Interesting arguments, Ferris209, and well written.

First, I would just like to begin by saying that it is very nice to have a conversation with others about country music because I was made fun of for enjoying it even as early as in my elementary school years. I like *all* music, but I feel like country has something for everyone if people would just give it a chance. So, thank you to all of you out there keeping country alive :)

I'm 20 years old and my family loves country, oldies, folk, classic rock...but I'm so happy that my family introduced me to country.

Someone above mentioned Tim & Faith not being true to old-school country. *Tim McGraw* and Faith Hill both have old-fashioned, "real" country songs. Go to their early stuff such as "She's a Wild One" and "Indian Outlaw" and Tim's first album...heck, I would argue many of his later songs are real country but that's just me. He has so many beautiful country ballads. Tim is my favorite artist due to my father playing it religiously when I was little. Tim definitely has twang going on and he is super great : ) I have seen many a concert and he is grand.

Sad but true: for the most part, unless he is brought up on it or he is open minded, the average Joe doesn't respond well to "real," twangy country. I love real, twangy country but that is just me. Most of my life I have been made fun of for liking country. My family members enjoy it and it is nostalgic for me, so I really don't respond well to people making fun of it haha.

I have to say, I like Brad and Keith and other big names and I do see them as talented forces that keep country alive. I am a singer myself and I love anything even remotely affiliated with country music hahaha. I like seeing the evolution of country music with it's pop elements, while I also still like the old-school country twang and retreating into my classic country music roots. Tim McGraw is my favorite as he reminds me of my father. My dad, as well as me, my mom, and my sister, love Tim, Clint Black, George Strait, Vince Gill, Keith Whitley, Shania, as well as others that border different genres such as the mountain music of John Denver, the classic rock of James Taylor, and the greatness of Jackson Browne and Jim Croce.

*I really wish people would stop picking on Taylor Swift.* She is a great person with a big heart and she is a big talent. How does one define talent, anyway??? She is living her dream and, again, helping to keep country alive! Being a singer doesn't mean you have to be the loudest or the proudest or the best. Heck, I'm no where near the best singer out there but I have heart when I sing and so does she!!! Every artist has their own style and their own story. I want to be a singer and I don't have the best projection, but I can sing on key and I can write. It gets me down to think that if I wanted to become a singer there would be people out their constantly criticizing what I do, but I guess I would just have to ignore the nonconstructive comments. I know I'm not the best singer. Taylor swift isn't cocky and she isn't professing to be the best singer. She isn't standing there bragging about herself. She is modest, humble, she does a lot for others, and she makes her living doing what she loves. Let her be! If Taylor is having success, then by all means she deserves it.

Random and not sure, but if I am correct, didn't country help to mold rock and roll, by the way?

I grew up in a country music household myself! Great stuff. That's why I hate when people make fun of country music. There is something in it for everyone if people just give it a chance, and if they don't like it, I think they should keep it to themselves. :-) I have to say, I like Brad and Keith and I do see them as agents that keep country alive. I am a singer myself and I like anything even remotely affiliated with country music hahaha. I like seeing the evolution of country music with it's pop elements, while I also still like the old-school country twang and retreating to my classic country music roots. Tim McGraw is my favorite as he reminds me of my father. My dad loves Tim, Clint Black, George Strait, Vince Gill, Keith Whitley, Shania, as well as others that border different genres such as the mountain music of John Denver, the classic rock of James Taylor, and the greatness of Jackson Browne and Jim Croce.

I really wish people would stop picking on Taylor Swift. She is a great person with a big heart and she is a big talent. How does one define talent, anyway??? She is living her dream and, again, helping to keep country alive! Being a singer doesn't mean you have to be the loudest or the proudest or the best. Heck, I'm no where near the best singer out there but I have heart and so does she!!! Every artist has their own style and their own story. I want to be a singer and I don't have the best projection, but I can sing on key and I can write. It gets me down to think that if I wanted to become a singer there would be people out their criticizing what I do, but I guess I would just have to ignore it. I know I'm not the best singer. Taylor swift isn't cocky and she isn't professing to be the best singer. She isn't standing there bragging about herself. She is modest, humble, she does a lot for others, and she makes her living doing what she loves. Let her be! If Taylor is having success, then by all means she deserves it.

