No Keith Urban, Synth and Drums Tracks Are Not Like Strings and Chorus
So indulge me for a minute, because I was farting off on the internet yesterday as I am apt to do, when I came across a headline that read, “Keith Urban and the new school of ‘countrypolitan’ music.” As I’m sure many of you are aware by now, I’m kind of a country music nut, so I decided to take a gander. Mixing Keith Urban with countrypolitan sounded like an interesting topic.
So I get to reading this article, which is clearly a puff piece promoting an upcoming Keith Urban concert, and just about flipped my lid when I read some of the quotes from our lovable little pop country icon from Australia.
What he said at first was standard fare—the same crap we’ve been hearing for years from current pop stars who call themselves country, trying to justify their trespasses by saying what they’re doing is no different from what Jim Reeves or Patsy Cline did back in the day and the music must evolve.
“I see [country music] doing what it’s done since the late ’50s and early ’60s: drawing elements from pop music into itself to take the genre to a different place,” Urban says.
Yes Keith, you and others are taking country music to a place that’s distinctly not country. Of course back in the day, countrypolitan with its overproduced strings and choruses was criticized by many genre purists too, and still is by some today. Over time though, the countrypolitan sound has grown on many classic country fans, especially when you compare it to the riff raff of today.
But this was the quote from Keith that set me off.
“Back then, it was the big, lush orchestra, and now it’s drum machines and synthesizers,” Urban says, as if that’s an equal trade off. What is the difference between now and then, strings and choruses vs. drum machines and synthesizers? Let me try to illustrate…
– – – – – – – – –
Here we have a human being. It is a carbon-based living organism, bipedal in nature, intelligent (usually), with advanced language skills and the ability to fashion and utilize tools, inhabiting the 3rd planet from the sun in the earth-recognized solar system residing in the Milky Way Galaxy. Though highly advanced for a living organism, the human is inclined to err on a regular basis, and is often influenced by emotion, making the creation of musical sounds a fallible enterprise, yet instilling each individual performance with taste, uniqueness, emotion, character, originality, and soul.
This is a computer (drum machine pictured). Rigid, predictable, infallible, constant and cold, it spits out 1’s and 0’s in exact precision and accuracy to the demands it is programmed to execute, never making a mistake, never disobeying its commands (mostly), and never offering anything ingenious or original. It has no soul.
Even though large orchestrations or highly-choreographed choir sections are undoubtedly elements of overproduction, they are still by definition organic. There is still a human element to them, in both the performance and the arrangement. Many still believe strings and choirs have no place in country music, and that’s a fair argument to make. But comparing them to the electronic accoutrements of the day is poppycock, not to mention many of those countrypolitan compositions were much better written and performed songs in general, even if they veered away from traditional country themes. Today, it’s hard to find any redeeming elements in the music of artists like Keith Urban, especially his recent record Ripcord.
There is nothing wrong with synthesizers and drum machines in music … in their proper context. There are some folks doing astounding things with electronic music that can take you to audio vistas no human-played instrument is capable of. But that’s not country music. Country music is from the country. That’s why it’s called “country.”
It seems like an incredibly simple point to make, but it’s so important to understanding the cultural divide that is making country music such a polarized environment these days. Yes, pop has always had its part in country, but drum machines have not. Keith Urban goes on to say that he’s utilized drum machines in his music since his debut in 1999. And you can tell that by listening. That’s why there’s no mojo, because the music has been anesthetized by electronics. “Those elements which used to be buried in my records have now just come to the front a lot more,” Urban goes on to say. And parallel to this trend, any elements of substance have disappeared from Urban’s music.
The irony here is that Keith Urban himself is a great guitar player, at least technically speaking. He’s one of the best in the mainstream. But you won’t hear that on his Ripcord album. It’s been replaced by synthesizers and programming. It might even be okay to add a little moog or even synthesizer to some country music, if the music it’s being added to is actually good from the start, or its an addition on top of the music, instead of an essential building block of it. Urban can say whatever he wants in interviews; deep down he knows this trend is adverse for music. Same goes with the last album from Zac Brown Band. You have this excellent assemblage of musicians, and yet multiple songs rely on Zac’s vocals and someone sitting behind a laptop.
We don’t want music to be perfect, because as humans, we are not perfect. We want music to engage us through the inspiration the musicians are feeling as they perform where each moment is unique, whether it’s captured in a studio, or performed live. You want perfection from your music, there are certainly those options out there in the marketplace. But in country, as we’re listening to songs about cheating and broken hearts, about falling down, about losing and making mistakes, we want the music to be real. Because our problems, and are joys are real. We can feel them, just like we can that classic country music.
JB
August 25, 2016 @ 9:05 am
This may be the best post you’ve ever written. Sentence for sentence, argument for argument. Two guns way up. Thank you.
I also appreciate that you mentioned Keith Urban’s closeted talent. The other day I was on a road trip listening to a classic country station and they played Urban’s rendition of “I’ll Fly Away”. It was excellent. The vocals were stirring, the production was appropriately pared, and the impression was of a skills artist singing simply and sincerely. Like ZBB, it almost makes it worse to know that some of the culprits behind this newest and most pernicious brand of countrypolitanism are capable of making really good country music. We know by his support of Sturgill and other quality acts that he has good taste.
Trigger
August 25, 2016 @ 9:29 am
I think it’s foolish to believe that all of these superstars that have ascended to the top of country have zero talent. It’s just been buried beneath production and bled out of their music. I’ve seen Keith Urban play guitar and sing. He’s not nearly as bad as is evidenced on his new album “Ripcord,” which basically relies on programming from beginning to end.
