So I’ll be the first to admit - they just don’t make country music like they used to. “Southern Pop;” “Tractor Rap;” “Progressive Country; “Bro Country” - call it what you will, I just can’t seem to find the tolerance I need to listen the majority of artists I hear popping up on Country radio nowadays. I’ve found that the best way to indulge in the classic Country that I love most is with a trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
It’s not that I think all modern Country is all bad - it’s just not what I like. In my mind, there’s no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to making music, or any sort of art in general. There’s simply what you like, and what you don’t like. When it comes to the modern stuff, I’ll be polite, and just leave it at, “I don’t much care for it.”
Fortunately, Country is one of those genres of music that not only wears its inspirations on its sleeves, but openly pays tribute to the great songwriters and musicians that have come before. Even modern country artists, to their credit, continue this tradition in their album notes, and by featuring at least one cover song on every album. Artists both young and old always point out and thank the music makers that came before them at every awards show. Most importantly, the great tradition that is Country music continues to not only survive, but thrive.
So, while I can’t say that I’m much for the stuff playing on satellite radio today, I rest easy in the knowledge that Country, as both an art form and arch point to an entire history and culture of people, will continue to be preserved, passed on, and enjoyed for generations to come.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. They recently opened a new exhibit called Outlaws and Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ‘70s, and though I’ve gone back several times over the years, it had been awhile, and this was the perfect excuse to make a return trip to this very special place.
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