While most of you are
focusing on the "Breaking Bad" finale, I am writing
this entry and listening to Keith Whitley. If you
listen to the radio show, you know that I am not a
huge fan of modern country music and listening to
Whitley only confirmed why. A great authentic voice
with songs that actually express real emotion ...
that to me is country music. However, what I see now
is mostly guys wearing the standard country uniform
(tight jeans, fake cowboy boots, and either a plaid
shirt with the sleeves rolled up or, if they are in
better shape, a form-fitting v-neck t-shirt) and
singing songs concerning things they would never do
(like chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit). I harken
back to the days of Cash/Waylon/Willie, etc. but
also have a soft spot for the cheesy country of
today's birthday salute, the great Marty Stuart.
There was a time that country music also included
garish outfits, exemplified by Stuart and his wild
rhinestone suits. Look at the man ... now he is
graying and a little slower with his moves, but
there was a time in the 80s that he made your
grandmother swoon in the same way that the college
girls are now trying to mount Luke Bryan. His songs
ere goofy ("Tempted" is one of my top 50 ever), but
his music ability was not, and the way Stuart plays
guitar is as good as any country musician ever. I
love his bizarre coiffed mullet and his Dwight
Yoakam-like mediocre dance moves, the entire basis
of which seems to be to shake his butt at the women
in the crowd. He sang about love ("Burn Me Down"),
drinking ("The Whiskey Ain't Workin' "), and general
country nonsense ("The Hillbilly Rock"). Simply put,
he is the type of musician that simply wouldn't
exist today, because we need to pick another 6'3"
former college football tight end to tell us about
how much beer they can drink while they are partying
at the lake in their truck with a couple of bros
(none of which they ever do). Give me Marty Stuart
and his odd back story (he grew up with a crush on
country singer Connie Smith, and then 15 years ago,
married her ... when he was 39 and she was 57) over
just about anyone we have today. He may not be
Conway, but he can still bring it.
By
Matt Jones
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