Country Music

As I get older, my tolerance for country music has gone up, to the point where I think I might actually be a bit of a fan. I'm not even ashamed of it. Make no mistake - if I lived in America I'd wear the cowboy boots with a skirt and drive a pick up and listen to country music all the time and I'd probably say ya'll even though everybody in the vicinity would wince at the inauthenticity of it. Sadly in this country I just can't get away with any of that, except maybe wearing my ancient red boots under trousers in the winter.

Still, it doesn't stop me watching (and loving) Nashville and listening to country music stations whilst on holiday, and in lessons with my long-suffering GCSE classes, with whom I study the American West. "It's relevant and will help you to have a better understanding of the topic," I lie, convincingly, when they complain. It's not really a lie - I do believe it is helpful in better understanding how America has developed from its origins - but the chances are, the subtleties are lost on your average 15 year old.

Nevermind. I enjoy it. Maybe a little ironically, but I don't think the artists will care about the ironic cents in their royalty cheques.

Here is a round up of some of our favourite country songs from this holiday. Having bought the necessary cable, we spent most of our trip listening to 80s Groove on my iPod, but once we hit the Californian coast and there was regular radio signal, I tried to ensure it was wall-to-wall country for the rest of the road.

Blake Shelton: Boys Round Here



Chew-the-bacca, chew-the-bacca, chew-the-bacca SPIT. A lovely image.

Miranda Lambert - Mama's Broken Heart



Florida Georgia Line: Round Here



"I'm gassing up the Chevy" became one of my most-quoted lines during the trip.

Brad Paisley: I'm Still a Guy



This made us laugh the most. 

Carrie Underwood: Two Black Cadillacs



Between this and Before He Cheats, I am starting to wonder whether Carrie Underwood has suffered a lot of cheating in her life. 

Tim McGraw: Southern Girl



Have to say that this feels like subliminal messaging. "Here is my ideal woman: I will suggest that this is a typical southern women and thus influence a generation to behave in the way I think is correct." Catchy, though.

These next two are a bit weepy.

Blake Shelton: Mine Would Be You



Lee Brice: I Drive Your Truck



I thought this was about a lost wife before I saw the video; it didn't make a lot of sense though because the truck sounded pretty beaten up and grubby for what country music would have you believe is a typical country girl's truck. Now I realise it's about an army buddy (dur) I might like it a bit less.