"Country Music"

[vchimpanzee]

"Hee Haw" wasn't introduced the way I was expecting. Several times the protests about Vietnam kept being mentioned. Not once was it stated that the Smothers Brothers got their show cancelled. But when Johnny Cash's show was a major topic I thought maybe that's what would lead into it. I don't recall every watching that show but I think I did see Glen Campbell's. I was surprised his music was described as pop, but I guess it was. It was still good. I was really happy when "Hee Haw" was finally a topic, because you just can't talk about the history of country music without it. I was surprised more wasn't said about the legends who were on it. They showed Grandpa, and I could see Stringbean in the background, but they've had lots to say about Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff and nothing was said about their being a big part of the show.

I agree with those people in Ryman Auditorium about The Byrds. But I did like "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn Turn Turn". I can't recall hearing those lately but they've been on standards radio a long time.

The term "country rock" was introduced so I guess The Eagles are in the next chapter.

Dylan never did anything to impress me. Eric Clapton was mentioned as a guest on Johnny Cash's show, but "Lay Down Sally" could pass for country.

Kris Kristofferson is unquestionably a great songwriter. I never knew he was so intelligent or that he was a military officer. He has that blue collar look. But he was right about not having a good singing voice. In my opinion. I've never really accepted him as a country singer.

I thought the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band were rockers who turned country, but that sure wasn't true. They just weren't what country music was then.

When they talked about conservative values I was hoping to see that The Sons of the Pioneers performed at the Republican Convention.

It's a shame Flatt and Scruggs had their disagreements but I was glad their biggest hits were mentioned. The country music establishment may have rejected bluegrass but the people still liked it. I do disagree with one thing: The Beverly Hillbillies were respected at the start of the series, as I discovered when I finally saw reruns of the first season, but they were later just a bunch of hicks. They probably still were shown more positively than the big city people.

 

[CTListener]

Kris Kristofferson is unquestionably a great songwriter. I never knew he was so intelligent or that he was a military officer.

A Rhodes scholar, too, and an accomplished actor. It's amazing that the least of his talents, his singing, turned out to be the one that gained him his greatest fame.

 

[landtuna]

A Rhodes scholar, too, and an accomplished actor. It's amazing that the least of his talents, his singing, turned out to be the one that gained him his greatest fame.

The only major motion picture I remember with Kristofferson was "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea". It was abysmal. The only saving 'grace' was Sarah Miles but even she couldn't save it.

I did think Kristofferson was a very good folk singer.

 

[gr8oldies]

Kristofferson starred opposite Barbara Streisand in the 70s version of A Star is Born. He was also in the forgotten and memory-holed "Amerika" which he pretty much denounced.

The only major motion picture I remember with Kristofferson was "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea". It was abysmal. The only saving 'grace' was Sarah Miles but even she couldn't save it.

I did think Kristofferson was a very good folk singer.

 

[TheBigA]

Kristofferson starred opposite Barbara Streisand in the 70s version of A Star is Born. He was also in the forgotten and memory-holed "Amerika" which he pretty much denounced.

There was also the ill-fated Heaven's Gate.

 

[vchimpanzee]

One more episode to go after the one I saw last night.

I was expecting a reference to the movie "Urban Cowboy" but all they really said was a lot of radio stations focused on a "countrypolitan" sound. They also said a lot about how Dolly Parton appealed to different audiences. They may have mentioned that Barbara Mandrell and others did music that wasn't necessarily country.

"I Will Always Love You" was for Porter. I was surprised Whitney wasn't mentioned, but I don't like her to begin with except for some of her early hits.

Regardless of what the music is, I like Charlie Rich, Olivia Newton-John (her 70s music, anyway), and John Denver.

Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt I did not like. "Pancho and Lefty" was good only when Willie and Merle did it, in my opinion. I've heard Ronnie McDowell music I liked but they didn't play any.

Emmylou Harris, like Taylor Swift, was pretty to look at even if I didn't like her music. Then she went country. She sounded good.

The Eagles were mentioned but only because they were playing when Gram Parsons was. And I didn't like him. I was expecting The Eagles to be part of that variety of styles called country.

Whatever Waylon had to do, he got it right.

Willie can do no wrong. I was surprised last week to hear he was influenced by jazz. I learned about his album of big band era music years later when more people were doing that.

