Hey there, awesome readers!
I never really thought about the difference between men and women until last weekend, when I was driving to the grocery story. I had the radio on a country station and to answer your question, no. I was not listening to Beyonce’s Texas Hold ‘Em.
Not that I don’t like her newest hit. Sure, it’s catchy and gets in your head but to me it’s just a bunch of key words and clichés.
But enough on that.
My point – or observation – is in the difference between women who write country songs and men who write country songs.
But before I get to that point (or observation), let’s talk about music for a minute and what it is.
Music is versatile. You can listen to it alone or with others. You can play it in your car or at home. It’s great as a backdrop when you’re reading. It makes cleaning your house more fun. And paired with candles, it can even initiate the conception of your next child.
Music is sharing. It’s part of the human experience. It’s poetry through emotion and it gives us a rhythm for crying out the fragments of our broken hearts.
From classical to heavy metal, jazz to pop, music is the life blood of humanity. It’s how we bond. It’s even how we annoy our neighbours.
But when it comes to country music, there’s a gap the size of a Montreal pothole between country music by men and country music by women.
If you haven’t heard the difference, once I point it out to you, you will never be able to unhear it again.
Are you ready? Here we go.
Country music by men is all about drinking good whiskey, playing guitar on the front porch, I wanna make you my wife, and I love your biscuits. (Although I’m not sure if that last one is about biscuits or about BISCUITS.)
Meanwhile, country music by women is like oops! My husband cheated on me, so I wrecked his pickup truck and then I shot him.
See what I mean?
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Mona Andrei is an award-winning humour blogger and author known for her entertaining perspective on life’s quirks. In her most recent book, SUPERWOMAN: A Funny and Reflective Look at Single Motherhood, she shares a personal journey filled with challenges and triumphs, intertwining stories and insights from single mothers around the globe.
When Mona isn’t writing, you’ll find her practicing her dance moves. As a member of a competitive hip hop team, she likes to think that she’ll stay young and cool forever. She may be delusional.
I don’t listen to country music per se, but that observation doesn’t surprise me.. All I can think of is Carrie Underwood’s song about slashing tires and breaking windows. :”Next time he cheats?” or something like that. Maybe women need to calm down a little.
Lol – That’s a great observation on your end!
There’s always been a revenge motif in country music, though–often in men’s songs, often as comic satire, and often with awareness of the consequences an act of revenge would have had in real life. “Breaking these rocks in the hot sun: I fought the law, and the law won.” “They laughed at me, and then I shot’m and hid their cheating, scheming bones in Miller’s Cave…” and now he’s the “Most wanted man in the State of Georgia–they’ll never find me,’cos I’m lost in Miller’s Cave.” “Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for, one little kiss and, Felina, goodbye.”
And women have written truckloads of songs about “Thinking tonight of my Blue Eyes, and I wonder if he ever thinks of me,” and “Sitting on the front porch on a summer afternoon,” and it turns out a woman even wrote “If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.”
https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/cindy-walker
So the generalization breaks down, as generalizations do…but it’s funny, anyway. Liked and linking.
Thank you!
Country music has more story than most other genres, but I hadn’t paid attention to this gender gap in it. 🙂
You’ll never unhear it again 🙂
Funny. I like the comparison to a Montreal pothole. Regarding women’s country music, this made me think of the Dixie Chick’s song, Goodbye Earl.
Montreal potholes are the worse! You fall down one and come back up holding a bag of Chinese takeout.
ever notice how male country singers can be overweight and dumpy looking, whereas the women need to be size 8 and showing skin to be noticed!! stop and think, who buys the music. mostly women!! your no different than Walmart. women are the biggest spenders, and so Walmart takes out fabric, and crafts!!!