Boaz
Happy Easter!
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 6,588
I lived in southern America from third grade through seventh and then in Kansas until my early twenties. Therefore I was surrounded by Country and Western music my entire life.... and I resisted it.... I detested it. In 2021 after my marriage ended, I was living in Denver and borrowing my brother in law's 1969 yellow ragtop Buick Electra and his radio was set to a local county station, KYGO.... and I heard I Wanna Talk About Me by Toby Keith.
That song expressed my anger, frustration, and unheard communication.
I don't know how to fully state how much that song precisely aligned with my feelings. I felt neglected, ignored, talked over, and not listened to.... by everyone.
Anyway, I'd never listened to C&W. I knew Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia and Uneasy Rider, but those songs owe as much to Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues as much as C&W. I was stunned to learn how much 2000 country was influenced by 80's pop and rock. Toby's music seemed to owe as much to Huey Lewis as Merle Haggard. So, I began to listen to KYGO. I quickly heard Garth Brooks, Wynona Judd (one of my favorite vocalists), and Alan Jackson.... and then I heard older stars like George Jones, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams. From that point, I listened exclusively to country music for two straight years.
I bought both of Toby's albums released then... Unleashed and Shockin' Y'all. I found many of his songs that resonated with my soul... Who's That Man?, How Do You Like Me Now?, My List, As Good As I Once Was, The Critic and Big Blue Note. Toby provided a bunch of standards for me on my acoustic guitar.... Should Have Been a Cowboy, You Ain't Much Fun, A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action, Beer for my Horses, I Love This Bar, Who's Your Daddy?, I'm Just Talkin' 'Bout Tonight, Just the Guy to Do It, You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, American Soldier, and It's All Good.
I never met Toby Keith... I don't know him personally. But his music has influenced me greatly.
One night on my way home, I dropped in on my little sister who already had five friends over and doing shots at 6 pm. They were headed out to karaoke at the old Aces High Tavern in Golden. So I had a shot. And another. And then I was in Golden looking through a karaoke song list. The DJ called my name before I'd even submitted a song. I protested, but the song was already playing.... So leapt up and belted out I Love This Bar. After my sister had sung a couple of songs, I paid the tab and grabbed my coat... when I heard the DJ announce me as the winner of the karaoke contest. I thought a number of patrons sang better than me.... but singing I Love This Bar in a dive bar with the entire bar belting out the final chorus with me provided the most fun of the evening. (My sister is brilliant.) The DJ gave me a twenty dollar voucher for the bar.... too late.
This post is more about me than Toby. That is because his music was so vital in expressing my feelings back then. He introduced me to many of my favorite artists as well. Thank you, Toby.
That song expressed my anger, frustration, and unheard communication.
I don't know how to fully state how much that song precisely aligned with my feelings. I felt neglected, ignored, talked over, and not listened to.... by everyone.
Anyway, I'd never listened to C&W. I knew Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia and Uneasy Rider, but those songs owe as much to Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues as much as C&W. I was stunned to learn how much 2000 country was influenced by 80's pop and rock. Toby's music seemed to owe as much to Huey Lewis as Merle Haggard. So, I began to listen to KYGO. I quickly heard Garth Brooks, Wynona Judd (one of my favorite vocalists), and Alan Jackson.... and then I heard older stars like George Jones, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams. From that point, I listened exclusively to country music for two straight years.
I bought both of Toby's albums released then... Unleashed and Shockin' Y'all. I found many of his songs that resonated with my soul... Who's That Man?, How Do You Like Me Now?, My List, As Good As I Once Was, The Critic and Big Blue Note. Toby provided a bunch of standards for me on my acoustic guitar.... Should Have Been a Cowboy, You Ain't Much Fun, A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action, Beer for my Horses, I Love This Bar, Who's Your Daddy?, I'm Just Talkin' 'Bout Tonight, Just the Guy to Do It, You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, American Soldier, and It's All Good.
I never met Toby Keith... I don't know him personally. But his music has influenced me greatly.
One night on my way home, I dropped in on my little sister who already had five friends over and doing shots at 6 pm. They were headed out to karaoke at the old Aces High Tavern in Golden. So I had a shot. And another. And then I was in Golden looking through a karaoke song list. The DJ called my name before I'd even submitted a song. I protested, but the song was already playing.... So leapt up and belted out I Love This Bar. After my sister had sung a couple of songs, I paid the tab and grabbed my coat... when I heard the DJ announce me as the winner of the karaoke contest. I thought a number of patrons sang better than me.... but singing I Love This Bar in a dive bar with the entire bar belting out the final chorus with me provided the most fun of the evening. (My sister is brilliant.) The DJ gave me a twenty dollar voucher for the bar.... too late.
This post is more about me than Toby. That is because his music was so vital in expressing my feelings back then. He introduced me to many of my favorite artists as well. Thank you, Toby.
