Backwards

Music is something that everyone can listen to and enjoy. Throughout the course of this class I will be diving into different types of music and discussing some of my favorites from each genre. If there happens to be a new release that week for the genre of discussion I hope to inform you and encourage you to check it out!

All my life music has played a critical part of my day-to-day activities. Ask anyone, if I’m not listening to music in my room or car, than I’m singing into the showerhead or drumming on my desk in class. I find music everywhere. To be able to share with the class my love for music is truly a privilege. All right well enough about me, lets talk music!

This week I thought I might start off with my favorite genre; country. I know its cliché being here in Texas and all but that’s just the way it is. I am going to start off with a little history of how country was born for all you non-twangers out there. Country music traces its roots back to traditional folk, Celtic, gospel and Spanish music. Each of these different ethnic groups brought something to add to the table that is country music. The fiddle from the Irish was a huge influencer as well as the Spanish guitar. Other various instruments add to the unique sound of country such as the mandolin and the harmonica. Aside from the interesting and specialty instruments, country music tends to have great character. There is a song by Rascal Flatts that plays off of some of the absurdity with country music, its fun when artists recognize and have fun with some of the negative in music.

“You get your mind back
you get your nerves back
Your first heart attack back
You get your pride back
You get your life back
You get your first real love back
You get your big screen TV, a DVD and a washing machine
You get the pond and the lawn
The bail and the mower
You go back where you don't know her
It sounds a little crazy a little scattered and absurd
But that's what you get
When you play a country song backwards”

-“Backwards”, Racal Flatts

Country music is a great “go with the flow” and “hanging out with friends” genre of music. This week there is a new release coming out, one of my favorite artists in this field (so I have been looking forward to it for some time now) Lady Antebellum is to release their second album Need You Now January, 25, 2010. I hope y’all check it out! See you next week!