Ne-Yo Feels Closer to Country Music on "She Is"
Of all the things I ever imagined might be on Ne-Yo's play list, I never in a million years would've guessed country music. But the rapper admits that is indeed what he's into. "I listen to country music -- I like country music. I feel that's one of the last genres of music where storytelling is a staple. 'She Is' definitely lives in that world," the R&B singer told Rolling Stone of the tune on his upcoming album. I hear you, Ne-Yo. No other genre can tell a story the way a country song can. If there is even the slightest nuance that makes his lyrics lean a little country, I'm buying it. Plus he wrote it with Nashville songwriter Luke Laird ("Last Name," "So Small"), so you know it's going to be powerful stuff. Laird told me he'd first hooked up with Ne-Yo when the two got together with Carrie Underwood to write. So this time he and Ne-Yo came up with the acoustic guitar melody and lyrics about trouble you never saw coming and whirlwinds and dragonflies. It doesn't sound all that country on paper, but Laird assured me that Ne-Yo's voice is just so good that it all works. "I'm a huge R&B fan, and Ne-Yo is a big country guy, and you can hear all that in the song," Laird said.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Netteo says:
When I heard some guy named Ne-You was writing with Carrie before Play On came out I was like “who’s he”. So I researched him and some of his song are pretty good. Looking forward to this She Is song.
Redmaz says:
Isn’t a surprise that another Pop act thinks Underwood is Country
Robin says:
Underwood is country - countemporary country.
Redmaz says:
Of course she’s country. Pop Country. Most people don’t know that.
Robin says:
Actually, she’s contemporary country. “Pop” is an industry and not a genre or sub-genre unto itself. And, they were talking about the country genre irregardless of the industry.
And, yes most people are aware of that. You don’t seem to know that though since you implied she wasn’t country at all by stating “another Pop act “thinks” Underwood is Country”. Not only does he “think” she’s country, she IS country. Contemporary country.
SAM says:
So is alabama and alot of other artist on this site.(who you wouldnt think…so!
Shadow says:
Contemporary Country blends familiar Country/Western traditions with the sounds of current pop culture. Current pop culture means it’s pop country.
Redmaz says:
If one thing a mainstreamer is good for…it’s a laugh:)
Robin says:
“Pop” country is the industry it is in. You don’t know the difference between a genre and an industry? One thing “roots only” folks are is good for a laugh.
Contemporary country blends familiary Country/Western traditions with the sounds of current life. Not “pop” culture, “current” life. There is contemporary country singers in the Americana industry as well. And it is an industry.
Redmaz says:
Once again…funny stuff. Robin YOU were the one who stated Pop Country is an industry, yet when I asked you to describe Pop Country…you described it as a genre. “You might be a Mainstreamer if……” I know where the quote is if you’d like me to post it.
Shadow says:
All I know about all this double talk from Robin, I type in pop country in a search engine, and Underwood’s name is one of many past and current artists whose name appears when discribing it.
Robin says:
Redmaz - YOU didn’t ask for it to be defined. I describe it as an industry. You for some reason don’t know what an industry is. Someone can’t “BE” and industry. They are part “of” an industry. She is contemporary country participating in the pop country industry.
Genre’s are described by the “sound” of the music. Pop country doesn’t have a sound since #1 it’s not a genre and #2 many sub-genre’s of country make it up. Neo-traditional country doesn’t “sound” like contemporary country. They are linked in an industry (pop country).
Redmaz says:
My proof…Go to the blog “Dierks Bentley Digs up His Roots in Bluegrass” You described Pop Country as a genre of music not an industry. Not one mention of “music with general appeal to the masses that is overproduced and overplayed for profit, that is essentially conservative in that it attemps to resonate with a large segment of it’s target demographic” THAT is what the Pop INDUSTRY is. Including Pop Country. Once again…POP is the industry, Country is the genre.
Marshall says:
YOU two should stop arguing. Carrie Underwood is the QUEEN OF COUNTRY and there is NOTHING you can do about it, end of story.