Kenny Chesney?

[WillieCash]

When I was 16 I won tickets to go to the American Music Awards. One of the presenters there was "New Kids on the Block" when they came I immediately stood up and got ready to boo. Then I realized that nearly all of the crowd was yelling out things like "you suck" and "f-you f@gs" etc and I sat down because I felt sorry for them. I really hated their music and their fabricated image but it seemed like the whole place was attacking them as people and not as "artists".

I kind of feel the same way now......

While I am no fan of Kenny Chesney or much (if any) of the pop-country that is out today it really isn't fair to indulge in personal attacks against him. You can say these guys aren't real country music and that the music they sing is pre-fabricated garbage (and I would whole-heartedly agree) but why attack him for being gay? First of all, I don't think he is, but even if he was so what?

Faron Young was gay and he wrote a crap load of songs that anybody would consider REAL country songs. What does that have to do with anything?

It is clear that everyone here has a different opinion of what country music is. I would side more with bluesbob and Elduce's opinions on who are better and "real" artists. But this doesn't have anything to do with sexual orientation.

I'm kind of curious, I am a singer/songwriter that makes music that I call "West Coast Country" music. It's a little more hard core than standard country and brings in some elements from southern California. I like to think it is more in the vain of "real" country but I am curious what you guys would say. If you get a minute, check it out at www.myspace.com/williecash

Would you guys call this pop or "real"?

Sorry if this seems like Spam. I'm just wondering if the music in itself is the problem or the fact that it is so successful.

[WillieCash]

Kennyslady,

Also as a side note that shows how old-school I am. I didn't even think of your name as Keny Chesney's lady, I thought of it as Kenny Rogers' Lady!

I'm the oldest 30 year old I know!

[kennyslady]

Im moving on from this whole thing but to your side note: I also enjoy and have enjoyed Kenny Rogers so I consider it a compliment. Thanks.

[michelle98264]

All I have to say is that all of the negative comments are from jealous people and thats pretty much how life goes. Kenny Chesney is not homosexual and does not sing any kind of homosexual songs, in fact, like kennyslady points out, most of them are very heterosexual. He married a female and the reason "fraud" was the stated reason for divorce is because it is hard to disprove and therefore makes it a lot easier for the divorce to go through quickly. No one likes a long drawn-out divorce!

Also, I'm 25 and most old country doesn't appeal to me. New country is just that, new country. It is not that old country music that ya'll grew up on. I find it much more appealing and a lot closer to rock than pop.

[cici_in_socal]

Hey ELDUCE....BLUESBOB, get off this thread. Nobody wants to hear you whinning like little b#%*!'s. People like you are so pathetic, I feel sorry for your partners, if you have one. I can put $100 down that you have very few freinds. Goodbye!

[Misfit138]

When I was 16 I won tickets to go to the American Music Awards. One of the presenters there was "New Kids on the Block" when they came I immediately stood up and got ready to boo. Then I realized that nearly all of the crowd was yelling out things like "you suck" and "f-you f@gs" etc and I sat down because I felt sorry for them. I really hated their music and their fabricated image but it seemed like the whole place was attacking them as people and not as "artists".

I kind of feel the same way now......

While I am no fan of Kenny Chesney or much (if any) of the pop-country that is out today it really isn't fair to indulge in personal attacks against him. You can say these guys aren't real country music and that the music they sing is pre-fabricated garbage (and I would whole-heartedly agree) but why attack him for being gay? First of all, I don't think he is, but even if he was so what?

Faron Young was gay and he wrote a crap load of songs that anybody would consider REAL country songs. What does that have to do with anything?

It is clear that everyone here has a different opinion of what country music is. I would side more with bluesbob and Elduce's opinions on who are better and "real" artists. But this doesn't have anything to do with sexual orientation.

I'm kind of curious, I am a singer/songwriter that makes music that I call "West Coast Country" music. It's a little more hard core than standard country and brings in some elements from southern California. I like to think it is more in the vain of "real" country but I am curious what you guys would say. If you get a minute, check it out at www.myspace.com/williecash

Would you guys call this pop or "real"?

Sorry if this seems like Spam. I'm just wondering if the music in itself is the problem or the fact that it is so successful.

WHAT???? Faron Young was a homo????

