A Little Bit of Country Won't Kill You

Ok, so, today I want to discuss something that has become a recent interest: Country Music.

For so long, I was one of the countless number of people residing in Texas who grew inflamed at the question, "So you LOVE country music, right?" I would take offense to this question, without really knowing much about it. I assumed it was just a genre full of whiny, overly sappy, annoying love songs put together by a band of talentless hicks.

This summer, however, after spending three months with close friends who listen almost exclusively to country music, I have to admit: it has grown on me.

Before continuing, I do have to point something out. I am still a novice when it comes to country music; I don't claim to know much about it. I enjoy some artists, but am still discovering the source of country music. This means I am writing this very much from the perspective of somebody who is still undergoing the transformation of country denouncer to country lover, so I can understand any antagonistic sentiments.

My purpose in writing this is to convince you to maybe give it a shot. Not for any reason other than it's fun to branch out to something you never thought you'd like every once in a while.

While there are still some songs that make me cringe from the over-exaggerated twang (I'll never like that "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" song), there are also a good majority that I find myself singing along to! It's kind of embarrassing, yes, but hey, I'd say that artists you'd find at events such as ACL can be equally embarrassing with their overexerted effort at being "innovative" and "different."

So download some Keith Urban ("Once in a Lifetime" is a personal favorite), Dierks Bentley ("Settle for a Slowdown" is good for those somber days), or if you're willing to try something a little strong on the traditional side, give George Strait's "Wrapped" a listen-to.

You might be disgusted, you might not. At least try it out with the mindset that yes, it's supposed to overly cheesy and, yes, the accent is inevitable. Embrace living in Texas.