Country Music 101Country Music 101

Country for Beginners

Please follow along with the Spotify Playlist.

Country for Beginners

Please follow along with the Spotify Playlist.

1. Willie Nelson 1. Willie Nelson

◊ Willie is his own category. He rocks.

◊ He’s been making music for over 35 years - “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was his first #1 hit (1975).

◊ Willie is his own category. He rocks.

◊ He’s been making music for over 35 years - “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was his first #1 hit (1975).

2. Saddle Up, Cowboy2. Saddle Up, Cowboy◊ The cowboy is often romanticized, with

artists focusing on the joys of complete freedom from “civilization”, if you will.

◊ “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was Toby Keith’s first single, which was released in 1993 and hit #1 that same year.

◊ The cowboy is often romanticized, with artists focusing on the joys of complete freedom from “civilization”, if you will.

◊ “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was Toby Keith’s first single, which was released in 1993 and hit #1 that same year.

3. Ride That Bull3. Ride That Bull◊ The rodeo is one of the cowboy’s

favorite activities, and is often the way he makes his living.

◊ “Amarillo by Morning” is one of George Strait’s many songs about life on the rodeo circuit.

◊ The rodeo is one of the cowboy’s favorite activities, and is often the way he makes his living.

◊ “Amarillo by Morning” is one of George Strait’s many songs about life on the rodeo circuit.

4. Dixie Pride4. Dixie Pride◊ Songs about the South make up a

large part of country music. These are generally a testament to the utter superiority of the South as compared to other places in the USA (i.e. the North).

◊ “Song of the South” was released by Alabama in the late 1980’s.

◊ Songs about the South make up a large part of country music. These are generally a testament to the utter superiority of the South as compared to other places in the USA (i.e. the North).

◊ “Song of the South” was released by Alabama in the late 1980’s.

5. Lots of Space5. Lots of Space

◊ Country musicians are all claustrophobic. Cities are bad. The country is good.

◊ “Wide Open Spaces” was the Dixie Chicks’ breakout hit in the late 1990’s.

◊ Country musicians are all claustrophobic. Cities are bad. The country is good.

◊ “Wide Open Spaces” was the Dixie Chicks’ breakout hit in the late 1990’s.

6. Love That Farm6. Love That Farm◊ Related to the love of open spaces,

the farm is also a topic of many a country song. In most of these songs crops of corn or cotton will be mentioned.

◊ “Where the Green Grass Grows” is by Tim McGraw (married to Faith Hill).

◊ Related to the love of open spaces, the farm is also a topic of many a country song. In most of these songs crops of corn or cotton will be mentioned.

◊ “Where the Green Grass Grows” is by Tim McGraw (married to Faith Hill).

7. I’m Poor, But My Life Is Great7. I’m Poor, But My Life Is Great

◊ Most country musicians have some kind of song about how happy they are even though they don’t have any money. Of course, these particular people actually do have money, so of course they are happy.

◊ Keith Urban’s “Who Wouldn’t Want to be Me” is a perfect example of this theme.

◊ Most country musicians have some kind of song about how happy they are even though they don’t have any money. Of course, these particular people actually do have money, so of course they are happy.

◊ Keith Urban’s “Who Wouldn’t Want to be Me” is a perfect example of this theme.

8. 18 Wheelin’8. 18 Wheelin’◊ Another common profession sung

about in country songs is driving an 18-wheeler. The lifestyle is much like that of the rodeo cowboy but a little more practical (and common).

◊ Garth Brooks has a few good truckin’ songs, but “Callin’ Baton Rouge” is more about the girl than the drivin’.

◊ Another common profession sung about in country songs is driving an 18-wheeler. The lifestyle is much like that of the rodeo cowboy but a little more practical (and common).

◊ Garth Brooks has a few good truckin’ songs, but “Callin’ Baton Rouge” is more about the girl than the drivin’.

9. Alcohol Makes Everything Better9. Alcohol Makes Everything Better◊ Drinking songs are key to understanding

country music. Life sucks (you hate your job, you lose your job, your wife leaves you, etc.) so you have to ease your pain somehow. The best way to do this is in a bar, with other people whose lives suck, and just keep chugging.

◊ Alan Jackson has many drinking songs, like any respectable country singer, and “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” is performed with Jimmy Buffet.

◊ Drinking songs are key to understanding country music. Life sucks (you hate your job, you lose your job, your wife leaves you, etc.) so you have to ease your pain somehow. The best way to do this is in a bar, with other people whose lives suck, and just keep chugging.

◊ Alan Jackson has many drinking songs, like any respectable country singer, and “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” is performed with Jimmy Buffet.

10. My Life Is Hell 10. My Life Is Hell ◊ Some people complain that country

music is too whiney. But country musicians are only expressing what we all really feel - to the beautiful music of a steel guitar, a fiddle, and maybe a harmonica.

◊ Clint Black’s “Good Run of Bad Luck” talks about what we have all experienced. When one thing goes wrong, other stuff will too.

◊ Some people complain that country music is too whiney. But country musicians are only expressing what we all really feel - to the beautiful music of a steel guitar, a fiddle, and maybe a harmonica.

◊ Clint Black’s “Good Run of Bad Luck” talks about what we have all experienced. When one thing goes wrong, other stuff will too.

