Ricky Skaggs Dislikes Current Country Trends?
By: Allen Jacobs
Country and bluegrass music icon Ricky Skaggs has followed, almost in-line, with George Jones in lamenting the state of country music. He said in a recent conversation that "If (country) stays on the American Idol scene where its videos want to look like VH1 and the sound wants to be so far away from country; and be more pop and be more absorbed by the pop listener where someone buys a John Mayer CD and a hip-hop CD and a Taylor Swift CD — there’s hardly any differentiation anymore."
Ricky went on to state that the use of "Sweet Home Alabama" as an example of 'country music' is almost an agregious thing to him. While I agree with Ricky Skaggs on the latter part, I don't think there's anything wrong with a fan liking multiple genres. Do you agree or disagree with Ricky?
READER'S COMMENTS
Kelly says:
Posted: Wednesday, December 7, 2011
I agree with Ricky Skaggs, Thats why I like George Strait and Alan Jackson so much. They are the last of Country Music as we knew it. Todays Country has too much Rock n Roll Guitars and Pop to it. It seems like it is drifting further and further away from its roots. Country Rocks... But Blugrass Rules...
Rail says:
Posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I hear all the complaints and descriptions in the previous posts, however, the bottom line is the industry supports what pays. I don't disagree that Country Music is headed in the wrong direction but the only way to change it is to support the artist that will move it in the right direction buy going to see them perform, buying CD's or whatever form the music comes in, paying for concerts instead of looking for the freebee's. Right or wrong it all boils down to the financial aspect and a lot of the artist who are unknown as of yet that could make a difference don't get the support of people by their taking the time and spending money to go see them perform and buy their cd's in order for the record companies to take notice. As long as the Taylor Swift's of the business sell the most records that will be the direction it heads.
BURL says:
Posted: Sunday, July 10, 2011
There are THOUSANDS of us who AGREE WITH RICKY SKAGGS about "country music" as it's CALLED today, SAD; SAD; SAD......
Leslie Moore says:
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
I agree with Ricky in fact; I am much more harsh. True country music went out with Marty Robbins Patsy Kline and Jim Reeves. None of the new singers match a healthy Faron Young or a wondrous Pam Tellis, a devout Loretta Lynn or a faithful Tom T Hall. No sir I regret to alert you that TRUE country music has been absent here a depressingly long, LONG time. Leslie Moore
janet says:
Posted: Thursday, January 28, 2010
i agree that the state of COUNTRY music is questionable, but by the same token, john denver's THANK GOD I'M A COUNTRY BOY, does not define ALL country music.
Becky says:
Posted: Thursday, January 28, 2010
If I wanted to listen to pop music & watch the young ladies of today pole dance in their videos & on stage I would watch MTV. Carrie has an amazing voice but is not a country singer; she does not need to dance around half dressed to show her talent. And I will NEVER see the talent in Taylor Swift. Yes there is always room for new music genre's but to think most of what is out there today is country; well that is a sad state of affairs. Time changes things but the heart & soul of real country music is telling a story; no one seems to do that anymore; it should not be about parading your body in a lewd fashion & singing pop songs.
solongsowrong says:
Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010
After reading the responses here, I have to wonder how many actually took the time to read the original interview where this segment was taken from. The qustion he was responding to, was: Can country music outlast the genre mixing and mashing that “the kids” insist upon today? Or will it be absorbed into something else? Clearly, the question was refering to the Pop Country that is currently played on Mainstream radio. Ricky, as stated later in the interview, is well aware that other forms of Country music still exists..... He plays it for crying out loud! He's quoted as saying: "We’ve really gone in a different direction. But that’s one of the things that sparked me to go back and discover that deep well of water that’s still there. There’s still a pure taste in this old music. There’s things to discover. There’s new music there"… I for one, don't understand why what gets played on commercial radio, has anything to do with the Country music that is still loved by many people. With all the other options available today to listen to the Country music of your choice, why does what gets played for sales and profit on commercial radio, need to be such a concern? Let those who like that music have it, and everyone else needs to listen to what they like. New music by the likes of Guy Clark, James Hand, Ryan Bingham, Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson, Patty Loveless, Corb Lund, Rosanne Cash, Tom Russell, Allison Moorer, Gene Watson, and hundreds of others, show that the Roots of Country music are still being played and respected. Thanks to these artists and many like them, I haven't listened to commercial Mainstream Country radio for almost four years now, and think Country music is as good as its ever been.
don wilbanks says:
Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010
I used to listen to the Grand Old Opry on my transistor radio that I put under my pillow every time they aired until I went to sleep. I must agree with Ricky also, Real Country music is the classic country music like Ray Price, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, just look at the tapes or CD's of the old WSM Grand Old Opry Shows and you will hear and see true professional entertainers who dressed very nicely, sang, played and conducted themselves very professional. Some of the newer Country ain't bad, but most of it ain't real Country. Try going to sleep listening to some of the stuff this day & time. Ha ha! I guess you could separate Classic, and pop country by saying pop country has more rockabilly now than classic country. Let's keep the Steel guitars, the fiddles, keyboard, bass guitar, drums and the singers employed, keep the classic country going..God Bless em all!
