George Jones Hates Today's Country Music?
By: Marc Erickson
A legend who once was known as “No Show Jones” for his inability to show up to perform at shows while a top concert draw, recently said that he worries about the future of country music to Yahoo and the Associated Press. He said that he liked the music that artists like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood make but though that "they've stolen our identity."
George Jones also stated that artists like Underwood and Swift "had to use something that was established already, and that's traditional country music. So what they need to do really, I think, is find their own title, because they're definitely not traditional country music.”
Jones then went on to praise the artists that he does like right now and they included old standbys like George Strait and Alan Jackson, stating: “It's good to know that we still do traditional country music. We still have it, and there's quite a few of us that are going to hope that it comes back one of these days."
What do you think of George Jones’ comments? Does there need to be a new name for today’s country music? Or is it just that, “Today’s country music?”
READER'S COMMENTS
Dave says:
Posted: Saturday, January 14, 2012
I was so disenfranchised this morning with country music, I googled "Why does country music suck" and came across this page. Very cool to see many others who share a disgust for country pop (poop). Thank goodness for iPods and Sirius/XM radio and trips through the south, especially Texas, where there are some good radio stations to listen to. You've all mentioned some great artists from the past that should be on mainstream country radio but simply aren't ... Shame. On the other hand, there are some descent artists out there that are trying to stick to the spirit of country music. Too bad they can't be combined with some off the past and simply drop off the trash.
joe in sj says:
Posted: Saturday, January 14, 2012
I agree with George Jones, most of today's so called country music isn't country music. Yes there are a few singers today that have a few good songs, but as one commenter said it's more pop than country. Some of today's "country" performers are just horrible, sure they may be able to "sing" a badly written song with a fake southern accent and strum a few chords on a guitar...but again that's not country. Real country music had soul, it told a story, it was still close to the roots of country music. some people say that country music has "evolved" I agree it's evolved the way a fish evolves after you leave it in the hot sun for a few days. They should stop insulting country music by calling the music they play today country.
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Gail Clements says:
Posted: Saturday, June 18, 2011
George is exactly right about the mediocre music that is sang and played today. And saying it is mediocre is giving it a high compliment. No song writing talent, everyone sounds the same. It baffles me how this is even recorded for the most part. There are some exceptions, but very few. Yes, it should have a name of it's own, but certainly not "Country" cause by no stretch of the imagination does it even resemble country.
Julianna says:
Posted: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I agree with Mr. George Jones. Taylor Swift, Lady Annabulem, Carrie Underwood, ect. are not COUNTRY. Most of todays country is more like pop. But there are some artists out there that have more country than pops songs such as Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Easton Corbin, Chris Young, Toby Keith, Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and so on. But some songs just dont feel like country to me. Also Brad Paisley is country to me and Justin Moore. And also my favorite singer is Justin Moore. He sounds country, is country and sings songs about country. But anyways.. I just hate Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood with the rest of them that think there country when there not and there basically singing pop music.
justin says:
Posted: Monday, March 21, 2011
Most of you defending these wanna bes dont know what youre talking about, anybody can sing with a southern accent but did the greats like waylon, George, willie, merle, johnny, charlie Daniels, keith whitley and all them write and sing stupid songs anybody could write? like sittin here waitin on a deer wastin bullets? how much thought went into that? the old boys sung from the heart and their songs for deep..jamey johnson, mark chesnutt, alan, daryle singletary, tritt, merle, willie, george, charlie and a few others are all we have left..most of the rest are pop country for sure
HeatherTLoose says:
Posted: Saturday, February 26, 2011
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PAUL says:
Posted: Monday, December 13, 2010
Country music might not be the same as it was, but country music and all genres of music have always been evolving. The populas decides the direction of music. The things old timers say about todays country stars is the same things that used to be said about Elvis Presley when he came on the scene. Just like Tim Mcgraw said: "Things change."
Joe m Cantrell aka JMC says:
Posted: Sunday, December 5, 2010
George jones is my hero and if he says taylor swift is not country she not country oh today country music sucks dick and if you don't like that you can go fuck yourself and see if i give 2 fucks oh and have a good day.