11. Women In Love With the Wrong Men11. Women In Love With the Wrong Men

◊ Women always fall in love with men who are wrong for them. Cowboys are always gone, they cheat, they lie, but they apparently have something goin’ on that keeps all the women folk coming back. I guess they just look really good in cowboy boots and painted on jeans.

◊ Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That” describes a cowboy that I would really like to meet/see.

◊ Women always fall in love with men who are wrong for them. Cowboys are always gone, they cheat, they lie, but they apparently have something goin’ on that keeps all the women folk coming back. I guess they just look really good in cowboy boots and painted on jeans.

◊ Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That” describes a cowboy that I would really like to meet/see.

12. Childhood Sweethearts12. Childhood Sweethearts◊ It’s pretty common, since country folk

live in small towns, to stay with and marry your childhood sweetheart.

◊ Bryan White’s “Rebecca Lynn” was one of his first singles, but he hasn’t really produced anything lately.

◊ For further study refer to: “Check Yes or No” (George Strait); “Daddy’s Money” (Ricochet)

◊ It’s pretty common, since country folk live in small towns, to stay with and marry your childhood sweetheart.

◊ Bryan White’s “Rebecca Lynn” was one of his first singles, but he hasn’t really produced anything lately.

◊ For further study refer to: “Check Yes or No” (George Strait); “Daddy’s Money” (Ricochet)

13. Songs That Make You Cry13. Songs That Make You Cry

◊ There are lots of songs that will bring tears to your eyes. Don’t be ashamed to just let the tears flow. Nobody will mock you, promise. Just make sure you cry in the privacy of your own home.

◊ Collin Raye’s “Love, Me” was the first song that made me cry.

◊ There are lots of songs that will bring tears to your eyes. Don’t be ashamed to just let the tears flow. Nobody will mock you, promise. Just make sure you cry in the privacy of your own home.

◊ Collin Raye’s “Love, Me” was the first song that made me cry.

14. Love Is Kinda Fun14. Love Is Kinda Fun◊ A lot of more recent stuff lightens

up the whole “love” experience. ◊ “This Kiss” is by Faith Hill (married

to Tim McGraw), one of those crossover musicians whose music is popular even with people who don’t much care for country.

◊ A lot of more recent stuff lightens up the whole “love” experience.

◊ “This Kiss” is by Faith Hill (married to Tim McGraw), one of those crossover musicians whose music is popular even with people who don’t much care for country.

15. Nostalgia 15. Nostalgia

◊ Lost loves, lost chances…nostalgia is the name of this game.

◊ “Maybe it was Memphis” is by Pam Tillis (father is Mel Tillis).

◊ Lost loves, lost chances…nostalgia is the name of this game.

◊ “Maybe it was Memphis” is by Pam Tillis (father is Mel Tillis).

16. Disapproving Parents16. Disapproving Parents

◊ Most parents in country songs don’t approve of their children’s choices of significant others.

◊ “She’s in Love with the Boy” was Trisha Yearwood’s first big hit.

◊ Most parents in country songs don’t approve of their children’s choices of significant others.

◊ “She’s in Love with the Boy” was Trisha Yearwood’s first big hit.

17. Pure Heartache17. Pure Heartache

◊ Love hurts. Nothing gets that message across like a Patsy Cline song, such as “I Fall to Pieces.”

◊ Love hurts. Nothing gets that message across like a Patsy Cline song, such as “I Fall to Pieces.”

18. Other Sad Topics18. Other Sad Topics

◊ Not just romantic love is sad. Other things can be just as depressing, like family issues.

◊ Reba McIntire’s “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” is pretty darn sad.

◊ Not just romantic love is sad. Other things can be just as depressing, like family issues.

◊ Reba McIntire’s “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” is pretty darn sad.

19. Life Is Short 19. Life Is Short

◊ Carpe diem/Tempus fugit, country style.

◊ “I take my chances” is by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and she rocks. She comes from Northern Virginia!

◊ Carpe diem/Tempus fugit, country style.

◊ “I take my chances” is by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and she rocks. She comes from Northern Virginia!

20. Kind of Ridiculous20. Kind of Ridiculous

◊ With all the heartache and crying going on, we need to take a break sometimes with the utterly frivolous.

◊ Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” is hilarious.

◊ With all the heartache and crying going on, we need to take a break sometimes with the utterly frivolous.

◊ Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” is hilarious.

21. Girl Power21. Girl Power◊ Women tell men what’s what in country

music. Sure, some crawl back to the ones who treat them like crap, but some sing about their demands and let those men know who’s boss.

◊ Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” put her on the map, and became a kind of woman’s anthem.

◊ Women tell men what’s what in country music. Sure, some crawl back to the ones who treat them like crap, but some sing about their demands and let those men know who’s boss.

◊ Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” put her on the map, and became a kind of woman’s anthem.

22. The Classy Goodbye22. The Classy Goodbye◊ While most breakups are rough and

rarely handled in a classy manner, there are a surprisingly large number of country songs that describe really classy goodbyes.

◊ Ronnie Milsap’s “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” is just one example.

◊ While most breakups are rough and rarely handled in a classy manner, there are a surprisingly large number of country songs that describe really classy goodbyes.

◊ Ronnie Milsap’s “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” is just one example.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Country Music 101!

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Country Music 101!