By Kerrigan McVicker
Country music is a genre that people love to hate. Some people often categorize it with the stereotype of a guy drinking beer in his pickup truck and relaxing on the beach with a girl in cutoff shorts. Some people may even describe the genre as “hunting, fishing, and loving every day.”
As a country music lover, I have found that people who do not like country music often have not experienced all of the different types of melodies the genre offers for a wide range of audiences.
As more country artists are discovered and sharing their work, new styles of country music are hitting the charts. Famous country singer/songwriters that have changed the game of country include Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban, in addition to many other trailblazers. However, these artists are categorized into different genres of country music. For example, according to onecountry.com, Luke Bryan is described as “Bro-Country,” which describes that his music often has electric beats and back-up singers. Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Keith Urban are considered mainstream country artists who produce country anthems that hook fans with rhyming verses and upbeat choruses. Other categories include pop country, rock country, alternative rock country and so on.
If you don’t appreciate country music, consider listening to songs from the different genres. Keith Urban’s recent release “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood, is a song with a lot of pop and catchy beats that is far from the typical tangy country song. An artist who has consistent qualities of pop and rap in his songs is singer/songwriter Sam Hunt. His new song, “Body Like a Back Road,” in which he raps and sings about his significant other, has moved up the charts rapidly. If you are a fan of rock music, Kip Moore, Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert are great artists that love to throw in an awesome guitar solo that gives you more variety than a traditional country song would.
Here are five songs non-country music fans can listen to get their feet wet in the genre:
“House Party” by Sam Hunt
“House Party” is a country anthem that usually has everyone in the room singing along. Its upbeat vibes and lyrics can turn any boring party into a house party. Grab your friends and turn up the speakers for this song.
“Different for Girls” by Dierks Bentley, featuring Elle King
Dierks Bentley and Elle King partnered to sing about how a guy and a girl recover from heartbreak in their own ways. The rustic and alternative sounds in this song will captivate all audiences. King’s vocals make this song pop.
“Home Alone Tonight” by Luke Bryan, featuring Karen Fairchild
If you’re looking for a payback song about your ex, this is the song for you. Luke Bryan and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild teamed up to bring fans a song they will not forget. Bryan and Fairchild perform a duet claiming that neither of them are going “home alone” in this song.
“Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett
Country singer/songwriter Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” won the American Country Music (ACM) award for Single of the Year in 2016. In this song, Rhett sings about his love for his wife, Lauren. After one listen to this song, you will fall in love with its beautiful melody and love story, and maybe even Thomas Rhett as well.
“Renegade Runaway” by Carrie Underwood
“Renegade Runaway” is the first track on Underwood’s most recent album, “The Storyteller.” In this song, Underwood sings about how a man should be looking to stay away from a rebellious woman. This track is filled with Underwood’s amazing vocal runs and features an electrifying rock song melody. This is definitely a fun song to belt out in the car.
Country music does not have limits. New and headlining artists are taking country radio by storm by playing unique varieties of music and melodies. Because country music is so widespread, there are genres and styles that fit many people’s likings, which is why so many people are attracted to the sensation. According to cmaworld.com, 78 percent of high spending music consumers listen to country music daily across multiple platforms. Based on those statistics, you cannot go wrong being a country music fan. You never know – you may fall in love with the genre.