[Misfit138]

All I have to say is that all of the negative comments are from jealous people and thats pretty much how life goes. Kenny Chesney is not homosexual and does not sing any kind of homosexual songs, in fact, like kennyslady points out, most of them are very heterosexual. He married a female and the reason "fraud" was the stated reason for divorce is because it is hard to disprove and therefore makes it a lot easier for the divorce to go through quickly. No one likes a long drawn-out divorce!

Also, I'm 25 and most old country doesn't appeal to me. New country is just that, new country. It is not that old country music that ya'll grew up on. I find it much more appealing and a lot closer to rock than pop.

Its not jealousy they just think he's a joke. And its not even close to rock.. Its pop ..

[michelle98264]

A lot of new country is close to rock. A lot of new country artists perform rock songs at their concerts and get their inspiration from rock artists.

Also, it is clearly jealousy. Why would someone think of someone who makes millions of dollars a "joke?" I'm quite jealous and I'm not afraid to admit it. I wish my job was to entertain millions of fans by singing and then go home to the Carribean and spend most of my time on the beach!

[Misfit138]

A lot of new country is close to rock. A lot of new country artists perform rock songs at their concerts and get their inspiration from rock artists.

Also, it is clearly jealousy. Why would someone think of someone who makes millions of dollars a "joke?" I'm quite jealous and I'm not afraid to admit it. I wish my job was to entertain millions of fans by singing and then go home to the Carribean and spend most of my time on the beach!

okay.. pop rock.. whatever.. He's not country thats for sure..

Just because you make a lot of money does not mean you can't be a joke.

[ELDUCE]

Hey ELDUCE....BLUESBOB, get off this thread. Nobody wants to hear you whinning like little b#%*!'s. People like you are so pathetic, I feel sorry for your partners, if you have one. I can put $100 down that you have very few freinds. Goodbye!

your a real detective there buddy.. and to be honest with ya i feel sorry for my partner 2 but that is not the point the point is that you guys support fake pop music thats the bottom line

[Seattle]

the point is that you guys support fake pop music thats the bottom line

So what if they do?! It's not like they're advocating clubbing baby seals. Why on earth do you care what kind of music these people listen to? And why are you so threatened by the possibility that some entertainers may be gay? Have any of them made a pass at you? Then what's the big deal?

[ELDUCE]

So what if they do?! It's not like they're advocating clubbing baby seals. Why on earth do you care what kind of music these people listen to? And why are you so threatened by the possibility that some entertainers may be gay? Have any of them made a pass at you? Then what's the big deal?

the problem is by supporting this pop crap you are killing our roots, real country music isn't played on the radio and supported because of the people who support acts like kenny chesney , big n rich ect. ect. there are plenty of new traditional bands out there that most of you will never hear because the masses who claim to love country dont they love pop music with a slight twang and the fact that kenny sings pop country is way worse then being a homo thats just the nail in the coffin, i know i am in the minority and thats why i waste my time cause its a fight to keep my country heritage

[michelle98264]

If the radio stations weren't playing what people liked, they wouldn't be in business. If so many people didn't like New Country, it wouldn't be so popular. The "New Country" stations do not pretend to be "Old Country" stations. They all say that they play "New Country" and their listeners know what that means. It is a new genre of music. To be quite honest, I HATE pop music. I love New Country. There is a HUGE difference. You should actually listen to Kenny Chesney sometime, you might actually like him but you are too jealous and caught up in being negative that you probably won't. Or if Kenny's just not your thing than try listening to the other hundreds of New Country artists.

FYI - there ARE still radio stations out there that play Old Country, but they aren't that popular because most of this generation does not like it. It is FINE that they play it because I have a choice and I don't have to listen to it!

And who gave Kenny The Entertainer of the Year Award? Oh, thats right, the COUNTRY Music Awards!!!

There are plenty of the traditional Old Country singers at this festival so, guess what, you don't HAVE to watch Kenny just cuz he's there. And I don't know how anyone is coming up with $500 for the festival. Not that it is too much for me, I paid $850 for 2 tickets plus I will pay for camping for 2 AND I'm driving down from Lynden, WA, but for one person with GA and camping, it is only $215, which is a pretty good deal to see this many big names. Oh, and I would like to see Willie and Kris while I'm there just so ya know.

Saying that you're not going to the festival because Kenny Chesney will be there (which is pretty immature) is like saying you won't go to Starbucks because they sell mochas and you don't like mochas or you won't go to Dairy Queen because they sell fish sandwiches and you don't like fish sandwiches (none of their other products even have fish.) You get my point (I think.)

