country music, yeee-ha!

i started paying attention to american country music while on a project in AK. all the other assistants were all-american girls. well, not quite true actually since they're doing real amazing stuff w/ whales and algae in AK...but anyway they kept the radio hammering these country stuff and hummed to them, so what can i do except blend in (yeah i do this real well). but then i actually love the stuff! of course, i was weaned on 'modern' country first, but now i'm getting the hang of bluegrass, though still the recent type like what's on the soundtrack of "o brother, where art thou?" or what the dixie chicks did on 'home' (girls, you're right about bush and don't let other people tell you otherwise).

why? because when it comes to lyrics, pop and jazz and all the others ain't got no soul compared to country stuff! in country music you hear about a soldier being rescued from a car wreck by a ghost; about a guy contributing money for a pair of shoes for a lady to wear to the grave, and about driving lessons with daddy. often corny, sometimes surprising, but always interesting, they make you want to get the words right and sing along!

out here in asia we only hear country girls like shania, faith and leanne. but what a lot of people don't know is that some of their favorite pop songs began life as a country tune ("i swear, by the moon and the stars in the sky.."; "i hope you daaaaaance...."). those country musicians are such sensitive souls.

but hang on before you post that comment: i abhore those country stuff on our local tv! it's got too much of the 'bring the cows home' spirit. and what's with the get-up?