JB
August 25, 2016 @ 9:48 am
It’s true. Sometimes I wonder if Sam Hunt actually has above-average lyrical ability (his stool-and-guitar versions of old country songs are also rather impressive), or if Luke Bryan might really have a pleasantly lithe singing voice (even if he always sounds like he’s about to cry), or if Dan + Shay might deserve some credit for pitch acuity (even if they sound like 98 Degrees decided to cover Rascal Flatts). Hard to tell.
No such considerations about Florida Georgia Line or this Tucker Bethart guy, though. Talent can be guessed at; lack of talent is fairly obvious
Summer Jam
August 25, 2016 @ 3:02 pm
Sam Hunt and Keith Urban are both talented musicians. Like Trig said, electronic noise washes away any type of talent that artists like Urban have. Hunt’s Montevallo may not be country, nor Urban’s Ripcord, but the stripped down songs they have made and not released to the general public show their true talent. Hunt’s acoustic songs are not only country sounding but impressive, and he needs to get the balls to release something like that to radio. Urban used to have great songs on the radio, I have one of his oldest albums and then i purchased Ripcord last week, the difference between the two is unbelievable, to the point of where most people that do not know his old music would not recognize it’s the same artist. We have seen the same shit happen to Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and Chris Young. Chesney is a pretty decent artist, but look at him now, he sold out. Bentley was one of country music’s gatekeepers and look at him now, one of the biggest sellouts i have ever seen in any type of industry. Chris Young sold out to pop country and bro country, but hes still pretty good. Country music has gone to hell, Jon Pardi, William Michael Morgan, Craig Campbell, Chris Janson, and Tim McGraw are the only artists on radio that are keeping it country right now.
Lucas
August 25, 2016 @ 5:28 pm
I watched an acoustic version of Come Over by Sam Hunt, and even though he is one of the least country out of many pop country acts, he is actually a decent singer. As for Keith Urban, as much as I didn’t like Wasted Time, I like that he can play multiple instruments. I think it’s safe to say that most musicians in any genre have at least one redeeming quality that allows them to stand out.
Tina Lovell
August 25, 2016 @ 5:40 pm
What I would love to say to Keith, and please understand I am a fan of his since 2004, is before you know it, he won’t need a band. Just a drum machine and synthesizer on stage. Such a damn shame. Keith’s live performances are something to behold. Highly charged, great band and his phenomenal guitar playing. That is what I want to hear on an album. I heard a couple of tracks from the new album and wanted to cry. Where is the Keith who did “Golden Road” and “Be Here”? Or even harkening back to his days in The Ranch. That was what country is to me. Not this nonsense today.
the pistolero
August 25, 2016 @ 9:52 am
Hoo-boy, do I EVER have some things to say about this when I get back to a real computer…
jmarsh123
August 25, 2016 @ 9:58 am
Great article! I’ve long said regardless of genre, machine music sucks the soul out of music. Autotune and drum machines were the worst things ever to happen to music.
I used to listen exclusively to rock, but can barely find anything not overproduced anymore and would much rather listen to a 60’s oldies station over newer music.
Thankfully there are still real country artist producing organic music out there. You just wouldn’t know it listening to the radio. 95% of songs are completely lifeless and have no soul leading to a completely homogenous sound.
Kevin Smith
August 25, 2016 @ 10:26 am
Before Keith Urban was Keith Urban as we know him…pop country pretty boy from Australia, wooing women age 25 to 50 with saccharine laced lyrical pistaches of sugary diabetes coma inducing ultra lame pseudo country, he had a band called The Ranch. I had their album. Keith played killer guitar on a track called Clutterbilly.He had a great country sound all around and he had a brilliant song called Hank don’t fail me now and some other good ones like Ghost in this Guitar. Although the album had a bit of a rock vibe it still had enough country elements in it, and no drum machines. If he had stuck to that sound, we would no doubt be applauding him…but ..The Ranch went nowhere…he split, retooled his sound and blammo…overnight superstar of mediocrity. But his business instincts were right cause look who’s cashing the big checks now.
Kent
August 25, 2016 @ 10:38 am
I think this is a sticker for you Trigger…
https://www.instagram.com/p/pInbg8Atzd/?taken-by=scottski95
Society for the re humanization of American music… Dumb question but Does any such society exist ?… 🙂
I miss Stevie Gaines
August 25, 2016 @ 10:53 am
WOW, Trigg must have got hold of something Good last night, I’m afraid I’m going to need wikipedia, to keep reading these post! Oh, going to see Gillian Welch tonight!!!
Lucas
August 25, 2016 @ 11:12 am
I can pretty much relate to this when comparing Whitney Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You to Dolly Parton’s version. Whitney’s version has powerful vocals, but the entire thing doesn’t affect me emotionally, kind of like with many other generic ballads. Dolly Parton’s version may not involve high notes, but she does a much better job at emoting and making me feel something, which is why I prefer Dolly’s version.
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
August 25, 2016 @ 11:48 am
I gotta give you credit Trigger for really growing up and maturing. Usually you go out of your way to find the most unflattering, awkward picture of an artist or personality to put up in your articles, but I must say, the third picture in this article may be the best picture of Sam Hunt I’ve ever seen.
the pistolero
August 25, 2016 @ 3:50 pm
Oh, you WIN!
FeedThemHogs
August 25, 2016 @ 1:02 pm
I feel like I can tie this in on this post… So I’ll try.
I saw the Dixie Chicks in St. Louis last night. And although I didn’t care for the Beyonce and Prince covers, (I came here to hear country music, dammit!) I could appreciate the Chicks putting their own spin on the songs. And hearing them play their banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, guitar, etc, was the highlight of the whole show for me. I enjoy all of their music, from honky-tonk traditional Tonight The Heartache’s On Me all the way through the pop-country ‘Fly’ album, acoustic masterpiece ‘Home,’ and even ‘Taking The Long Way.’ Besides Natalie having a distinctive, powerful yet controlled voice, the instrumentation is what keeps me listening. Although Cowboy Take Me Away sounded different live last night (they didn’t have a steel on stage, which hurt that song) when Martie opened that fiddle up on that song, I could just feel the culmination of me waiting a long time to see them live all bubbling up inside me. It was one of those moments when the music moved me. I’ve yet to feel that way from hearing a drum machine or a synth.
