Country vs. Rap: The Showdown
Last night whilst playing cards the fellas and I some how got on the topic of music; specifically country and rap music. In the brief debate that followed we tried to decide which one was better/worse (even though they're both terrible).
Country
Lyrical content: Most country songs seem to be about only a few thing: pickup trucks, heartbreak, patriotism/conservatism, and drinking. Basically, anything having to do with being from the mid-west or anything redneck-ish. Being from the east coast, none of this really interests or pertains to me, making me not give a fuck what these people are singing about.
Musical content: They do play their own instruments, drums, guitars, usually a banjo and/or harmonica. All of these are good instruments to have in a band but country musicians still manage to fuck up a good thing and grossly mis-use these tools.
Overall: They sing songs about shit I don't care about and manage to make bad music with good instruments. In spite of all this, country is the most popular music in the US, which only says that the large majority of Americans are tasteless morons.
Rap
Lyrical content: Most rap lyrics revolve around drugs, drinking, fucking and wildin out with some occasional spousal abuse thrown in for good measure. They also like to curse a lot. Not that I'm against swearing but it works best in small doses to emphasize a particular point. Dropping F-bombs in a song 15 times doesn't really do anything constructive.
Musical content: No instruments here. Instead rappers rely on "beats" created by computers and other such witch-craft. Occasionally they come up with something catchy, most times it results in a big pile of S with shitty lyrics over the top of it.
Overall: The not playing instruments thing really takes points away. However there is the occasional good song that sneaks out. But again, I cant really relate to any of it.
Consensus
Rap music did have a golden era from roughly 1999-mid 2001 which saw several prominent artists release many a hit. Country on the other hand, has never had such a period in my life-time. They do get the bonus point for actually playing instruments. I guess I'll just call it a draw between the two and then say that if you like either of them you're still a loser.
