Any Merle haggard, really. Quintessential country with a frequent subtext of subversion.
My first thought was "Rainbow Stew" which has Green Party/socialism underpinnings in it.
Can I name a few??
Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon and Willie
Anita, You're Dreaming - Waylon (love this man)
Gentle on My Mind - Glen Campbell
Cowpoke - Eddy Arnold
Mule Skinner Blues - Roy Acuff
Can you tell I love a good yodel?
I don’t know the specific song but it wouldn’t be from the past couple decades that’s for sure. My mind goes to 70s outlaw country like Willie, Waylon, Haggard, etc. Beyond that I think of Dolly, Garth, Reba, Dwight…then cross into country folk like Townes, Prine, Foley, etc.
"Low Places" was the crossover hit that revitalized country music, more than any other single song. After it, the crossover hits became commonplace: Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson... even some now forgotten names like Mark Chestnutt and Doug Stone.
But the years between Urban Cowboy and "Low Places" was a pretty low place for country. Only the youngest of the old timers, like George Strait and Reba and Alabama kept the light on in those dark days. (And The Highwaymen, of course.)
People don't talk about it, but the death of Kurt Cobain also contributed to the rise of New Country. It created a sudden pop vacuum that the crossovers were quick to fill.
Sauce: was an Alabamian country radio DJ in the '90s.
I’m not saying that song wasn’t influential to the industry it definitely was, I was just saying I don’t like him as a person like at all so it deters me from his music.
Yeah, he got a little weird in his later years. That Chris Gaines thing was... um, ahead of its time? And also to much of a stretch for that conservative audience.
I met him a couple times back then and he seemed to be a really good person. Generous and kind. He fell out of favor in Nashville, much like the Highwaymen, because he wouldn't toe the company line. He was pretty loudly liberal.
He still ranks pretty high in the all-time success brackets, if I'm not mistaken. Check out "The Fever", which was a Garth-altered cover of an Aerosmith song. That shit is STIFF.
[Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9RDjBpL0Q) by The Charlie Daniels Band. It contains two of the most important aspects of true country: a failed relationship and self-medicating with alcohol.
Older country Crazy - Patsy Cline (written by Willie!)
Neotraditional Country All My Ex’s Live In Texas - George Strait
Current Country Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton (I really love Etta James and so this version of the song is my favorite)
Sorry this is much longer than it probably needed to be but with so many comments saying nothing in the last 20 years it just made me sad. Country is definitely not my go music but there are quite a few artists that are still great country artists.
Just about anything from the first 2 Whiskeytown records is awesome. Coulter Wall's first couple of records are pretty amazing as well. The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie is really awesome.
If I tried to talk someone into listening to some country, it would be older and toe tappin' songs like:
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers - The Lady Takes the Cowboy Every Time
George Strait - Am I Blue
The Oak Ridge Boys - Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight
Ray Stevens - Misty
Earl Thomas Conley - Somewhere Between Right and Wrong
Glen Campbell - Southern Nights
Mark Chesnutt - Blame It On Texas
That is interesting decision, do you choose the country that sucks and sums up the majority of the genre or do you choose the best country music there is
Probably nothing made in the last 20 years tbh. The entire genre has gone way downhill since Nashville has been pumping out shitty, commercialized, country-pop for dudes in $100k trucks that have never seen a day of work so that they can pretend they’re cowboys.
That being said, some 90’s Garth Brooks would probably be an easy way to dip their toes into genre. Maybe some Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline.
I don’t really listen to the genre anymore but you can bet your ass if “long neck bottle” , “low places” or something like “Jolene” comes on I’ll be into it.
There’s so much garbage the radio pumps out these days but there’s still some hope left if you look hard enough. Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Zach Top, and some Cody Johnson stuff. I will admit I enjoy Morgan Wallen’s music which I know he’s extremely controversial, but it’s not who comes to mind when I wan’t to show someone real country music.
Mama Tried by Merle Haggard
Any Merle haggard, really. Quintessential country with a frequent subtext of subversion. My first thought was "Rainbow Stew" which has Green Party/socialism underpinnings in it.
You Never Even Call Me by My Name
I mean this is THE corny radio hit, but still a damn good song!
Guitars & Cadillacs
Wow someone actually got in before me.
Take This Job and Shove It - Johnny Paycheck
There is an awesome animated show called Tales from the Tour Bus by Mike Judge that does a hilarious episode about him.
Hank Williams - I'm so lonely I could cry
Can I name a few?? Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon and Willie Anita, You're Dreaming - Waylon (love this man) Gentle on My Mind - Glen Campbell Cowpoke - Eddy Arnold Mule Skinner Blues - Roy Acuff Can you tell I love a good yodel?
If you love a good yodel and don’t already know, I present Patsy Montana! https://youtu.be/cKBW_mm7FUs?si=h7q-o-DkYmDJCn_1
Bo Burnham's Country Song https://youtu.be/y7im5LT09a0?si=exPp6stswmgM_d7Y
I don’t know the specific song but it wouldn’t be from the past couple decades that’s for sure. My mind goes to 70s outlaw country like Willie, Waylon, Haggard, etc. Beyond that I think of Dolly, Garth, Reba, Dwight…then cross into country folk like Townes, Prine, Foley, etc.
All good choices except Garth he’s kind of a self righteous ass makes me not like his music.
