Random Thoughts

[arewethereyet]

Why do they call it "country and western"? Can someone tell me the difference between country and western?
Also what is hiphop and how is it different to rap?

An old fart friend wants to know!

I don't think there's a huge difference between hip hop and rap other than IMO hip hop tends to be a little tamer...more radio play friendly.

As for country and western...my dad used to listen to Marty Robbins.  Two of the albums dad had were "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs"  and "More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs".  (A lot of thought put into that second album title.)  Those two albums were about exactly what the titles imply.  Lots of cowboy and gunslinger type stuff.  Country seems to be more about crying in your beer over lost love and your pickup truck.

The country I like is more folk sounding...Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson...things like that.  Of course Willie crosses into the western part of country/western with songs like Pancho and Lefty.

My ex-husband liked country music...one morning we got in the car early so I could take him to work on the Army base and the radio was set to the station he listened to.  This song comes on with the following lyrics...just a snippet, I don't even know the damn song..."my cocker spaniel's always havin' puppies, how can anyone be so lucky".  GAG, GAG, GAG...all I could do was look at him and wonder how he could actually like such dreck. Probably part of the reason he's my ex.