Lookin For That Change?

"Lookin' For That Girl"

I have recently decided that I needed a way to talk about my love for the world of not just music, but more specifically country music. That's what has led me to writing this today. I have been in love with music my hole life. Although country music has always been the most major influence in my life, it never became a huge passion until recently. Music has always been a passion, but I didn't know just how much I loved it until I got to high school. My love for music is a constantly growing thing. That's why I've decided to try and share that with people. People know I sing and play the guitar, but what I don't think people realize, is that I follow the lives of country musicians as much as the interviews and the different media outlets allow me to. One day, I hope to be one of those voices you hear on the radio, but for now, I'll love being on this end of the stereo. 

So let me get quickly to the first thing I wanted to talk about in my newly acquired blog. If you know me at all, you know that I am HUGE Tim McGraw fan. I really did try to keep myself from using him as my first topic, but with the ideas that I have, it seemed all too fitting for me to do this. If you listen to current country music, you will for sure have heard Tim's new single "Lookin' For That Girl". Now I have that song on repeat as I write this simply because the music in and of itself is interesting enough to me that I'll listen and be entertained. It also keeps my mind on track with my topic. This new song is definitely different for what country music fans are used to hearing for sure. There's not a whole lot of twang in the music and there is a lot more drum machine and "Synth" noise going on. I will be the first to admit when I first sat down to listen to this song, I wasn't pleased. In most senses, at least musically, I'm pretty "old school". I love the twang and steel guitar that came with songs from Hank and Waylon and Denver. Within the last few years a new breed of country music has hit the airwaves...This new genre is called "Bro Country". Examples of this new breed are most currently songs like "Lookin' For That Girl", "Dirt Road Anthem", "Country Girl(Shake It For Me)", and "Cruise". When I was in high school, I was very out spoken of my love for country music. Everyone knew and more often than not, I was usually the only person in my circle of friends that frequently listened to country music and that was more than o.k. with me. Over the course of the last few years, country music seems to have become a trend. It's become the "in" thing. Teenagers who know nothing of the life spoken of in country music are listening to George Straight and Hank Jr. They are driving around big trucks just because they look cool and not because they have any clue what to do with them. Now, let me be clear. I'm not claiming that I was raised on a farm, but I have done my share of farm work. I can dig up land and work with cattle and I can definitely run a tractor, which is something most guys sporting this new country style have no clue about. 

I had a conversation with a close friend recently that was almost entirely focused around the fact that music evolves. I had never paid too much attention to that until recently. Every genre hits a point where it goes through a change. Whether it was from Eminem to Kanye, or from George to Luke in the country music world. Music evolves. Successful business law tells us that it has to if it wants to survive. This logic is what creates song like "Murder on Music Row". During our fairly lengthy conversation, we talked about how music changes to please the current audience. The most simple explanation of this that I can think of is the changes that Tim McGraw has made in his music over the course of his career. He started with what was at the time, a fairly edgy song called "Indian Outlaw". He was soon ushered in to the regular word of country music with songs like "Not A Moment Too Soon" and "Don't Take The Girl". The next "era" of his music included songs like "Something Like That", "I Like It, I Love It", and "Unbroken". He then diverted back a little bit very close to those songs with songs like "My kind of Rain" and "Watch The Wind Blow By". he then went right back to being the rebel of country music with songs like "Real Good Man". I may have the release orders wrong, but the point is the same. He made changes to his music based on the demand of the general public at the time. Now I think at least the women who read this can honestly and openly admit that they would keep buying his tickets simply to just watch him on stage. Tim McGraw has established himself as one of country music's biggest "sex icons" having won the title of sexiest man in country music multiple times. The only problem, is that physical attraction really only takes care of the female demographic. He had to keep the attention of the male audience. That's what most likely triggered songs like "Real Good Man", "Live Like You Were Dying", and eventually "Let It Go". After his "Live Like You Were Dying" album, it was about 4-5 years before he released another album. That album had some more contemporary songs as well as some older sounding stuff. A mix of titles like "Between The River and Me" and Kristofferson". He was bringing that edgy sound in with full swing. It was a great way to re-enter the music scene. 

After he released his last single from the "Let It Go" album, he waited about 2 years and released the "Southern Voice" album which had a very southern rock like feel to it. Again, appealing to all audiences by allowing the old country feel with songs like "You Had to Be There" and "Ghost Town Train", but keeping it contemporary with songs like "Business Doing Pleasure With You" and "Southern Voice". The music on his following album was about the same keeping things pretty modern with songs like "Felt Good On My Lips", "Right Back Atcha Babe", and "The One". He also had a duet with hip hop artist Ne-Yo. The album to follow is what I think has spear headed Tim McGraw to the top of the country music world once more. He was always relevant and always popular, but his stardom had faded for a small time due to his choice to be with his family. Upon release of the album "Two Lanes of Freedom", Tim McGraw started a new tour and was rocking the radio with "One of Those Nights", "Truck Yeah", the multi-award winning "Highway Don't Care", and "Southern Girl". To the average fan, those singles are what made him money for 2013, but he released an "Accelerated Deluxe" version of the album which had "Annie I Owe You A Dance", "Tinted Windows", and "Love It Out of You Tonight". He kept the music pretty modern, but low key. "Two Lanes of Freedom: Accelerated Deluxe" is probably my second favorite album to date only second to "Live Like You Were Dying". Such a perfect mix of music for any current country music lover.

That leads me to his latest single. Tim has been very outspoken about his musical influences. I will name the few that I think matter the most in how he chooses his music. The first on the list is Bruce Springsteen. I don't think any explanation is needed there. Springsteen is someone every musician should admire and aim to be at least a little like. The second is The Eagles. The Eagles are probably most known for their hit "Hotel California" and "Take It Easy". Their amazing guitar lines and their vocal harmonies make them pretty irresistible to music lovers of any genre. The third is Def Leppard.This is where I think the rock in Tim's music comes from. They've done a song together called "Nine Lives". It has a little bit of everything for everyone. 

"Lookin' For That Girl" is a perfect mix of everything. It has a sound from every genre in today's world of music. I think it's worth a listen. I think with Tim McGraw releasing a new album by the end of 2014, we can expect more music like this in the near future. Music is evolving. Even the honest, fun loving country music. It's changing, but the question is, is it for the better? Will it keep gaining fans? If country music reverts to an older state, will everyone who has hopped on the bandwagon stay? There's no time like the present to become a country music fan. Take advantage of the opportunity. I've even added a link to the new single here in the blog. Take a listen and tell me what you think! For now, it's time I get on with the rest of my life. Thanks for reading and you can bet there will be more coming soon! Catch y'all later!

Listen to "Lookin' For That Girl" here!