Ten years ago – my Country Music Anniversary

It’s a bit after nine o’clock in the evening. Skype is running. The call with a very close American friend of mine is on. And on the webcam, I see the shocked look on his face.

I go back a few minutes to sum up what we’ve just talked about. It’s music.

“Do you know any country music?”

That’s what he’s just asked, as we have been chatting about music in general, and the question’s made me go thoughtful.

As an answer, I have slightly shaken my head and said, “Well, I know somehow Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash but… not really, not that I could say.”

He is not a fan of country music, as he says, but he’s still so shocked for my reply that he makes an effort and sends me a link of a song. He asks me to listen to it. He says it would give me a good impression of country music because the singer is good; his music is country, he has a good classic-type of country voice, and his shows always rock “in a country way”.

“Alrighty then,” I think and open the link, because I’m always open to give a try to anything new.

A song starts playing. I ask him to wait for a moment. Then I focus on listening.

The beat is interesting. I realize the music is not what I exactly expected.

And then comes the singing.

First I just listen to the music in general. But suddenly I pay attention to the fact that the singer sounds a bit different… it’s not the kind of English I’m used to hearing. But his voice is very pleasant. It’s enjoyable to listen to.

I look at the title of the clip more closely: Garth Brooks – The Night I Called The Old Man Out.

“So, this is country music,” I think and a smile passes on to my face.

“So?,” my friend asks when the song has ended.

But I don’t comment. Instead, as a language lover, I approach the thing from that aspect.

“I wonder… why does he drawl the words?”

My friend bursts into laughter. Then he says it’s part of the game in the south to do that.

I go a bit confused because I don’t understand his reaction and I’m confused what’s so funny that it’s making him laugh.

But we don’t get stuck to it, and the chat goes on.

Then years ago, my life came to a turn. I found country music. I fell in love with it. And ever since, it’s played a big role in my life.

But it’s not just country music. I find the culture and lifestyle they lead in the southern US fascinating; the southern and western stuff and everything from the accents to the attitudes.

When I learned the meaning of “to cowboy up” I realized it’s very close to the Finnish “sisu” meaning guts. In many country songs, it’s said that when you get thrown down (from the saddle) you’ve got to cowboy up. That’s exactly what my attitude in general is like.

Any type of country music is good, even if I have to honestly admit that I’m less fond of today’s country that is mostly pop or rock and the artists and their fans just call it country. But I have my top favorites. I call Garth Brooks my Country Music First Love because his music opened the door to the world of country music to me. The others belonging to the top group are Chris LeDoux, Lonestar, and Justin Moore.

Every time I hear country music anywhere or I listen to it I feel awesome! It’s a way to put a smile on my face. Even if I was feeling blue, if I heard some country it’d chase the blueness away.

So, I am celebrating today. But I’m celebrating alone because it’s more or less “my thing”. Country music is not popular or well known in Finland. Basically, people know Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson. But, for example, I’ve asked my friends if they know who George Strait and Alan Jackson are. They don’t.

I have two dreams I’ll go for when I have a chance. I’ve been in the US once, in Florida. I am going to have a vacation in one of the southern states; Texas most probably. And I am going to see a country music concert live; if it was Garth’s concert I’d be in heaven!

For dinner, I’m cooking Nashville Hot Chicken with white bread, pickle chips, and goat cheese dip. And needless to say, country music is playing in the background. That’s the name of the game on the 10^th Country Music Anniversary.

Related entry: Tipatius' Blog - The Five Meaningful Songs