Also, as an aside, some band called Smooth Hound Smith opened for the Chicks last night. They brought a life-sized stuffed goat out on stage to “play harmonica.” Still more country than Samantha Hunt.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
I want to start by saying that I am a huge Keith Urban fan myself. I’m 13 and I’ve been a fan since as long as I can remember. I do think that he pushed the boundaries of “country music”, but that’s not always a bad thing. Music is expanding and changing in every aspect and it always will. This is just a very modernized time right now. Several artists’ music besides Keith’s don’t sound traditionally “country”, but it’s been that way for years. Fix by Chris Lane is one of the biggest songs on country radio right now and that’s most certainly not tradional country, but who cares? Obviously people enjoy it. The mistake made by pop-country critics is this: Y’all only think about the label of the music, not how the music sounds. Ok so maybe some people don’t like the machinery in Keith’s new music, but that doesn’t mean everyone dislikes it. Maybe if we didn’t think of music being labeled as “country” or “pop”, then we would have a much wider taste in music. If a song connects with u, then it’s not a bad song. And I know that being 13, I wasn’t born in the era where Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard, ect., were dominating country radio, but I was born and raised in the south with an extremely southern lifestyle, so that doesn’t mean that my point is absolutely useless. (Which living in the south doesn’t mean anything either because anyone from anywhere can enjoy country music but still). I listen to and very much enjoy traditional country, as well as traditional rock, I just think that if we would overlook all this “genre” nonsense and listen to the story within the music, we would enjoy music a whole lot more. This has just been my personal opinion, but I hope someone understands where I’m coming from. Just please don’t bash one artist for something when several artists are doing the same thing in the same genre of music. Thanks 🙂
FeedThemHogs
August 25, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
Not looking to start an argument here, because you have some good points, however…
“…listen to the story within the music…”
This is the problem. Where are the stories in this overproduced, poorly written garbage that is being made? They are non-existent! ‘Fix’ has no story. ‘John Cougar John Deere etc’ has no story. I’ll admit, Keith had some decent songs early on, some that I enjoy thoroughly. But lately, him, and most of the others up there are not telling stories, the songs they sing do nothing to stir emotion within a person. Find me an ENTIRE ALBUM from a mainstream star with as much emotion put into a story set to music as Natalie Maines and the Chicks packed into the SINGLE SONG Traveling Soldier, (yes, I know they didn’t write it, that credit goes to Mr. Robison) and I’ll jump off the grand canyon.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 2:32 pm
Ok… Well everyone has a right to their opinion so you’re right in your own way, but I PERSONALLY think John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 has it’s own cool little story. He didn’t write the song, but he made it his own. And about the “Find me an ENTIRE ALBUM….” I think Be Here by Keith is a good example to that TO ME. Also, I’m like the crazed obsessed Keith fan that literally knows almost everything there is to know about him, and I know the back story on most of the songs he wrote. Tonight I Wanna Cry, which is featured on Be Here, is one of the toughest songs he’s ever written, because it was from such a personal place. That’s his own words and u hear it in the song. Now I know that most Keith fans that have read/will read this will most likely try to defend Keith just because their his fans, but that’s not why I’m doing it. If anyone has ever seen as many interviews and such about him (which is basically every single one ever made, lol) they know how sweet, humble, generous, and heart felt he is. The emotion he puts into his songs, and even the one’s he didn’t write like Break On Me, are incredible. But like I’ve stated 4 times, this is just my opinion. Not saying this in a standoffish way AT ALL, just trying to say what I feel should be said 🙂
FeedThemHogs
August 25, 2016 @ 2:47 pm
Sounds like you are into Keith Urban about as much as I am into the Dixie Chicks!
Tonight I Wanna Cry is a great song. Been a long time since I heard that one. THAT is what I want to hear in a song. I was mostly talking about more recent mainstream albums, because back in 04, when ‘Be Here’ came out, (I had to look that up) there was still great music being made at the top of the mainstream country genre. But anymore, it’s just not there.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 2:50 pm
Awesome! Glad we can agree on the song! And ok! You seem to hold a very strong opinion so I’m gonna put this discussion to rest! Thanks for all the great points you’ve made 🙂
Summer Jam
August 25, 2016 @ 3:11 pm
You seem just a little bit too mature and smart for being 13…..dunno how much i believe that…
If you are really 13, Keith Urban was making music before you were even born, kid. I have his 1st album here on my desk that is older than you.
