At the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, can you believe we’re already done with 2010? How true is the feeling that every year seems to go by quicker and quicker. Every year, crazes and fads appear and sometimes disappear just as quickly. Every year, our lives change, and we do our best to deal with all of life’s little circumstances that are out of our control. One thing that really doesn’t change is the good country music that we play.
There’s a simple reason that classic country music is still so popular after all these years – it’s that good. I would wager that most artists greatest desire would be to be remembered for generations to come. That is exactly what is happening regarding a lot of the classic country artists. We are always receiving comments from fans and listeners telling us that even though they were born years after a certain song was released, they still love the song and it means something to that person. Sometimes just one song can “hook” a person, and will make that person a life long fan. I wonder how some of these older artists would feel if they saw a “youngster” pick up one of their albums and become a fan. I imagine the artist would feel proud.
Some of these classic country artists are becoming cultural mainstays, like Levi’s and Coca-Cola. George Jones and Hank Williams are obviously not exclusive to their original fan base. Those kinds of country singers gather new fans because they have bridged the generational gap while becoming musical icons. The same could be said for other artists such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson, to name a few. They seem to relate so well to the country fans, new and old, because their art form is timeless – a testament to the musical expressions that they have created.
Sharing music is really a wonderful thing. I have become a fan of all types of artists because one of my parents, siblings or friends said, “I love this song.” Share this great music with the people you know and love, heck, share it with a stranger. A song can voice exactly how you feel, or can be something that moves you. Just think, sharing some of your favorite music with a certain “youngster” may be just the thing that will turn on other folks for years and years. If you love this music, think of it as your duty.
Happy New Years, everybody. See you at the Nashville “Guitar Drop”!