Stand by who?

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I'm a huge music fan and I like a lot different genres. There's nothing like turning the radio on and hearing a song that takes you back to a person, place or time that is indelibly etched in your mind. I tend to listen to one style of music for a while and then move onto another. I don't like to mix my music or my men.

Right now, I'm into country music.

I was never really a country music fan until I worked in a sales office where the sales manager piped it in over the loudspeaker. I wasn't sure if he was trying to motivate us or torture us but the more I listened to it, the more I grew to like it. Besides, who doesn't love, "All My Ex's Live in Texas"?

I love the way music illustrates emotions and circumstances and how it reflects the common attitude of a generation. Let's look at the evolution of women and relationships in country music.

My first memory of a country classic that depicted a woman's "role" was the 1968 song, "Stand by Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.

Yes, if you wanted to keep a man, this was what you had to do:

You'll have bad times
And he'll have good times
Doing things that you don't understand
But if you love him you'll forgive him
Even though he's hard to understand
And if you love him
Oh be proud of him
Cause after all he's just a man


Did you get the message, ladies? He's gonna be a dick, but cut him some slack cuz he's just a man and men are dicks. Get over it.

Fast forward to 1986 and the lovely ditty, "Whoever's in New England" by Reba McEntire. This was Reba before she had a hit show and a clothing line.

When whoever's in New England is through with you
And Boston finds better things to do
You know its not too late 'cause you'll always have a place to come back to
When whoever's in New Englands through with you


You can tell these are the daughters of the women who listened to "Stand by Your Man". The message here is that the man is the provider and if he wants to boink women while he's away on business trips, that's okay, as long as he comes back home to you.

Women today are the daughters and granddaughters of the ones who believed all that rubbish. They don't sit back and stand by their men when they're behaving badly. And they know how to take matters into their own hands.

Oh, yes, we've come a long way, baby. Let this be a lesson, boys.

32 comments

  1. I LOVE COUNTRY TOO! Best stuff to Karaoke to.

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  2. I love country too!! Especially anything George...he is orgasmic!

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  3. I like a little bit of everything as well, except death metal and gangsta rap.

    @Lee - George has the cutest little damn smile on the planet!

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  4. Country is my favorite. And yes, the lyrics have definitely changed over the years.

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  5. I don't listen to country music since they changed the lyrics...just kidding! (I never listened to it) But I think it's cool that you like it!

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  6. I like the song about "TAKING A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER TO BOTH TAIL LIGHTS",etc, but she "carved her name in his leather seats"....THAT'S stupid. Carve the name of his new girlfriend in the seats. NEVER leave clues or fingerprints.

    Women need more power....and a couple bags of BUTTERFINGERS.

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  7. I will pray for your musical soul, Chrissy. :)

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  8. Oh - this is good.
    Though I gotta admit I haven't done the country thing since Trisha said,
    "Down on my Knees" and Garth said
    I "Ain't Goin' Down".
    Hmmm. Country just didn't seem balanced.
    Oh, and somebody liked their women a little on the trashy side. (I think that was my brother.)
    Another funny post!

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  9. Oh, Chrissy! This is a FABULOUS post! Love the references to all that cheesy Country Western crap from years gone by.

    I'm glad those country gals got with the program...now I think I'd be more afraid of them then anything else!

    Does this mean you'll be a little 'ol Country Gal for Halloween? (Where are those spurs??!) HEE HA!!!

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  10. Take only a little bit of shit, and give a lot back, it is better to give than receive sometimes!

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  11. This lady is rocking it and you're right we've come a long way since our mother's generation.

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  12. Hmm, this seems to be a response to me showing up late for our date and then not paying for dinner! I promise this will not happen again!

    signed, Mike

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  13. I'm in love w/ Sugarland... love the song Settilin

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  14. I'm not much of a country music fan, and I love jumping back and forth between styles, my iPod is always set to shuffle jumping from Edith Piaf to Eminem is what rocks my world. But, I'm glad country music has followed the times, or at least what country women are singing, I guess it's only logical. In the 50s women wore high heels to stay at home and clean the kitchen... and welcomed their husbands with a cocktail at 5:30 as the pot roast was waiting in the oven. AM I EVER GLAD TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

    I had a sociology class that linked social changes with music and art. It was really cool to do exactly what you've done and compare all music and art as it progressed with social movements...

