What Is It Teens Love About Country?
What do teenagers see in country music? There are so many country artists nominated for the Aug. 9 Teen Choice Awards show, I'm a little stumped. I mean, it's not like they can relate to all the songs the nominated artists sing. In case you haven't heard, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson are this year's nominees in the female country artist category. The male country nominees include Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban. And the country group nominees are Gloriana, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and the Zac Brown Band.
I certainly get Taylor Swift. She sings about being a high school freshman, pining for guys and burning pictures of ex-boyfriends. But even though I've long since ceased to be a teenager, I can't understand how someone who has barely loved and lost could get caught up in a song about a relationship that's gone passionless (Bryan's "Do I?"). Or how or why someone who isn't even 21 would connect to lyrics about late-night alcohol-fueled booty calls (Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now")? This in no way diminishes my love for those songs. I'm just trying to get my head around what a teenager would see in them.
The female nominees make a little bit more sense because I know a whole bunch of 15-year-olds who are loving Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me." Probably because they get how their back bedrooms where they're learning to play guitar are shaping who they are. (And I'm guessing Lambert's next single "Only Prettier" will be popular with the girls who love to hate the mean girls.) Plus, Carrie Underwood's recent tunes have enough of a dance vibe to make them likable to a younger crew.
If they're foodies, maybe the appeal of Zac Brown Band's debut "Chicken Fried" fits. And I guess Brad Paisley's "Water" adds up, too, now that summer's here and hordes of teens are going to drive until the map turns blue.
All that said, I am glad to see that the Teen Choice Awards include country categories. Even though the lyrics might not be completely relevant to their lives right now, those teenagers will be grownups before you know it. And then all the country songs will be understood with crystal clarity.
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Taylor says:
I know that as a late teenager (19) I have been listening to country for many years now. Country isn’t always having to relate to a certain song or know everything they may be singing about just because one isn’t of the legal drinking age. Its who a person is, what a person believes in. As an individual, I listen to different country music than some teens may, and although I am almost an adult but not quite, that doesn’t mean I haven’t dealt with big issues, real world circumstances, or even something as small as a break up. These songs are where people come from, I can say that I still listen to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and more greats, while still listening to some main stream artists. While all different, these songs and artists can still be enjoyed and related to me one way or another, even if I am way younger than most who enjoy this music as well. I am not completely relating myself to the teens that are involved with this awards show and are the teens this article may be talking about but I will say I have been there. Haven’t most of us been there? Everyone started to love this music at some age for some reason or another. Country music gives some teens something to look forward to, real love, life, and even hitting the big 21. I do not usual watch this award show, however, I would like to see who most teens are listening to in today’s country music. While it may be different than the choices on my iPod, I’m sure we all share some kind of love for country music and the words that touch us.
Sarah says:
I actually hadn’t heard that they have country catergories & that all of those people have been nominated, so that’s awesome! However, your generalizing about the music and teenagers is way off base. I am 18 years old & I have been listening to country for most of my life. I grew up on Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, & Shania Twain. I saw my first country concert (Trick Pony, Phil Vassar, Keith Urban, Lonestar, & Martina McBride) when I was 11. Since then, I’ve attended an average of about 5+ country concerts a year. I love this music & the concerts & the people that sing it & perform. I relate to a lot of the songs but not all of them & that’s okay with me. I love these people & the music regardless. I went to see Brad Paisley in concert a few weeks ago & I would say about 3/4 of the crowd was under 30, with a big portion of that being teenagers. Jason Aldean had a free concert here a few weeks ago & I would say the same thing again. Country music is becoming more & more popular in general & getting a larger teenage fanbase as well, which I think is awesome. I’m glad that the Teen Choice Awards is representing all of those great acts & great country music! I’ll keep on listening now, when I’m 21, when I’m 25, when I’m 30, & beyond.
