![]() ![]() The rockers pair a simple, emotive lyric with a driving melodic tune and get a song that drips with feelings that fit perfectly in small-town America. This tune from the Foos drops the listener straight into a conversation about a moment captured in time. The song tells the story of the American farmer, and there’s no better backdrop to that story of hard work and the independent spirit than small-town Texas. Written by Rodney Clawson, Bart Pulsey, and country super-duo Big Kenny and John Rich (of Big & Rich) Amarillo Sky was a huge hit for Jason Aldean off his debut album in 2005. The duo followed up this hit a few years later with Where I Come From, another love song to their small-town roots. Proving again that it ain’t just the country folk who dig on small-town life. It performed well on the country charts, but is best known for being one of their biggest mainstream crossover hits. Sometimes artists celebrate general small-town life rather than specific places, and this Montgomery Gentry tune did just that. Backed by a simple chorus, Crow’s heartfelt verses piggyback on the vibe of Abilene rather than any details about the city – proving the power small towns have to invoke feelings. Sheryl Crow’s offering is a great example of a town as the backdrop to a story rather than the star. ![]() Many artists have memorialized Abilene, including country legends George Hamilton IV and Waylon Jennings. Cher’s gender-swapping version made it big on dance charts around the world, and country megaband Lonestar hit the top 10 with it in 2003. The tune wasn’t just a big hit for Cohn either. Cohn has said that the song is autobiographical – it depicts life in the Tennessee town, referencing landmarks and places important to him. Memphis is officially (according to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum) the most-referenced city in recorded music, appearing in over 1,000 songs, and Marc Cohn’s might be the most famous. From old school swing to hard rock (and everything in between) songwriters love them some good ol’ U.S. Country stars especially have waxed melodic about their love of small-town life, with everyone from old-school crooners like Merle Haggard to new-country stars like Jason Aldean memorializing good times in small places. As there are always two sides to every story, there are two sides to every musical genre as well - you just have to know where to look.Photo courtesy of World Adult Kickball Associationįor decades, musicians have been writing about the special kind of romance found in small-town America. Though country has gotten a bad rep in the past, these 10 tracks truly show the depth of the genre and the musical ingenuity of country groups that may have been previously overlooked. She says “Oh, if we break up, I’ll be fine / But you’ll be breaking more hearts than mine,” perfectly encapsulating the grief the whole family goes through when their daughter gets hurt by the guy they all found themselves growing fond of. The song tells the story of a girl planning to take her boyfriend back home to her family for the first time, immortalizing that very specific conversation a couple has on the nerve-racking - yet, wildly exciting - road trip to ‘meet the family.’ With a heart-wrenching twist, Andress spins the situation to discuss the looming possibility of heartbreak, discussing how taking someone home to your family fully integrates them into your life, and ironically inches you closer to complete heartbreak. Andress’s vocal mastery is on full display, accompanied by a simple piano and string melody with a handful of starkly country guitar riffs thrown in for good measure. Ingrid Andress is a fairly new name in the modern country scene, but her track “More Hearts Than Mine” expertly displays her mastery of the classic country style. I feel like ‘Cover Me Up’ is very much alive right now and I’m so grateful for that.” Morgan Wallen’s modern rendition of the classic hit brings a heartfelt edge to the tune, making it the perfect track to show off the stylistic songwriting and instrumental artistry which sets country music apart from other musical genres. Though Morgan Wallen has received some heat from country fans for covering such an intensely vulnerable track, Isbell himself came out in support of the pop-country star, saying in a tweet, “It can be so painful to bring a song from your heart into the world then watch it start to fade away after a year or two. Isbell originally wrote “Cover Me Up” as a heartfelt tribute to his wife Amanda Shires, who helped him through his time in rehab and supported him on his journey to sobriety. Serving as the main player on this track, the guitar is supported by some bluegrass backing instrumental lines that artistically convey the tune’s heart wrenching storyline. Morgan Wallen’s take on Jason Isbell’s classic “Cover Me Up” combines all the best elements that country music has to offer. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |