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A lot of people don't really know it, but American country music is the most commercially successful music genre worldwide and is popular in places such as sout
by betwixthewires 4y ago
A lot of people don't really know it, but American country music is the most commercially successful music genre worldwide and is popular in places such as southeast Asia, Mongolia, sub Saharan Africa, even India and Latin america. Europeans and city dwelling Americans love to shit on it but the world loves it, probably because it's easy to relate to lyrically and uses pleasant melodies and simple to follow rhythms. Love, heartbreak and agriculture are pretty much universal.
- rayiner 4y agoI found it funny when I was growing up that my dad (Bangladeshi) listened to country music. I was more of a Dave Matthew’s guy, but as a dad myself now my dial is also stuck on WMZQ. It’s simple and easy to relate to.
- betwixthewires 4y agoI think we have the same dad.
- rayiner 4y agoMaybe a few of these dads lol: https://mobile.twitter.com/preetbharara/status/1421629416342437890 https://mobile.twitter.com/preetbharara/status/1421629416342... (What I love about this Tweet is that Preet isn’t using this meme correctly.)
- guelo 4y ago> American country music is the most commercially successful music genre worldwide Sorry I'm very skeptical about this claim. According to the recording industry's annual report Pop music continues to dominate and Country is not in the top 10 https://www.ifpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IFPI-Engaging-with-Music-report.pdf https://www.ifpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IFPI-Engagin... (page 15) Also, as a city dweller, why do people like you constantly attack us about everything? That feeling of persecution is destroying us.
- exolymph 4y agoI upvoted you because I'm also skeptical about the object-level claim, but this is a little dramatic: > Also, as a city dweller, why do people like you constantly attack us about everything? That feeling of persecution is destroying us. Rural people can easily levy the same accusation in return.
- guelo 4y agoWhy is my comment more dramatic than saying city dwellers "love to shit on it"?
- eastof 4y agoMost country music is pop music. Also I'm skeptical of the list you linked because 80's and 90's isn't a genre.
- gunfighthacksaw 4y agoAlt country is a thing. Cannot wait to hate on the inevitable mashup of country and hyperpop.
- betwixthewires 4y agoWho's people like me?
- corrral 4y agoDo they imitate it in their own music? When I go looking for American influence in foreign pop music, most of what I find is usually hip-hop. Almost never country.
- samatman 4y agoI think 'adapt' might be a better word, but absolutely they do. I agree it's not as easy to find, I have a Thai country CD from the early Naughts in storage somewhere, I bet if you went with the right searches on your streaming source of choice you'd turn it up.
- corrral 4y agoThat's awesome. Again, I wasn't trying to be a dick (I drew a downvote at one point, for some reason, so I guess I was somehow?) it just seems that every time I've listened to a popular foreign radio station from Africa or the Pacific or Asia, the non-English stuff I've heard has either been plainly in some kind of "pop" category, or, even more often, hip-hop, never country, so I found it surprising that an overwhelming love of country music, abroad, hadn't already become evident to me.
- noisy_boy 4y agoThai country music can be deceptive to foreign ears due to the almost standard rhythm that comes across as retro pop due to its usage of brass/electronic music. However, is it just that, a "base" that is similar sounding across every song - it is the lyrics are the meat of the thing which is a problem unless you speak the language.
- thematrixturtle 4y agoAustralian country music is a thing, look up eg Slim Dusty. In Thailand, the local equivalent is luk thung.
- mc32 4y agoGeoff Mack / Lucky Starr with the Original version of "I've been everywhere": Mack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZWi-mTkNU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZWi-mTkNU Starr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdxOy-TxWwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdxOy-TxWwE
- paulpauper 4y agoAs someone who lives in a city, shitting on country music is not something that has ever crossed my mind
- AnotherGoodName 4y agoI've seen it. I've also seen people talk down classical, disco and a few other genres at various points in my life. It seems there's always an uncool genre of the day. Which is a shame as people are simply limiting themselves.