Strange they didn't mention Hank Jr. wears the hat and sunglasses because of his accident. I'm glad he found his own style.

 

[CTListener]

Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt I did not like. "Pancho and Lefty" was good only when Willie and Merle did it, in my opinion. I've heard Ronnie McDowell music I liked but they didn't play any.

Emmylou Harris, like Taylor Swift, was pretty to look at even if I didn't like her music. Then she went country. She sounded good.

Never thought I'd see Emmylou Harris and Taylor Swift in the same sentence. Now I'm wondering if Burns would have made the comparison, had he chosen to extend "Country Music" beyond 1996, when Taylor was 6 years old until very late in the year.

Check out Emmylou's version of "Pancho and Lefty" sometime. I agree that Willie and Merle's version is the definitive one, but she did the song justice.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Never thought I'd see Emmylou Harris and Taylor Swift in the same sentence. Now I'm wondering if Burns would have made the comparison, had he chosen to extend "Country Music" beyond 1996, when Taylor was 6 years old until very late in the year.

No he wouldn't, since I'm guessing Taylor is not likely what Emmylou Harris fans would call talented. Actually, Taylor is like Townes Van Zandt in that to me, without enhancement, she doesn't have a good singing voice. That's just me.

 

[landtuna]

...I'm guessing Taylor is not likely what Emmylou Harris fans would call talented.

You got THAT right!

 

[TheBigA]

I'm wondering if Burns would have made the comparison,

There is no point of comparison other than they're both women. Taylor is far more popular than Emmylou will ever be. The correct comparison would be between Taylor and Shania Twain. Shania and Taylor are also great all-round entertainers, while Emmylou is primarily a singer. Shania and Taylor are female versions of Garth Brooks, and the Ken Burns did deal with Garth. Had it not been for Garth, there would not be Shania or Taylor. He opened the door for that kind of live show.

I'm guessing Taylor is not likely what Emmylou Harris fans would call talented.

And vice versa. Taylor fans would be bored by Emmylou's show.

 

[CTListener]

There is no point of comparison other than they're both women. Taylor is far more popular than Emmylou will ever be. The correct comparison would be between Taylor and Shania Twain. Shania and Taylor are also great all-round entertainers, while Emmylou is primarily a singer. Shania and Taylor are female versions of Garth Brooks, and the Ken Burns did deal with Garth. Had it not been for Garth, there would not be Shania or Taylor. He opened the door for that kind of live show.

I've seen both Garth and Emmylou live -- very different shows, but I loved both, even if Garth's (at the New Haven Coliseum in early 1994) did leave my ears ringing for the better part of a day. Emmylou was touring with her Nash Ramblers in support of the "Live at the Ryman" album when I caught her show around the same time, so volume was no problem there! The amazing thing about Garth's show is that one could still understand the words and appreciate the musicianship of his excellent band.

I have seen so many conflicting reports on whether Taylor Swift can sing unaided or not. There was a pretty damning piece of footage that surfaced soon after she started to transcend country that showed her struggling to get within hailing distance of the right notes, but I've also read plenty of praise for her vocal abilities and heard good performances, apparently unenhanced, by her. Your opinion?

 

[TheBigA]

I have seen so many conflicting reports on whether Taylor Swift can sing unaided or not.

Once could say the same thing about Waylon and Kristofferson. Neither of them come close to someone like Jim Reeves, but Jim never received any of the acclaim or fame that Waylon or Kristofferson received. There are singers, and there are stylists. For years, critics said Tim McGraw couldn't sing unaided. It really doesn't matter to him or his fans.

 

[landtuna]

Taylor fans would be bored by Emmylou's show.

I'm guessing, without too much effort, that Swift appeals to teeny boppers primarily whereas Harris is a talented musician. Apples and oranges. Not trying to discredit Swift but she is nowhere near the singer that EmmyLou is and most likely never will be.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm guessing, without too much effort, that Swift appeals to teeny boppers primarily

Not true. I've been to over a dozen Taylor shows, and you'd be surprised how many grandmas are in the audience. Yes, she has a lot of young fans, but they've grown in age with her, and they're now in their 20s & 30s. She does an amazing show, as does Carrie Underwood. They each attract far bigger audiences than Emmylou has ever experienced.

