4 Reasons Country Music is Actually Kind of Good

When one drives 12 hours in one day from Florida to Kentucky, as I did this past weekend, one gets pretty darn desperate for ways to occupy the time. Usually, I bring plenty of podcasts and CDs to listen to, but I was out of podcasts and while going 75 on the interstate is not always the best time to search for new CDs. NPR was playing classical music, as it often does in the southern states. I was stuck. Desperate. And there was no way I was going to listen to Top 40 radio.

So I did the unthinkable: I listened to a country music station.

At first, I was listening ironically. It’s easy to find entertainment when listening to such hits as “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” But as I continued to listen to the top 7 songs of the Foxworthy Countdown, I found myself not only really enjoying the music, but also finding an odd affinity for the whole genre of country music. People who know me well know that this represents the beginning of the end of the world.

So, as we await the implicitly imminent return of Christ, I thought I might share with you some things I really appreciate about this mysterious world of country music.

1. An Appreciation for the “Old Guard” Remember that guy who sand “Chatahootchee” way back in the day, when you went through that country music phase (oh wait, is that just me?)? Well, he’s got the current number one hit song right now in country music! And that’s not just a fluke! The country music charts are filled with older country music stars who weren’t cast out and left to fend for themselves like much of the music industry we’re familiar with. Not only does this demonstrate loyalty, but it also demonstrates an encouraging respect for those who have come before us. While much of pop music is obsessed with throwing off the old ways and embracing younger and younger stars, country music seems to be just as obsessed with the “been there, done that” crowd.
2. An Acceptance of Family Life Pop music as a rule seems to have an utter disregard for the family, not only in the content of its lyrics, but in its demands and expectations for artists. But as I listened to a few interviews with several country music stars, I started noticing that they spoke a lot about their family, and they seemed to be able to make them a priority in the context of the “Big Country Star” life. And from what I gathered, the fans and radio stations that support them wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just a part of the culture.
3. An Esteem for “Home” While pop music is often about running away or doing your own thing, country music loves nothing more than “back home,” a place where you can be around those you trust, go to your home church, honor your parents, and feel comfortable raising your kids. While this isn’t the best way for everyone, I do feel like many in our culture tend to leave home simply out of rebellion or escape. Plus, I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that our constant longing for “home” points to a more eternal longing we all have for a place that will truly be our home.
4. Lyrically and musically, a lot of it is actually kind of good. Here’s the thing: I haven’t given country music enough credit. The truth is, like most genres, it has good and bad bands, artists and songs within it. Toby Keith is an example of bad country music. But I heard quite a few truly good songs that seemed to be celebrated for all the right reasons, including the fact that they were just good, artistically.

I’m sure there’s more than this, but this is just the sort of thing I became acutely aware of after listening to country music for about 30 minutes… until I couldn’t take it anymore and had to cleanse my palate with some Sufjan Stevens.