I am, without shame, OK in admitting that I love Country-Western Music.
I was raised on it. My grandmother always had the radio in the kitchen tuned into the coutry music station and on Saturday nights (I think it was saturday nights), my grandfather ALWAYS watched the Variety program "Hee-Haw."
I loved the skits and the country music guest stars and my favorite skit was when the women were encircling the wash tub and singing..."Well, where not one's to go around spreading rumors, why really we're just not the gossip kind, no you'll never hear one of us repeating gossip...so you better be sure and listen close the first time." I used to laugh so hard when this particular skit came on that my grandfather would threaten me with sending me to bed if I didn't "Hiesh"...(Country word for Be Quiet)
Guests included such lengendary performers as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Charly Pride, Charly McClain...the list goes on and on.
But, those were the good ole' days I guess.....Country Music isn't the same anymore, unfortunately.
Female country singers, such as Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Leann Rimes to name a few, proclaim themselves as country music artists and in truth...they are not. They are without a doubt cashing in on Pop Crossover Fame. Their music is NOT based on the premise of what Country Music is about....and it's unfortunate.
I wont just single out the females singers here. Tim McGraw, Garth (Can I Puke Now?)Brooks and the men of Lone Star...are not historys George Jones and Waylon Jennings. None of them possess that "Quality".
I miss Country Music's basic steel guitar mixed with an over the top country twang...call me crazy. But I do. I miss the simple straight forward love songs. Songs written by and sung from the heart.
Atleast Dolly Parton has gone back to her roots. That of Blue Grass music AND atleast we still have Allison Krauss. You all will have to excuse...I am merely reminising of a time gone by. "Hee Hee A Haw Haw Haw....HEE-HAW"