Facts are, he is a talented artist. But you are missing the point of Trig’s article. Urban has received SIGNIFICANT radio airplay throughout his entire career, he did NOT need to sell out to this pop crap with electronic drum beats, he was already makin an assload of cash and could have kept doing his usual music that was actually pretty good and (arguably) country. I have Ripcord and there is not ONE song on it with a real drum set, it is purely electronic, and need I say very generic. It reminds me of the mid 2000’s pop music when most artists were using the same beat, same drum tracks, same everything, it was incredibly generic and tasteless. Urban’s music is by a mile some of the least-country-sounding music on country radio at this time.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 3:22 pm
Ok well I don’t like the fact that u don’t believe me about my age because I have very strict morals for myself about integrity and honesty. U don’t have to be an adult to be mature, just wanna make that very clear. I also know that he was making music before my time. I have all of his albums right here beside me on my fold up table in a basket. And I’m gonna disregard most of what u said because like I’ve told other people here, we all have our own opinions, but I am gonna comment on where u said Keith “did not need to sell out to this pop crap…”. I’m gonna say this in shortest, least argumenative way possible. If Keith wanted to express himself with those sonic beats and such in Ripcord, then yes, he did need to make his music sound that way. And another part I wanted to comment on is where u said Keith has “some of the least-country-sounding music on country radio…”. Here is a GREAT example of what I mean by labels. If music wasn’t labeled by genres, no one would be complaining. This is why I choose artists, not genres. But unfortunately, music is labeled just like the rest of the world. That is all I would like to say. Thank u for your input 🙂
Summer Jam
August 25, 2016 @ 6:05 pm
Again, I do understand your point. But as others have said here, country music no longer country music or even pop country if you take away everything that makes it country. I disagree entirely with your “genre” statement – if Urban wants to “express himself” through electronic drum beats and bending the genre into something it never has been (which actually means they know their music ain’t country, it’s just a nice way of country artists that sell out admitting they are doing pop music now), then he needs to go to the top 40 pop genre which covers a very wide variety of different sounding music. I don’t care what anyone says, Ripcord is just not country music in any way (save for the token banjo in a few of the songs). it is undeniably music that would fit in on top 40 pop radio and if Urban wants to keep this crap up, that is where he needs to go.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 6:10 pm
Ok I’m basically just skip reading at this point because I didn’t expect to still be answering these comments, but I’m just gonna say that it’s fine that u disagree with my genre theory, and I totally agree that Ripcord isn’t traditionally country…. But obviously millions of people enjoy it. But u can’t win ’em all right? So I understand where you’re coming from
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
Let me start by saying, great post. If you hadn’t stated your age, I wouldn’t have known it was written from a younger persons perspective. There’s some really good information here. And seeing your prospective brings light to some of the bigger issues at hand.
One of the biggest problems in country music and music in general are the record labels. They are the ones pushing the radio plays, records and what the artiest can and cannot do. And this is why we see so many talented artist wasting their talent on crap music. We have always had artist being very successful doing their own thing but they are not household names. Up until recently, some newer artist knocked down this door and said I’ll play what I want to play on my own terms and we are seeing some of the record labels giving them that freedom. I agree, if you make good music with or without a choir or drum machine, by all means, us them. But at the end of the day, if you are still putting out shitty music, swapping out the word Evolve for Shitty doesn’t cut it.
Pushing the limits of music isn’t a bad thing but let the artist do it, not the labels. Whether it be country, rock, pop or whatever music, the artist needs to be in control. I don’t listen to mainstream radio on any level of music, it’s all pretty much crap to me. Thats not to say its not popular or makes a ton of money, it does but its how it is marketed and who its marketed to. I get it, I’m on the outside and labels aren’t marketing the music to me. I’m lucky, I get to live in a great music city and was introduced to the singer/songwriter music at an early age. I’m guessing most people relay on country radio to show them what country music is.
The record labels can’t ignore the success that a lot of artist are having and this is all being done with limit radio play. Artist like Keith Urban are nothing more than a puppet being told what to do. I’m not trying to pin Keith Urban as a bad artist, he can play the guitar very well and has some decent songs. But to put out the crap he’s putting out and say its evolving and music has to evolve, I call bullshit. He and others don’t have what it takes to tell the labels FU. Which is fine there seems to be a market for it still. But they will find themselves on the side of the road while newer artist with no radio play pass them up.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 2:40 pm
Thank u 🙂 all I want to comment about your reply is about the part where u said that Keith is “nothing more than a puppet being told what to do”. I’ve watched pretty much every single video made about Keith, (that might come off as creepy to some people), and that being said, I’ve seen the behind the scenes footage of several of his songs. Now I will admit back during the making of Golden Road and Be Here, it did seem that way. But if you’ve seen any behind the scenes footage that is up to date, he has taken control of his music. He doesn’t let the producers and such impose on his ideas that he feels are right. I know that some people don’t agree with Keith’s style right now and that’s okay, but more people enjoy it than not, and that’s been proven by his fans. He makes the music that settles right with him and if it connects with people then that’s fantastic, he’s done his job. But if it doesn’t, then oh well, it’s most likely connected with someone else somewhere along the line. Not meaning any of this in a negative way, just saying I feel 🙂
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 2:50 pm
No, same here. Wasnt saying anything negative towards you or your post. And to be honest, I really can’t comment on what Urban has done throughout his career, I don’t follow him. My comments were more of a general comment towards mainstream music. And agreed, if Urban is making the music he wants to make, more power to him. But it’s hard for me to believe that from what I have heard.
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 2:53 pm
Okay! Well u know the saying “U can’t believe everything u hear” but I guess that goes for me too, seeming as how I’ve poured out all this Keith info onto u. But if u believe that, then that’s cool. This has been very informal! Thanks!
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 5:35 pm
Fair enough, you certainly know your Urban facts and that’s better than most post on here. We can agree to disagree but it safe to say you understand the issues at hand. I’m just happy to see younger people engaged in music and can speak about it with substance.
Kevin Smith
August 25, 2016 @ 3:36 pm
Thanks for the insight Daisy. You communicate your points very well and there is a logic behind what you think. Yes, Keith Urban sells lots of records, sells out concerts etc…etc.. Many folks love what he does. Putting this in perspective however, consider the source of this article and the people like me who regularly read it and comment. Saving Country Music is written for just that purpose: Saving Country Music. Many of us feel that the industry long ago abandoned true Country Music. They instead have opted to go in a very Pop sounding direction. Thats fine for many, just don’t call it Country. Like many other commentors on this public blog, I am old enough to be your Dad and have many years of listening and following country music. Many of us who go to this site are gonna be snarky, sarcastic and curmudgeonly when assessing current industry trends and that’s kind of the point of this site. See my coment above for exhibit A. This isn’t a super fan site where Keith Urban fans were meant to gather…you can find that elsewhere. What do we geek about? Real, hardcore country music…think Hank, Hank Jr, Hank 3, Waylon, Merle, Willie, Johnny, DAC, Ernest Tubb, Marty Stuart, Lefty Frizzell, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless, Don Williams, Gene Watson and a hundred others. We follow modern artists like Chris Stapleton, Jason isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, Dale Watson etc etc. Those are people many of us believe are going in the right direction. Do we get our way with the big time industry? No!!!! And that’s A-ok with us.
