A song from a genre you didn’t think you’d like—what changed?
Growing up, and through my time at Hospital Radio Lennox, there was one genre I just didn’t get. I begrudgingly would admit I enjoyed specific tracks but, the genre on a whole just wasn’t for me. It sounded like music for old people, those looking to a nostalgic past whereas I —young, vibrant, and very alive for the future— was plunging head long into grunge, electronica, dance, hip hop, and the other subgenres that exploded through my youth.
Country & Western wasn’t for me. I knew many names —the joys of a request show at hospital radio— and Mr. Cash was one of them, Ring of Fire being trotted out anytime we went for a curry (hilarious, I know).
And then, as he approached the end of his life, Johnny Cash released the album American IV: The Man Comes Around. I was drawn to it entirely for his stunningly moving cover of the Nine Inch Nails track Hurt, but the entire album was soon on rotation and it’s stripped back sound, whilst still holding to the Country Western sound, got me hooked. It allowed me to explore his back catalogue, and on into Willie Nelson, Carl Perkins, Merle Haggard et al.
Turns out Country & Western isn’t all that bad, nor all that far removed from classic Americana rock n roll. Live and learn.
“The Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash
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What are your thoughts?