Nate Seedorf English 1102-094 E.

Grant April 1st, 2014 Its A Long Hard Ride It was Open Mic night at a smoky old honkytonk in the middle of rural North Carolina. On the weekends, this was the place to be with dancing, great local bands, and lots of drinking. But on this Tuesday night the place was dead. The first singer stepped off the stage after singing three sad songs that he personally wrote. After his performance, you could tell he was new to the stage. His shirt was brand new and his jeans didnt show any signs of wear. The only thing on his body that was well worn were his boots and his cowboy hat. You could hear the tap of his boots on the wooden floor as he walked to the bar. He placed his guitar on the side and sat on a barstool. He ordered a tall draft and started to drink. He sat alone, thinking about the show he just put on for this empty crowd. A fan saw the singer sitting there alone and decided to join him. He walked up to the bar, ordered a tall draft and started a conversation. Not a bad show, he said before taking the first sip. Thanks, said the singer. It was my first time. Want a few tips on how to get popular in the country world? the fan asked. Sure, Im up for anything. Well, you need to sound younger.

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What do you mean? asked the singer, clearly confused by what the fan meant. Its not your grandpas country and western anymore, the fan said. Appalled, the singer shot back The lyrics in a country song take precedent over the soundscape. They always have, they always will. The fan said, The generation of country that we have now is a younger sound its a poppier sound. Have you listened to a rock or pop song lately? the singer said. While the vocalist is audible, theyre typically in the mix of the song or just slightly out front over the accompanying soundscape. The fan had a good response waiting for the singer. We see more of the pop and rock artists gravitating towards country because they know it has mass appeal. The singer didnt want to hear it. The lyrics are what made him love this type of music. He could relate. Thats why singers get famous, right? They sing what they need to sing. All of it comes from the heart, He thought before making his response. Country musics singers are ALWAYS front and center on a song with lyrics. Its a fundamental aspect of country music, its what makes it important. He took a sip of his beer and fixed his hat like he just proved his point. Its why people cherish that historical aspect of the youth, because the songs truly mean something. Theyre not just the latest trendy, catchy tune. They matter. But, the fan said, Duets between pop and country music artists are fueling the crossover popularity of country music. Think about this, Jason Aldean had one of the

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best-selling albums of last year, and I think thats largely due in part to the pop crossover that he had with Kelly Clarkson. The argument between what makes country music popular raged on between the two. Both of them agreed that country was popular, but they couldnt seem to agree on why. Then, an old man who had been sitting at a table near by got up and walked to the bar. He stood between the two kids as he ordered a Jack on the Rocks. He leaned against the bar and stared at his drink for a few seconds before taking the first sip. He then looked up and stared into space before addressing the singer. He said, Singer can ya make folks cry when you play and sing? Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues? Can you bend them, guitar strings? He said, Boy can you make folks feel what you feel inside? 'Cause if you're big star bound let me warn ya, it's a long, hard ride. After speaking, he drank the rest of his whiskey in two huge sips. He set his empty glass down and started walking away. The singer was in awe. Why would he say that? The singer stopped the man before he left the room and said, Who are you? The old man didnt answer the question, but said, Think about that, boy, and youll make it to the big stage. The man turned and left the bar. Years later, He never could figure out if it was his lyrics, his music, or the people he surrounded himself with, but it didnt matter. He took the old mans advice. Putting meaning behind every word and chord, the singer played countless shows to only family and friends. Later, the singer walked onto a pitch-black stage. He could hear the sound of

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thousands of screaming fans. He could feel the pulse of the crowd before that first cord rang. The lights shot on and he started singing his songs. He took the old mans advice.

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