All this debate over an accent. