Thank YOU Taylor Swift, Munford & Sons and Phillip Phillips for bringing Country & Western to the FOREFRONT of TODAY's Pop Music Culture...but we want MORE...

by Dan Getz, International Blogger
and The Dance"In NewZboy at
www.Dance4One.blogspot.com
March 15, 2013, Dallas, TX

There is something refreshing about the simplicity, clarity and TRUTH spoken through the lyrics and melody of a really good Country and Western Song, isn't there?  Unfortunately in today's culture and times, many a talented Counrty and Western singer or band never sees "the light of day" on the mainstream "Pop" and "Rock 'n Roll" stations.

But very recently artists like Phillip Phillips with his "Home", Munford and Sons with their "I Can't Wait" and Taylor Swift's MANY Country Songs (with the MOST NOTABLE one Topping Country AND Pop/Rock n' Roll Charts Nationwide being "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together") began to change that.

I will be honest.  Historically speaking I have not typically been a Country and Western music fan or listener.  In the past, the ongoing joke about most Country and Western Songs was that while every song spoke of a shotgun, pick up truck and jilted and/or current lover, the only differences between the various songs was the artist, the order of content (i.e. Did the mention of a shotgun, pick up truck and jilted and/or current lover come first, in the middle of the song or last?) and the "twang" or beat.

But when I first heard the lyrics of Phillip Phillip's HOME (See Below), and heard the melody and rythm of what sounded to me like a brand new genre of music and art, and which has now received over 15 million hits on YouTube, thanks in part to Phillips' debut on American Idol ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE), I sensed the "tde of change" had "ebbed and flowed" to a moment in history of epic proportions.  Soon after, Munford and Sons' "I Will Wait" song began to TOP both Country & Western AND Pop/Rock n' Roll Hits Charts nationwide AND all the while, unbeknownst to most non-country and western listeners and fans, Taylor Swift was not only topping Pop and Rock 'n Roll Charts with her "Trouble", "22" and "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" Songs, but was ALSO fastly becoming an accomplished Country and Western Artist with MANY of her songs simultaneously topping the Country and Western Music Charts.

Swift, in paticular, is not only a true artist in EVERY sense of the word, but clearly knows a thing or two about marketing her talent and wares through the likes of her Taylor Swift Fragance and Jewelry Companies and OnLine Stores (see http://taylorswift.com/ and http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=13&sqi=2&ved=0CLIBEBYwDA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Ffash-track%2Ftaylor-swift-wonderstruck-enchanted-conor-kennedy-363705&ei=ahRDUbb9Acer2QWGsYGgDg&usg=AFQjCNE5U5-AzfBtji56flWvMFi_P6hF1g&sig2=fCEGwCkSpDSmnoggaLBfQw&bvm=bv.43828540,d.b2I).  Taylor Swift has also successfully produced several versions of her "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" song on You Tube that appeal to BOTH her Country and Western AND Pop/Rock 'n Roll Fans.  I was truly amazed at how even the lyrics, sound and beat sounded completely different (and MUCH better) in the Country and Western version (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4iX5D9Z64) than the POP/Rock n' Roll version (http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/853580/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-vh1-storytellers.jhtmlversion) I had heard multiple times on stations like KISS 106.1 FM in Dallas, TX.

But, as stated in the title of this article, there should be MORE attention and playtime given to the other Country and Western songs of not only these artists, but other talented musicians, bands and albums as well (for example Tim Halperin who, like Phillip Phillps, also was also very successful and made it through several rounds on American Idol...See http://dance4one.blogspot.com/2011/10/tim-halperinpicture-of-true-success-at.html for Dance4One's Review of Tim Halperin at the Plano Feastiful in Plano, TX and two of my favorite hits on his Rise and Fall Album...I Wanna Fall in Love, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U6Xf6Pux-Y AND New York, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEC3K0G1oug). 

And perhaps some day SOON, Taylor, you can help my FRIEND, Tim get MUCH closer to YOU (Taylor Swift) than simply a life-size cardboard image of YOURSELF (Taylor Swift), as seen in this hilariouis promo video advertised on Tim Halprin's official site:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7SvhCUsPI&feature=player_embedded as I KNOW you know how to "get her done" :-)


"HOME" by Phillip Phillip's Song Lyrics

As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Posted by: Dan Getz, aka "DANgerous" at Dance4One, www.dance4one.blogspot.com, YouTube 12131966dan, Facebook (Dan Getz and Dance4One), Twitter @Dance4One, www.CafePress.com/ChristianTShirtsPlusbyDance4One/ and LinkedIn (Dan Getz).