By Abby Tredway
In recent years, it has become routine for people to term their music taste as “everything but country”, but I feel that is a fatal mistake. I simply disagree that all country music is inherently unlikable and therefore of no value. In actuality, a lot of country songs are not that different than songs of other genres like indie, folk, etc. Additionally, people of the AmLit audience should have some degree of appreciation for country music, as the storytelling in many songs shows some real talent! As a Texan myself, I just cannot support the rejection of the whole genre itself. So, I am here to provide some of my favorite country songs to hopefully open your mind a bit more to the genre.
Angel from Montgomery - John Prine, Bonnie Raitt
This song is up there for me as one of the best of all time. Angel from Montgomery was originally written and released by John Prine, but is more famously covered by Bonnie Raitt. These two got together to perform this song live, and something beautiful happened! The lyrics themselves are enough to make a grown man cry (my father), but the voices of these two excellent country singers finish it off beautifully.
Always on My Mind - Willie Nelson
When making a list of the best country songs, Willie Nelson always has to be included. Although I will admit I could be displaying some bias, as he currently lives in my hometown. In this song, Willie is lamenting about a past lover that, although he may not have treated as well as he should have, was always on his mind. This song perfectly encapsulates the overwhelming feeling of regret many have when thinking about past relationships, and Willie’s voice holds all the needed emotion.
Certainty - Big Thief
Certainty is another song for me that has to be in my top five of all time. I love Big Thief and Adrianne Lenker, but they really outdid themselves here. Although Lenker is a Minnesotan, she is able to perfectly capture the twang necessary to rip a beautiful song like this. The way the band is able to go about expressing this theme of undying love that is not constantly the same but lives in its variance is so beautiful to hear and is incredibly country in its nature.
Say You Will - Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Say You Will is a Tredway family favorite, so I feel the need to share this one. One element to a good country song for me is its ability to be sung in the car, and this one might just take the cake. Ben Harper’s voice is so incredible and fun to sing along with, and his passion is very easily felt even through the first listen of this song. This song does some genre blending, but it also holds a lot of elements of country that are mainly held within Harper’s lyricism and voice.
Mostly Water - Bap Kennedy
Similarly to the last one, this song has a personal connection, as it is my Dad’s favorite song of all time. Bap Kennedy admittedly has a bit of an odd voice, but it makes this song that much more fun to listen to in my opinion. My Dad loves this song because it keeps him feeling “unaffected by the haters”, as he once told me on one of our many long car rides tomorrow (talking about his office job). Although I do find that silly, I do think he has a good point. Sometimes a person does just have to sit down with their guitar and tell you their outlook on life, which Kennedy does extremely well here.
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