(She’s) Gone Country

Frank Freniere · From: The First Coast

https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/02/13/beyonce-country-album-songs-nashville

Jack Stanton · From: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey

Maybe she'll finally get album of the year and Jay Z can lighten up.....

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

There is a big difference between “a great country singer”, and “a great singer, singing country”.

Let’s not confuse the two. Laughing

Craig Stock · From: Westfield, NJ USA

https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/on-this-beyonce-going-country-business/
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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Sorry, but Beyonce's stuff isn't what I'd call Country. I don't know what it is, but it missed the Country bullseye by a county or two. (Even with that sprinkling of pedal steel grace notes.)

I had to reach way back in my memory to think of Black female artists that appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. Linda Martell was the first, back in 1971. And for some reason (probably gigging in a Baltimore bar), I missed her debut. But I did catch Ruby Falls debut on the Opry about a decade later. Before she passed away, I thought she did a pretty good job of "going country". This isn't the song she did that night, but it's another one of her chart records. I post it here because it features some pretty neat backup playing by none other than Curly Chalker. See what you think of it... Mr. Green

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSdFUxHyDok

~
edit -

And here's another chart song Ruby had that also features some great playing. Not Chalker on this one, though. Sounds more like Sonny Garrish to me? (Or possibly Weldon, or Lloyd?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiqbVuchF5w

.

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I don’t play in big leagues so I don’t really care who’s not country enough or who gets an award for being something different instead of being good at what we’re used to hearing or what we like.

This is as much a Beyonce marketing move as it is about having any kind of affinity for the genre. She’s bringing her folks over to country, and country folks are giving her a listen, maybe for the first time. But I don’t care about that either because I don’t hear much in the songs that have been released that intrigues me. Not Beyonce’s fault though. Modern Country Commerce lost me in about 1993.

Aside from all that, it does seem that the best way (if not the only way) for a non-caucasian artist to “break in” to Country music is by getting to the top of some other genre first. And there are a whole buncha bad reasons for that.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Its a very strange scenario here. "FORCED" Billboard rated the song as Country #1 due to streams and radio play, following the Super Bowl. not sales. As of now, yes millions of streams but only 29,000 sales. There is no doubt that Beyonce has millions of fans who certainly would listen to her music, and probably more than a few times. Both my wife and I listened at different times so WE COUNT in the streams and so do you if you listened, even for a moment. Sales, is a totally different issue.

Its not a country song , its a song with a Banjo and the word TEXAS. If it is a Country song, its a rather drab boring Country song, no spark whatsoever. Its a one and done listen.

The other thing, for me, is the video, I find it totally offensive, she's half naked , maybe more than half naked.

How can a song with 29,000 sales units be #1 on any chart ? How can a song survive with only 29,000 in unit sales ?

They can claim and say its #1 24/7 but without Sales it's a bust. But I digress, she will be on the Opry soon.
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Joachim Kettner · From: Germany

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Joachim Kettner · From: Germany

If you're refering to the song from Allan Jackson, Frank, which I think you do, I'll have to say that I do not like the lyrics very much. I think they are very poor.
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Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

I hear a Rapid Transit Commuter coming
It’s coming around the bend
And I haven’t seen normal global temps since I don’t when
I’m growing as a person in a rehabilitation center, And my apple watch keeps my bluetooth on
But that Rapid Transit keeps a rollin hoping another grammy will be won.

Boom-chuka-boom
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I had to view the video to make an informed comment about it.

I was not expecting anything country and I wasn't disappointed. Who even knows how the masses define country music since they've been force fed this kind of stuff as being so.

The comment section underneath the video tells you all you need to know. These are cerainly knowledgeable country music fans right?

Such as these or paraphrased.

"I don't like country music but I like this song."
"I never listened to country music until I heard this"

And other comments in general I hear concerning this type of so-called country....
"Well, I like country music...most of it...just not that honky whiney guitar stuff."

