Everyone treasures and dreads the power that comes with being handed an aux cord when in a car full of friends. Being a country music lover, I personally dread the responsibility of music choice, often having an intense internal debate of whether or not I am ready to face the rejection of my country-hating peers.
Now before you stop reading, let me provide you with a few reasons to give country a second chance. Country songs are just like real life, and every story is unique in its own way.
Want a love song? You got it. Feeling sad? There’s a song for that. Breakups, hard times, good times, tractors, getting drunk on a plane? You can bet your money that there is a country song for that, too. If it’s something that you are feeling, you can find comfort in country music.
Let’s be honest everyone, who doesn’t like watching Blake Shelton or Dustin Lynch perform? I mean, hearts MELT. And I have yet to see a country singer who does not look good in a cowboy hat. For emphasis, I encourage you to look up country music album covers.
But in all seriousness, I am grateful to have grown up surrounded by country music because it has taught me so many valuable lessons. I’ve learned to fight for true love, to dance when it feels like your world is about to fall apart and to smile when God’s grace catches you off guard.
Lessons like embracing change and honoring the past, and reminding those close to you of how much they mean to you have really inspired me to live a more fulfilling life. In a world where it seems like sometimes there isn’t much good, it is refreshing to have a genre that reminds us that there is still life to live and to fall in love with.
So before you bash country, give it a fighting chance. It might not be your favorite genre, but a little diversity in music never hurt anyone. And now, let me end with a few words from my favorite artist, George Strait:
“It might be wrong, but then again it might be right. There’s no way of knowing what tomorrow brings. Life’s too short to waste it. I say bring on anything.”
Starter country songs:
Cowboys and Angels - Dustin Lynch
Drunk on your love - Brett Eldridge
Country Girl - Luke Bryan
Desperate Man - Eric Church
Still Love You from here - Jon Pardi
One of Those Nights - Tim McGraw
Good Directions - Billy Currington
Crazy Over Me - Dylan Scott
Tequila - Dan + Shay
She Got the Best of Me - Luke Combs
All American Girl - Carrie Underwood
Yours If You Want It - Rascal Flatts
Fast Cars and Freedom - Rascal Flatts
Parallel Line - Keith Urban
Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
Yeah Boy - Kelsea Ballerini
Madison McManus is a news reporter at The Beacon. She can be reached at mcmanus20@up.edu.