Its funny in a way, you obviously found a link to a Keith Urban story and found yourself here smack in the middle of a bunch of crazed lunatic fans of Traditional and Alternative country! But consider this an amazing discovery and keep reading this site and you may discover a big world you never knew existed. Free Education…heck a year reading this site regularly and you are on your way to getting the equivalent of a Country Music Bachelors Degree. Happy Listening!
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 3:44 pm
Thanks!! And yes, very true about Saving Country Music. And I’m obviously just a crazed Keith Urban fan who got struck with a sour note on some things I read and decided to state my opinions. Sorry if I’ve offended any of the regular readers on this site… didn’t think about that…. I was just trying to maybe guide some people away from, (with lack of a better term), “putting down” Keith’s style. Thanks for the nice words!
albert
August 25, 2016 @ 6:06 pm
Daisy ….I am , in fact , old enough to be your grampa and I’ve heard a TON of music in my lifetime ….great music from every genre under the sun .
What Keith Urban does is up to him and yes you are right …he has an amazing fan following so yes …people do like his music and they buy it and support it , as you are doing . All good . I love Bob Marley but I wouldn’t want him to be playlisted on my local country radio station . I love Tony Bennett but don’t play him on the country station…I’d CRAWL to a concert to see Esperanza Spalding ( sp ), but would NOT want to hear her on my country radio station , I don’t want to hear John Williams , the Boston Pops , Maroon Five , Beyonce , Ed Sheeran or KEITH URBAN on my country station because they are taking valuable and important promotional AIRTIME from REAL country music artists , which none of the above are . NONE OF THEM …..no ….not even Keith , as good an artist as many believe he is . And that’s ALL we are saying here . REAL country artists are struggling to make a living playing REAL country music ….GREAT writing , stories , instrumentation , emotion-filled narratives …while radio keeps CALLING some new thing COUNTRY MUSIC and putting it on COUNTRY radio . This is not only misleading and depriving real country fans of some GREAT music but it is an outright LIE to sell other genres as COUNTRY music .
If you were a lover of OPERA and someone threw Sam Hunt on your favourite OPERA stream and called it OPERA , would you not be a little upset ?. And if it happened over and over and over again with dozens of artists who’ve decided that WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS OPERA . would you not be asking ” Wait …where is the OPERA music I love and cherish and why is my OPERA station playing THIS and calling it OPERA ?
Oh ….I see ….because it is selling . Oh …well that’s OK then , I guess . As long as someone one is buying it I don’t mind not hearing REAL OPERA on my OPERA station ”
THAT is what we are saying here . I think you GET IT …right …?
Daisy
August 25, 2016 @ 6:14 pm
I appreciate u typing all that, but I just skip read over most of it… But I saw several good points. I didn’t mean to make anyone upset but I have a feeling I have. I’m just going to rest my Keith case by saying this: I understand that some people like Keith and some people don’t. Everyone has their own opinions to things. Thanks for everyone’s input on my comments!
albert
August 25, 2016 @ 6:25 pm
Unfortunately , Daisy , ” skip-reading” over a heartfelt rationale for SAVING COUNTY MUSIC is kinda like not caring about radio NOT playing country music , which is why ” country ‘ radio is in the state it’s in .
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 1:26 pm
Poppycock, never heard or seen this word before but it works so well in this article. Keith Urban sucks a lot of poppycock.
Joking aside, well written article. I’m tired of hearing artist use the excuse that music needs to evolve. Sure, evolve, but make good music if your “evolving”. Shitty music is still shitty music.
Lucas
August 25, 2016 @ 1:40 pm
Yeah, I don’t like the evolution excuse either. I wouldn’t want to order a grilled steak and instead be served a plate of broccoli and be told that “my steak evolved” or “this is new steak.” That would be beyond crass.
Jmarsh123
August 25, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
My go to argument when someone tries to claim evolution:
Evolution is ape evolving into man. Evolution according to shitty pop artists pretending to be country is akin to ape evolving into a fish.
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 8:07 pm
Exactly. You never heard Merle, Waylon, Simpson and the list goes on, say they need to evolve. They just did it without labeling it and without thinking about it.
Take Honky Tonk Heros for example. That was an entire album composed of BJS songs. Did Waylon say he did that because his music was evolving? Or that music has to evolve so I’m doing this? No, he did it cause he wanted to and that happened to open up a huge door for songwriters. It was a game changer for what at that time. That’s what evolving looks like, Not adding computer sounds to a track and saying this is changing the game on country music.
Bertox
August 26, 2016 @ 1:21 am
Excellent point, Whiskeytown. Great songwriting cannot be denied, trends be damned. Long live Billy Joe Shaver
Liz
August 25, 2016 @ 1:29 pm
Please, Keith Urban was born in NEW ZEALAND and spent his childhood here. Australia and New Zealand are two separate countries, thousand of miles apart.
Trigger
August 25, 2016 @ 1:43 pm
Keith Urban regularly refers to himself as being from Australia. I have covered numerous artists from both Australia and New Zealand. In fact I love to find cool country artists from there that are undiscovered in the States, and totally understand it is unfair to lump together these separate countries.
kiwicountry
August 28, 2016 @ 6:13 pm
Can I correct you Trigger, Keith often refers to both Australia and NZ as his home. I have heard him mention on many occasions his part Kiwi part Aussie. An that his kids are also Kiwi/Aussies.
seak05
August 25, 2016 @ 1:50 pm
I think a generation of actually somewhat decent country talent was ruined for country music in the 2000’s. They and their labels wanted to play to big crowds, sell albums, get radio play…and I don’t blame them for this desire at all. They enjoy entertaining, that’s not a character flaw. But to get those people, pop-country and then bro country was what was selling. So guys like Dierks, Keith, and Blake all followed the trend away from actual country music that they had been making (Luke too, but he didn’t really come onto the scene as an artist till he started making shit music).