paul shephered says:
Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
these young folks don.t know anything about country music,,all this new music sounds the same it an,t country...i don,t listen to it.cuz i don,t like it
Kenny Clark says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I agree with Ricky, country music has been on a course of destruction ever since all those execs from New York and L.A. came to town. Thank God for Ricky, Dale Watson, and those type folks for trying to preserve it. Oh yes and I am very pleased with the efforts of WSM and other radio stations who promote real country, and Eddie Stubbs for his Loveless Cafe live country show as well. Kenny Clark
Sam says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
No their starting their own the same thing merl and Hank and others did back then. And it is country it's what country now if you don't like it roughy it's not going away
john eichler says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
That was my comment under "says". As for Sam - Rickey Skaggs is not washed up. He is in the tradition of Hank Sr, Merle, and Bob Wills. What tradition is Taylor Swift or these other "newbies" following? Sure ain't country!
Phony Philippe says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
As a singer in a real country band i agree totally with Ricky ,as per my opinion the new country music is no more telling stories it is only counting money and quotas and for that, i believe,most of the "modern" country performers tries to have rather a good amount of money than a good audience wich surely sometimes is not as that good payed.So please dear producers try to create songs that we can sing along for years and be aware of Alan Jackson and George Jones when they sing " someone killed country music "
Cecil Sloan says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
but Sam this is not country
Cecil Sloan says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I have been a country music fan most of my life I am 72 years old I listen only to the old country if I wanted to listen to rock then I would listento the new
says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I have been a country music fan all my life, am 69 yrs old, played guitar since age 14. These days I never listen to the new "country", or whatever it is. It's not even good pop music. Vince Gill is the last good country musician.
Joan says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I agree with Ricky. I have been with country since my teens. Where are the real country singers. Some of the songs are great, but not like the country.
Paul says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I agree with Ricky, most of the songs are NOT country any longer !! Mostly modern !!
John Vaught says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Country music is no longer country and if it continues the way it is going it will soon be rock . Scaggs in my opinion is a blue grass singer/performer and even though he had some songs on the country charts he never really sounded like a true country performer.Honey Open That Door wow I never did know what that was . Yes I know a lot of like it but wow !!!!!!!! Anyway I totally agree country music is going down/up hill ???? . Country labels should hire Alan Jackson to teach country music vocals to these neew artist........have you noticed they don't sing it all sounds the same
My namne is Earl says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I'd like to see em try and put Jamie Johnson's "Sending an angel to hell" on pop radio or VH1. If they're going to take over Country, then he should take over pop!
Bobby Bee says:
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I agree with Ricky Skaggs. There is no way that anyone can class this crap they have today as country. I have been in the music business since I was 8 years old (got paid 5 bucks to sing one song) and am still working music 60 years later. There is nothing wrong with having a bunch of different genres or styles of music but lets not try to lump it all into one. This mess we have today is just plain old marketing and the bottom line is the dollar. Talent does not count anymore.
BRIAN KELLY says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Having been involved in Cuntry Music for forty years, as a performer, judge, and newspaper critic I' convinced there is a silent majority whoagree very firmly with Ricky Scaggs. BUT !!!Focus on the MUSIC- Don't get personal ! Vote with your Dollars- We might listen to some of the 'new' ones, but we are no way forced to buy their product !When a group tried to run a Countyry/Rock Festival on the Gold Coast it was a dismal FAILURE- Country people didn't want Heavy Metal,-devotees of which wanted NONE of " that hilly billy rubbish"! You can be 'hard core' country through to 'modern country' just patronise the kind of country music you prefer- leave the 'pop' to the poppies.
Mystery Country Man says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Okay country is a genre with many differentiations such as honkey tonk swing and bluegrass styles, but Ricky's point is when country starts to sound exxactly like pop there is a problem. No one is saying that Taylor Swift can't be good we are saying she isn't country. Pop is defined by what is popular at the time so it can change overtime. Country, on the other hand is defined by the actions, and lifestyle of people out in small town USA aka the country. That is the sound that defines country music, and real country music fans want it back.
Sam says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I disagree as I've already shown fair examples of stars that play traditional country. If some here had enought brains they would apreciate the diversity you have in awaome genre now days.
Rick says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Anyone with enough brains to realize Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are not "country" singers will recognize the legitimacy of Ricky's statements. This pop-rock crap that passes for mainstream country music these days is pathetic but there are millions of listeners who love that stuff and Top 40 country radio wants them as listeners. The whole "mainstream country" realm will continue to evolve into just another branch of pop music and real country artists will be even more relegated to the Americana realm. Its a sad state of affairs...
