Why is Country music so popular in a left of center country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country music is also really popular in Germany-I have a music app that is all german country stations. I'm far left and into country music.

Country music is associated with red states, which liberals generally sneer at. What is it about country music that they find appealing?

Seriously? First of all, many liberals live in red states. And most liberals don't "sneer at" red states. And most country music isn't about politics--it's quite often about love and relationships, which is a common theme in plenty of other genres of popular music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why you're confused...country music is popular across all races and especially with the caucasian demographic. Since this country is majority white, it makes sense that it would still be doing well.

Also the music genre doesn't tend to have much to do with politics across the entire category.

No better way to show that than the Dixie Chicks standing up to Bush post-9/11 even though they were country music darlings.

Yes, but most white people aren't rednecks. That's a minority of the white population. Yet ever since the Garth Brooke days, country music has made major inroads into the non-redneck white population. For the life of me, I can't see why.

(1) As a cultural marker. Suburbanites who drive pointless pickup trucks to show how authentic or manly or Real American-y or whatever they are, and country music is part of that.

(2) The pop-ification of country music. Not all of it, but a lot of it isn't that different from regular pop music. So if you like pop music, you might well like pop music when it's wearing cowboy boots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country music is also really popular in Germany-I have a music app that is all german country stations. I'm far left and into country music.

Country music is associated with red states, which liberals generally sneer at. What is it about country music that they find appealing?

Seriously? First of all, many liberals live in red states. And most liberals don't "sneer at" red states. And most country music isn't about politics--it's quite often about love and relationships, which is a common theme in plenty of other genres of popular music.

People who aren't into country never understand what it really is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem like a very large number of country music fans, don't fit the stereotypical demographic of being a red-neck. I'm wondering what the appeal of the music is.

For me, I like songs that tell stories and country has a high percentage of those and I also like uptempo music. Like hip-hop, country includes innumerable sub-genres. I like 70s outlaw country. My mom loved Kris Kristofferson and we listened to a lot of folk/country when I was growing up. I'm listening to Waylon Jennings right now. I'm also into a lot of the newer women artists who are more socially and politically progressive. Margo Price is my favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem like a very large number of country music fans, don't fit the stereotypical demographic of being a red-neck. I'm wondering what the appeal of the music is.

What are you asking here? It's music. People like it. Try listening to it yourself and maybe you will like it and maybe you won't.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty liberal, and I don't like all country music (especially Bro Country) but I do like some country. I also like rock, pop, rap/R&B, classical and some jazz and blues. I'm just a music person in general. Some country music is awesome.

It might help that I grew up in the midwest and my grandfather and a couple of great uncles were ranchers. You can take the girl out of the country, and all...

My friends tend to lean left and most did not vote for Trump, but quite a few of them also like country music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh, plenty of liberals like country. I'm one of them.

What makes you think the whole country is left of center?

Me too. I'm a leftist who loves country. I read once that country appeals to people who like folk music - which was typical of many people who grew up in the 60s. I'm a bit of a songwriter myself so I think about these things a lot. The reality is that, even if you think a country song is too kitsch or conservative, generally the lyrics are better written than a lot of pop and rock songs. That means something to me. But I will say I'm more of an alt-country fan - like James McMurtry - but I like some mainstream country too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem like a very large number of country music fans, don't fit the stereotypical demographic of being a red-neck. I'm wondering what the appeal of the music is.

Hey folks, can we not describe people as "rednecks"? I know that some people like to describe themselves that way and that's their business. But most of us on this site using it - well, it's a pejorative.

[Anonymous]

I like country music and bluegrass and am liberal. Everything is not about politics.

[Anonymous]

“Cowboys are frequently, secretly fond of each other. Say what do you think all them saddles and boots was about?”

[Anonymous]

Liberals like good country with depth and soul and conservatives like bad country like Toby Keith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, plenty of liberals like country. I'm one of them.

What makes you think the whole country is left of center?

Me too. I'm a leftist who loves country. I read once that country appeals to people who like folk music - which was typical of many people who grew up in the 60s. I'm a bit of a songwriter myself so I think about these things a lot. The reality is that, even if you think a country song is too kitsch or conservative, generally the lyrics are better written than a lot of pop and rock songs. That means something to me. But I will say I'm more of an alt-country fan - like James McMurtry - but I like some mainstream country too.

Pp again. I actually remember the exact moment I discovered I liked country music. I went to Georgetown in the 70s and I found an AM radio station that played bluegrass music (which I loved) at 8pm. When I studied, I would sometimes turn on the radio a few minutes earlier and listen to the end of the country show while I was waiting. And then one night I heard "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" by Willie Nelson and my jaw just dropped (or something like that). It was stunningly beautiful and that was the beginning of following country music for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liberals like good country with depth and soul and conservatives like bad country like Toby Keith.

I disagree with Toby Keith on a lot of stuff but the man is good at what he does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country music is also really popular in Germany-I have a music app that is all german country stations. I'm far left and into country music.

Country music is associated with red states, which liberals generally sneer at. What is it about country music that they find appealing?

Both my east coast based millennial stepdaughters like pop country. They won’t listen to George strait or Garth brooks but like the current stuff. It’s much closer to pop music than traditional country of 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country music is also really popular in Germany-I have a music app that is all german country stations. I'm far left and into country music.

Country music is associated with red states, which liberals generally sneer at. What is it about country music that they find appealing?

Seriously? First of all, many liberals live in red states. And most liberals don't "sneer at" red states. And most country music isn't about politics--it's quite often about love and relationships, which is a common theme in plenty of other genres of popular music.

My family lives in a red state. We’re liberals—in fact, so far left that DH is a Democratic Socialist. Our (very blue) town has a Roots & Blues festival every year, and we absolutely love it. It’s not about politics; it’s about coming together over the musical experience. This year, we can’t wait to see Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, or Lucas Nelson among others.

Last year, we were introduced to one of our new favorite singers, Valerie June, who is a country singer with very liberal leanings.