“That Ain’t Country!”

Posted in Clear 99 Blogs, Scotty's Blog by Scotty on 1/15/2010

It’s the oldest argument in music, and it gets under my skin.

The Grand Ole Opry started in 1925, and I guarantee that first night on the radio, there was some dude in overalls smoking a corn cob, sippin’ shine and saying “That ain’t Country!”

In their day, Hall of Famer’s like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Waylon & Alabama were considered “not Country” by many.  Really?

But that’s not what I want to talk about now…

Chet Flippo is a music historian and editor for CMT and CMT.com.  He has much knowledge, and he says the term “Country Music” could disappear.  Not the music, just the term.

Whether or not you agree, it’s interesting to see the history of how Country music and other genres evolved, along with their names.

With subtilty, he also addresses another of my pet peeves.

“The term ‘country & western’ was used in the heyday of the singing cowboys and Western swing and is now only used by people who don’t know any better.”

Anybody got Simon Cowell’s email address?

2 Comments


  1. Robert

    January 20, 2010 7:05 pm

    I’ve always been annoyed with the contemporary use of the term “country and western”, as in “Garth Brooks is a country and western singer”.

  2. Dan

    February 15, 2010 2:10 pm

    There are as many non country singers in Country Music as actual Country singers. That is why it is annoying trying to find a True country station. There is two in this area one is AM and I think that is sad. Sorry guys your not one. But I do listen occasionally.