Wheeler Walker Jr. has taken country music by storm recently. Country music and notably country radio has come under a lot of scrutiny. Some of the biggest names in country music have done their best to adapt to the modern music industry. Because of this, country music has changed drastically. In my opinion, it has changed for the worst. I can not even turn on a country radio station anymore without wanting to immediately turn it off. There are a lot of country fans who feel the same way.
There are great country artists writing and performing music right now. Artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and even bands like the Turnpike Troubadors get almost no radio play. On the other hand, FLAGA line, Luke Bryan and even Lady Antebellum get great ratings on the radio. The shifting trends in country radio have resulted in true country artists getting no play-time and bad sales. It is worth being said that "pop-country" brings in ratings. However, this brand of music is ruining a great genre.
Wheeler Walker Jr., Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton have changed that. Three artists from the great state of Kentucky are contending for the top of country music charts not just for individual songs, but for whole albums. The most interesting of the three is Wheeler Walker Jr. His lyrics have raised hell in the last few weeks as country fans around the world have listened with amusement, interest and horror since his album released. However, his music should not be taken as a true lyrical breakthrough.
Mr. Walker writes a vulgar brand of music. His songs are certainly not family-friendly. However, they have the sound and the rhythm that you would hear in a country song. His lyrics may be vulgar, but you will never hear him make any apologies for it. Furthermore, you will never hear his work on the radio. Not only is his music a little inappropriate, it is a little too sincere. Country radio will not play a song that sounds "too traditional." That is the beauty of his satire. Mr. Walker certainly did his best to ensure that modern fans and artists would be horrified.
Wheeler Walker Jr.'s music is a satire directed straight at the heart of all that is wrong with mainstream country music today. Many country fans are sick to death of hearing the same songs about the same subjects with the same music in the background. This sickness with bad music is evidenced by the fact that people are purchasing the albums of real, talented artists at such a high rate. Even an artist like Wheeler Walker Jr. who writes such vulgar songs is climbing up the charts at an amazing rate.
Wheeler Walker Jr.'s biggest impact might even be on social media. His Twitter and Snapchat accounts are highly active and critical. His Twitter account is rooted in the criticism of bad country artists. Take an gander at his Twitter feed and you will see what I am talking about.
Country music is at an impasse. Traditional country, according to recent sales, seems to be on the rise. Living in Michigan, I have yet to see this occur on the radio. This is not just a trend in the North. In the South, country radio still plays terrible bands such as FLAGA line, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown and other pop singers. Album sales have proven to favor country artists. However, the trend of pop singers booming on the radio is still disturbing. The rest of 2016 will certainly be an interesting time for country music.
R.I.P. Merle Haggard.
