Whether it's Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing at All" or Luke Bryan's "Kick The Dust Up," American country music hits home to just about every person on God's green earth. And whether you want to admit it or not, country music is actually good.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that there's a song for any kind of mood you could be in. Upset about a break up? Listen to "Mama's Broken Heart" by Miranda Lambert. Need a pick-me-up after a long day? Check out Brad Paisley's "Crushin' It." Feeling homesick? Play Blake Shelton's hit "God Gave Me You." Getting ready for a night out? "Anything Goes" by Florida Georgia Line is the song just for that. Want a classic? Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin' Boogie" is the one for you.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that all country artists sound just as good live as they do on the radio. No country song contains any kind of auto-tuning. The way these artists sing their songs in the studio is the same exact way they sing their songs at a concert. There is no high-tech voiceover recording that plays in the background of their songs. The only magic is the sound of their voice. The depth in Josh Turner's voice, the power behind Carrie Underwood's voice, the heart in George Strait's voice--none of that could ever be replicated. Each country artist has a unique sound, one that only they can produce.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that country music can make any day feel like "a Southern summer, barefoot, blue jean night." Or how it makes you "wanna roll [your] windows down and cruise." And it reminds you that "It's a great day to be alive," and "[you] know the sun's still shinin' when [you close your eyes]." It's the laid back, country rock, easygoing feel of the music that brings back those "sweet summertime" memories during any moment of the year.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that every country song tells a story. Listen closely to the lyrics and you'll see how each song paints a picture in your head. Take Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying." It tells the story of a man's dying father and his message to live life to the fullest and to take the time to do the things you've always wanted to do and to be the person you've always wanted to be. And how about Trace Adkin's "You're Gonna Miss This"? It's a story that all college students can relate to, going through high school and just wanting to get away from our parents, moving into our first apartments and just waiting to be able to afford something better, and eventually growing up and being out in the real world, finally realizing that time flew by too quickly. These songs tell the stories that stay with us throughout our lives, and they're stories that each and every one of us can relate to at any moment of our lives.
So, whether you choose to believe it or not, there is no greater music than American country music.