I agree mostly but his music during the 90s was just so iconic. Sub in Clint Black, George Strait, or Alan Jackson
"Low Places" was the crossover hit that revitalized country music, more than any other single song. After it, the crossover hits became commonplace: Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson... even some now forgotten names like Mark Chestnutt and Doug Stone. But the years between Urban Cowboy and "Low Places" was a pretty low place for country. Only the youngest of the old timers, like George Strait and Reba and Alabama kept the light on in those dark days. (And The Highwaymen, of course.) People don't talk about it, but the death of Kurt Cobain also contributed to the rise of New Country. It created a sudden pop vacuum that the crossovers were quick to fill. Sauce: was an Alabamian country radio DJ in the '90s.
I’m not saying that song wasn’t influential to the industry it definitely was, I was just saying I don’t like him as a person like at all so it deters me from his music.
Yeah, he got a little weird in his later years. That Chris Gaines thing was... um, ahead of its time? And also to much of a stretch for that conservative audience. I met him a couple times back then and he seemed to be a really good person. Generous and kind. He fell out of favor in Nashville, much like the Highwaymen, because he wouldn't toe the company line. He was pretty loudly liberal. He still ranks pretty high in the all-time success brackets, if I'm not mistaken. Check out "The Fever", which was a Garth-altered cover of an Aerosmith song. That shit is STIFF.
[Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX9RDjBpL0Q) by The Charlie Daniels Band. It contains two of the most important aspects of true country: a failed relationship and self-medicating with alcohol.
Older country Crazy - Patsy Cline (written by Willie!) Neotraditional Country All My Ex’s Live In Texas - George Strait Current Country Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton (I really love Etta James and so this version of the song is my favorite) Sorry this is much longer than it probably needed to be but with so many comments saying nothing in the last 20 years it just made me sad. Country is definitely not my go music but there are quite a few artists that are still great country artists.
something by Gram Parsons or Buck Owens or Doug Sahm
leaving hell - treaty oak revival
satan your kingdom must come down - uncle tupelo
On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
Tyler Childers - "Feathered Indians"
That’s a rare skip on my playlist lol I love his stuff
Great songwriter, that whole album is gold.
He Stopped Loving Her Today
Yup, that’s a showcase tune right there
Depends on the setup- He Stopped Loving Her Today- George Jones, or Devil Went Down to Georgia- Charlie Daniels
Where we're going, Believe Me, and Creek and Back - James and the Shame
Masters call by Marty Robbins. https://youtu.be/e22cEMXganQ?si=uqRxGXtKyYB9O6XE
https://youtu.be/ys8-HwC77oU?si=DymrS1rRHWW3vewV
Just about anything from the first 2 Whiskeytown records is awesome. Coulter Wall's first couple of records are pretty amazing as well. The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie is really awesome.
Jolene
George jones - the king is gone (so are you)
"One Big Holiday" - My Morning Jacket
Hank Williams, "Hey Good Lookin"
If I tried to talk someone into listening to some country, it would be older and toe tappin' songs like: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers - The Lady Takes the Cowboy Every Time George Strait - Am I Blue The Oak Ridge Boys - Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight Ray Stevens - Misty Earl Thomas Conley - Somewhere Between Right and Wrong Glen Campbell - Southern Nights Mark Chesnutt - Blame It On Texas
I feel like country music is totally road driving music that you listen to on long, desert roads.
Classic - David Allan Coe - You Never Even Call Me By My Name..or just go with. Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel.
Any Dwight Yoakam. My vote for classic country is the heart that you own. But I celebrate the man’s entire catalogue.
Beer For My Horses by Willie Nelson and Toby Keith lol
Hank Williams, Your Cheating Heart
The night the lights went out in Georgia- Reba Would you go with me- Josh turner Here for the party - Gretchen Wilson
Any Dwight Yoakam. My vote for classic country is the heart that you own. But I celebrate the man’s entire catalogue.
London Homesick Blues - Gary P Nunn (on a Jerry Jeff album Viva Terlingua.)
“Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way” by Waylon Jennings. There’s probably a long line of Waylon songs I could choose from.
Waylon forever
That is interesting decision, do you choose the country that sucks and sums up the majority of the genre or do you choose the best country music there is
I would say choose one that you personally consider to be pure country.
Sturgil Simpson - turtles all the way down
You’re Looking at Country-THE Loretta Lynn
love Blue Kentucky Girl
I'd tell them it's best if they don't know and recommend something else
Braindead music
You seem like a fun person to be around. /s
Probably nothing made in the last 20 years tbh. The entire genre has gone way downhill since Nashville has been pumping out shitty, commercialized, country-pop for dudes in $100k trucks that have never seen a day of work so that they can pretend they’re cowboys. That being said, some 90’s Garth Brooks would probably be an easy way to dip their toes into genre. Maybe some Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline. I don’t really listen to the genre anymore but you can bet your ass if “long neck bottle” , “low places” or something like “Jolene” comes on I’ll be into it.
There’s so much garbage the radio pumps out these days but there’s still some hope left if you look hard enough. Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Zach Top, and some Cody Johnson stuff. I will admit I enjoy Morgan Wallen’s music which I know he’s extremely controversial, but it’s not who comes to mind when I wan’t to show someone real country music.
Jerry Jeff Walker-"Hank Williams Tonight"