Innovations and Evolutions by Trenton Woods

 The Evolution of Modern Day Country

by Trenton Woods

2021


Country music began in 1900 in the rural south of the US. When your average person thinks of country music they think of southern, twangy, cowboys, and the guitar. From about the 1900's to the 1990's country music had held the exact definition of country music. Just like all music, evolutions to the genre are constant to improve and target the popular audience. Country is slowly shifting to more towards modern day pop while still keeping the southern feel that attracts old listeners as well. 



You are looking at Alan Jackson, one of the greatest country artist to ever touch a microphone in modern day country. Jackson was born in 1958 and started recording to songs when he was 29. Quickly after recording his first song, Jackson started making country music for Arista Nashville Records in year 1989 and it was all up hill from there. Jackson's single's all reached the country top 40 on the billboard except 6 songs (Billboard). This stat is truly amazing and just one of Alan's extraordinary career. 

This is Luke Combs, a present day country artist who currently taking over the country music world. Luke Combs was born in 1990 in North Carolina. Combs picked up singing when he was in middle school while playing football. The rising star had ultimately shocked the country world in 2014 and has taken control ever since. Luke Combs brings pop into his songs that many people around the world were craving.


The two artist's are great in different ways and here is why. Alan Jackson gave the country world a classic "honky tonk" southern artist that clearly, many people raved over. Alan Jackson was a transition for country music by incorporating twangy with pop. Although you may listen to his music and think that it is complete "southern music", Jackson actually evolved the genre throughout his career. In order to keep up with newer listeners and stay on the billboard, Jackson had to continue to change up his music while keeping the classic country in mind. Jacksons first #1 hit was "I'd Love You All Over Again" which was released in 1990. His most recent #1 hit is "Country Boy" was released in 2008. This 18 year gap showed some interesting changes in his music beginning with how he went from tangy and southern to incorporating more of a pop and catchy feel to his music.

Luke Combs noticed the change in modern day country and took advantage of the opportunity by using his writing skills and his voice to construct some of the best pop country to this day. Luke Combs released his first song in 2014 followed by a debut album( "This one's for you") in 2017 that set the tone for country artist in today's world. With 5 #1 hits in his debut album, Luke Combs quickly took control with his new pop country style that involved more an upbeat and more relatable presence. Combs now has 10 number one hits in 4 years putting his on top on the entire genre (the Washington Post. 2019). the Washington Post. 2019


Country Music is more popular now than it ever has been and it all points towards one reason which is evolution. Evolution has changed the game for country as a whole and has brought many new listeners and a lot more money. Country music used to be very simple with few instruments including the harmonica, guitar, banjo, and the fiddle. New country uses less of those and more electronic instruments to liven up the vibe. 

I chose to research modern day country because I listen to a lot of it while keeping up to date with the country music world. Modern day country brings a whole different aspect that appeals to more and more people every day. Evolution is important to music because without it, the music would get old and boring while losing interest of many supporters. 


Sources:

Yahr, E. The washingtion post. How rising country star took his own path. Retrived from 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/how-country-singer-luke-combs-took-his-own-path-and-became-nashvilles-fastest-rising-star/2019/02/04/b693f1aa-2649-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html


Billboard. Alan Jackson. Retrieved from 

https://www.billboard.com/music/alan-jackson/chart-history/HSI


Id love you all over again. Youtube. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0tbfh-Arb8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0tbfh-Arb8 


Country Boy. Youtube. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnX2BoZE9w4 - country boy


This one's for you. Youtube. Retrieved from 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYUuimjZHnOgGUcANaufAnLeh5z_vqTEk

Comments

  1. Jocylynn SmithFebruary 27, 2021 at 6:30 PM

    Hey Trent,

    This was a perfect topic for this assignment. If I had thought of it, I probably would have done my assignment on this, too.

    You are right - Country music as we knew it has shifted towards modern pop. I was actually driving down the road the other day and I was listening to the radio; there was a song that come on that I thought was playing on 98.1 or 101.1 (rap/pop stations for those of you who don't live in Fairbanks), but sure enough, it was on 102.5 (country station)! I was pretty surprised. Lots of country music these days is being played on other stations, and personally, I first noticed that shift with Taylor Swift. When she came on, country was her go to, and now we don't see that with her..

    I love that you chose Alan Jackson, or "AJ" as my dad used to call him, and Luke Combs for your assignment. 'AJ' is one of my favorite early 2000's country artists, and currently, Luke Combs is my favorite. You made an interesting point about 'AJ' paving the way in country music becoming more modern; I never would have made that connection. I looked further into it, and sure enough he was accredited for that - and Garth Brooks and a few others. That article: https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/08/26/country-music-garth-brooks-alan-jackson-clint-black-travis-tritt-class-of-1989/1781546001/


    Great job! I really enjoyed this.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Create a Blog Assignment

Image
 Hi my name is Trenton Woods and I am a freshman here at UAF. I am a former hockey player but now I am focusing on school and enjoying the outdoors. I am looking forward to a great semester learning about music. Hope you enjoy my first ever blog! My Website Music Analysis #1 It's a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt Overview: I chose "It'a a Great Day to Be Alive" for a couple different reasons. I personally believe that you should never take things for granted in life especially when things are going good. You never know when things could go wrong and you could be wishing you had things you used to. This song is about appreciating the little things in life and just being happy that you get to live such a special life. My mom used to play this song when I was younger so when I listen to it now it brings me back to her singing this in the car on the way to drop me off at school. This song was originally performed by Jon Randall in the 1990's but was then covered
Read more

The Role of the Performer by Trenton Woods

Image
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley, also referred to as "The King", is known for his magical performances containing energy and sass that made the crowd go crazy every single performances. But before we talk about that let me tell you his back story. Elvis Aron Presley was born in January of 1935 in Mississippi. Elvis came from a low income family that was God loving and humble. Presley was always fascinated with music and got his first guitar at the age of 11. not long after that he signed his first deal with a record label then quickly started to perform song after song. Elvis never actually wrote any of his songs but his performances speak for themselves in how well he got a crowd roaring.  Elvis' first single came out in 1954 called "That's All Right"  followed by his first #1 hit in 1955 called  "Heartbreak Hotel" . Elvis began to take over the world but not just in the music industry. Elvis was also an actor in a film called "Love Me Tender&quo
Read more

Continued Exploration: You've Got A Friend In Me from Toy Story (Music and the Fictive Dream)

Image
  Background Information: I chose to write about the song featured in the movie Toy Story  called "You've Got a Friend In Me" . Toy Story is a computer animated film produced by Pixar and released by Disney Pictures in 1995. Directed by John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Josh Cooley, and Valerie LaPointe. Tom Hanks plays Woody and Tim Allen plays Buzz Lightyear. This movie series consisted 5 movies and was an extremely popular movie for everyone to enjoy.  "You've Got a Friend In Me" was written and sang by Randy Newman in 1995 for the movie. Newman sang 2 other songs in the movie called "Strange Things" and "I Will Go Sailing No More". All the songs were performed in the US and were clearly a big hit.  Overview: The meaning behind this song is special for the movie and for real life friendships that we can all relate to at some point in our lives. This song is about having a friend that will be there for you no matter what happens in life. That
Read more