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I'm Gone Country

By clock on August 9, 2006.

Every now and then, especially when the Right Wing comes up with another one of thos silly lists of supposedly conservative rock songs, a lot of people take a look at pop and rock (and hip-hop) songs and do some sociological analysis on them, trying to glean the way society is changing by the way song lyrics have changed.

That is fine, but I think that one needs to focus on the lyrics of country songs instead. Especially if one want to unserstand the mindset of rural/exurban/Southern voter, which seems to be a mystique to some coastal big-city liberals.

I have done that before and occasionaly, others did as well. But Publius made a really, really interesting analysis the other day - THE DIXIE CHICKS - The Most Subversive Band in America .

Do you agree with him?

I have loved the Chicks from the beginning of their stardom, and bought their new CD in advance. It is not 'Home', but it is very good.

I thought the closest they were coming to my neck of the woods this Fall is Greensboro, which is but an 1.5 hours away, but it appears they are not (was that on the list, but scratched?). Does anyone have any info if they are coming down to North Carolina any time soon?

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I don't know about the Dixie Chicks, but I LOVELOVELOVE Neko Case. (*heart*) Gillian Welch is amazing, too.

Actually, I think it's true about country music being a good sociological indicator. Maybe that's why glitzy Garth Brooksy Nashville pop-country depresses me so much.

I love the Dixie Chicks, and have admitted that I like some other country music as well. From Publius' essay, I really like this note:

The South is a richly diverse place. Its just that the good guys arent in the majority. But note that Bush didnt beat Kerry 100-0 in these states. There are more liberals than you think, and not just in the better-known places like Austin, or NoVa or the Triangle. Go to places like Charlottesville, Asheville, Knoxville, Athens, Nashville, Louisville, Charleston, and Birmingham. Youll see not only a big hippy scene, but substantial progressive populations. But even in small towns, I suspect people would be surprised how un-conservative some of the people are there. The Dixie Chicks reflect and give voice to this silent minority.

A-freakin-men. It ain't just the south, either...too many people assume the rural midwest is 100% "bible-thumper," when it's actually much more diverse.