Ronda says:
Posted: Saturday, November 27, 2010
I do like other kinds of music, my favorite is country music. My dad was one of the biggest George Jones fans ever. So I was raised on the good stuff, Lol. Yes indeed George is right, the music they are playing today is not country. I seen Mark Chestnutt in concert and boy was it music to my ears. I thought wow I have really missed this REAL MUSIC! Thats where the music industry has gone wrong. It should be about real singer/songwriters, muscians not their great looks and bodies. We don't need the "Whole Package" We just need to hear "REAL COUNTRY MUSIC."
Sam says:
Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
It's not nice to call somone an ideot especially if you don't know what your talking about. You can't tell me Jamie Johnson isn't country listen to the guiter song album and I guess you still havnt heard they call me cadilac Randy houser is all country eric church is also very country none of the people I've listed even verge even borderline on being pop.
BRIAN FROM MEMPHIS,TN says:
Posted: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
TO THE MORON ON HERE, SAM.. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT COUNTRY.. YES ALLAN AND GEORGE STRAIT ARE THE ONLY 2 LEFT THAT ARE STILL MAKING HIT AFTER HIT.. THESE NEW FOLKS, THEY "AINT" COUNTRY.. ITS POP GUY.. AND WILLIE NELSON'S STATION ON SIRIUS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IF YOU WANNA HERE "REAL" COUNTRY YOU IDIOT!
Sam says:
Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
You guys are as dumb as tht drunk george jones. You pick and choose what you want to critisize in this genre. Maybe Taylor swift isn't country. I still like her music I think it's real but for arguments sake well say she's not country. That being said what about Jamie Johnson you can't tell me that guys not country. And have you listned to dierks bentlys new album it couldn't be more country. And as far as old guys go Tim McGraw is in his 40s and still seem to be doing just fine same can be said about toby Keith. And what about Alan Jackson he's in his 50s and currently has a top 40 hit. Even George strait he's at least 60 and he has had one song not in the top ten in the last decade. If you went to an Eric church invert or a Randy houser concert or a luke Bryan concert or a Josh turner concert somtime and enlightented yourselves maybe you'd see this oldies country you so desparetly cling o is still alive it's just mixed with other styles as well which is the sam with just about every genre anymore why should country be any different. Another artist you might enjoy is Easton Corbin he sing old type songs and he's amazing cmon leaving a lonley town is an amazing song and he sing it in an old format.
STEVE says:
Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
WELL SAM: HERE'S A THOUGHT,I DON'T BUY,LISTEN,OR ANYTHING WITH WHAT YOU CALL"TODAYS COUNTRY" MAYBE IT IS TODAYS COUNTRY.BUT I DO KNOW THIS,WHEN I WATCH COUNTRY GRAMME ON TV AND IT LOOKS LIKE A MIX OF DISCO DANCE FEVER AND SOME CHEAP NIGHT CLUB,IT AIN'T COUNTRY,NOTICE THE WORD AIN'T SAM,WHEN THE UPSTANDING SINGER IS 18 YRS OLD,WHERE WAS ALL THE OLD SINGERS SAM,ARE DID THEY JUST DECIDE NOT TO SHOW UP AT YOUR NIGHT CLUB,SALE ALL THOSE STUPID SONGS.WHILE YOU CAN,THOSE SINGER GROW UP,JUST LIKE BILLY RAY,IT'S A FLASH IN THE PAN,YOUR OLDIES COUNTRY LOVER TODAY IS NOT OVER 22 YRS OF AGE,GO CLASSIC COUNTRY,NEVER HEAR ON RADIO,BUT ALWAYS BUY,MY QUESTION IS,HOW MANY TIME CAN YOU LISTEN TO THE TOP 10 ,OVER AND OVER A DAY ,WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SING IT IN YOUR SLEEP,AND THEN TURN AROUND AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO BUY IT ,GO FIGURE,,,BY SAM,WE'RE GONE
john wayne brooks says:
Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sam, you need to learn how to spell. Guess it shows what you know about country music. Today, it's all the same, same melodies, harmonies, arrangements, instruments. It's the music reproducing itself, no real originality with artists. In the "old days", as soon as the music started playing you knew who it was. You didn't need a DJ to enlighten you. Today's country is 70s rock calling itself country. Take a careful listen to "old" tradition country, you'll find it was much more than three chords and a cloud of dust.
