In Miami, Nobody Seems to Play Something Country
I just got back from five sunny days and carefree nights in South Beach in Miami. And I have to say, I have never identified more with Brooks & Dunn's "Play Something Country." I knew what I was getting into when my friends told me I'd be hearing some salsa music and other Latin-themed genres. They assured me the change of pace might do me good. But I clung to my country-heavy iPhone like a lifeline, just in case I didn't fall in love with the sounds of Miami. That, I quickly discovered, would be like whispering a prayer in the fury of a storm. Even at its highest volume, my country music was drowned out by the sound bleeding in from, well, everywhere.
Both day and night, the beaches, pools, bars, restaurants, streets and stores are saturated with techno/dance club music. My only glimmers of hope for a country sound were club remixes of a song I liked (or used to like). I heard Shania Twain's "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" and Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts The Most" and I think Sugarland's "Baby Girl." Hard to tell with all those synthesizers. So as I was thinking to myself, "I shaved my legs, I paid my money, so please somebody play something country," I saw someone who I was sure was Gary LeVox. Then I saw another guy that I was sure was Gary LeVox. It kept happening, and every time I really thought it was him and that I could ask him to sing me something country. But it never was. It just seems like Levox' spiky hair, distressed jeans and untucked shirt look is all the rage in Miami.
At one point, when I heard some lovely piano and a little fiddle starting to play a familiar tune, I thought "It's about time." Then I realized it was Trace Adkins' "Every Light in the House Is On." My ringtone. I never did answer my phone. Just let the ringtone play and play.
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Chris D. says:
Asking Gary LeVox to sing something country is like asking a duck to play the harp.
RedMaZ says:
It’s no secret about your musical narrowness. You even limit yourself as far as todays “Country” music goes, so I can’t imagine you venturing out of your comfort zone to actually listen to something else with an open mind. I also find it ironic that you craved for a song called “Play Something Country” when the song itself isn’t. I’ll bet I could’ve found some Country Music in Miami..
btw..A Marx Brother played Harp in Duck Soup, so there’s the tie in for that.
Jasper says:
I am sure you meant well but this blog comes off making you look like a redneck!
Brittany says:
Jasper… it makes her look like a redneck because she was cravin’ some country? Seems we have a differing definition of redneck…
and RedMaz… I hate to start a “what is country” arguement, especially with you, and I agree that a lot of mainstream is pop-country and pales in comparison to a lot of today’s roots and “alt” country… but come on, Brooks & Dunn is on the more country side of things in mainstream today don’t ya think?
Rachel says:
There’s a club remix of “Baby Girl”? Oh dear god, what’s next? No one should ever touch Sugarland’s music in hopes of remiixing it, especially not that song. Wow.
Cathy says:
I agree with Jasper. This blog seems to reinforce the stereotype that die-hard country music fans are xenophobes.