    I love your blog and for your Monday post... hope your dad gets better, hang in there you're obviously a fighter and can get through anything.

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  15. Not a country girl, but I L-O-V-E this one!! And Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats (?is that the title?)

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  16. I love Miranda! She's a tuff bitch. BTW, have you heard "Rockin the Beer Gut" by Trailer Choir? Hi-larious!

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  17. Honesty...I never was a country fan until I started listening to Martina McBride and Reba...now, I love it.

    Yeeehaaaaaw!!!!

    I think I'll even start taking CW clogging classes - you could just see me??

    HA!

    WONDERFUL post, girl!

    You always put a smile on my face!

    X

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  18. I listen to country because they sing about the things that are important to me: God, country, family, beer, and horses.

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  19. Hey, if you can't sing along with the Roger Miller classic "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd", well, you ain't a country music lover.

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  20. Whoa, Chrissy! You just made me want to give this genre another listen! Love it! Gunpowder and lead... wish I'd thought of that! Love it!

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  21. @Jeve,
    Yes, isn't it? "crazy, I'm crazy for feelin' so lonelyyyyyy.."

    @Lee the Hot Flash Queen,
    I knew I liked you.

    @adrienzgirl,
    Ugh. I can't do rap, either.

    @Matty,
    Yes, although they do still talk about how much they love beer.

    @Mark Price,
    Try it, you might like it. Or not..

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  22. @Dana,
    That's so funny. I think that every time I hear that song. Don't leave a trail, girlfriend!

    @Matthew,
    LOL. Thank you.

    @Cynica,
    Thanks. I know. You just can't take any of it too seriously.

    @Kathryn,
    Thanks. Nope, no costumes for me this year.

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  23. @Secretia,
    Yes it IS better to give than receive!

    @The Peach Tart,
    A-MEN!

    @R.Jacob,
    Well, good. Lesson learned, then.

    @Chele,
    I LOVE Sugarland. What a voice!

    @Marie,
    That class sounds fascinating. And yes, I don't think I could have been a 50's housewife.

    Thanks for the kind words about Dad. :-)

    @Jules,
    Yep. Before He Cheats is great, too!

    @Comet Girl,
    Love her. She's so ballsy. I'll have to check them out.

    @Ron,
    Those two could sing the alphabet and I would listen.

    Take a video of you in that class!

    @Leah Rubin,
    Thanks for stopping by!

    @Christopher Zimmerman,
    In that order??

    @Knucklehead,
    Said as only a true fan could.

    @CatLadyLarew,
    Oh yeah, it's really evolved.

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  24. Well, of course in that order. Okay, sometimes in the reverse order but never on Sunday.

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  26. Okay, that was my deletion, sorry.

    My grammar was all goofy. Anyway, I really got into country right after my divorce. Those songs about women who didn't need men were really inspirational. I would sing them at the top of my lungs and just get it all out.

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  27. Hey Chrissy, I've always thought that Dolly Parton's character in Jolene should have saved the pleading with the auburn-haired Jezebel, and beaten the snot out of the philandering boyfriend/husband!

    (By the way, dropped you a note to your blogger mail address.)

    Indigo

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  28. Hehehe. I like that. Very clever.

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  29. @Christopher Zimmerman,
    Funny!

    @Theresa,
    Oh my gosh, I know what you mean! My favorite break up song was I Didn't Know My Own Strength by Lorrie Morgan. If you don't know it, you should check it out.

    Not that you need it now. :-)

    @Indigo Wrath,
    You're right! I love that song. And I actually knew a girl named Jolene. Exact opposite of the one in the song.

    @Lauren,
    Thanks!

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  30. Love the good ole' country stuff, and the new "pop" KICK A$$ country stuff, too!

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  31. @Andrea,
    I know! Isn't the new stuff great?

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