Sunday, May 10, 2009

DIERKS BENTLEY UNDER FIRE

I would be remiss if I always blogged the good without the bad, so here's a concerning post from Jacqueline Lewandowski, Buffalo Country Music Examiner,that was posted on examiner.com. Please let us know your thoughts on the topic after you read the entire article.


"Controversy is swirling around Nashville this week after Dierks Bentley’s interview with the American Songwriter Magazine was released.

The interview, released on Monday May 4th, was intended to showcase Bentley’s songwriting abilities, but instead has producers and country music enthusiasts in Nashville firing back.

Bentley, who is a native of Phoenix, AZ admitted to American Songwriter Magazine that he “can’t sing stuff that is overly country.” Bentley goes on to say “I wasn’t raised on a farm and I’m not really comfortable singing stuff that’s not who I am. But I’ve traveled and I’ve been all over this country, and I’ve found that country music isn’t about wearing a cowboy hat and growing up on a farm.”

Record executives and fellow songwriters took offense to Bentley’s comments in the article and have fired back with their own responses. The general consensus coming out of Nashville is that Bentley was describing a stereotypical view of country music, which offends the fans of country music.

However, while Nashville is taking offense, Bentley’s fans are defending the artist. Many find nothing stereotypical and offensive in the artists’ comments and in fact are enthusiastic that he admitted what fans across this country already know, you don’t have to live in the south to be a fan of country music.
Bentley’s final comments in the interview claim that country music is “a lifestyle, a culture, and a mindset." Which could not be more on point."


I'm going to reserve my thoughts to give you all a chance to share yours.

~Ronna

27 comments:

  1. Well, I have to respect the author's opinion. I do like what Dierks says though:"I'm really not comfortable singing stuff that's not who I am". No false pretenses here! And maybe that's why I love his music so much. Country music has changed so much in the last 15 years. To me there are a very small handfull of "new" artist that I really consider country. And these "other" artist I feel Nashville welcomes them for profit reasons only. They're not "real" country music!
    And I could not picture Dierks with a cowboy hat on his head because.....he's not a cowboy!!
    Great topic Ronna. I could go on and on about this subject but I'll refrain. LOL

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  2. I found nothing offensive about this article. Dierks was just being honest and open. Country music has evolved and has grown in number of listeners, commercial success, and is nowadays a mainstream genre. "I was country when country wasn't cool" With artists like Dierks out there, country isn't just for hicks.
    If you listen to Dierks music closely, the use of the steel guitar and banjo, listen to the artists he listens to, especially his love for bluegrass, you'll find he really is country. And look what he has done for country music.
    There has been an explosion of new artists lately and many of them aren't really cowboy hat country.
    Like David, I could go on. I'd like to share my opinion with those who took offense to his remarks. Do you have any ideas where we can "defend" Dierks comments?

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  3. I don't understand why record executives would take offense to anything Dierks said. He was just being honest about who he is. Most of the music coming out of Nashville these days isn't overly country anyway, probably signed by these same record executives. I think anyone who listens to Dierks' music knows that the guy understands what country music is all about. He came to Nashville at a young age and studied it for a long time before he had success. His success comes from writing great country songs, and he did this without winning any contests on TV and having a recording contract handed to him. He worked for it and I love the guy and his music!

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  4. I think Dierks' comments were definitely taken out of context. Had this article been printed in a magazine exclusively about country songwriters, I guess I could see how people would be a little upset. But outside the country music community, people do associate that stereotype of cowboy hats and farm kids with it...there's no getting away from that. I think in order to make the point Dierks was trying to make, that country music is a universal genre, he had to point out the stereotype that outsiders think of.

    I'm a country music fan and I took no offense to his statement. I'd be shocked to find any fan that would. I'm more offended by the pop music that Nashville churns out every week and has the nerve to slap the country label on it.

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  5. I love country music and Dierks IS country. Country isn't just all about cowboy hats, and living on a farm, there's more to it. Like someone else mentioned I think he was trying to get past the stereotype of what non-country fans all think it is. Dierks is a great guy and meant no harm by it. He sings what his life is about and I'm glad he is honest.
    I feel Nashville in these last few years has pumped out artists claiming to be 'country' because they're wearing a cowboy hat and sing a song about their hometown or living in the country but the sound to me doesn't seem country. Dierks is staying true to who he is and we love him for that. I don't reallly even understand how people are offended by his comments.