 

[davideduardo]

I've seen both Garth and Emmylou live -- very different shows, but I loved both, even if Garth's (at the New Haven Coliseum in early 1994) did leave my ears ringing for the better part of a day. Emmylou was touring with her Nash Ramblers in support of the "Live at the Ryman" album when I caught her show around the same time, so volume was no problem there! The amazing thing about Garth's show is that one could still understand the words and appreciate the musicianship of his excellent band.

I have seen so many conflicting reports on whether Taylor Swift can sing unaided or not. There was a pretty damning piece of footage that surfaced soon after she started to transcend country that showed her struggling to get within hailing distance of the right notes, but I've also read plenty of praise for her vocal abilities and heard good performances, apparently unenhanced, by her. Your opinion?

I've been to a number of Garth concerts. The first was early one when I was overseeing a country station in Tallahassee and we took a busload of listeners to see him in Albany, GA. Wonderful show, nice as a person. Then saw him in the last few years at the LA Forum and at Stagecoach. Yes, you can understand the words and he is talented; the show is long and includes the very fun part of the listener requests with improvisations.

Taylor, just once during the country period. Sounded great, the songs were outstandingly fun (and credit goes for the writing ability) and we enjoyed the show.

It's very important to mention, with the risk of repeating myself, that Taylor Swift is an amazingly talented songwriter who has shown the ability to produce dozens of "million selling" hit songs. The combination of her singing and stage skills and the writing and composing make her one of a very few such talented artists.

Oh, and the audience was all ages back then, but mostly in the 20's to 40's.

 

[landtuna]

I've been to over a dozen Taylor shows, and you'd be surprised how many grandmas are in the audience.

I'm guessing the grandma's are there with their grand children.

They each attract far bigger audiences than Emmylou has ever experienced.

The Yankees draw far more than the Milwaukee Brewers but that does not mean they play better baseball.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm guessing the grandma's are there with their grand children

Again, you guess wrong.

The Yankees draw far more than the Milwaukee Brewers but that does not mean they play better baseball.

For the past two years, the Yankees won more games, and got further in the playoffs than the Brewers. So I'd suggest they DO play better baseball.

What you're dealing in is subjective opinion, and in your subjective opinion, one makes better music than the other. But that's just you.

 

[landtuna]

I have no idea what Taylor Swift does on stage nor Madonna before her. I was considering singing talent only. I personally am much more comfortable with singers/performers like John Denver, the aforementioned EmmyLou, Dolly Parton and Don Williams. Going back a few years I would say Jim Reeves, Johnny Mathis, Patsy Cline, Nat King Cole and even some rock and rollers like Gary Puckett and Brenda Lee.

I put Swift in the same class as Frank Sinatra. People, especially young people, loved him/them although god knows why. Dean Martin had a far better voice, was a better actor and had a far better stage presence (IMHO of course). Martin could carry a show by himself. Sinatra needed a very loud backing band and a group of hipsters to keep the show going.

Everything I've read (and it isn't a huge amount) from people who should know say Swift is not that good a singer. I agree and find her lyrics childish. Other people may pay big money to go watch her in concert. Takes all kinds.

 

[TheBigA]

Martin could carry a show by himself.

And yet at the start of his career, he needed the aid of a comedian named Jerry Lewis, who added entertainment to a show that was mainly just singing.

Once again, we're talking about opinion, and we're talking about popular music. You want great singing? The Three Tenors is a good place to start.

 

[davideduardo]

And yet at the start of his career, he needed the aid of a comedian named Jerry Lewis, who added entertainment to a show that was mainly just singing.

Once again, we're talking about opinion, and we're talking about popular music. You want great singing? The Three Tenors is a good place to start.

And, as a yardstick to measure the public response to the Three Tenors, they appear at our local McCallum Theater annually. One show, 1600 people.

Rage Against the Machine will appear twice this coming April down the street from me. Sold out, two shows, 75,000 persons each.

Garth appeared a year and a half ago. Two shows, 60,000 persons each.

A "good" show is more than the singing. It is the excitement, the mood, the crowd, the sound, the venue.

Best show I have seen in last coupla' years: FGL with Nelly. Total fun. Huge vibe, great staging, hit songs.