I didn't always like Country Music. I was raised in a somewhat musical family and learned to play classical piano. We lived out in the boondocks. There was no such thing as cable TV, and we watched Hee Haw on Saturday nights. ( ... anybody ? ... ) That was all the country I was exposed to, and I wasn't very impressed.
I preferred Rock N Roll, 70s funk, and what we called "Top 40" when I was young. (Everyone's heard of Casey Kasem, right?) I do remember a few country songs crossing over into the Top 40 back in the 70s, but I still was not a fan. In the early 90s, PoPo and I collected a large stash of Classic Rock CDs as we were members of a CD club. (Ah, the good ol' days before downloads.)
When I got into running, it was important for me to have songs with just the right beat. There weren't many rock songs with the exact cadence I wanted. However, the Country Music genre seemed full of them. I learned to appreciate the new artists, but as I continued to listen I realized the older music was ... um... quite the entertainment.
You may be rolling your eyes. It's OK. I used to (PoPo still does) but, just stay with me here. I'm not talking about the My-Dog-Just-Died or My-Mama's-In-Prison songs. I'm talking about the fun, rather amusing, lively, foot-tapping, upbeat music.
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| Impulse buy after a Nashville half |
Five Must Try Older Country Songs:
As an older runner, the last song really SAYS IT ALL! (You really should check out the mullets in that video!) I know many of you are thinking "Blech, Country Music -- Never"! But, you know, it helps to have something different to keep running fresh...to break up those long miles. Therefore, I challenge you to have an open mind and listen to one (or more) of these songs. You may find they are fun! Come on, surely at least your little pinky toe will be tapping!
I'm open to all genres of music.
What's your favorite running song? I'll listen!
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I'm linking up with the awesome ladies from the DC Trifecta:
Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC,
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Mar from Mar on the Run!.
I actually really enjoy country music. I run to Deanna Carter a lot, especially for long slow runs.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the I Shaved My Legs singer. That's a fun one.
DeleteYoure talking REALLY old school!!!;
ReplyDeleteYes. So much more amusing, I think.
DeleteI have precious few country songs and they pop up every now and then when I create a play list using the "autofill" feature. I guess my favorite one would be The Devil Went Down to Georgia. :)
ReplyDeleteA good one! That's by Charlie Daniels who sings #3 above. Check it out!
DeleteI like the old country music, aka "classic" country. We saw Johnny Cash live once, up in northern Wisconsin, shortly before he stopped touring. It was amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt would have been awesome to be able to see The Man In Black!
DeleteI'm not big into country. Bc I always think of the kind that you mentioned about dog dying and wife left me. But I know there is so much more in country music. None of those songs sound familiar. Maybe if I heard them I would recognize it.
ReplyDeleteI just find them very entertaining. A good distraction sometimes on a run.
DeleteHmmmmm, I'll have to think long and hard before I listen to a country song haha just kidding. I will not ask you to listen to anything I have on my playlist though because most of my friends don't care for it even though I think hard rock is perfect for a long run :)
ReplyDeleteHA! I get it. For some people it is pure torture (my husband for example!)
DeleteIsn't top 40 still around? Lol, I must be old too if I know who Casey Kasem is. I think the only song I know out of that list is the Hank Williams one since I learned about it in a music history class I took long ago. :)
ReplyDeleteWay back when, I remember all the genres being together in one top 40 list. I don't think they do that nowadays. The Hank Williams you learned about is the father of the one of my list. LOL.
DeleteI am not into country music, but having lived in Texas on five different occasions, I learned to tolerate it. But I must check out that last video. I certainly fit the bill as an older runner!
ReplyDeleteMy husband tolerates it...but just barely. LOL.
DeleteI am so out of touch with ANY popular new music, regardless of genre. I listen to what my husband listens to, which are unknown indie bands (the kind that you go up and talk to and have a drink with after a show that cost $5 to get into.) So in the fall, at a wedding they were playing all these songs that everyone but us seemed to know (that was my first introduction to Taylor Swift). Ha! But I agree that it's fun to listen to new music while running, so I tend to rely on others' suggestions for music to try since I'm so clueless. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those people who has a song playing in their head 24/7. It can be quite the challenge some days. I have music playing just about at all times -- to drown out the song in my head. LOL.
Deletehaha, I know virtually nothing about country music! I did visit Nashville last fall and visited the country music hall of fame. It was amazing. Evening not being a huge fan I love history. The place is incredible.
ReplyDeleteWe had great fun on our trip to Nashville. There are bands playing at all times inside the honkytonks.
DeleteI used to not like country, but when a friend took me on a Kenny Chesney cruise, I have sort of fallen in love with the music since:)
ReplyDeleteGreat tunes to listen too!
Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, have a few good ones that are on my running playlist. I'm actually liking Tayor Swift as a pop singer better, I (yes I am admitting it, the shame, lol) I have several of her newer songs on my running playlist too:)
One of my favorite Oldies but Goodies for my running playlist, because it so fits running around and traveling to different races as I work on my marathon goal. Johnny Cash, I've Been Everywhere - You race and travel around a lot for them, listen to it and I think you'll find it a fun special running song too:)
Kenny is my favorite chillin' on the beach artist! I ran to his song Summertime a million times. I've Been Everywhere is an excellent choice. I know the song! I wonder how many places he actually names? We should count. I'll definitely add that one to my playlist.
DeleteAWWWW! Girls Night Out? I haven't thought about that song in SO long! I love it! I rarely run to country music; I'm not sure why, but I need to add more of them to my running playlists (really the only time I listen to music). I love country music; it was really all I had, growing up in a very small Texas town. Hope you have an awesome long weekend, H!
ReplyDeleteWell you should at least add that one to your list. It's very lively. I use it for speed work or shorter tempo runs.
Deletei'm a fan of poppy country music :) shania, carrie underwood, etc.
ReplyDeleteGood ol' Shania. I hope she'll make a comeback. I remember when one of my boys was very small, he would sing "Man, I Feel Like a Woman". Hilarious.
DeleteCarrie has one of the biggest voices! We definitely watched American Bandstand on Saturday mornings. Hee Haw was certainly a treasure. I'm glad someone else has heard of it. (...I'm a pickin' and I'm a grinnin'...)
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten into country music! But I can appreciate some of it and once in a while hear a song I actually like. :)
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would be listening to it. Life takes some surprising turns.
DeleteI love nearly all genres of music, minus hard core rap. Try Banjo by Rascall Flatts if you are exploring country!
ReplyDeleteI already have that one! It's good.
DeleteI remember HeeHaw! My dad used to watch the reruns, but the first time around was plenty for me! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hoped someone else would remember HeeHaw. I don't think I could have watched reruns either!
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