Remember when people argued about whether Old Town Road was a country song?

Not on CE, but in actual real life. This was a big controversy on country radio stations with many of them just downright refusing to play it and others defiantly playing it as pushback. It's one of the reasons Billy Ray Cyrus got involved lmao. People got heated over this shit

But I don't think Lil Nas ever claimed to be a country artist

Most popular stuff becomes way bigger than the artist and the artist gets drowned out. That's just how it works.

Also, Im not one to blindly go with an artists take on their own art >_>. We all have subconsciouses we don't completely understand. Their opinion matters the most, but it's not the end all for me. Not to mention they can be talked into the benefits of selling an alternative perspective. Lil Nas X will also most likely admit he knew shit about music compared to what he learned after that song and being into his career.

Also, Bone Thugs did it way better 2 decades before him >_>.

https://youtu.be/gcbe-dznTZk

Tbf, Old Town Road works better to cast a wider net. I do understand why it would catch more ears on first listen even if both were released side by side. Mastering simplicity that catches on is it's own skill. So many rappers have failed to try to catch a mainstream audience by simplifying

To me it was always just a trap beat and a fake accent. The "is it country?" debate seemed silly at the time, but is really hilarious when you look at Lil Nas post-Old Town Road output

DipDipDiver posted...

To me it was always just a trap beat and a fake accent. The "is it country?" debate seemed silly at the time, but is really hilarious when you look at Lil Nas post-Old Town Road output

What he say?

I feel like Rod Wave does a good job sneaking in country elements to his more R&B/Rap vibem

Brykner posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/7/AAfc7nAAEepv.jpg

Though true it's that simple for some. Making it all about just calling out those people just adds to avoiding any real conversation of depth.

DipDipDiver posted...

Not on CE, but in actual real life. This was a big controversy on country radio stations with many of them just downright refusing to play it and others defiantly playing it as pushback. It's one of the reasons Billy Ray Cyrus got involved lmao. People got heated over this shit

But I don't think Lil Nas ever claimed to be a country artist

Ben Moody went behind the band's back to submit Evanescence's early shit to some Christian publishers and they've been trying to fight that association ever since.

Tyranthraxus posted...

Ben Moody went behind the band's back to submit Evanescence's early shit to some Christian publishers and they've been trying to fight that association ever since.

I do recall hearing them called a Christian band, I didnt know it was like that though

Brykner posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/7/AAfc7nAAEepv.jpg

what characteristics does Old Town Road have that actually make it a country song?

Sounds more like a rap song with a bit of country in it. Whatever though, it's not something to get mad at because a lot of modern country is barely country anyway and sounds closer to this than actual country music. It's just southern pop really. I honestly don't like hearing rap beats in country songs. It's like putting ice cream on pizza. 2 things great on their own, but when combined it doesn't work.

in the song, the singer makes plans to ride a horse

I don't see what precludes it from being country. If shit like Florida Georgia Line can get classified as country, Old Town Road should get a pass

Modern country wants to be hip-hop for rednecks half the time anyway

old town road can be anything you want

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzciXblJOkk

Brykner posted...

It sounds like a country song, for starters and enders.

what specific characteristics does it have that make it sound like a country song?

It's the song that made trent reznor the country music icon he is today