[ELDUCE]

yeah well like i said people like you are killing our roots and you will continue to do so and if i may quote you

FYI - there ARE still radio stations out there that play Old Country, but they aren't that popular because most of this generation does not like it. It is FINE that they play it because I have a choice and I don't have to listen to it!

that really says it all they can play old country and i dont have to listen to it well if you were a true country fan you would listen to it but your not country your just a trendy little house wife who loves pop music and thinks it is country.. I really like how you broke the price down to let everyone know you can afford it you remind me of those people that are constantly telling you how much they pay for things cause they think it gives em status, get real you like pop country if they decided to break up the country music section of the record store by different genres you would find yourself in the pop country section.. why dont you stay up there and go to bumpershoot

[Seattle]

the problem is by supporting this pop crap you are killing our roots, real country music isn't played on the radio and supported because of the people who support acts like kenny chesney , big n rich ect. ect. there are plenty of new traditional bands out there that most of you will never hear because the masses who claim to love country dont they love pop music with a slight twang and the fact that kenny sings pop country is way worse then being a homo thats just the nail in the coffin, i know i am in the minority and thats why i waste my time cause its a fight to keep my country heritage

This happens in pretty much every genre of music -- "rock" today doesn't sound anything like it did thirty years ago; "pop" is a different animal than it was in the 70's; and don't even get me started on hip-hop... By your definition, it would seem that nothing that happens today can be considered "real" because it's not like what happened yesterday -- is that a fair assessment of your viewpoint? I just don't feel the music of today (in any genre) is a threat to the music of yesteryear -- there will always be a small set of musicians who make "the old kind of music," no matter what genre, and if that's what you like, that's what you listen to. There is no need to be snarky about what other people like, whether they're in the majority or the minority. Personally, I don't listen to much of the music my parents listened to, and I don't honestly know many people who do -- call it evolution, call it progress (positive or negative), call it life -- that's the way it goes. Tomorrow's generation will ALWAYS use "different" music to tweak their parents -- and no amount of negativity on anyone's part is going to change that. Slamming any particular artist just makes you look small-minded and puts more bad karma in your basket -- it does absolutely nothing to change the opinion of the "fans" of the artist.

Sattelite radio is making huge strides is the availability of "niche" genres, and you just might have to accept that old-time country music is just that, at this point -- a niche. It's a niche I live my life in -- Kenny Chesney isn't my cup of tea, either, but I sure can't blame him for the fact that there aren't that many people that like the old stuff. But I don't seem to lack for opportunities to see the artists I like and hear the music I love. You can't "force" people to like your kind of music, and it's a pointless waste of energy to try. Support what YOU love and leave the others to what THEY love. Life's too short to be so negative.

[michelle98264]

EXACTLY. Thank you. Well put.

And sorry, ELDUCE, but I am no housewife. I work full time like everyone else. And, AGAIN, I do not like pop music. There is no such thing as "pop country." I like New Country. Read what Seattle said and move on.

[ELDUCE]

you guys go right ahead and support the killing of your heritage.. i wouldn't expect anything less from you guys

[Seattle]

you guys go right ahead and support the killing of your heritage.. i wouldn't expect anything less from you guys

Now I'm really curious as to what you DO listen to... it can't be the country of the 50's/60's/70's, because that was a bastardization of the previous generation of "mountain" music, and was considered just as outrageous in its day as the "new" country is today. The advent of the steel guitar was an absolute scandal in its day. And even my man Earl Scruggs invented a new way of playing banjo, that set the world on its ear... so that can't be what you're listening to, either, because it's not the original "heritage."

I'm not being snarky -- please tell us what you listen to. My heritage (personally) is cumulative, but you do not consider yours to be -- so I'm curious as to what you listen to.

[michelle98264]

Who's killing anything? It sounds like you (ELDUCE) are trying to kill everyone else's good time.

And you're right, we should all boycott New Country because it is not the same as Old Country or anything like country that came before that.

[tdc1]

You make some great points (Seattle). Music has always evolved and changed over time. That's part of what makes it so great. I don't think "new" or "old" country take anything away from each other at all. Last time I looked the older country music was still there. It's not going anywhere (ELDUCE). You and everybody else have the access and the right to listen to and buy as much of it as you want. But to come on this board(ELDUCE) and bad mouth or berate other people because they don't have your same taste in country music styles is pathetic and childish. Please go back and play in the sand box with the other 3 year olds. Oh and be careful in a battle of Witt's with (Seattle). So far you sound as if your unarmed.