> This is about Iss' post right below mine.
> Most of you guys know that I favor rap over all of
> those other genres, but that doesn't mean that I
> don't think there are better ones out there.
> Here's my line of thinking:
> I have much respect for classical music, but
> I find it difficult to imagine liking. I think
> that the worst genre is country, and I thus have
> little to no respect for it, but I can easily
> imagine why it is so popular.
>
> Oh, on related topic, there is a lot of rap worth
> listening to, like those old school artists, my
> favorite being MC Hammer, Mixalot, and Run DMC.
> These artists actually make good music, like great
> freestyling and lyrics set to good beats. I like
> the modern ones, like Snoop, especially his first
> album (He's gone down the toilet ever since) and
> most west coast, and I also really like Notorious
> B.I.G. because his rhyming is so unpredictable,
> and it's amazing to think how he thought it up.
> And for plain flows I put in a little Redman
> and Method Man, AKA Johnny Blaze, AKA the
> Ticallion Stallion AKA the Iron Lung...
>
> Finchplucke

Well, not to start any type of lengthy debate, (I really *don't* want to start one) but I feel it is necessary for a defense to be presented here.

Country music is by far *not* the worst music genre. I realize that you never said it was and I thank you for that. But the fact is that it has been stereo-typed, unfairly, as being all about love lost, drinking, driving pickup trucks, etc. Today's country is vastly different from that and anyone who still thinks that way just simply hasn't listened to country music.

Country music today is about hope and love. I have literally cried while listening to country songs that I have heard dozens of times. What other genre can say that? Respect is a big focus of country music. Another is the celebration of life. Yes, there are still some songs that resort back to the older, more traditional style of country music where back-masking means you get back your wife, dog, truck, job,... but more often than not, the central point of today's country music is simply hope and love.

And while country music is not as complex (written score) as others, I feel it is it's simplicity that makes it easier to listen to than other genres with which you can barely understand the lyrics. And a lot of it nowadays (i.e. Shania Twain, Garth Brooks) crosses over to the pop charts and it's hard to distinguish which it is supposed to be.

Now throw in the fact that a lot of other genres can be very disrespectful, foul-mouthed and violent and it's hard to see where country gets such a poor reputation.

These are actual lyrics to actual country songs. Respect is made to their copyright holders:

(First one)
One...
Your like a dream come true.
Two...
Just want to be with you.
Three...
Girl it's plain to see that you're the only one for me.
Four...
Repeat steps one through three
Five...
Yeah, you fall in love with me.
If ever I believe my work is done, then I'll start back at one.

(second one)
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new. It always winds up being more like a job interview. My mom used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run.

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old. He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go. A few months later I remember lying there in bed. I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes.

And then, all of a sudden oh it seemed so strange to me how we went from something's missing to a family. Looking back all I can say about all the things he did for me is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.

(Sorry that one was so long)

Now, *how* can that be so bad as to say that you have no respect?????? I just don't understand the reasoning. I could *fill* this forum with examples like the ones above to show just how romantic, how beautiful country music is. You're entitled to your opinion, but I would ask that you give it a chance. You *might* like what you hear, at least enough to gain some respect for a very deserving genre of American music.

Drac