Country music has always been that one genre where many would be quick to turn off, skip, and fuss about; the misunderstood and “hillbilly” genre if you must. A lot of people hear “country” and immediately picture cowboy boots, tractors, chords of sadness from a guitar, and a song about Saturday night. So basically, if something happened to you, there was probably a country song about it…or there would be one soon. But those stereotypes don’t tell the full story.
The truth is that country music is one of the most story driven genres out there, which focuses on those real-life experiences like family, heartbreak, growing up, and those everyday struggles.
“I personally like artists like Chris Stapleton, Brett Young, Luke Bryan, and Sam Hunt because they all have different styles but still keep that country feeling,” senior Emma Galaviz expressed.
She believes that if more people actually gave country music a chance rather than judging on stereotypes, they would realize it’s a lot better and more relatable than what it’s given credit for. Who knows, you might find yourself singing along in the car (No shame in that. We won’t judge).
Country music actually has deeper roots in American history, more than people may know. It originated in the rural Southern United States, especially in the Appalachian region, where a mix of cultural influences developed it. European immigrants from Ireland and Scotland brought folk traditions and instruments such as the Fiddle (similar to a violin, used to play folk and country music). African American musicians brought in banjos, blue rhythms, and that emotional depth you hear. Gospel has also helped play a role in the music we hear today, shaping that theme of faith and community. Not many realize just how much music developed through generations, not just from one single person but a whole group of people.
Not everyone shares the same opinion on country.
“I think it’s cool,” said sophomore Derek Shepherd.
Others feel differently. “I honestly don’t like country music overall, not bad at all, I just don’t listen to English as much as Spanish,” said senior Andrea Valverde.
Sophomore Jocelyn Santos explained that her opinion was influenced by what she heard from others. “I think the media influenced my decision on country music. I have never sat down and fully listened to a song. I’ve heard that many people didn’t like it, so I never bothered,” she said.
In other words, country music might be getting judged before it gets fully played, just like hearing a song and skipping it after five seconds because “It wasn’t giving that vibe.”
These different views of country music just shows how it hasn’t always been the genre you would hear when someone is asked, “What’s your favorite music genre?” At least not as much as you would hear for Rap, Pop, Rock, Jazz, or even Classical. It’s not that they don’t know of the genre, it’s just not many’s favorite. Whether someone loves it, avoids it, or even listens to it here and there, country continues to be an important part of American culture. And who knows? If more gave it a chance, and I mean a real chance, not just the first five seconds or lyric but at least the entirety of a song, rather than turning it down, they might find it relatable or at least learn the emotional importance of caring for a good pair of boots or your new pickup truck.
So give it a chance. I mean I had country in the background as I wrote this and I’ll tell you Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Brett Young, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, and Dolly Parton helped me write this and it’s not as bad as many say.