Sam says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I disagree with Ricky scaggs completely. There is room for more than one style of country music. I listen to some of the newer traditional stuff that doesn't make the radio as well as stuff like Eric church and Randy houser and Jamie Johnson all who have had songs in the top 10. And would say they are just as traditional as alot of the others. People also should quit hating on artist like taylor swift she's amazing and if people wanted to hear Ricky scaggs instead maybee he wouldn't be washed up while she's selling more records than he ever did
countryfannetwork says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I have been saying the same thing for so long, that country is not country anymore or is not going to be, the traditional styles and sounds are very far and few between. Don't get me wrong there are some wonderful talented artist out there, but, the sounds of country are not in the music and it has become like plastic (TL). Sounds of the likes of Tracy Lawrence, Clint Black, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr., Garth Brooks, are very hard to find on country radio. The reason being is that is what the record labels and radio stations are pushing and they only care about the bottom line and that is the money. All artist are in it to make money and make people happy,the Labels and radio stations are turning their backs on a very large part of the fans to play "Country Pop" and bow down to a small part of the industry
Sam G says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
It's fine to like all different types of genres, but the problem is that only one type of country music is getting play these days. There's been a scarce handful of recent songs that have a traditional feel to them, and they've been far, FAR outnumbered by the pop-country that's more influenced by '80s and '90s pop than anything else. I'd be fine with hearing Taylor Swift and Gloriana on the radio if they'd be followed up with an Emmylou Harris or a Jason Boland song. And it's "egregious." :)
Shelby Orten says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I grew up in the south and I can rember waking up to country music like mac wiseman and tennessee erney ford and the carter family coming from Bristol radio station, The country songs made me want to play the guitar [which I have been playing since I was nine years old] I am seventy one years old now And like the other`s who wrote I havnt heard any good country music in a long time. I wish the girls would stop showing off their body and start singing,And some of the men are just as bad with their holy blue jeans and rolled up tee shirts,Each one tries to see who can go the raggiest and the music isint country at all,the words make no sence at all, A country song needs to say something to the person listening to it.You go Rickey scaggs and continue to tell it like it is, Thanks for the oppertunity to vent,Shelby Orten
steph says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
There's plenty of room for more than one style of country. I don't ever want to see the traditional country go away, but that doesn't mean that other influences and styles shouldn't find their audiences also.
Don Bonnar says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Ricky is absolutely correct
JoAnn says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I agree with Ricky 100%.My husband and I hold an Old Country music jam twice a month and we get 8 to12 pickers and several singers.The people in our country area love it.We average 50 to 60 listeners so it shows us people still likes the old Country.
Russ Bangerter says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I believe coumtry music is lost and doesnt know which way to go anymore,it kind of sucks.bring back real country such as george strait,alan jackson, merle haggard music,get back to the ballads.
Armand Leonard says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Hello,I agree with Ricky,I find ,the so called country music now a days ia far from it.Don,t like it at all.What happened to the Merle Haggard style,G. Jones,B.Owens,R.Skaggs,now thats country.It sounds like hippy country to me.Well all for now,bring back the good twangy songs.A.Leonard.
John Morse says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
All I can think to say is, "Ricky, what took you so long?" Country music has not been real country for nearly 20 years now if not longer. I personally have not listened to mainstream country stations or bought the music for nearly that long now. The songs seldom have that "gotcha" that a good song has and the rhyming in some cases is simply atrocious. Loretta could rhyme "hard" and "tired" but the rest are lost.
Hank says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I agree with Ricky Skaggs assessment about "Country Music". If we continue going the course we are going, country music will be lost for ever. We need to re-categorize the so called country music of today and do a complete re-assessment of what country music is all about and bring back the sound of the 50s,60s,70s and 80s. Todays country is completely different from the past and the category of country music should be re-instated to the sounds of the past. We got to start hearing more of a george jones, Hank Williams,loretta lynn and Tammy Wayette style of music. In my opinion, todays country should by giving a different genre. Bring back the old style and sound of "Contry Music". Come on Alan Jackson you have what it takes to bring it all back, you have my support amongst millions of others.
Cheryl says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
I agree with Ricky Skaggs. I don't think he's saying that fans can't "like" different genres. I believe he's saying why make them all sound the same. Let's not dilute what we all know to be Country Music. Surely there are enough choices under the Country Music Banner to please all ... hillbilly, bush, contemporary, rockabilly, swing, alt and so on and so forth. Enjoy!
Leroy Sternhagen says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Having been a country music singer since the age of sixteen, this new music is like two pots clanging together pick out 4 or 5 words holler them back them up with a loud instumentation and call it music- - -I think not.
Jerry Stivers says:
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
Great job Ricky, I have been stating for years now that country has lost it's country. As George Jones says "who's gonna fill their shoes", it's degrading to think someone like a Madonna wannabe (Taylor Swift) could even be considered country, Pop maybe, but surely not country. We need a lot more of these good ole boys standing tall and get these DJ's to stop playing this trash and call it country. Thanks for airing my time.
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