Keep Texas Awesome. Keep Nashville Lame

Blake Shelton made some comments about the current state of  Nashville made "country music".  For those of you who aren't following this story.  Here is what was said. 

 

If I am “Male Vocalist of the Year” that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.

 

 

Here is my opinion of the statement.  He's an idiot!  Smart PR move though.  Everyone is talking about him. I am not saying that music shouldn't evolve or change.  It should. I can't say though that the current movement is the right direction.  I feel like the Nashville record execs and radio programmers insult our intelligence as listeners when they try to sell us on songs like Red Solo Cup, Truck Yeah, and We Are Never Getting Back Together.  Really? I said it once and I will say it again; the people involved that released those songs to the masses should be kicked in the balls every time those songs are played.  You can quote me on that.  A friend of mine said it best the other day.  We were discussing songwriting and music.  "If it is good songwriting, you can bet it won't be played on top 40 country radio."  Please don't misunderstand me.  Not everything on the radio is bad. As I have stated before I am a music snob.  If you love the songs mentioned above and think I am an ahole for my opinion; I am sorry.  Sorry you have bad music sense.  Sorry that you only want to buy into what is pushed through the airwaves. I will ask my grandma to light candles at church for you and pray that you come to your senses.  We are lucky to live in a state that embraces what isn't always played on the radio.  We embrace the music and venues that support artists with something brilliant to say.   So with that in mind, I say KEEP NASHVILLE LAME.  I know their are some hardworking and respectable writers in Nashville but those aren't always the ones being played on the radio. Nicole Unser is up in Nashville right now. I met her when she came to Billy's Ice on a Tuesday night.  I was prepared to not give that girl a chance.  The minute I heard her sing and play her originals, I knew I witnessed something special. She is working at the Ryman and writing songs.  In fact in February she is getting her shot at the Bluebird songwriting circle.  I couldn't be more proud of her and her abilities. 

 

I decided to put together a playlist of songs that are both anti-Nashville and more on the side of grandpa music.  This is the music I buy.  I hope other folks will continue to do so too. Happy listening.