More on Country Music Against Bush

[realcountrymusic]

For those who haven't followed the previous thread on this, I'm urging everyone to download and check out "Takin' My Country Back" by "Honky Tonkers for Truth," fronted by the singer Tony Stampley. Even if you think you hate country music, this is worth a fair listen. But more than that, it needs to get circulated among people who do like country, and thus more likely to be Bush supporters. It is the most serious answer to junk like Toby Keith and Darrell Worley, and in my serious opinion it could change minds. Get it to radio stations, soldiers, NASCAR dads, and reasonable southern folks if you have any such connections:

It's at:

http://www.takinmycountryback.com/main.htm

But I wanted to add two things to the mix. First, the excellent site Music Row Democrats (http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com) contains a superb piece by the great songwriter Bobby Braddock ("Golden Ring," "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and many more) arguing that Republicans stole country music from working people and should be reclaimed by Democrats:

http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/speech.html

And then -- if you're a real country fan -- read this amazing interview with the mighty Merle Haggard from 2001 in which he flat out accuses the Republicans of stealing the 2000 election and "manipulating and violating" American citizens. (It's about 2/3 of the way down, and this is a serious interview, even though it's the Onion's site):

http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=3709&f=1


RealCountryMusic

[Philostopher]

1. Not that it surprised me, especially ...

but I noticed the names of several 'No Depression' Americana artists on the Music Row Dems site. I always wondered if it was lonely for them, since the music was so relentlessly populist in lyrical tone, though I know not all of them are Nashville artists and not all of them consider themselves country musicians. Nanci Griffith, Rodney Crowell ... seems like some of the ones I've broken my 'I don't really like country' rule for have something besides more thoughtful songwriting habits than what's currently considered 'country' -- they're more thoughtful people in general.

I knew about Merle Haggard, too. And there can't be much question which side of the political divide Willie Nelson falls on. Good luck to you, you're swimming against an even more vicious tide than rock musicians who speak out against what they feel is the curtailing of civil liberties. Many of them are no surprise -- for some reason, people are more surprised, and more stubborn, when it's country musicians.

[The Traveler]

2. I ain't into country

but that was really good!

[DrMK]

3. "Takin My Country Back"

I don't listen to country music, but I thought this country western song was very, very good and could change some minds.
So...I sent the link along to all the state democratic offices, the Veterans for Kerry groups, and emailed all of the Union offices. Hopefully the message will get out to everyone. It will certainly inspire everyone to get out the vote for Kerry!
I encourage everyone to email it to anybody you know that likes country music, especially Bush supporters!

http://www.takinmycountryback.com/main.htm

[Proud liberal Kat]

4. I really liked the song

and I am not a big country fan, I could see this appealing to people who are in an area/culture that tends to go Republican and finding resonance with this song, posted it to my other board.

Also have to add the link to the Un-American song, not country, but I loved it and the video and wanted anyone who missed it first time around to get a chance to see it.
Kathy
<a href="http://www.sharedvoice.org/unamerican/"><img src="" border=0></a>

[blondeatlast]

5. My beloved late father LOVED "realcountrymusic,"

Hank Williams, Bob Wills, bluegrass fiddling (my grampa was a kick-ass fiddler, too) and I grew up with a real appreciation for the good, AUTHENTIC stuff.

Glad to see that country music, like the nation, is COMING HOME!

[kimchi]

6. Too cool!

I have to figure out how to get that onto a tape for my dad.