- paulpauper 4y agodisco, nu metal probably the two most hated genres
- bigmealbigmeal 4y agoIt's actually interesting to look at reviews of disco music on RateYourMusic going past the last decade. You might notice a pattern of the older reviews criticizing it as vapid and cheesy, while the newer reviews praise it as danceable and fun. I think we're finally brushing off the excessive dismissal of the form, probably in no small part to the rock-worshipping generations being drowned out by the newer generations that have no such allegiances.
- cjohnson318 4y agoDifferent eras of country music have different themes, values and styles, just like jazz and rock. That said, I heard some country music last weekend with a trap beat straight out of Outkast's Stankonia and it was... disconcerting.
- jinto36 4y agoThere are many repetitive lyrical themes that seem to be associated with particular genres, and personal preferences associated thereof. I feel like country used to have more variety- my father used to listened to it- but it's kind of coalesced into "I drank a bottle of whiskey and cried in my pickup truck when you left me" which isn't really my thing. Whereas I'm kind of ok with every power metal song being some variation of "fire! dragons! swords!". The things that aren't really stand out though, such as Kamelot's concept albums Epica and The Black Halo, which are based on Faust. There's also Van Canto which is a rather impressive German a capella power metal band (with a live drummer). In general, power metal seems to be more self-aware of how ridiculous and repetitive it is. See Gloryhammer, which is effectively a power metal parody band, taking the lyrical absurdity up a notch and replacing dragons with unicorns etc. If there's any self-referential/parody country music out there I'd actually be curious to hear to it.
- snarfy 4y agoMy Egyptian musician friend who loves country music explained it to me as being exotic sounding and uniquely American. He also really enjoys live music and there are a lot of country bars with talented musicians playing.
- unmole 4y ago> American country music is the most commercially successful music genre worldwide [citation needed] > even India Yeah, no. Unless you are using a very liberal definition of popular. American music is a niche in India and country music is a niche within a niche. Rock, pop and hip-hop are far more popular.
- betwixthewires 4y ago"Popular" just means that a lot of people like it. That's a pretty run of the mill use of the term. It doesn't mean it's a major cultural trend in a country. I just said it's pretty popular worldwide.
- crooked-v 4y agoNo, you said it's the "most commercially successful music genre".
- joemi 4y agoI'd love to see a citation for both the claim you wanted a citation for and for your claim.
- kylehotchkiss 4y agoI sat in a Pizza Hut in CP Delhi loudly playing country music. American songs play on everybody’s instagram stories. Not super niche.
- thealig 4y agopop music in general is somewhat popular specially in the bigger cities in India. never heard country music playing anywhere though, dont think its that popular as you claim. local music (bollywood number, south indian film industry etc) is expectedly far more widespread and american music pales in comparison in terms of popularity
- unmole 4y agoAnd I sat in a chain coffee shop in Hyderabad that played the Brandenburg Concertos in a loop. I still wouldn't claim there's a Bach Revival underway in India.
- LegitShady 4y agotl;dr - country music is for chicks and hicks, even hicks from other countries.
- iancmceachern 4y agoI'm a city dwelling American and I love country music. I grew up not in the city, so that may help.
- lowkj 4y agoI’m an American who used to listen to a lot of country music. I have spent the last four years in South America and before that two years in France. I can’t remember a single time hearing American country music outside the US. I’m sure I have heard a song or two but I can assure you it is very rare.
- eru 4y agoWhich parts of south east Asia? I mostly hear the same kinds of pop songs here in Singapore as they are playing on the radio in Europe.
- synu 4y agoHere in the Netherlands they love country music, both modern and older styles. I'm not sure what the connection is, but there was a local city-wide battle of the bands sort of thing here in my home town and _every_ band was playing bluegrass type music.
- bergenty 4y agoWhat are you talking about. American classical rock is popular the world over, especially the stuff from the 60s and 70s. No one listens to what Americans refer to as country music. Definitely not in the Middle East, India or Latin America.