Gay themes emerge in country music

[kweerwolf]

Never mind that country music is considered bedrock conservative, the unofficial red-state soundtrack. This year, some of country's most famous names are singing in movies with gay and transsexual themes.

Dolly Parton received an Oscar nomination for Travellin' Thru, a song she wrote and sang for Transamerica, while Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris are heard on the Oscar front-runner Brokeback Mountain.

Nelson, always an iconoclast in his music and politics, released a gay cowboy song on Valentine's Day, Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other).

But don't expect a wave of gay love songs to sweep across the heartland anytime soon.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Music/2006/02/21/1454036-sun.html

[Harper_is_Bush]

1. Willie Nelsons song has been around for a long time

and he performed it for a long time.

He decided to release it now, for some reason.

[DarkTirade]

8. It's all about timing.

And after a big movie about gay cowboys comes out seems like a good time to me. :)

[Catch22Dem]

2. Well, Willie & Emmylou are libs though

I mean, don't expect red-state corporate country to follow suit. They'll still back the likes of Toby Keith and that god awful Daryl Worley. Having said that, Willie and Emmylou have more talent in their toenail clippings than these other nimrods have in a lifetime.

ON EDIT: I guess I don't know where Dolly's politics are, but I like her just the same.

[William769]

6. Her newest CD is made up mostly of anti war songs from the 70's.

Hint, hint.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39749.asp

[TaleWgnDg]

3. Overall, so-called "country music" has ALWAYS been

.

Overall, so-called "country music" has always been white, indigent music lamenting about some loss of "love" or employment or inability to find employment or did I mention loss of love? Recently, blacks have infiltrated some country. Now, its gays? Where will the white trash hang their hats now?

I HATE COUNTRY MUSIC. It's not music!!

[William769]

7. Apparently, you don't know Country music.

[gator_in_Ontario]

4. Anyone hear of Cowboy Troy?

I went to my county fair, known for many rednecks, confederate flags...ya know "morons". Salt of the earth. (<<<<reference to "Blazing Saddles")
Anyway, this cowboy opened up for him. Pretty good for a country singer. Cowboy Troy comes on.
He is black so I think maybe some country/rap blend...might be interesting. I figure he is a modern Charlie Pride. Then I thought it might be a joke. WRONG. This was rap. And they LOVED it! Between this, Brokeback Mountain, and Trans-America, the rednecks have to be freaking! Look for the KKK to ramp up enrollment!

[kweerwolf]

5. A blend of country and rap?

Would that make it "hick-hop"?

[swimmernsecretsea]

9. Remember this one from Garth Brooks?

Artist/Band: Brooks Garth
Lyrics for Song: We Shall Be Free
Lyrics for Album: The Chase

This ain't comin' from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'Cause we shall be free
When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this world's big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free
We shall be free

We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, have a little faith

We shall be free

He got in a bit of controversy over this one, and got questioned about it quite a bit. It was interpreted as not just an anthem of interracial harmony, but one suggesting acceptance of LGBT relationships, as in the lyric "When we're free to love anyone we choose." Interestingly, it wasn't the racial harmony part that seemed to stir up the controversy, but the gay theme. I recall his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, who made him squirm over trying to explain himself about the song.