Today we focused on learning about (white) country music. I admit, I didn’t take many notes or have many thoughts, I simply enjoyed learning and listening. I am a hearty hater of modern “bro” country; Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, etc. But I’m definitely a fan of Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, old country. And I also liked a lot of what was played in class today, which reminded me a lot of folk music, which I find quite charming.
Country music was described as being made from “displaced people who combine a zeal for their new home with a nostalgia for their old.” This fits in with a theory about culture which I find very interesting. The theory is that culture is created on the outer limits by marginalized people, and then becomes co-opted by the mainstream. Country music created by poor rural whites in the 1920s fits in just like jazz and rap created by the black community.
I was shown more examples of Hank Williams Sr, and introduced to both Jimmie Rodgers and Buck Owens (both of whom I liked immensely).
From there we had a discussion on the racial context of country music. We were shown the song “Filipino Baby” performed by Cowboy Copas. The song was about a U.S. soldier who had become infatuated with a Filipino girl while being stationed in the Philippines. The song was very racialized, and only described the girl in sexual, exotic terms. Certainly a product of outdated 1940s racial thinking, I personally did not find the song offensive but I can see why someone else might. Actually, while it removes agency from the person of color, but I was surprised to see a song acknowledge and not outright condemn the idea of interracial relations. It’s not exactly progressive, but it’s something. Then we were shown the song “Irma Jackson” by Merle Haggard (who I only learned about following his death). This song explicitly endorses the concept of interracial love, and laments the inability of the singer to marry a girl because she’s black. That’s incredibly forward-thinking, and not the reputation country music has.
During this talk of controversy country music I was reminded of Marty Robbins’ song “Ain’t I Right,” which is a love serenade to 1960s rightwing thought. Lyrics range from “Your concern is not to help the people, and I’ll say again though it’s often been often said, your concern is just to bring discomfort my friend, and your policy is just a little red. Now ain’t I right?” to describe the Freedom Riders who drove into the segregationist south, and “All the country’s full of two-faced politicians, who encourage you with words that go like this, ‘Burn your draft card if you like, it’s good to disagree,’ that’s a get-acquainted communistic kiss!” which was disparaging to the antiwar movement. It wasn’t Robbins’ only song that could be considered controversial–“I’ve got no use for the woman” is virulently anti-woman. “Mr. Shorty” is a pretty good song.