Country Music Losing Its Integrity
I can remember a time when country singers took a little more pride in themselves.
If they sang about getting drunk, gambling away the rent money, cheating on their spouses, starting a brawl, getting tossed in jail, etc., you could be reasonably sure they spoke from experience—that they had, in fact, achieved those goals.
Last year Carrie Underwood released a song, “Before He Cheats,” that fi#t nicely into this tradition:
“... And he don’t know ...
“That I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive,
“Carved my name into his leather seats ...
“I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights,
“Slashed a hole in all four tires.”
Wow! (And nice touch with the Louisville slugger.) Delivered with real venom, the song seemed to confirm Miss Underwood’s reputation as a country singer in good standing.
Then I saw some extremely disturbing news about Underwood making a disclaimer.
I was shocked to read the following on her website on the Internet: “I would like to say, however, that I do not condone the destruction of anyone’s property, and I have never, at any time, keyed anyone’s car.”
This was all made up?
Recently I heard another Underwood song, “Last Name.” Like the earlier song, it told quite a tale, this one about how Miss Underwood had met a guy at a bar and one thing led to another, and she woke up the next morning in Vegas with a wedding ring.
The title, “Last Name,” referred to the fact she didn't even know his last name. But I don’t believe it, and here's why.
According to the song, they leave the bar around 3 a.m.: “His Pinto, sitting there, in the parking lot, well, it should have been a warning.” Yeah, right. There’s no way Miss Carrie Underwood went off with a guy driving a Pinto.
It never happened, did it, Miss Underwood? For the sake of the integrity of country music, it’s time for you to come clean.
And stay away from my car.
(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.
