singer she is! She was always such – kitschy and awesome at the same time. Look at the video of one of her greatest hits. When you stop staring at her, you at last notice how well she sings. So, from now on no more jokes about Ms. Parton on this blog, please!
6. Piece of My Heart
Great cover of the classic (actually, Joplin wasn’t the first one to sing it, but her version is the most known). Or I suppose I just find female country singers better.
7. Life Is a Highway
The hit from 1991 became extreme popular Rascal Flatts' country song in 2006 as a part of the soundtrack of the animated movie Cars.
8. Lips of an Angel
Both not my style, but I must pretend some objectivity in this post..
9. Gotta Be Somebody
Same as above.
10. Summertime Blues
The best for the patient! I think I found my new favorite and his name is Eddie Cochran. Quoting from this page : “Though Eddie Cochran was only twenty-one when he died, he left a lasting mark as a rock and roll pioneer. Cochran zeroed in on teenage angst and desire with such classics as ‘C’mon Everybody,’ ‘Something Else,’ ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ and ‘Summertime Blues.’ A flashy stage dresser with a tough-sounding voice, Cochran epitomized the sound and the stance of the Fifties rebel rocker.”
And now this cover! Country from start to finish! Try how many redneck stereotypes you can find in this music video! Still, the song is pretty decent and nice, although from totally different genre. And maybe that’s what all this covering is about!
+ The Bonus and the Final Proof Dolly Parton Rocks
House of the Rising Sun
Led Zeppelin aside, this song by the Animals I adore, listen for years and would kill for it. Well, not literally, but still… Actually, many musicians played it, as it is a traditional American folk song. But come on, the Animals! Forget the neat sounds of the sixties, they were a promise of something new, playing in stupid suits new hard rock! At the same time, Dolly Parton really pulls it off in her own way.
One last thing, in my opinion some of you who know us personally realize that country isn’t exactly Kasia, Gosia and Alicja’s cup of tea. I, the author of this post about rock vs. country, should be particularly easy to recognize.. Enough said, I hope you enjoyed at least some part of the music I chose for you above, never mind what genre it’s been. And who knows what will be covered next? It also goes the other way around. You know that some rock bands actually change country into performances with a lot of drums, and guitars, and… Maybe I’ve just found my next topic!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What they sing about, what we write about
The fact is that everybody knows what country music is about. Well, that’s not a fact. That’s an assumption. Anyways, we are convinced that sooner or later the uncomfortable question, which unsets philosophers of music since Plato, has to be posed. And why not now! So… is an average pedestrian aware of the real cultural, philosophical, moral, life-saving copious content of country music? What are the themes of lyrics? What are the hidden messages, the innumerable subtleties of Texas tunes ?
The truth is that country music is not very sophisticated (but how close to the everyday existence... yes, think about Sartre now). Song writers get their inspiration mainly from everyday life the themes being family, kids, love, loneliness, unhappiness, misery, poverty, drinking, cheating, sin, self-destruction… The list seems to have no end (country and Chuck Norris approach infinity). The song can be really about anything… but the atmosphere is mainly gloomy.
Not to shock you with too much of hermeneutics, we’ll list the most recurrent subjects. According to Seven Great Themes of Country Music (a compendium of knowledge about what real cowboys listen to, and a barometer of your feeling towards it) most common subjects of lyrics are:
1. Deeply Tragic Incidents
· Roy Acuff The Wreck On The Highway
· Emmylou Harris Mary Danced with Soldiers (dancing is not the worst thing that happened to her)
2. The Piercing Sting Of Regret
· Waylon Jennings Let's Turn Back The Years
· The Notting Hillbillies Feel Like Going Home (sometimes I really, really do)
· Emmylou Harris & Ralph Stanley I Never Will Marry
· Patsy Cline Why Can't He Be You
3. Heart-Wrenching Loneliness
· Loretta Lynn Miss Being Mrs (with a little bit of naughtiness)
· Patsy Cline She's Got You
· Ted Hawkins The Good And The Bad
4. The Soul-Crushing Angst of Unrequited Love
· George Jones He Stopped Loving Her Today (a song for a good memory)
· George Jones She Thinks I Still Care
· Patsy Cline I Fall To Pieces
5. The Demon Drink Has Been My Ruin
· Johnny Cash Sunday Morning Coming Down (so much of a personal story behind it)
· Ted Hawkins There Stands The Glass
6. I Love You, Yet You Cause Me Great Suffering
· Hank Williams You Win Again (winner takes much, but not all)
· Hank Williams Your Cheatin' Heart
· Hank Williams Cold, Cold Heart
· Hank Williams Take These Chains From My Heart
7. I Am The Cause Of My Own Pain
· Johnny Cash Hurt
· Hank Williams Crazy Heart
We seriously recommend Johny Cash's Hurt and Ted Hawkins's The Good and The Bad.
Cash is so sad, so completely aware of his failure and blaim that it really is taugh to listen to the song. But it's amazing. Plus the guitar!
On the other hand, Hawkins had an incredicble voice (he was an African American). You'll be probably surprised with such a voice in such a repertoire (blues but not-blues).
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