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  6. Like you all I could go on but I won't but again I am NOT offended in any way by his comments, and it's not just because I'm his fan.

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  7. I'll have to say I'm surprised that any offense was taken about this. I think Dierks was just saying that he writes about what he knows, and he can't relate to growing up on a farm. And I've read many a Dierks review where the writer has to mention that Dierks wasn't wearing a hat, like saying "How can he be country without a hat?" So, there definitely is that mindset out there. Dierks was just addressing that. It was a great article.

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  8. I didn't see anything wrong with what he said. I also can't see how anyone would be offended by that article.

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  9. Before I say anything let me say I am a huge Dierks fan but I was offended. Something about it when I read it rubbed me the wrong way. I understand Dierks doesn't sing what he isn't and I like that about him. I like that he sings about who he is. But I felt like by him saying “I wasn’t raised on a farm and I’m not really comfortable singing stuff that’s not who I am. But I’ve traveled and I’ve been all over this country, and I’ve found that country music isn’t about wearing a cowboy hat and growing up on a farm.” that there is something wrong with the people that sing about growing up on a farm. Maybe I took it wrong and you all can think that, but it's my opion. I still love Dierks and I'm not mad at him but it did bother me.

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  10. I found nothing offensive about the article. He didn't say one bad thing about anyone who grew up on a farm or who wears a cowboy hat. It would be strange if country music was narrowed down to those who those who grew up on a farm or wore cowboy hats. Their following wouldn't be very large either if those were the requirements. Does anyone REALLY think country music is about wearing a cowboy hat or growing up on a farm?!

    It's music, not a category!

    That reminds me of the same arguement that goes with punk rock music. You can't just dress like you belong or sing a song about something that is definitely not you and it work. People see right through it! And then you will really be cut down for it!

    IT IS A LIFESTYLE, A CULTURE, & A MINDSET!

    If I grew up on a farm... I just can't see how that could have offended me!? Open your mind a little!

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  11. It was definitely taken out of context! No reason to be offended by what he said. He wasn't putting anyone down.

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  12. Think outside of that cowboy hat! LOL

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  13. I don't really understand what the big deal is. I read the article & Dierks was just being himself....honest! There are so many stereotypes about country music out there. I get asked by people all the time if I live on a farm just because I enjoy country music!

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  14. Well, that's why I guess I should have keep my mouth shut. It's okay for people to have an opion but only if it's what you all want to hear. I'm so sick and tired of you people that jump all over someone because their opion is not what you want it to be. That was MY opion. If they didn't want everyones opion no matter what it was then they shouldn't have asked for thoughs on this. So, stop jumping all over me for what I feel! Get over it.

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  15. I can't even be bothered to think about this, let alone comment about it (*sigh*). It's sooooooo last week!!! :D

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  16. I have re-read it at least three or four times and have really thought hard and I still can't find anything offensive about his quote. I don't know if I'm understanding it wrong or what. :S

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  17. I appreciate all comments. I personally did not find offense with what he said, but I appreciate the one anonymous comment that you took it to mean "there is something wrong with the people that sing about growing up on a farm." I thank you for giving your opinion. I didn't think of that. I appreciate seeing it from both sides of the issue. Thanks for commenting.

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  18. I didn't find his comments offensive at all. We all know Dierks and he would never say anything to intentionally offend someone. He writes songs from the heart so they come from what he knows and who he is! That's why I feel so connected to him. He's not acting and he's not just an entertainer, he's an artist! You don't have to be raised on a farm or wear a cowboy hat to write country music or be a fan for that matter. I'm a city girl through and through and I love it!

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  19. To the Anonymous who was offended by other opinions... Perhaps you were offended by my two posts after yours. They were not directed at you. They were directed at the people who this article was about. And it is MY opinion, just like you have yours. It's okay... really... :) Your opinion is welcome, especially since you love Dierks too (if you didn't that might be another story! j/k)!

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  20. (Same anonymous person as above lol) I just gave my previous post another read & that last comment... well I can see why you thought it was directed at you, I'm sorry.

