For as long as I can remember, my Dad was in a country music band.
Throughout Southern Indiana and the Louisville area, Dad, his brothers Dean and Max, and Pete and Dave played every weekend someplace — usually to a packed house. It’s one of the great thrills of my life that I played drums in the band for several years, starting about the time I was 16. Later, Dad could still fill the seats as one of the band at the Corydon Jamboree, performing well into his 70′s.
Country music was in his blood — and I guess I inherited it.
So when Brad Paisley ends his latest song, “This Is Country Music” by reciting a list of some of the greatest hits in the genre’s history, to me he might as well just have said, “Here’s a few of Dallas McKain’s favorite songs.”
(“He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today,” “Hello Darlin’,” “God Bless the USA,” “Amarillo by the Morning,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “I Walk the Line,” ” A Country Boy Can Survive.”)
The other aspect that struck me about this great song is found in how Paisley celebrates the very things that make many people dislike country music. Here’s the first lyric:
You’re not supposed to say the word “cancer” in a song.
And tellin’ folks that “Jesus is the answer” can rub ‘em wrong.
It ain’t hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, and Mama
Yeah that might be true.
But this is country music…and we DO.
Face it, Brad Paisley is pretty much saying to other styles of music that he doesn’t care what they think about his — he’s sticking up for what he finds unique and important about country music…cool or not.
It makes me wonder…would we grow our fan base if we stayed closer to our roots, rather than diluting our product by trying to “extend the brand” or “broadening our base”?
It’s pretty easy to make a list of those companies that have gone wrong by trying to add to their product lines, or get away from what made them significant in the first place. To me, Starbucks has lost some of its luster by adding music, mugs, and meals…and not focusing on the coffee. And, the mere mention of “new Coke”…well, you get the idea. Yet, many of us get caught up in the latest trends…
By the way, Brad Paisley has more fans than ever…he drew more people to his concerts last year than Justin Bieber, Nickleback, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, or the Eagles.
No customer is passionate about a generic product or service…a copycat of something real.
Maybe it’s good to stop for a moment…consider what our strengths are…and focus upon them.
Share and Enjoy:
http://twitter.com/mikecane Mike Cane
You know, one time I heard a writer say, “We need a literature of the people.” Your post just revealed that we always have: It’s been called Country Music.
http://twitter.com/doughibbard Doug Hibbard
Somehow, I expected you to like this song.nnMy wife said that this song identifies most of the reasons she’s come to love country music instead of just tolerating it because her husband loves it. How much better off we’d be if we stuck with being good at who we are and what we do!
http://www.McKainViewpoint.com Scott McKain
Wow. That gives me goose bumps, Mike. (Not a very elegant way of expressing my reaction, I know…but it’s the truth.)nnOne of the aspects about country music I’ve always found unfair is the genre seems to be judged by its worst, not its best — or even the average.nnWe know there is terrible writing out there — however, we tend to elevate the best of the art form in our discussions on the topic. We know there is trite and terrible rock music…inane rap…and more. Yet, the true artists are the ones most often raised in conversation.nnYet, when it comes to country music, it seems those who don’t listen to it refer to the worst of the pack in an attempt to define the standard. I don’t like the corn-pone stuff either. However, when you read lyrics from folks like Kris Kristofferson (a Rhodes scholar, by the way) to Brad Paisley and more…it’s really, really terrific insight and commentary on the condition of the real life of majority of us.nnThanks for the comment — as always — Mike…I really appreciate it.
http://www.McKainViewpoint.com Scott McKain
Doug — your comment made me reflect on those country stars who tried to broaden their base by doing something more mainstream, and tarnished their careers because it moved them away from their core fans.nnYet, we have also seen those in country music who only had one or two hits — but treated their fans like gold — and toured for twenty years on the basis of just those couple of good songs, because they stuck with what they were successful at doing.nnI strongly believe there is a business lesson in there somewhere….nnThanks for your comment — glad we share musical tastes, too!
This is country music…and we DO…
March 7, 2011 · 4 comments
For as long as I can remember, my Dad was in a country music band.
Throughout Southern Indiana and the Louisville area, Dad, his brothers Dean and Max, and Pete and Dave played every weekend someplace — usually to a packed house. It’s one of the great thrills of my life that I played drums in the band for several years, starting about the time I was 16. Later, Dad could still fill the seats as one of the band at the Corydon Jamboree, performing well into his 70′s.
Country music was in his blood — and I guess I inherited it.
So when Brad Paisley ends his latest song, “This Is Country Music” by reciting a list of some of the greatest hits in the genre’s history, to me he might as well just have said, “Here’s a few of Dallas McKain’s favorite songs.”
(“He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today,” “Hello Darlin’,” “God Bless the USA,” “Amarillo by the Morning,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “I Walk the Line,” ” A Country Boy Can Survive.”)
The other aspect that struck me about this great song is found in how Paisley celebrates the very things that make many people dislike country music. Here’s the first lyric:
Face it, Brad Paisley is pretty much saying to other styles of music that he doesn’t care what they think about his — he’s sticking up for what he finds unique and important about country music…cool or not.
It makes me wonder…would we grow our fan base if we stayed closer to our roots, rather than diluting our product by trying to “extend the brand” or “broadening our base”?
It’s pretty easy to make a list of those companies that have gone wrong by trying to add to their product lines, or get away from what made them significant in the first place. To me, Starbucks has lost some of its luster by adding music, mugs, and meals…and not focusing on the coffee. And, the mere mention of “new Coke”…well, you get the idea. Yet, many of us get caught up in the latest trends…
No customer is passionate about a generic product or service…a copycat of something real.
Maybe it’s good to stop for a moment…consider what our strengths are…and focus upon them.