Courtney says:
Music is not just about being relatable to people. You can understand a song and appreciate it without being able to relate to it. I’ve never been in jail, nor have I ever branded myself as a lonesome fugative, but I could listen to Merle Haggard and other pioneers of Outlaw country all day long.
annie says:
Great comments everyone! I am now 31 and have been listening to country my whole life. In fact, I co-host a country music radio show with my mother (the one who introduced me to the kind of music) on a community radio station here and I have been doing it with her since I was 12. Sometimes, people get addicted to the melodies because they remind us of something, or someone…
I love country music for many different reasons, but mainly because it’s beautiful to the ear (steel guitar, fiddle…), it’s original, makes you laugh and cry and it makes you feel great!
I remember when I was a teenager, there was no Taylor Swift nor Carrie Underwood and I still loved it so much!
I even bought RESTLESS by Shelby Lynne at 25$ (US money and I am in Québec) just for a 2:25 minute song called “Another Chance At Love” because I just loved the melody and the voice so much..and to this day, It’s still one of the greatest albums I own!!!
Country music is for everyone!
joe says:
I was 14 when I started listening to country music.
countryiscool says:
I grew up a little bit country (from Mom) and a litle bit of classical (from dad), mixed in a little R & R inbetween, but still LOVE country most.
What can I use Dehumidifier water for? says:
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carrie says:
I’m 15 and I’ve been listening to country music since i was 10 and i personally just love it even if i cant relate 2 all of it. I like that its clean, patriotic, christian, and its real life. Country music songs are stories which is what I like about it. The artist are all very down 2 earth and really good people inside and out and go out of there way 2 show love to there fans. I love going 2 shows like Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. There shows r fun and its just overall amazing music!!
I Am Very Cute says:
If you consider Elvis country, then i’ve been listening to it since i was 2 years old…
Celeste says:
I’m a teen (16) and I love country music, always have. I’m a big Lady Antebellum fan. I love them & Need You Now, even if I can’t fully relate to it, but they have other songs, I feel I can relate to ‘American Honey’ a lot.
I’ve been listening to Shania Twain and other country artists since I was very young. I still listen to and really enjoy them and a lot of country artists’ songs.
And just because teenagers can’t relate to the songs, it doesn’t mean we don’t understand them. We’re younger, not stupider.
Robin says:
carrie - you’ve missed a whole lot of country if you think it’s all about Christian values. A whole lot of it is about living hard (not that they aren’t Christians - not judging, just not Christian VALUES).
Check out Jamey Johnson’s “High Cost of Living”.
Redmaz says:
Pop fans loving Pop Country? Imagine that. I’m wondering how many of these “country” fans know anything about basic music fundamentals? Less than 10% is my quess.
Peacock Queen says:
Just because you are young, does not mean you cannot appreciate talent. And that includes all genres. I know teenagers who love Bluegrass.
Emily says:
I’m 16, and havve been listening to country music since I was born. It’s the music I’ve grown up with, and will continue to love for the rest of my life. In order for me to really like an appreciate an artist’s music, I have to respect them and what they sing about. I think that’s why I love country so much. Next to no profanity, relatable songs, and people that can actually SING without the help of a recording studio. So many girls at school say that the only country singers they like are Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. I bite my tongue each time from saying “Well, they’re pop country. So you really don’t like country.” I think that the teens that can relate to some of the songs mentioned above are in a way more mature, and we tend to think about the future in a realistic way- further ahead than just the end of the summer.
nana says:
who can say you cannot listen to country music and like taylor swift too??huh?:::I personally love Keith Urban’s songs & Taylor Swift :^^
Natalie says:
Whe it comes to country music, all I can say is “O Hannah.” Miley is by far the greatest singer ever!
kristan says:
hi i am a teen and i LOVE contry because,its soulful and helps when i am in a bad mood.and this is cheesy coning from a city girl but it speaks to me and feels like thats where i belong when i listen to it.even though no one ellse dose.