Krulik wrote:The CMT awards are on tonight, pretty much like the Oscars of Country Music. You might like some of it, might hate some of it. All the biggest stars are performing.
You can see how country music has evolved. I agree that the new genre is different. I think it has to do with appealing to a wider audience. Concerts have changed dramatically. That has a lot to do with it. These guys fill up full football stadiums and have become more of a huge drunken party, which I'm totally fine with. Johnny Cash is one of a kind, he started it all, and every single person in country music has been influenced by him. I'm not sure who is getting the "Johnny Cash Visionary Award" tonight. Last year it was Chris Gustafson and two years ago it was Reba McEntire.
Billy Ray Cyrus pretty much defined the evolution of country music. From a full out mullet in Achy Breaky Heart to designer highlights and a spot in a Disney channel kids t.v. show with his daughter. Him and his daughter "Hannah Montana" are hosting tonight btw.
Thanks for the heads up. I don't have cable though, so I'll be passing on it. You'll have to update me on what happens. Because I can't help it, here are a few quick comments.
First, I agree country music has evolved into something with a wider appeal...Pop music, which has been my contention throughout this thread.
Cash was great. There were also a lot of other greats before him and at the same time, though they currently recieve little attention. Unfortunately (in my opinion) he's now become trendy (it won't last, thank god). I can't recall the number of people who I've heard say things like, "I don't like country music, but I like Johnny Cash". If one likes Johnny Cash, there is some other country music they would like too.
I cannot disagree more with your assertion that Billy Ray Cyrus defined the transformation of country music. Billy Ray Cyrus was pop music from the start. That he had a mullett is insignificant. Once again, my original contention in this thread was that country music has become "pop with cowboy hat", though "pop with mullett" works just as well when you are talking about Billy Ray. The whole thing is more about cultivating an image of what is country, and sticking it in music videos, up on stage, or on posters, than it is about the characteristics that have run through real country music. Hippies and Junkies like Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, or even Keith Richards played more country music with their little fingers than Billy Ray will ever play in his life. And of course that says nothing of real classics like (to name a few) Hank Williams, Hank Locklin, Hank Snow, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb or perhaps my favorite, Bob Wills.
Well, I've said my peace.

Let me know if I miss something in particular that you really think I should see and I'll try to find it online.