Gay singers provide test for country music

I don't know that this is a big deal. Neither of these singers is what you'd call a household name.

In fact, I'm surprised Ty Herndon even felt the need to announce it. The fact that he's gay has been common knowledge here in the Metroplex for many, many years. He was busted for sucking dick in a local park about 20 years ago, which destroyed what had been a promising mainstream country career.

And since then, he has played at gay benefits, etc., in the area.

One of the names mentioned as openly gay -- Brandy Clark -- has had a huge year. Besides the success of "Follow Your Arrow," she also did a hit duet with Wade Bowen and recorded what I think is one of the best songs of the year -- "Stripes." But then, "Stripes" is kinda gay: "No crime of passion's worth a crime of fashion ..."

http://news.yahoo.com/gay-singers-test-country-mu … 36747.html

By BearinFW | 11/22/2014 08:50 PM | 7 comments

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I agree furball. Hoyt was a damned hot man back in the day. It's a shame what has happened to Linda Ronstadt, who has lost that beautiful voice because of Parkinson's.

BearinFW 11/26/2014 03:34 PM

Thanks Bear--love the phrasing of her songs--it must of taken Musgraves a bit to get it right. It's a good song.

When I was a kid, we had a black and white TV that, if we were lucky, tuned in two channels--one of the shows we watched was Hee Haw. Hoyt Axton was on that show from time-to-time. He and Roy Clark were burly guys and they really got my juices going! :) Your bringing his name up brought back a lot of memories; I love the music he wrote. I've been listening to him on Spotify this morning. His music still sounds great! Here's a duet he did with Linda Ronstadt--she looks like a teenager at the time of the recording.

furball 11/26/2014 09:24 AM

BTW, and by new country music, I don't mean the commercial crap being pumped out by Nashville. I'm more talking about alt country, Texas country and Americana. A very different genre than commercial country.

BearinFW 11/26/2014 12:22 AM

I guess it's because I'm a word person, but I love cleverly written songs, and Brandy Clark is very good at it. Here's a link to the big song she wrote for Kacey Musgraves, who is a major up and coming country talent. Clark was nominated for the top country songwriting award for this. And actually, the fact that a song like this was a hit gives one hope for even the next generation of rednecks :)

And rjzip, Hoyt Axton, who was a brilliant songwriter and guitarist, wrote "Boney Fingers."

I have gravitated toward new country music just because it's a better fit for me. It's more like the rock 'n' roll I grew up with, and lyrics matter. Modern pop music is mainly just about the beat, sex, and dancing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ8xqyoZXCc

BearinFW 11/26/2014 12:09 AM

I agree with Furball; that first vid where she sings a "crime of passion" ain't worth a "crime of fashion" is hilarious! I find country lyrics to be mostly funny. Unfortunately, I may never forget a country singer from a few decades ago that used the following words with a serious face, "Work your fingers to the bone and what'll you get?? . . . Boney Fingers!!" ROTFLMAO

rjzip 11/25/2014 07:43 PM

....the only thing saving your life is I don't look good in orange and I hate stripes... too funny, Bear. I've never heard of any of these people, but I enjoyed this song, and the woman's last laugh. :)

furball 11/24/2014 09:13 AM

Let them have theire 15 minutes of fame....

Bearpaw4 11/23/2014 05:33 PM