Sam says:
Posted: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
You are the ideot if you don't consider George straight, allen jackson, Eric church, Luke Bryan, Chris young, Tim McGraw, ect country your crazy. Sure not all of it is that same old tired stuff but that's beuase that's not what the people want anymore. If you do want that I geuss it's good you have satilite radio becuase if you don't like new country don't. And as I said before their were a bunch of artists in the day that were better than George jones what does that say about shamelessly promoting a bad artist
Mr.Common Sense says:
Posted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sam,you are the one that doesnt know "DICK" about what or who is country music.You probably live in a Large city on the upper north east coast,Yankee.So if you want to call carrie underwood or taylor swift country,then go right ahead,but that shit is bubble gum teenie bopper pop music,you stupid ass.You probably werent even born in the days of real country music,and todays radio stations are a bunch of pricks being controlled by money,record labels,that they will never play the real stuff any way,so this shit we hear now is what they are cramming down our throats. THANK GOD FOR XM/SIRIUS RADIO, I will never go back to OLD traditional radio again ,I hope they all go under.
Don Allen says:
Posted: Sunday, April 18, 2010
I have been saying the same as George for a while now. What is standing out so clearly is we are never gonna have the legends like Jones and co anymore in country music cause the new artists have no substance and really have no idea how country music should sound. Putting on a cowboy hat and singing rock just dont cut it.
A lover of Country Music says:
Posted: Friday, April 16, 2010
George Jones is and will always be "The King Of Country Music". George Jones has a wonderful God given talent to sing each song from his heart and that sets him apart from most other singers. His music is timeless and will endure for many more years to come for the new generations to enjoy. God Bless George Jones!
Sam says:
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
People tootig George jones horn. Did you even read my last post? I named at least six singers still making hits that have the same old country feel. Brad paisley, Josh Thompson, easton Corbin, George strait who has a top 10 single currently, Eric church, Jamie johnson, rant houser, alan Jackson, I could go on. As you can see this style is still alive and well. While Taylor swift Carrie underwood or lady antebellum may not be old country sounding that's just one sound. Maybe brad paisleys live shows have a sort of pop feel but his musics real. And trust me if you old fart get off your buts and actually go to an Allan Jackson george strait especially Eric church Randy houser or Jamie Johnson live show you'll see the old country you all cling to is very much alive and well. Before you go on a tirade of days gone by before you retired read my post please don't over glorify George jones.
says:
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The only thing I have to say is George Jones is probably the only one left who does know what country is! P.S. oops! and the Hag! no. 1 fan
David in the Philippines says:
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
George Jones is one of Americas all time greats! Country music was at its very best when George Jones performed it. I still enjoy listening to his songs in my retirement years being spent in the Philippines. Today's Country music has changed a lot, unfortunately, Country music has not changed for the better. I agree with George Jones
Sam says:
Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
News flash george jones can't sing in tune either. The only reason he was big was becuase he sang drinking songs that alcoholics could relate to and most were drunk so they didn't realize how truly awfull he was. And look at how his relationship is with his daughter he is the last person who should be preaching anything. What about brad paisley, Allen Jackson, George staite, Jamie Johnson, Randy houser, Easton Corbin, Josh Thompson, Eric church. There is this original country as you call it you just have to know where to look. And to their credit there isn't a singer nowadays with a reputation of a possum because they don't show up for their scheduled apointments huh mr jones.
gord says:
Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
todays country music is not country.there are very few lyrics,no story,no tune,no rythem,99% can carry a tune in a wash bucket.they cant sing ,just yell and make a bunch of discusting noise.
Kristen says:
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Even though I'm 23 and George Jones was before my time, I couldn't agree with him more! MORE PEOPLE NEED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS CRAP THEY CALL COUNTRY MUSIC!!! When I was growing up country music to me was about baling hay, living on farms or just living the good old American rural life.It's called COUNTRY music not urban music. Boy, has that sure changed. What happened to the cry of the steel guitar, the fiddle, banjo or the strum of a plain old acoustic guitar. And the stories that country music used to tell! But that's gone now and the music produced today has no substance or class. Today the females in country seem only to be competing for the sexiest body and the males look feminine or they throw on a cowboy hat & call themselves 'country'. Keep speaking out Mr. Jones! Something needs to change and Taylor Swift is NOT the answer.
