A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

Cowboys and Indi-rockers.

In his book Love is a Mixtape, Rolling Stone Editor Rob Sheffield has this to say about country music: “The country singers understand. It’s always the one song that gets you.”

He’s right. He’s an author, a lover of classic literature and not-so-classic 80’s grunge bands, and an editor for Rolling Stone Magazine. And even he knows that country music is where it’s at. So, I think English majors across the (bill)board should listen to country music. Hell, a philosopher who wants to be happy should. And especially all y’all who love MTV.

Somebody should warn Britney Spears who the true womanizers are. Its men like Brad Paisley who write us” little moments.” Or Rascal Flats and the greatest pickup line this side of Memphis: “You don’t look a day over fast cars and freedom” (Rascal Flatts, Fast Cars and Freedom). Sure beats “let me buy u a drank” (T-Pain, Buy U a Drank). It’s the difference between Beyonce’s If I Were a Boy and Diamond Rio’s I am that Man.

Finally, country music defines love in a way matched only by Hemmingway in A Farewell to Arms, but that’s another essay. In fact, country music has helped me quantify some non-negotiables in my definition of love and happiness:

1. “ I wanna love like Johnny and June”, too. (Heidi Newfield, Johnny and June)
2. And “I wanna know how forever feels.” (Kenny Chesney, How Forever Feels)
Johnny and June love forever.
3. Maybe I just wanna be one of “couple of kids just tryin’ to save each other.” JameyJohnson, In Color)
4. Or, maybe I just wish Brad Paisley or Tim McGraw were single.

All that to say, in the epic battle that is Cowboys vs. Indi-rockers, my money is on the cowboy.

Every time.