There’s been a lot of bitchin’ about country music in the last couple of days thanks to Buzzfeed posting Entertainment Weekly writer Grady Smith’s “Why Country Music Was Awful in 2013” video.

While some of the mainstream country music that was mashed up to prove his point that there are a lot of common themes in the songs that go to #1 on the charts aren’t much more than pop songs – they are country music.

And, some of the songs in that video are some of my favourites of the last year.

I love country music. That’s a well established fact here on the blog and in the rest of my life. My country music education started in the early 80’s when I was just a baby. I grew up with Randy Travis and Alabama and Juice Newton and The Judds playing on the radio. When I was a little older we got Reba and Garth and Brooks & Dunn. And now we’ve been in a 15 year period that has given us Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Paul Brandt, Terri Clark, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church and yes, even Taylor Swift.

For all of the country music haters out there, and there are many, and they are loud, there are people who love this music. The “pop” tracks make them smile and dance and sing along. The sad songs remind them of the tough times that they have lived or the people that they have lost.

Here’s the thing about all music, no record is going to make everyone happy. No single is going to do it for every listener. No artist will be loved by all the people who love their genre of music. Country music is no different, never has been.

And the sooner we can all just accept the fact that Florida Georgia Line are a big hit right now – but acts like Whitney Rose, The Stone Sparrows and Kacey Musgrave are making country music too – and you can listen to them instead if that’s your style, the better off we’ll all be.

If you want to listen to some 2013 country music that I love that’s talkin’ bout girls, talkin’ bout trucks, talkin’ bout redneck boys out kickin’ up dust – and more, I’ve got a list for you right here.

Luke Bryan: Crash My Party

Taylor Swift: Red (Live at the Country Music Awards with Alison Krauss & Vince Gill)
http://youtu.be/HiXmnGWw2EU?t=11s

Whitney Rose: Chivalry is Dead

The Stone Sparrows: Picture Show

Miranda Lambert: All Kinds of Kinds (Live at CMA Fest 2013)

Lee Brice: I Drive Your Truck

Eric Church: Like Jesus Does (Acoustic)

Kacey Musgraves: Merry Go ‘Round

Lady Antebellum: Goodbye Town

Little Big Town: Your Side of the Bed (Live at the Grand Ole Opry)
http://youtu.be/zJYVBEG0s9I?t=13s

Dierks Bentley: Home

The Band Perry: Don’t Let Me Be Lonely

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.