When: 1939
Super Genre: Country
Description:
“Country before the forties had a bit of a multiple personality disorder. While one part of it evolved as a crazy, fun barn dance music, the other part went the opposite way. It evolved as an introvert, back-to-the-roots music that wasn’t happy at all, and often involved tragic ballads, known as Honky Tonk. Most Honky-Tonk songs deal about relationship problems, alcohol abuse, financial worries or other misfortune. Instead of large barns, this music was played in the more intimate bars of southern USA, which were called “honky-tonks”. However, honky tonks were still large enough to force the artist to implement electric instrumentation, in order to top the crowd volume-wise. Honky Tonk also introduced a steady 4/4 beat to Country Music, which diverted the genre from Folk. Honky Tonk artists often sang with a thick, southern tongueand in a nasal tone. Combined with cowboy hat, boots, and costume, the caricature of the traditional Country singer was complete. Honky Tonk remains an important separate stream in Country’s history, and is sometimes synonymous with so called “Hardcore Country”. But Hardcore Country can also be an umbrella term for more traditional, pure forms of Country as opposed to eclectic “Soft-Shell” Country Pop or Alternative Country.” - Musicmap
Sample Songs: Hey Good Lookin’ by Hank Williams, Drifting Cowboys
I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash
Up next…Rock ‘n’ Roll & Rockabilly
Comments
Post a Comment