Thankfully the trend seems to be changing back.
Big Cat
August 26, 2016 @ 3:25 am
Thats right and it’s called business enterprise. I’ve commented here many times that I refuse to make fun of a guy like Luke Bryan when he is making $35M a year. No telling what his investors / label takes on top of that.
That doesn’t mean I like or respect his music.
If idiots are going to buy the music and buy the tickets then there will be capitalist out there to take advantage of the opportunity.
albert
August 26, 2016 @ 1:10 pm
“If idiots are going to buy the music and buy the tickets then there will be capitalist out there to take advantage of the opportunity. ”
Indeed , Big Cat . Leaving the whole thing up to ‘ the suits’ is bound to mean watering down the ‘ product ‘ and incorporating elements which appeal to the lowest common denominator in an effort to maximize profits whether you are selling burgers or music .Its up to the folks who DO care to stand up for the fact that those burgers are nutritionally useless and , in some cases, dangerous to your health. The more people get exposed to an unquestioned , examined watered – down diet of vacuous ” country ” music , the more assimilated they become and the less likely they will even recognize , much less appreciate ,the REAL thing when they may inadvertently hear it .
Justin
August 25, 2016 @ 2:27 pm
Country music is from the country. That’s why it’s called country- great quote to live by if you are trying to be an artist or songwriter finding your way in Nashville. It’s easy to get caught up in the trends and all that other stuff and forget why you came in the first place. And where you are from, especially country boy who loves real country music. Great article trigger
the pistolero
August 25, 2016 @ 3:47 pm
All right, here we go…
This. This right here goes to the heart of my complaints about mainstream country music in general and Keith Urban in particular. Every — Single — Time Keith Urban talks about the evolution of country music, he points to — you guessed it! — countrypolitan. He has never said one single word about the Bakersfield sound, the Outlaw movement, the Urban Cowboy movement and the fallout in the wake of that, the neotraditionalist movement of the mid-1980s, or the class of 1989. It’s always countrypolitan. You want to talk about the evolution of country music? Okay. By all means let’s do so. But let’s talk about all of it, not just the part of it that bolsters the argument in favor of the actual country music influences being pushed out in favor of influences from practically every other genre of mainstream music. To do otherwise, to focus on one era to the exclusion of all the others — as Keith Urban is doing and has done since day one — is incredibly self-serving, dishonest, and insulting. He’s insufferable enough as an artist as it is, but this just takes the whole thing into the stratosphere.
Trigger
August 26, 2016 @ 12:28 am
Good point.
Erik North
August 25, 2016 @ 4:32 pm
I am not sure what eucalyptus tree Keith Urban fell out of Down Under, but what Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline were doing in the late 50s and early 60s, what we know to be the Nashville Sound, was essentially an attempt to keep the thematic elements of country music alive at a time when that curious C&W/R&B hybrid called rock and roll had all but swallowed the country genre whole, while attracting pop music fans alienated by rock and roll’s emergence. The Nashville Sound was by no means traditional country, then or even now, but the genre’s essential storylines remained intact. The country genre had indeed evolved, at least in part out of survival, but it had not left its essence in the dust. And a lot of what was recorded in that era remains not only great country music, but also great American popular music as well.
To put it mildly, I just find the comparison he makes between the toxic corporate redneck rap/hip-hop/EDM of today (which, as the late Merle Haggard so accurately put it, glorifies screwing girls on tailgates) and what was done fifty to sixty years ago off base. What passes for “country” in the hands of Urban, and all the Bromeisters out there, is corporate, gutless, and rootless crap designed for the sole purpose of making Big Money. Not only isn’t it country, it isn’t even moderately engaging rock or pop. It’s just stuff that sits there clogging up anything having to do with rural or small-town reality from getting through, and it’s a disservice not only to the country genre, but to those fans and musicians from other genres who know, love, and have worked in country in ways that have enhanced it over the years.
albert
August 25, 2016 @ 5:35 pm
The real shame ( and irony ) of this whole ” country music is evolving ” mantra is that many of today’s mainstream acts do have some talent ( Easton Corbin , M’cGraw , Carrie , Joe Nichol , and too many Canadian artists to name here ) and if they ALL had the guts to rely on their OWN vocal , writing , and instrumental musical talents rather than studio sonics and ‘ enhancements ( I’m looking at YOU , handclap machine ) it would not only separate the wheat from the chaff in a hurry but it would bring music back to something organic ( no pun intended ) and focus on the unique character of each artist rather than cloning them all to sell to 16 year old girls in a dance club because , c’mon don’t you , as an artist , want to sink or swim on YOUR musical vision and abilities rather than the whims of a studio minion commissioned to market to mindless masses ?
How’s that for a run-on sentence , Trigger ? ….lol
ElectricOutcast
August 25, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
If I may confess, I use WinAmp as my primary media player and this company called FXSound has a thing for my media player called MP3 Remix.
What it does is that it takes recorded sounds like tambourine, cowbell, snare drums or even crazier sounds like an explosion sound, duck sound and kissing noises (not making that up). But usually I use sounds like Congas or Tablas and Wind chimes and after some tinkering, those percussion noises sound like they almost belong in any song recorded in the studio.
Basically I admit that yes I do remix my Country Music but I do it in a more conservative fashion.
