Ray himself waded into the topic of immigration in 2023 with Jesus at the Taco Truck, written and performed with Shy Carter, about a man named Jesus with scars on his feet and hands from crossing the Rio Grande.

Did you hear it on the radio? Probably not. That’s because anything considered mainstream in the genre shies away from social commentary that doesn’t pass the sniff test of conservatism.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 35 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

And it is a shame. Country music used to be rebel music about outlaws and non-conformity. Now it is all god bless America the police protect us and boy the Army sure is cool.

[–] SpookyBogMonster@lemmy.ml 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

9/11 was a disaster for country music

[–] Vupware@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

9/11 was a tragic event, but it’s been milked for over two decades. I don’t give a fuck about 9/11 anymore and honestly when people grieve it nowadays I can’t help but think of them as sheep. Shit happens, move on, or use it as a foundation for a conversation that aims to do more than stir nationalistic sentiment.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I can't see anyone 'grieving' for 9/11 in current year being anything other than performative.

Like, are we still fucking mourning the Titanic? Come on.

[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 1 points 2 days ago

We had a 9/11 every day during peak covid.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 15 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

also its done by rich millionaires mostly, Taylor swift was like that before she made it big. she comes from upper class, not poor, and adversity. thats why she still mesh with maga people, or at least she hangs out with them.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I tried to explain to my girlfriend, who is a big fan of Taylor’s music, that there is no such thing as a good billionaire. It didn’t go over well.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago

travis is totally maga, but he has to be careful not to taint taylors brand, she might as well be one herself. her family moved her to tennesee to appear poor, its so obvious

[–] Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Its always had plenty of both.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Depends on what era really. Compare Merle Haggard "Soldiers last letter" to something like "American Soldier" by Toby Keith.

Country music was never about conformity and licking the balls of authoritarianism. The army certainly used country since the 1950's for recruitment though.