robert says:
Posted: Tuesday, December 29, 2009
i was right Carri tayler they live in la back when country singers lived in Nashville or out skirts when they wern't toring
jameswertman says:
Posted: Friday, December 25, 2009
i agree 100 percent with george jones
john says:
Posted: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Of course Taylor swifft and Carrie Underwood are NOT country music at all,like too many artists of today that want to call themselfs country to sell more records.There´s not too much country music today,only pure comercial pop music with a little of fidde and steel guitar,who likes of that is very good for them but we need some real country music.George only says one thruth that everyone knows,and if you don´t believe it,just put one record of Hank Williams(the biggest) and compare,the facts talk by themselves.
robert spencer says:
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
i agree with country music needs to go back to sound country these so called country singers today its not country when you hear the song on MTV when sometime its on CMT its not country todays country has to Minny interments the only way that country to comeback rock record studios singers down and find rock singers know how to sing give country back to Nashville sound not la rock needs to return to Los angles the steel needs tobe put back . how can of the country singers today accept a award to a song they didn't write and. there munch like Hollywood stars & there fake lives when country singers use too take reel life and made a song another words if hee haw was on today Roy clark wouldn't invite sugar land or rascal flats now theres a big fake rascal flats there fake of all fakes todays country
SwedishMattias says:
Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009
I dont think George is angry beacause Taylor, and those who sing in CMA is more popular then he was..? (with their kind of music they got pop and rock listeners too)Hes angry cause they dont respect the roots and heart of country music. If you cant hear any differents in rock and pop music or Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, its NOT country. If you start wonder if its country, its probably NOT! I dont mind country music evolving, but dont forget how it all started. If you dont do that, its not country music. I love real country and Dale Watson!
Sam says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I don't care how old you are she is what is considerd today's country. As I said the genre is changing if you can't accept change. Then maybe you should just go back to playing tapes and records of yesterday than liistening to the raidio. Becuase she's mainstream country and now that she's opened the door it's only going to get worse in your pinion or better in mine
tammy says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I'm 61 and i agree with gj,taylor is not country.and kay's posting nov 3, say's it all in a nut shell...artis just start out under the banner of country because it's easier to get them self noticed..she maybe a good singer but she'S SURE NOT COUNTRY......
Sam says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I may be unpopular for saying this but I think gorge is dead wrong. It's just an old man trying to relive his glory days. And let's face it he was nothing more than a drunk who sang drinking songs that's real rocket science. He's mad because people like Taylor swift is acheaving sucess he could have only dreamed of. I beleive Poole are too hard on her she's a great singer and she's payed her dies to all the great singers of yesterday now they need to learn to pass te tortch with grace. And this isn't gracefully. This is country musics future like it or not so you better learn to like it because it isn't going anywhere. The days of ol were great but that what they are the day of old. The musics evolving you got to learn to apreciate that and evolve with it.
Corinne says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I think it need too get back too were it use too be were country and rock nun of country thing.Because today country is not what I call counry. We need too get a bit back sounding more like Country. That is how I feel. That don't have kick the old singers out. Because before the new one came along theymad rum for them.Should look up too them. that what think. Corinne
Mike says:
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Opossum George is right. I am 71 yr old and listened to country music all my life. Today's music is nowhere near what country is or was. The young ones just don't get it. We need a radio or TV station to play the oldies instead of some of this garbage of today they call country. The AMA Awards are a farce when it comes to voting in certain catagories. TS no way.
SwedishMattias says:
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
I totally agree with George Jones, and more real country lovers think the same. Fans and real country singers should do something to regain the name COUNTRY, and let this pop and rock people take another name to better describe their music, cause country they aint! Country music has a long tradition and these MTV people has destroyed that in a few years thats beyond regognize. They say country needs to evolve. Into what? I love steel-guitar, banjo and fiddle or anything that got roots. Thats country music to me. If you change that sound to something totally different, you also need to change the name. That music i love so much, its still be out there, but what can you call that kind off amazing stuff when your identity been robbed?
Bill says:
Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009
George Jones is right. New mainstream country sucks huge balls. Remember when country stars were real men without frosted tips in their hair. The women in country music now are merely jailbait teases who could get you arrested for even thinking about them. If this is where we are going in country music today I weep for the future of it. I think why Johnny Cash died is because he wanted to. RIP JOHN.
JoeDoakes says:
Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009
I've lost a lot of respect for George Jones. He's entitled to not like where country music has progressed to, but saying it "isn't country" and that identity has been stolen just makes him sound bitter and resentful.
