...a good topic for discussion.

Due mostly to my decidedly Texas 'twang', when I sing my songs most of them come out sounding very country. If you go to the Cowboy Poetry topic, you can see several of my lyrics posted there.

Nashville is a manifestation of the larger bent of commercialization of all things in our nation. I really am not impressed by much of what goes on from there. It seems to be more about commercialization (aka 'the almighty dollar') and the next new pretty face to come along. Well, men have it a bit easier, but let's face it if you are a homely sort, you might write like Mozart and won't get the time of day. Also, you aren't just gonna walk into a place and get a listen, you'd better fork over your G and be an ASCAP member and that is just for starters. Which doesn't matter to me one way or the other, because I give it all away for free.

As respects Country versus western, I don't really think Nashville is either. I would call it pop-twang. I suppose if you wish to discuss subjects which are particularly indigenous to life in "Western" America (which cuts a broad swath of turf) you could say your music is Western. However, the cowboy way of life is lived from coast to coast. As is, in reality, most other sorts of existence.

As respects country music, it is a reflection of a simpler, rural, hard working, straightforward way of living which also occurs from coast to coast. I have the most eclectic tastes
(and collection) of music of anyone I know or have met, and think that true COUNTRY music includes a vast array of styles including folk, bluegrass, southern blues, Western, some styles of rock (often referred to as country-rock or folk-rock), and regional instrumental expressions. This means I like Willie (especially, i feel akin to what he does, and though he wrote some of the greatest Nashville hits of all time he was never accepted himself in performance in Nashville and so returned to Texas, where we like all manner of good old boys, even those who partake daily), but my list includes all bluegrass (I like AKUS of the modern group in the genre), delta missippi grass (John Hartford), blues (Howlin Wolf), some which are associated with the rock generation (Eagles, America, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, etc.), and all manner of fine instrumentallists from Flatt and Scruggs, to Leo Kottke, as well as classical like Andres Segovia, Jerry Douglass, et al. Yes I like Hank Williams, but I also like Buddy Holley, I like Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel, but also Commander Cody and the Lost planet Airmen, I like Chet Atkins and Steve Vaughan, Townes Van Zant and Lyle Lovitt, Pure Prarie League and John Prine. My own tastes go way, way beyond that broad swath, but it would not offend my sensibilities to say that each, in their own unique way, is just as country the other, just flavored by their individual life circumstances and the values instilled into them by their upbringing and their own unique personal natures, which I think makes them all very close kinfolk.

Which is a long winded way of saying that although you might feel you do Western music, I contend that you are in the bigger, broader country bunch as well. But to my way of thinking, we are better off for it all and therefore it is ALL good. Even some of the Nashville glitz-country. JMHO.

But I do lament the lack of meaningful lyrics, something I see less of in every form of music these days. I didn't say there aren't any, but I think a truly great song, if it is other than a pure instrumental, MUST have great and meaningful lyrics, which leaves about 75% or more of the modern stuff out of the running. Those who know anything about me know I am a lyric poet from childhood, and am just fortunate that when they come, sometimes they come with music as well. GREAT lyrics are definitely going to have to be there for me to think it has any chance of being a GREAT song.

More power to you, if it is true from your heart it has to be good. And I would like it.

Adios, friend.

Redman

Thank God for Blue Grass, Cajun and RFD TV.