New Country vs. Old Country
Blake Shelton vs. Old Country
Last week in a TV interview Blake Shelton said this:
“Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music,” the singer stated, adding, “And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, ‘My God, that ain’t country!’ Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jacka–. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.”
Which of course set off alarms among the Old Tradionalists in Country music. Shelton was trying to say that Country Music must keep moving forward, failing to see that among the old guard, they don't want it moving forward the way it is now. Too much Pop, not enough fiddle.
In the link above, Ray Price posted his hilarious smack-down of Shelton on his Facebook page (if Price indeed wrote it, I'm skeptical).
It's amazing that a Modern day Country act would make a statement like that. Usually Country singers adhere to the old tradionalist ways. The Outlaw movement of the 70's, with Waylon & Willie, was supposed to be a rebuke of the safe and staid Nashville. But deep down even those guys turned out to be fans of Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, etc.
There's no way, though, that a Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire or a George Strait makes those comments.
Shelton's always had a smart mouth on him, that's gotten him in trouble on Twitter.
But the funny thing about him is that he really is an Old Country fan. He said so himself last year at the CMA's.
So, I don't think he was taking a shot at the old genre. But he's just tired of hearing people yelling at him as to what is and isn't Country music.
Here's what will happen next: a duets album with old timer Country acts. Definitely with Ray Price. Every popular Country singer has done one of those. Shelton's a smart guy. He'll make amends.
Last week in a TV interview Blake Shelton said this:
“Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music,” the singer stated, adding, “And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, ‘My God, that ain’t country!’ Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jacka–. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.”
Which of course set off alarms among the Old Tradionalists in Country music. Shelton was trying to say that Country Music must keep moving forward, failing to see that among the old guard, they don't want it moving forward the way it is now. Too much Pop, not enough fiddle.
In the link above, Ray Price posted his hilarious smack-down of Shelton on his Facebook page (if Price indeed wrote it, I'm skeptical).
It's amazing that a Modern day Country act would make a statement like that. Usually Country singers adhere to the old tradionalist ways. The Outlaw movement of the 70's, with Waylon & Willie, was supposed to be a rebuke of the safe and staid Nashville. But deep down even those guys turned out to be fans of Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, etc.
There's no way, though, that a Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire or a George Strait makes those comments.
Shelton's always had a smart mouth on him, that's gotten him in trouble on Twitter.
But the funny thing about him is that he really is an Old Country fan. He said so himself last year at the CMA's.
So, I don't think he was taking a shot at the old genre. But he's just tired of hearing people yelling at him as to what is and isn't Country music.
Here's what will happen next: a duets album with old timer Country acts. Definitely with Ray Price. Every popular Country singer has done one of those. Shelton's a smart guy. He'll make amends.
posted by Tom Lane at 4:33 AM
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