The genre of country music has traditionally been the expression of rural Amverica. From Loretta Lynn singing about being a Coal Miner’s Daughter and being on the pill, to Hank Williams singing about being so lonesome he could die, to Dolly Parton singing about not being a Dumb Blonde; it has been about what is happening in his or her life. It has been a voice for general America. The public that is purchasing Luke Bryan must be of the emotional maturation of a 15 year old boy. If the most important things in the life of the songwriters of his songs are Daisy Dukes, trucks, and beer, they, too have matured to the ripe age of a 15 year old male. Life is a vast, colorful tapestry, of which there are innumerable subject matters to write. Today’s music has that. There are songwriter’s who paint a picture of life. One example is Miranda Lambert, who draws her writing from her deep well of  experiences she had growing up with her private investigator parents. Her songs give a voice to women who know it’s wrong to be slapped and shaken, but may be experiencing just that. She expresses a tender side in one of my favorites, That’s What Makes it Love. Kacey Musgraves is another stellar songwriter, who sings about Mama being hooked on Mary Kay, brother on Mary Jane, and daddy on Mary two doors down. That is real life, friends. The artist expression isn’t limited today to women. Charlie Worsham is one fine songwriter.  His song “How I Learned to Pray” walks me through his life in a beautiful, touching way. Although there is a group of men that make country music a stinky locker room, there is fresh air out there. Let’s open the windows and our pocketbooks to invest in country music that is true artist expression.

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