Comments on: Sincerity

By: Craig

Craig — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:36:36 +0000

I pretty much echo everything that Ty said. Carrie and Brad are a couple of the best representations of Country music out there, and their authenticity and sincerity that they’ve created to make an impact on the genre is truly remarkable.

By: BLL

BLL — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 04:27:06 +0000

I would not disagree with a word written. Well said Kevin. And though people jump on Garth about the Opry attendence, when I listen to him with the headphones on I feel like I’m sitting next to him while he sings, believing every word. I felt that way the first time I heard John Denver, even though he was a folkie (and I did sit next to him on my couch whilst he sang). I feel that way when I listen to Chris LeDoux,even though he’s not a perfect singer, and when I listen to Trisha Yearwood who is about as perfect as one can get.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:40:06 +0000

I think sincerity and authenticity can go hand-in-hand sometimes too. For me, both these traits are missing in droves from many of the country music acts out there now. It’s perpetuated by the increasing list of “I’m from the country, and here’s a list of reasons why” songs. A singer who feels what they are singing rather than just singing something is always welcome and a listener can tell the difference.

With Jamey Johnson- I think he has both. Something about his songs make me believe that singing is not just a job for him. It’s salvation and what he feels is a logical point his life has led him to. A song like, “My Way to You,” would feel wrong in many singers hands. His emotion conveys through the radio.

By: K

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:18:47 +0000

I tend to gravitate towards scincerity over authenticity, but it depends on the artist and performance of the song for it to work.
I don’t consider Jason Aldean to be authentic nor sciencere 99% of the time, but I do believe he conveys both in his performance of “The Truth.”
It works in reverse as well; I believe Carrie Underwood is scincere/athentic in 99% of her performances, but I didn’t feel the same about “Last Name”, because she didn’t feel invested in the performance, even though she had co-writing credit.

I think a scincere performace can improve upon a weaker lyric, but authenticity cannot. Again, Carrie Underwood’s “Mama’s Song” is a good example.
Alan Jackson is a great example for the flipside argument. A lot of his fans might argue that he seems more authentic because he sings about true life with small- sometimes hokey- details. However, another listener might argue what an artist lives and sings about are two seperate issues, and are not intertwined.

I tend to think of authenticity as a personality trait (Alan Jackson, Loretta, Dolly, Miranda, Carrie) all convey that in their real lives. And sciencerity is a trait used in performance by an artist, but isn’t connected to authenticity in the same way it would be applied in real life.

By: Travis McClain

Travis McClain — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:34:03 +0000

@Leeann – Vince Gill is so disarmingly charming that if he is insincere, I’m too distracted by his charisma to notice. Nobody has hosted a country awards broadcast like him. By the second hour, it was usually harder for him to stay focused and that’s when the unintentional comedy factor could go real high, real quick. Good times.

By: Ty

Ty — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:05:52 +0000

I agree with you about Carrie Underwood. the girl is so honest and sincere that you feel she is the girl next door. I can’t think of anyone that promotes the Opry more than Carrie. She has an Opry scene in every one of her concerts and in every interview she stresses how much she loves Country music. Brad is next. T think they represent Country music better than anyone out there.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:15:33 +0000

Nobody says ‘country isn’t quite what it used to be’ like Kevin Coyne. Fascinating read. I found myself agreeing more than not, especially on the Parton and Paisley parts.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:48:56 +0000

Great article. Sincerity is definitely more important, especially since I don’t care at all if a song’s authentic country music. I’m just always looking for music that appeals to me and it happens that most of that has been country. My wife and have been Anne Murray fans for forty years. Counting vinyl and cds, we may have more of her albums than any other artist.

Kevin said “You don’t see Anne Murray pop up on too many lists when discussing the greatest country artists of all time, or even the greatest pop-country singers of all time”. I made lists of my 40 all-time favorite female and male country artists about 2 1/2 years ago. Anne Murray was #7, even though she rarely, if ever, wrote any of the material she performed. If I had to update the list, Anne would if anything move up. The only major change would be the addition of fellow Canadian Lisa Brokop to my top 10. I was not familiar with her music when I made the list. For me, she exudes sincerity – plus she can sing.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:20:14 +0000

Yes, as much as I love Garth, it’s difficult to defend his attendance record.

Vince gill is just as vocally supportive and active the Opry. Is he insincere too? Please say no.:)

By: Travis McClain

Travis McClain — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:03:55 +0000

Oh, Paisley has definitely walked the walk; no question about that. The attention he’s brought to the Opry has surely been a positive thing for the Opry and country music in general so I have no objection to it. There’s just something about the way he’s talked the talk that makes me want to know if he’s secretly buying the Ryman so he can later knock it down and replace it with a strip mall. Like I said; probably just cynicism on my part.