Beyonce - Cowboy Carter

[Popeye]

I enjoy music, but I am not terribly serious about it nor very current. My tastes run wide; I often hit "seek" on the radio and listen to whatever interesting comes along.

With that background, a picture in the paper (WSJ) caught my attention: Taylor Swift presenting Beyonce a Grammy for "Best Country Album". I equally enjoy older country (folk, perhaps) music - as I am a fan of Taylor Swift and Beyonce / Destiny's Child. Catchy tunes with a good beat.

But never in a million years did I put Beyonce and Willie Nelson / Dolly Parton / etc. in the same thought!

I found the album on Tidal and have listened to it a few times. I gotta say, it's incredible! Beyonce has a dynamic and powerful voice and does the songs tremendous justice. Jolene, for example. I can't imagine anyone but Dolly Parton singing it. Beyonce is not Dolly Parton (and I don't think she pretends to be), and both versions are great. And her rendition of the Beatles "Blackbird" (perhaps not country!) is equally good. Most of the songs on the album borrow (steal) from famous songs, so much of it has a familiar beat and sound.

It reminds me of Loretta Lynn's collaboration with Jack White on Van Lear Rose: two unique styles coming together to make a great album.

 

[NutmegCT]

Have to admit, I"m more a Pappy O'Daniel and the Lightcrust Doughboys fan -

 

[Popeye]

Have to admit, I"m more a Pappy O'Daniel and the Lightcrust Doughboys fan -

I cannot say I’ve heard of them before tonight - but listening to a few YouTube renditions; they’re good!

…so much music, so little time!

 

[Scargo]

Take this.

 

[waltesefalcon]

Once that upstart Garth Brooks hit the scene country music went downhill fast. It is overly pop sounding today, so it doesn't surprise me a bit that pop artists are who folks associate with it.

 

[Popeye]

Once that upstart Garth Brooks hit the scene country music went downhill fast. It is overly pop sounding today, so it doesn't surprise me a bit that pop artists are who folks associate with it.

I agree. I still like Lorrie Morgan and a few others - definitely more "pop" than earlier country.

 

[Basil]

Once that upstart Garth Brooks hit the scene country music went downhill fast. It is overly pop sounding today, so it doesn't surprise me a bit that pop artists are who folks associate with it.

Not a Garth fan, but there is some country I like. It's sort of hit or miss.

 

[JPSmit]

 

[AngliaGT]

Play that song backwards,& it'll come back.