Interesting, Gina952. I didn't know that about Beethoven and Bach.

Interesting argument, Ferris209, and well written.

First, I would just like to begin by saying that it is very nice to have a conversation with others about country music because I was made fun of for enjoying it even as early as in my elementary school years. I like *all* music, but I feel like country has something for everyone if people would just give it a chance. So, thank you to all of you out there keeping country alive :)

I'm 20 years old and my family loves country, oldies, folk, classic rock...but I'm so happy that my family introduced me to country.

Someone above mentioned Tim & Faith not being true to old-school country. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill both have old-fashioned, "real" country songs. Go to their early stuff such as "She's a Wild One" and "Indian Outlaw" and Tim's first album...heck, I would argue many of his later songs are real country but that's just me. He has so many beautiful country ballads. Tim is my favorite artist due to my father playing it religiously when I was little. Tim definitely has twang going on and he is super great : ) I have seen many a concert and he is grand.

Sad but true: for the most part, unless he is brought up on it or he is open minded, the average Joe doesn't respond well to "real," twangy country. I love real, twangy country but that is just me. Most of my life I have been made fun of for liking country. My family members enjoy it and it is nostalgic for me, so I really don't respond well to people making fun of it haha.

I have to say, I like Brad and Keith and other big names and I do see them as talented forces that keep country alive. I am a singer myself and I love anything even remotely affiliated with country music hahaha. I like seeing the evolution of country music with it's pop elements, while I also still like the old-school country twang and retreating to my classic country music roots. Tim McGraw is my favorite as he reminds me of my father. My dad, as well as me, my mom, and my sister, love Tim, Clint Black, George Strait, Vince Gill, Keith Whitley, Shania, as well as others that border different genres such as the mountain music of John Denver, the classic rock of James Taylor, and the greatness of Jackson Browne and Jim Croce.

I really wish people would stop picking on Taylor Swift. She is a great person with a big heart and she is a big talent. How does one define talent, anyway??? She is living her dream and, again, helping to keep country alive! Being a singer doesn't mean you have to be the loudest or the proudest or the best. Heck, I'm no where near the best singer out there but I have heart when I sing and so does she!!! Every artist has their own style and their own story. I want to be a singer and I don't have the best projection, but I can sing on key and I can write. It gets me down to think that if I wanted to become a singer there would be people out their constantly criticizing what I do, but I guess I would just have to ignore the nonconstructive comments. I know I'm not the best singer. Taylor swift isn't cocky and she isn't professing to be the best singer. She isn't standing there bragging about herself. She is modest, humble, she does a lot for others, and she makes her living doing what she loves. Let her be! If Taylor is having success, then by all means she deserves it.

Random and not sure, but if I am correct, didn't country help to mold rock and roll, by the way?

Thank you so much! I did not expect a reply at all, not to mention such a quick one. Pretty cool to talk with the author of an article directly. I went to Drew University for English lit, studio art, and writing, and I also worked on many college publications, including my university's undergraduate scholarly journal in which I published my first real piece of writing. I have illustrated and written children's books as well.

So nice to hear from a fellow English major by the way! Are you primarily a writer now? I am trying to decide where to go with my degree.

I greatly appreciate what you said about "not sneering" at an artist. *I* am often criticized for being too nice, but I don't care haha...I really love pointing out the beauty and the art of music, and country music, folk music, classic rock, and music in general are some of the most important things in my life as they all bind my family and friends together. I really get annoyed when people make fun of an artist, especially country artists, as country has merged so well with pop in the past few years. There is something out there for everyone! I love country, old and new, as well as pop. Perhaps my love, appreciation, and respect for all singers and songwriters comes from my personal love for singing and trying to learn guitar. I have tried my hand at writing one song so far!!!

Wish I could be a singer : ) Easier said than done, I guess haha. I don't have the loudest voice, but I could write some great songs!

Thanks again for your time and your tips! I love constructive criticism :)

Great article. I am looking to find out how to get into music journalism and music criticism. Any tips??? I am an English major and recent college graduate. I also happen to love love love country music! Again, awesome article. Tim McGraw is my favorite artist, but I love all music, so just reading this article was a pleasure. I like what you said about Hunter Hayes and the storm metaphor. Hunter is an awesome new artist. Nice top five list and thanks for helping to keep country alive!