Anything but country? Many college students changing their tune
"What kind of music do you like?"
It used to be that the brave soul who answered "country" that age-old question had pretty good chance of getting a sneer and a look that clearly said, “Oh- you’re one of those” in return.
But country has been adopting some mainstream characteristics, including country-fried pop sounds, that has changed the fundamental perception of the Nashville-born genre.
When the Country Music Association officially changed their slogan to “Admit it. You love us" a decade ago, their fan base and mainstream acceptance has been growing.
It started with pop infused Faith Hill and Shania Twain, and now Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” is the college bar sing-a-long-song of choice.
Zach DuBois has encountered all types of fans during his journey from his hometown of Elkhart, IN to his new base in Nashville.
During his time as a student musician at The University of Notre Dame and throughout the cross country tour he undertook after graduation, DuBois believes that country music has “definitely gone mainstream” and it’s appeal is growing, especially among college students.
“The themes are simple and the lyrics are beautifully straightforward...yes, country music is simple, but if anything my Notre Dame education further drove home the importance of the themes found in country music...faith and family.”
With six country albums currently in the top 20 of the Billboard Top 200, country music is taking over with an “aw shucks” smile and a tip of the hat. It seems the genre has finally overcome the long joke Billy Ray Cyrus made of it with “Achy Breaky Heart” (and his infamous mullet).
Taylor Swift is leading the charge with her undeniably universal appeal. Her 2008 album “Fearless” has been on the Billboard Top 200 for an astonishing 170 weeks, and her most recent album, “Speak Now,” sold over a million copies in it’s first week in 2010.
Swift sang her hit single “Mean” at this year's Grammys, and will contribute two songs to the soundtrack for the highly anticipated movie for “The Hunger Games”.
Premiering in theaters March 23, the soundtrack created buzz with a heavy dose of country. Swift’s “Safe & Sound” featuring The Civil Wars is the lead off for the album, also featured are Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies, Ella Mae Bowen and The Secret Sisters.
Perhaps the most telling is Swift’s gracing the coveted cover of Vogue, with their February issue crowning her “America’s Sweetheart”.
Perhaps not as flattering, but certainly reflecting her icon status, is her initiation into a Kristen Wiig impersonation on “Saturday Night Live”. The impersonation appeared again in a skit on this past Saturday’s show that had Swift in the same group with Prince, Angelina Jolie, LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj.
Swift isn’t the only one making her way in the big world.
Miranda Lambert made her acting debut on an episode of “Law and Order: SVU” this season and Alison Krauss remade “The Simpsons” beloved theme song for the show’s 500th episode which aired Sunday.
The saloon door seems to be swinging both ways, as mainstream artists and media are also seeing the value of having country music on their side.
On February 17, indie darling Zooey Deschanel’s pet project, www.hellogiggles.com, posted an article entitled “Why You Should Give Country Music a Chance”.
Lionel Richie will be releasing a country album, “Tuskegee” on March 26, Gwenyth Paltrow is having studio sessions with Holly Williams (daughter of Hank Williams Jr.) and NBC’s “The Voice” is rivaling long time ratings powerhouse “American Idol”, thanks in no small part to country’s representation in both contestants and jokester judge Blake Shelton.
Country music has gotten a makeover, and has been invited to sit at the popular table at lunch. She’s the girl next door with inner and outer beauty, and the popularity contest is clearly tipping in her favor. It’s the triumph of the underdog, not surprisingly a common country theme.
“A lot of country music artists are opting for a more mainstream, polished sound, similar to pop music.” With that, DuBois says, “you’ve got a relatable, marketable product. Try going into a college bar this weekend without hearing “Chicken Fried” or any Taylor Swift song.”
“Sometimes simple observations and commentary can be the most profound and powerful,” adds DuBois. “It’s three to five chords and the truth.”
Courtney Eckerle is a Spring 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.
This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.