Bertox
August 25, 2016 @ 7:25 pm
Only want to say, much respect to Daisy who came into hostile territory and displayed thoughtfulness, maturity, poise and class in defending her guy. She made several valid points and never once stooped to ugliness, despite the opposition. At 13 years of age, she displays the kind of maturity and comprehension that is refreshingly inspiring. Daisy, you have lived up to your namesake. Tell your parents I said “thanks on a job well done.” Peace
Whiskeytown
August 25, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
I have to agree with you. I have to say it’s nice to see a younger persons perspective on things even if I don’t agree with it. And it’s safe to say I probably won’t have much in common with a 13 yr old. But she kept on track and stood her ground. It shows that there is hope for music to keep heading in the right direction and shows what this site is set out to do, talk about music. And knowing how hostile the comments section can get, she made her points without being negative or taking offense.
albert
August 26, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
In fairness to her , she ‘s had so little ‘input ‘ musically at 13 that something like URBAN’s in-your-face , slick rock and roll sound and stage extravaganza is probably pretty exciting to her …and understandably so . Which , of course , brings us back to ” Yes ..we get it …he appeals to a pop-centric crowd” . I think she made a good case for liking ANYTHING but , again understandably , didn’t quite grasp the concept of Saving Country Music …’the genre’ as its traditionally been ..and didn’t seem to be interested in attempting to . Unfortunately its this highly impressionable age group that is being targeted by ” country ” radio and the less exposure this demographic has to trad , roots-driven country the harder it will for them to understand and appreciate it . Thanks God for the folks out there who are still writing and performing and recording it , at least , and thank God for the few who have managed to ‘break through ‘ to mainstream and bring the real thing to folks who may be completely unfamiliar with the genre’s roots . Daisy seems like a quickly maturing 13 year old who , given that exposure , would understand the importance of it in a hurry .
Corncaster
August 26, 2016 @ 8:48 am
These things are just tools programmed by people with souls, so I’m indifferent to arguments based on tools. Keith Urban is simply right. There will always be people who cling to the Olde Ways, and that’s fine. Then there are those who want to use new tools. Even JS Bach liked to tinker. Musicians are always looking for more expressive possibilities. It’s in the nature of things.
The problem with computers and drum machines however is that the people who like them are producers and business people. There is no reason for listeners, who actually buy the music (or used to), to cheer for a drum machine. Drum machines embody no personal story. They don’t care about us, and we don’t care about them. We don’t cheer for tools.
Do I like this person? Is it quality musicianship? Are the lyrics insightful? Does the song move me? Do I agree with the sentiment? Is it all real? Is it true? These are the questions that matter. They’re probably not the questions people in the business are asking.
albert
August 26, 2016 @ 1:12 pm
right on, Corncaster ….
JK
August 26, 2016 @ 11:25 am
it spits out 1’s and 0’s in exact precision and accuracy to the demands it is programmed to execute
Doesn t sound like my windows.
John Conquest
August 26, 2016 @ 11:43 am
Daisy seems pretty remarkable for a 13-year old, but she’s making one fairly blissed-out mistake about the music industry. Even with the looming monogenre, music is still marketed by record labels and as Keith Urban is marketed as Country, his music must be assessed to the degree in which it succeeds or fails as Country music. I take the point that he might more appropriately be marketed as Top 40 pop, but as long as he’s promoted as a Country artist, any appeal he has outside the country audience is irrelevant.
jmarsh
August 26, 2016 @ 1:53 pm
This is exactly how I feel. Music that blurs the line (Ragweed, Blackberry Smoke) is one thing, but pop music released as country is something different.
I can make a dichotomous statement where both parts are true.
1. “80’s Mercedes” is a great song
2. “80’s Mercedes” is a horrible country song
Both are true which a big problem with the industry right now.
Maria
August 26, 2016 @ 7:22 pm
I couldn’t give a damn what genre Keith records under, or what instruments he adds to his signature guitar work. If he’s making music, I’m listening. And buying. And attending concerts. He is very, very good at what he does. And he looks drop-dead gorgeous doing it.
When you have thousands of screaming women lining up to watch you work, then you can criticize. Until then, I’m just fine with Ripcord. And Golden Road. And Be Here. And every CD that showcases the growth of Keith from the 90’s until now.
the pistolero
August 27, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
And he looks drop-dead gorgeous doing it.
This is precisely the problem. If Keith Urban looked like Chris Stapleton no one in Nashville would have ever given him the time of day.
albert
August 27, 2016 @ 1:36 am
“……And he looks drop-dead gorgeous doing it. When you have thousands of screaming women lining up to watch you work, then you can criticize….”
I don’t think the argument here is about how attractive Keith Urban is to females , Maria . And I think you undermine your opinion of his music by alluding to that . I think we all know how many women would be lining up to see Mr. Urban singing along to his drum machine if he was the Hunchback Of Notre Dame . The issue is not why he’s popular and has a following for his music or his looks . The point is that he’s being played on country radio and what he’s doing is the furthest thing from country music in terms of tradition and roots . Most of us chiming in here support the mission statement and are doing what we can to support REAL country music by bringing bona fide country artists to the attention of each other and the public thus giving those authentic artists a chance to be successful . That includes denouncing the acts who CLAIM to be singing country but are actually pop artists masquerading as country artists ….and , of late , doing a very poor job of it . The Keith Urbans , Sam Hunts , the Kruze Kids and Aldeans have no business marketing themselves as country artists and in doing so are guilty of killing REAL country music . They are ‘ pretty boys’ banking on their images to garner the support of a youthful female demographic and have done so quite successfully . But they are NOT country acts and should be plying their trade alongside Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift or Kanye West and not usurping airtime for REAL country acts like Chris Stapleton ,George Strait , Alan Jackson , Dolly Parton , and so many others true to the tradition who are being completely ostracized by radio .