Cburd says:
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
I completely agree with GJ. You know it is not country music when people like Keith Urban, Taylor Swift etc.. are winning awards on MTV and their music is being played heavily on rock/pop stations. When Little Wayne and Kid Rock Performed at the CMA's last year and the camera was going from Little Wayne to George Strait I thought I was in the twilight zone.
YoBob says:
Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009
I disagree with GJ...someone who dogged out on concerts for folks who paid good money, has no right to comment on what's good country. Music genres change and evolve over time. GJ in his heyday was singing non-traditional county (compared to his predecessors).
Domi says:
Posted: Saturday, November 7, 2009
I totally agree with George Jones. Taylor swift has nothing to do in country music and I couldn't stand seeing that girl dress like rap music singers on a TV clip.
Heidi Penny says:
Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009
I agree with George Jones. If people want to hear tradtional country music they need to drive to San Antonio Texas and check out the Aztec Theater. There is a clasic country music show that pays tribute to great artist like George Jones,Tammy W,Loretta Lynn and many more. show Run Friday,sat.,Sun.,Mon. at 7;00 pm and a 2:00 show on Sat. this show is Traditional country Music!!!!!
Twinkles says:
Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Well i totally agree with George i call todays country music Rap Crap im not saying all r like that but listen to what the people want they want the Traditional Country & Classic Country back they r the true country fans for instance take a look at Leann Rimes how well did she sing the Patsy Cline songs and i am sure Patsy would have been proud of her but look at Leann now its like Country pop and these artists of today have lost the true meaning of Country Music and thats a sad thing there are way to many traditional& classic country artists that are a dying breed so well done to you George just to add a few of my favorite artists George Jones, Tammy Wynette,Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty,Jim Reeves,Hank Williams,Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Freddie Fender,Vern Gosdin Gee my list would go on Lets Bring It Back George Regards Twinkles
Dinah says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Thanks George for STANDING up for country music! You are SO right ! Country music died years ago ...whe we settled for Hollywoods idea of music took it over! The CMA's now have soap opera stars or a "Deperate House Wife" presenting awards instead of a "Country Music legend"!? Why?? PLEASE, some body, start a LABEL called "REAL" coutry! Why are we forced to see Jamie Fox on the Counrty music awards and then allow him to trash Miley Cirrus??? WHY does no one ever speak out!! Thank God for George Jones!! You have, all true counrty fans, RESPECT! It's time to BOYCOTT that uncountry MUSIC and the CMA"S too!
Carolyn says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I totally agree with George Country is simply not Country anymore and they need to find a new name for their kind of music and get their own station on the radio so we can tune to a Country station and really hear Country and not have to listen to a lot of garbage just to get to hear a good Country song every now and then.
Charlie Erickson says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I think the blame lies more with the powers-that-be that control the music being made in Nashville, i.e. the record label executives. They are the ones that tell Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and the other “plastic country’ singers what to record and what to release as singles. Do these singers sell a lot of records? Of course they do because of the “mass” appeal of their music that gets played not only on (and I use the term loosely, country stations) and adult contemporary radio stations. I personally think Taylor Swift is an alright songwriter if you are under the age of 20. As a singer Taylor fails miserably. Carrie Underwood has a decent voice but her music is nothing more than horribly over produced pop music with an occasional fiddle and steel guitar hidden in the recording so country radio doesn’t feel guilty about playing her songs. I could go on and on but the bottom line is this; when push comes to shove it is all about the almighty dollar. The question is; will they be around years down the road? And the answer to that is, no!
Bobby Bee says:
Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
I agree with George. There is nothing COUNTRY about this new music. These people could not make it in any other class of music so they call their music country.
Dane Eric Russell says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I agree...I simply agree
Mary says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I have to agree with George Jones. It's a crying shame what people like these two and many more are doing to "Country" music. What happen to a good ol' steel guitar and lyrics that you actually had to learn not 5-10 words repeated for the duration of the song. They need to figure out a new name for their style and leave country out of it.
Rick says:
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I prefer the names "Young" or "Modern" country for the pop rock stuff that fills the Top 40 airwaves these days. Much of it is not country music by any traditional definition, but it is being played on so-called "country radio" so the country title gets attached by default. George is spot on in his observations, but that's not surprising coming from one of the greats active during many decades when country music was truly country. I couldn't care less about Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood and their music as its not near country enough to interest me in the slightest. Thank goodness for younger traditional artists like Sunny Sweeney!
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