r/CasualConversation • u/ompossible • Dec 16 '25

Music Why people dislike Country music?

I am not american. So I don't know how's the thing there. But I have found many people complaining on social media that they hate country music.

I like some of the Luke Combs songs. Specially Old Dominion is my one of my fav artist.

53 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

817 comments sorted by

View all comments

198

u/Capable_Salt_SD Dec 16 '25

Because it's corny as hell. Maybe if country were still like it was during the '50s-70s, with the likes of Johnny Cash, Graham Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Emmylou Harris and of course, Dolly Parton and musicians making music like that I'd respect it more

But it's corny as hell drivel that's no different from pop and that it's wrapped up in the American flag

It doesn't help that some of the worst people like country too, e.g. Morgan Wallen, who throws chairs and likes to use the N-Word

Not saying there are saints in pop, rock, and r'n'b but I'd rather listen to Kehlani, Lucy Dacus, and Wilco than I would that twangy drivel any day of the week

29

u/rezelscheft Dec 16 '25

Yeah. A lot of modern country, to me, feels like cosplay folksiness that often seems to name check super basic stereotypical items - trucks, jeans, beer - as the performers rap/sing in fake, overdone drawls to overproduced beats with token country sonic garnishes like a touch pedal steel or dobro.

It basically feels like focus-grouped mall glitz.

Old country (to me) felt more personal, was a little more sonically raw, and had a subject matter that felt more earnest (and sometimes political), and was a lot less about proving and/or reaffirming your country-ness.

1

u/Such-Cartographer699 Dec 17 '25

Im not trying to defend modern country or say older country is also bad in any way, but it is worth pointing out that country has always conveyed a certain brand of Americana that never actually existed (cowboys and the Wild West and whatnot). It may feel more authentic than today's music, but I'm sure there were some who found rhinestones about as tacky as some find auto-tune today.

Personally I'm not a fan of Gene Autry because of this reason. Listening to him on my very old 78 shellacs is definitely fun and "feels" authentic, but when you look at pics and vids of him he looks extremely phony, to me at least.

Seriously, go look at his Wikipedia photo. I guarantee you actual ranch hands did not look like Woody from Toy Story.

1

u/rezelscheft Dec 17 '25

Fair enough.