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Jacob Yergert · From: Centennial, Colorado, USA

I feel like the conversation around who gets to be called Country and who doesn't usually just kind of goes in circles. Reddit is awash with posts about what counts as Country compared to Americana and other hair-splitting. I love the hard-country weepers m

In my opinion, the song is more country than plenty of dudebro, snap track, trap-beat stuff that gets played on mainstream country radio. I think the best choice for music lovers is to completely disregard the radio-- there's nothing on it worth listening to and every playlist is a workshopped, focus-grouped junk. It's easier than ever to discover all manner of niche genres and moods.

I think one of the best descriptions of Country music is that its similar to Drag. How many of us playing in cowboy bands are actually cowboys? Not a lot. How many of us are out cheating on our wives and putting whiskey in our coffees in the morning? Hopefully not a whole lot. I was lucky enough to be born on a farm, but we moved to the suburbs when I was little. Am I Country? Do I have to ride and wrangle to be Country? Can I make a country song with big, rock guitars or does it have to be swamped in fiddle and steel? We're all playing characters in costume for other's entertainment and our own fun.

Looking at Charley Crockett's early interviews almost 20 years ago is a great example: he has yet to create the whole drawling cowboy persona. It's very different.

This conversation plays out in punk rock circles too-- what gets to be called "punk?" What gets to be called Country? I honestly dont know if it matters that much.

Brooks Montgomery · From: Idaho, USA

Jacob, very insightful. Especially liked “dudebro snap-track”.😎
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A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first.

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Agreed mostly, Jacob.
Country is a state of mind, as the cliche goes. It’s traditional sounds and attitudes take you to that little spot in your brain that is equal parts fantasy and nostalgia. Even “3 chords and the truth” isn’t completely accurate. But, If those sounds are missing from the music, it doesn’t hit the spot. Maybe it hits another spot though. Good or bad is in the ear of the listener.

Darrell Criswell · From: Maryland, USA

If she really wanted to do country, she should have started with a couple of Carter Family, Faron Young, and Wanda Jackson songs.

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

FWIW :

"Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to top Billboard’s Country songs chart with Texas Hold ‘Em "

"Beyoncé's “Texas Hold 'Em” shuffles to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a week after it debuted at No. 2. The superstar earns her ninth leader on the list, and her first since “Break My Soul” in 2022. "

I've heard it a couple of times , thought it was cool and catchy . Like that banjo in there too . Don't listen to modern country music , except by accident , but how much different is it from what's contemporay C&W ?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

“This ain't Texas (woo), ain't no hold 'em (hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus (woo) and throw your keys up (hey)
Stick around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round (stick around)
And I'll be damned if I can't slow dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real life boogie and a real life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now (woo)”

As Billy Bob Thornton would say with his face on as straight as possible,
“Now that’s great songwritin’ there”.

Not that every song I ever loved was a great literary work, but we are talking about a #1 Billboard Country hit, right?

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

To quote Dale Watson - "Country My A$$!"
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Fred Treece · From: California, USA

It’s Country enough for Beyonce and her fans.
Dolly Pardon likes it. She likes just about everybody.
Billboard? I have no explanation. Probably only thinking about anticipated sales.

In the “if nothing else” department-
These songs and this album are sparking a worthy and wide-ranging discussion on country music traditions and who owns bragging rights for their origin and development. That is a positive result, regardless of whether the musicality of the tunes hits your sweet spot or not. I regard promotional commentary like “This will change the direction of the genre forever” as utter nonsense, but I been wrong once er mebbe twice before.

Like most pop music, Country is a melting pot. Ninety percent of it is Total Garbage, the rest is What You Like. I remember when John Denver was not country enough for country fans. John fricking Denver! The girl from Houston probably knew all of this before she sang the first note.

Frank Freniere · From: The First Coast

OK, are we ready to tackle Jelly Roll now?

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

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