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  21. I don't think it was offensive, and I really don't think Dierks meant anything harmful by it. To me, Dierks is a very open and open-minded guy -- you have to be to go out and play country to the Lollapalooza crowd! He just wants his music to be heard, and it makes perfect sense that he wouldn't feel comfortable singing songs that aren't "him." Taylor Swift is the same way -- she doesn't feel comfortable writing for other people because her songs are so personal to her. It's really no different.

    One of the things I love about country music is how welcoming the fans typically are and how diverse the music really is. I think it's great that George Strait (who is "country" to the core) can be played side-by-side with Dierks (and tour with him!) even though they really have different country sounds.

    And I really don't think it's a bad thing that country's demographic is changing. Country music has such a negative stigma about it ... anything that can help break those stereotypes is a good thing.

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  22. So what dierks is not from the country...it is impossible for EVERYONE to be from the country that loves country music. That is like saying you HAVE TO love country if your from the south. I know plenty of people in the south that dislike country music. I am from south Georgia and I grew up listening to and HATING country music since my dad loved it! Now as an adult I love country music and Dierks is my favorite! I'm so sick of people getting there panties in twist and being offended at everything in the United States. People should stop trying to be so politically correct to please the overly sensitive. How annoying those little cry babies are. We normal people know exactly what dierks meant. Dang!

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  23. Dierks has never represented himself to be anyone but who he is "a dude from Arizona"...His country music reflects who he is, he did not disparge anyone else he just pointed out his country music is not a farm and a hat. Love ya Dierks!

    No Rookie

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  24. To the person that said sorry to me. Thank you and it's okay. I did take that as directed at me, but now I see who you directed it to. Just another way things can be taken in different ways. That's why we all have our own opions. I'm sorry if I made any one mad for the way I feel but that's what I felt when I read it. But, like I said I still love Dierks and I'm not mad at him in any way.

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  25. I think what Dierks was trying to say during in his article was completely taken out of context by this country music examiner. Those of us that are his fans know there is not an offensive bone in his body, the statement was just misinterpreted in print. Dierks was simply stating that country comes from your roots & singing about growing up on a farm wasn't his life experience to share in song.... but he has seen so much and been through so much in his young life to know there are all kinds of country music fans out there from all walks of life that can relate to him & his music.

    We are all the same and if you can have an appreciation for his from the heart songwriting it doesn't matter which path you've walked down in the road of life. Dierks has done so much to bring country music into the eyes & ears of all sorts of fans....take Lollapalooza for example. I am sure there were some in attendance that were always categorizing or degrading country music & had a different view of this modern day country once watching Dierks pour his talent & soul onstage.

    It's his music that bridges the gap...he sings and writes about his life perspective and what he feels suits him best. He may not be a pure cowboy at heart, but he never said there was anything wrong with that lifestlye. If Dierks had never mucked a stall or milked a cow...well then leave it up to someone that has to tell that story. I own a farm and I didn't get offended by his statement he was just being true to how he grew up. It would almost be offensive if he did start singing about songs that he hadn't really experienced.

    There all all types of "Country" people out there and typical cowboy stereotype will never really go away....but it's nice to know that country has come so far and it truly all boils down to songwriting and talent.

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  26. I deliberately didn't read what anyone else said...so here's just my opinion...I grew up in the country, not on a farm (although my Dad and ex did). I have listened to country music all my life...my parents are huge country and bluegrass fans. I now live in the suburbs of Atlanta and feel like I have a perspective from both sides. I have to agree with Dierks...that country is...a MINDSET. I drive down an interstate every day which is, in places, 8 lanes wide. I feel country. I live in a subdivision on a 1/2 acre lot. I feel country. I love that Dierks is REAL...and, he doesn't try to portray himself as something other than who he is. He is authentic and his songs make you feel what he feels. What more could we ask from an artist and songwriter?

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  27. I am a songwriter. I write mostly fiction. For example, I write drinking songs and I don’t drink. Dierks prefers to write and perform factual songs about himself. That is his prerogative. As long as he is comfortable with that and his CDs and his concert tickets sell, he will continue to do that and be very happy about it. If you want to show your support for Dierks, buy his CDs for your own collection, and buy more of them to give as gifts to your friends and family. Buy tickets to his concerts and go as often as you can. Then it really doesn’t matter what any Nashville bigwigs have to say. When the day is done, most of all they respect profit.

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