Gone Country

I'm not a big country fan. It's been an issue for me and my country-loving friends. They don't know why I don't like it, and I guess I can't accurately explain it either. It's nothing personal. It's just not my favorite genre of music. I don't hold it against people who like it, it just isn't for me. However, there are a few songs that I do like.

One of my favorite country artists, probably my overall favorite, is Martina McBride. I've listened to her since I was young, and of all the country artists I've heard, she's the one that's stuck with me the longest. I'm not really sure why. One of my favorite songs is "Independence Day." Even though the song is a little depressing, I think it's inspirational, in a way.

Among my other favorite Martina songs are "Whatever You Say," "Love's the Only House," and "It's My Time." I feel like a lot of her songs have a meaning to them, which is admirable, when most people just sing about sometimes pointless topics.

Reba McEntire is another favorite. I have good memories of riding in a friend's car listening to the "Reba: Greatest Hits, Volume 3" CD, on repeat. I'm not a fan of all of her songs, but she has quite a few good ones. Her song "Fancy," (which actually isn't her song, but is a cover of a Bobby Gentry song) was one of the first songs that really got her career going. Since then, she's produced many more songs, including "The Night that the Lights Went out in Georgia," which was actually another cover, "I'm a Survivor," "Why Haven't I Heard From You," and "Take it Back," among others. I think a lot of people know her for TV series, appropriately named "Reba." Funny show. I think it runs on Lifetime now.


When I was younger, I used to listen to The Dixie Chicks. There was a pretty big controversy involving them around 2001, but I don't really remember the details. Since then, I'm pretty sure they've fallen in popularity and possibly broken up, but I admit to not knowing the full extent of the details. I haven't thought of them in years, until I watched Runaway Bride. The following video is pretty sad, but shows that they're also pretty talented, like 'em or not.

There's a lot of older country I like, including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty (who some may know, surprisingly, from "Family Guy"), among others. I like Garth Brooks, some Tim McGraw, some Kenny Chesney, and a bunch of other artists whose names and song titles I can't quite remember. I'm really not a Taylor Swift fan. I barely consider her country anyway, but that's just a personal opinion.


Whether I like it or not, country music seems to be a big part of society today. It's something that I can accept.

But I'm not going to be donning my Cowboy boots and hat anytime soon. Other people can, and I'm not going to hold it against them, they can probably pull it off better than me. But I think, for me, I'll just stick with my Converse. Much more comfortable.