Good and bad music is simply defined by the listener. I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s (born in 1947...yeah, I'm that freaking old!) I absolutely loved hearing Ray Price belt out a country song. I still do. I have almost a dozen CDs and albums of his muisc. He is still my all-time favorite country singer. I thoroughly enjoyed Merel Haggard, Faron Young, The Gatlin Brothers, Jim Ed Brown, Connie Smith, Tammy Wynette, etc.

Society is ever changing with each new generation and significant technical breakthrough. Music is part of society. It has been for centuries...probably always will be. As society changes, so does music. Music is often a reflection of society. You need to keep in mind that music reflects society at that time the music is written.

There will always be classics that transcend time and generations. Their message and presentation is universal and timeless. If we use nothing but the classics as a template for judging music, we are going to be forever disappointed. They are classics becaudse they stand out far above the rest of the music. There are but half a dozen or so classics from each generation. So, why should we expect more than that from this, or any other, generation?

I slightly prefer the country music of the 60s and early 70s to today's country. But, by no means, does that suggest I do not like today's country music. I like much of it. But, I do not expect it to sound like Merle Haggard, Connie Smith or Tammy Wynette cuts.

Those of you who have relatively young children or, like me, grandchildren, will someday hear those kids or grandkids say "I hate this new country music they're playing on the radio. It's pure garbage! Sure wish we could hear some of that good old Traditional Country, like Faith Hill, Big and Rich and Rascal Flats did back in the days when Country was still Country!". It's gonna happen! Today's Contemporary Country Music is going to be the next generation's Traditional Country.

You might remember when the Country Music purists nearly had emotional herart attacks the first time they allowed drums on stage at the Grand Old Opery. That was BIG news for quite some time in the Country Music community. They said any song with drums in it isn't country. Well, the folks we now perceive as icons of Traditional Country Music had drums in their bands...folks like Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Eddie Arnold (heck, he even had full orchstras with comolicated chord patterns in much of his music), Tammy Wynette, etc.

I'm with Kevin. Today's Country music is no better or worse than the country music of years past. It's just different and many of you do not like change. Personally, I welcome the changes and many of the new sounds. I like seeing Country Music evolve with the rest of society.

Big Jim, one of my best freinds here at JPF, referred to the Miley Cyrus' song. I haven't heard it, so I cannot comment on it. But, even though I am an advocate of contemporary/modern Country Music, I would agree with Jim that few are eternally memorable. But, I could say that about almost any genre of music from any generation. Those of you who listened to Rock music in the 60s and 70s will say "Hety, here's a BUNCH of memorable songs for ya!!". Well, I could do the same for Country back in that same era. But you didn't listen to Country, so if I named them it wouldn't impress you in the least. Remember, that goes both ways! Personally, I liked a lot of the Rock music from the 60s. One of my favorite all-time songs is "These Eyes" by the Guess Who in 1962. But, I have always liked music form multiple genres. Check my Soundclick site...there are at least 8 - 10 genres represented there. I have an open mind to music and try not to prejudge anything until I've heard it. From the dozens of genres of music out there, there is but one for which I can find nothing good to say. But, those who enjoy it...good for them.

What I have never understood is why someone else feels the need to tell me, or another person, that the music we enjoy sucks. Rather than trashing it, what's wrong with simply saying, "Well, it's not my cup of tea. But hey, if you like it, good for you!"? Why does there always have to be that caveat of "Good for you...but I still say it sucks!"? I may not like your listening pleasure; but I'm not going to demean it because I don't care for it. I'm just glad you found something you enjoy listening to. It shouldn't affect me one way or the other. No one forces anyone to buy music they do not like. If you don't like what's on the radio, you have a tuner. You can change the station. If you don't like ANYTHING on the radio, you porobably have a CD player or an MP3 player. And, you don't have to listen to commercials between songs!

So, why not listen to what you enjoy and let me and Kevin, or whomever, enjoy our music without trashing it?

Alan