One of the playlist I created was my “Country Feel Good” list made up of country pop hits I personally feel good about listening to - mostly songs about committed love, family and patriotism. One song I recently added was Maddie and Tae’s “Girl in the Country Song.”
The song was a breath of fresh air because it calls the "bro country" and machismo-driven "frat boys" of country music to man up and respect women in their songs.
Country music is known for its recurring themes of pickups and breakups. But the last few years, we’ve seen an almost endless stream of what my colleague from BreakPoint calls, “bro country.”
In an article in The Atlantic, Gina Dalfonzo describes how country music has become a frat boy’s fantasy set to acoustic guitar.
“You could play Country Radio Bingo,” she says, “with all the references to...beers, driving in trucks on dirt roads, and dancing on tailgates in the moonlight…women are referred to simply as random...collections of scantily clothed body parts...” And they’re typically just called “girls.”
The new young country duo Maddie and Tae are challenging bro country’s monopoly and denigrating theme.
“Bein’ the girl in a country song,” they sing, “How in the world did it go so wrong?/Like all we’re good for is looking good for/You and your friends on the weekend, nothing more.”
Kudos to Maddie and Tae! Hear and check out the video and judge for yourself.
(Adapted from The Point)
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