My One Week Challenge of Listening to Music and Finding a New Ringtone
Darius Rucker
How My Wife Turned Me Into a Big Country Fan By Listening to Music
Okay, I admit I am talk radio junkie. I listen to talk radio from the time I wake up in the morning to the minute I arrive at work. Then, I listen to talk radio during my lunch hour and on the drive home. Well, one night I told my wife that I need a new ringtone for my phone. I could not up with one right away. She had an interesting suggestion. Her suggestion was that turn off the talk radio and listen to current music. I did this for one whole week listening to Top 40 and country. I found myself going toward the country music.
Before this challenge, I am what they call eclectic when it comes to my music tastes. I have everything from Sinatra to 50Cent, with many great 70's and 80's bands in the mix. I would say that I did not hate country but that it was not my first option. Lucky, for someone like me living in Central Illinois, we have without a doubt one of the best country music stations in the nation with 104.5 WFMB FM in Springfield. The station is owned by the Neuhoff Media group, which owns radio stations in Springfield, Decatur, and Danville, Illinois. They own a couple of television stations out in Idaho too. The format at 104.5 FM, is "continuous country and all-time favorites". One minute you might be listening to Tim McGraw and next minute some old music from Kenny Rogers. Yes, the station has that broad of a playlist. The station is very proud of their commitment to the community by broadcasting a radiothon for St. Jude Children's Hospital in the month of February. I personally know the station's general manager and he works tirelessly to keep them on top. The station features a top rated morning show and some pretty good disc jockeys.
So you ask, why country music?
Well, when I was looking for some good music to listen to, country was it. Country is easy to listen to and their are plenty of talented artists. One song I heard plenty of on the radio, was "This" from Darius Rucker. Darius Rucker first started as the lead singer of the band Hootie and the Blowfish. The band recorded several hits like "Hold My Hand", "Only Wanna Be With You", and "Let Her Cry". In 2008, Darius pursued a solo career as a country artist. He released an album "Learn to Live" in 2008. In 2010, he released his second country album, "Charleston, SC 1966". This album features, "This" and "Come Back Song". "This" is a very good song and is topping the charts. It reached #1 on the country charts. One other fact, I did not realize is that Darius Rucker shares the same birthday as me, May 13th. Pretty interesting, huh.
So, "This" became my ringtone. Another band I really like hit the country scene a couple of years ago is the Zac Brown Band. They have a great sound and some fun songs like "Chicken Fried", "Toes", and their current hit, "Colder Weather". I admit, they have become one of my favorite bands. And if you are a "Parrothead" like me, the band plays the song, "Knee Deep" with Jimmy Buffett. It is a pretty catchy song. Yes, I downloaded a second ringtone to my phone too, "Colder Weather". I really like the song. I can see why it is such a big hit.
Today's country music is more mainstream. You see plenty of artists that cross over from the country charts over to the Top 40 charts. For the week of May 22, 2011, 5 country artists are in the Billboard Top 40. Those artists include Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Rascal Flatts. Country music is the fastest growing genre in the music industry. More artists are becoming country. Look at Kid Rock. Kid Rock is a pretty well-known rock and roll artist but now is doing very well on the country charts. Brett Michaels and Jon Bon Jovi have released country albums. Country music is not like it used to be. Country music fans are the most supportive group of fans there are in music. As write this hub, look at who one of the finalists is on the Celebrity Apprentice, country singer John Rich. Trace Adkins was a finalist in the first season of Celebrity Apprentice. His career has had a rebirth. John Rich, win or lose, should have a career rebirth too. I am not ashamed to admit I like country music. It is a music for the common man or woman that tells a story of our lives.