What are you listening to?

The world that the children made
Happy life, with the machines
Scattered around the room
Look what they made, they made it for me
Happy technology

Outside, the lions run
Feeding on remains
We'll never leave, look at us now
So in love with the way we are

Here
The world that the children made

Every night, they rock us to sleep
Digital family
Is it real, or is it a dream?
Can you believe in machines?

Outside, the beating sun
Can you hear the screams?
We'll never leave, look at us now
So in love with the way we are

This is blowing up on country radio where I live lately, and here's the thing -- it's really not very country at all. Is it the future of country music? I don't know, but it's kind of exciting:

But this is a bit more my style:

This one's nice too:

The hillbilly apocalypse is coming! This song inspired me to name a character "Ruthie Lingo" in a short story I wrote long ago:



(These songs don't sound so great on cheap computer speakers, btw)

The Miranda Hart one is good

The Texas Rhythm

Notice how all of these songs, despite being in different musical genres, all share a particular rhythmic trait -- they all have straight-up standard rhythms but include an odd off-beat that throws the rhythm off-kilter. I've only heard this from Texas artists.

Country:



Blues:



And even alternative rock (The Toadies are from Dallas):



Uniquely Texan? You be the judge.

Nah. I ain't listening. No one listens to mine

eddie wrote:Nah. I ain't listening. No one listens to mine

Hey, I listen unless I've already heard the song! Which basically means, I listen to Veya's songs

Hahahahaha yeah me too with Veya

Alright. I'm drinking my tea, it's a nice morning so I'll give them a go.
Bet they go better with whisky through

eddie wrote:Hahahahaha yeah me too with Veya

Alright. I'm drinking my tea, it's a nice morning so I'll give them a go.
Bet they go better with whisky through

Shitcheah they do, or Shiner Bock

You watch, there's always this little kick, tap, whatever that seems to push you back to the standard beat. It's hard to describe in words, it's really more of a feel.

Liked the first one, second one was typical blue's which I like and the third one was a bit pants.

Actually the first one reminded me slightly of 'if Osisis did it Texan Style'

Can't hear the off-kilter thing you mean though? I know what you mean by off-kilter in the first one - there's a slight off-beat but I find that's typical of country music

Couldn't listen to mush of the third one, it's too jangly

eddie wrote:Liked the first one, second one was typical blue's which I like and the third one was a bit pants.

Actually the first one reminded me slightly of 'if Osisis did it Texan Style'

Can't hear the off-kilter thing you mean though? I know what you mean by off-kilter in the first one - there's a slight off-beat but I find that's typical of country music  

Couldn't listen to mush of the third one, it's too jangly

It's that 6:4 time signature -- weird time signatures were all the rage in the North Texas alt rock scene back in the '90s. It still has that weird little bass-drum thump that somewhat precedes the rhythm of the guitar riff, though. And The Toadies are very much an acquired taste, so no offense taken.

Just look for competing rhythms that seem to be defying the main beat you'd normally tap your toe to. Here's another example:

Hey, and it's possible that thanks to yours truly, you think of Texas music as being true country music. Suck it, Tennessee, and take that, Lurker!

Well obviously the video is "not available" and the live version was bloody hard to hear.

Why do You make me work so hard?!

eddie wrote:Well obviously the video is "not available" and the live version was bloody hard to hear.

Why do You make me work so hard?!

It truly saddens me that you didn't get to hear "No Simple Machine" properly, that's something that should be considered a basic human right ... I blame Brexit.

Ben Reilly wrote:

eddie wrote:Well obviously the video is "not available" and the live version was bloody hard to hear.

Why do You make me work so hard?!

It truly saddens me that you didn't get to hear "No Simple Machine" properly, that's something that should be considered a basic human right ... I blame Brexit.

I blame you a little bit. You and your stupid links.
(Though you have brainwashed me into liking some country music. I have to give you kudos for that. Their stories are really cool.)

OK, then this might be a big leap, but you may be ready for it. I don't know. I'm tired and I'm going to bed after this, but ... we'll see.

Really cool story on this one:



(Now I'm really going to bed)

Hahahaha go to bed
Already heard Breaking me out - it's a really good song

No, not going to bed yet because I just remembered I have to tell a cool story about Cory Morrow (the artist above).

A magazine I was freelancing for years ago held an essay contest where people could persuade the judges why they should get the chance to hang out with their favorite country artist. The winner was an auto mechanic from Arlington, Texas and he picked Cory Morrow.

I got the assignment to hang out with the two of them for a while and write a story. The mechanic was utterly enthralled. Morrow took him onstage for soundcheck and let him sing a song, this was at Cowboys Dancehall in Arlington.

Then Morrow told me he'd like to hang out one-on-one with the contest winner for a while in his tour bus; we heard them singing and playing together. After a while, the contest winner came out with a beautiful guitar that Morrow had autographed and given him.

That was definitely not an official prize

Wow. What a great guy to treat a fan like that.

Why didn't you get your guitar out and say "I can sing like sting you know....bitch"

eddie wrote:Wow. What a great guy to treat a fan like that.

Why didn't you get your guitar out and say "I can sing like sting you know....bitch"

Well ... don't think Sting would have impressed them too much. But I can sing like Willie Nelson if I pretend I have a stuffy nose.

Ben Reilly wrote:

eddie wrote:Wow. What a great guy to treat a fan like that.

Why didn't you get your guitar out and say "I can sing like sting you know....bitch"

Well ... don't think Sting would have impressed them too much. But I can sing like Willie Nelson if I pretend I have a stuffy nose.

You are just truly talented. Willie Nelson watch out.

Let me hear your stuff one day? Pleeeeeasssee? When you're really, really drunk....?

It's stretching the op a bit, but it is about music. What happened to John Denver? I know he died in a plane crash but over here it was hardly mentioned.

It's stretching the op a bit,    but it is about music.    What happened to John Denver?     I know he died in a plane crash but over here it was hardly mentioned. I ask because i'm listening to "Country Roads"

John Denver lost control of his own private plane while trying to land it, believe this was back in the late 90s.

Nicko, can you watch videos on whatever it is you're posting from?

Eddie, can't watch video's or see photo's.

Pathetic a'int it?

nicko wrote:Eddie, can't watch video's or see photo's.

Pathetic a'int it?

What are you using? PC?

Old lap top,can't afford new one.

https://youtu.be/0TNc-mRwyP4

The Cure - Other voices

nicko wrote:Old lap top,can't afford new one.

I'm sure you can still get YouTube.
Post a question in technology section Nicko - see if Veya or Vic or Ben can help

Eddie, to tell the truth i can't be bothered, can't be bothered to do anything to be honest.

eddie wrote:

nicko wrote:Old lap top,can't afford new one.

I'm sure you can still get YouTube.
Post a question in technology section Nicko - see if Veya or Vic or Ben can help

Maybe not, youtube has changed a lot recently.

Well that was helpful Reilly

Ach, too much technical talk to get into.

Mexican influence on Texas country music:

They're a bit soulless.
Gimme summut deep baby

Little more soul, then?

Dusty - you canny whack iy



Nighty night

Not bad Benjamin, and Irn I don't like her songs but she did have a very silky voice.

Who likes this?

Give it a go

Here's one for edds -- I think she likes the country soul sound, and I'm pretty sure she'll enjoy the lyrics too:

eddie wrote:

Give it a go

Used to listen to this kind of music a lot. Some favorites:







And for a more drum & bass sound: