If you’re a fan of country music, you know how much it’s changed in the last 10 to 15 years. It seems as though the genre has shifted from classic artists, such as Tim McGraw, George Strait and Shania Twain to ones that are borderline pop singers, like Sam Hunt or Dustin Lynch.
This recent change has resulted in a genre that just isn’t what it used to be. Don’t get me wrong, I love some of the newer country artists. I think they have catchy songs that are fun to sing to. But, when compared to classics like “Strawberry Wine” and “Friends In Low Places,” they just don’t stand a chance. I think many people would agree with me in saying that the '90s was one of the best decades for country music for several reasons.
To begin with, the artists from the '90s told stories through their songs. The genre itself wasn’t all about drinking or partying, but instead about people’s love stories or the struggles that they faced with family, work and life in general. For example, in Reba McEntire’s hit, “Fancy,” she tells the story of a young girl growing up in a poverty-stricken home and having to be married off to a rich man in order to make a life for herself. Or the promises that John Michael Montgomery makes to the woman he loves in “I Swear.” These songs, and many others from the '90s, are all about telling real stories that real people can relate to. Whereas nowadays, the country stations are full of songs by Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line that are all about drinking, partying and spring break stories.
Another reason that '90s country is the best is because the music itself is what one would consider traditional country. There is evidence of guitars and banjos in '90s country, which are instruments used dating back to classic country. However, if you listen to today’s country music, it sounds a lot more digitalized and produced from a computer. Which, if you ask me, goes against the tradition of what country music stands for.
Now, I don’t want this to be a bashing of today's popular country music. There are plenty of great artists today who sing well and can tell meaningful stories that people really want to hear. And to stay relevant, music has to change with the times, so it makes sense that songs aren’t necessarily based around a banjo anymore. But ultimately, what it boils down to is that those of us who had the privilege of living or growing up in the '90s know the simplicity of the time.
The reason that '90s country is loved by so many is because of the nostalgia that it brings to those who listened to it in its actual decade. Maybe you danced at your wedding to “We Danced” by Brad Paisley or used to belt out Dixie Chicks lyrics in the car on the way to and from school. Either way, the songs of that decade are the soundtrack to important and meaningful parts of your life and they represent a time before the rush and craziness of the 21st century.
So next time you’re in the car and you hear one of those classic '90s country songs, don’t hold back. Sing at the top of your lungs, and let it bring you back to a time when life was much simpler and less chaotic.