Maria
August 28, 2016 @ 8:13 am
But here’s the thing…I don’t care if he’s “country” or not. I. Do. Not. Care. What label/genre he records under. Do. Not. Care. I like his music regardless of whether it’s pop or country or rock or whatever. In case you missed it the first two times, I do not care what genre Keith Urban’s music is.
albert
August 28, 2016 @ 9:28 am
Ok …I understand ..you like his music , Maria . But do YOU understand my ( our ) concerns here ? As I pointed out to Daisy above , there’s lots of solid artists in every genre . We want to ensure that there are lots of great COUNTRY artists being recognized and getting airplay in the COUNTRY genre . Keith Urban is not one of those . He’s a POP artist and should be promoted on POP radio . Again , I’m not disputing his talent or artistry as a pop guy ….just pointing out that there are far too many pop acts and influences being spotlighted on COUNTRY radio right now and its killing REAL country music . As a huge Keith fan I’m almost certain you’d be devastated if he got fat , grew dreads and recorded only reggae …..am I right ? THAT’S how we , as supporters and caring COUNTRY fans, feel about the pop infiltration of COUNTRY stations and music . Artists who’ve BUILT this industry are being shut out , dropped from labels and ignored while POP artists take over the COUNTRY airwaves .
Urban is now part of the problem , if he even was a part of the solution way back when . If this ‘evolution’ of COUNTRY music is of no interest to you , I respect and appreciate that . But it matters to an awful lot of us so to read that you don’t care what Keith Urban plays cuz he’s “drop dead gorgeous ” just makes you come across as uninformed and vacuous …..no disrespect intended .
the pistolero
August 28, 2016 @ 9:57 am
I don’t care if he’s “country” or not.
Then what the hell are you doing commenting on a website called Saving Country Music? Are you just here to defend your tin god?
Mike
August 30, 2016 @ 11:06 am
Let me ask you a question. Would you like Keith Urban as much if he looked like Chris Stapleton?
JUDY WHITMIRE
August 27, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
AND WHAT HAVE ALL YOU NO IT ALLS DONE LATELY? I READ SOME OF THESE COMMENTS AND HAD A GOOD LAUGH SO DID ABOUT 7 OTHERS WITH ME. JUST HOW MANY SONGS HAVE YOU PUT OUT THERE? ARE YOU ON STAGE? HAVE YOU MADE AN ALBUM?YOU DON’TLIKE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WHY NOT JUST NOT HAVE TO MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS? IS IT POSSIBLE JEALOUSY IS A FACTER? SURE SOUNDS LIKE IT.
the pistolero
August 27, 2016 @ 5:13 pm
This is idiotic. People have every right to talk about what they don’t like.
Also, you need to turn off your caps lock and learn spelling and grammar.
albert
August 28, 2016 @ 10:32 am
Judy . Would you be OK with mainstream country radio playing Bieber ? Usher ?….Timberlake ? They are already playing Pink , Demi Lovato and Pitbull , Elle King and others .They are all hugely successful acts …but is there a ” line in the sand ” for what YOU would accept being played on country radio ? For what you understand to be COUNTRY music ? I’m certain there is , if you are a sincere country music fan . For most sincere longtime country fans , folks like Urban , Little Big Town , and many many others have crossed ” our ” line in the sand . Surely you can understand our concerns , regardless of whether you are a fan of the above-mentioned artists or not .
Mike
August 30, 2016 @ 11:04 am
Ms. Whitmire:
What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there ANYTHING that was even CLOSE to what could be considered a rational thought. And EVERYONE on this message board is now dumber for having read it.
I award you no points. And may God have mercy on your soul.
Woogeroo
August 27, 2016 @ 11:57 pm
I agree Urban can play… saw him on a songwriter show once, just him singing and his guitar, I had no idea who he was… and I was shocked when I later heard some of his produced music… I was like : is this the same guy? Weird, what happened?
I totally disagree with him… and while I like a lot of Patsy Cline’s stuff, calling all of it country is a stretch.
more fiddles, more steel… and less whining.
-W
Kevin Smith
August 29, 2016 @ 8:21 am
The rabid Urban Super fans are launching an assault on Saving Country Music! Stand strong people. Good comments Albert , Pistolero and many others! Don’t let em bully you…use all your collective power of common sense, reasoning and logic to expose the shallow, vacuous myths they peddle. Defend Country Music!!!
Kind of like the Zombie Apocalypse…but inactuality the Keith Urban Apocalypse!!.
Glenn Douglas Tubb
October 14, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
I’m sorry I didn’t read any of the 72 comments above. I just scrolled to the bottom as quick as I could because I just had to say I liked the article very much. I’ve been writing Country songs for 67 years now and I have on many occasions, GOT ON MY SOAPBOX and told the world what I thought about the decline of Country music into whatever it is now but it is certainly not Country. Not the Country I grew up on anyway. That’s okay. Let they play whatever they want toplay. Some of it is not bad music, it is just not Country. Just don’t insult me and the ones who came before me and founded our Cuntry music by trying to say your music is Country. It is not Country. Call it something else, please. Back in 1967, my co-writer and I got accused of not writing Country when we came up with “SKIP A ROPE.” But it was Country. It was just a subject that stpped on a few toes. This happens sometimes when you’re making a comment on our current social culture. I think it was more of the nature of the lyrics than the music itself. As time went by, I think most everyone decided it was Country. We did receive both Country and Pop awards for the song and it was recorded in almost every field of music on more than two hundred records, but I think most people consider it a Country song. I know there are probably some very good songs out there right now, but I just haven’t heard one. They all sound pretty much alike, like they came out of a machine. And the artists all sound alike to me.I really cannot tell one from another. When I hear a D.J. call out a name for one of those carbon copy songs, I don’t know if it’s a new artist or last years Entertainer of the year. Long story short: Country music has left the building.
DJ
December 9, 2016 @ 7:58 pm
Skip a Rope is Country…. damn fine Country I might add!