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Social Norms and Country Music

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When choosing a musical genre that relates with the American culture only one thing came to mind, country and American folk. Country music has revolutionized from classical folk to American commercialized. It provides an example of everyday living for the average American and the lifestyles that we live. The reason I chose to discuss how country music has been revolutionized into the American culture is because for many, especially in the midwest it is a way of life. It is something we feel connects us with our country. Country music has been around since the 17th century. This music developed from traditional music elements from various European immigrants - it has been a large reflection of the melting pot of America. It was most commonly known from the southern area of the United States. It originated in Georgia in the late 1920s and it uses multiple instruments including fiddles, guitars, banjoes and acoustic guitars. The original term of calling it “country music” came from the 1940s when people would reference this genre of music of being “hillbilly music.” Country music often reflects the lives of working class Americans, in that the music brings you on a path of the many different things we as Americans have experienced. Some songs reference the work that is done on farmland, tragic events, our wars, and heartbreak. In 2009, country music was the genre most listened to during rush hour traffic during evening commute. I think it is such a large part of American culture because we are able to relate to it. In the song Have You Forgotten by Darrek Worley, he sings about 9/11. In the song it says, “Have you forgotten how it felt that day? To see your homeland under fire and her people blown away? Have you forgotten when those towers fell? We had neighbors inside going through a living hell and you say we shouldn’t worry ‘bout bin Laden. Have you forgotten?” This song is a great example of showing how us as Americ

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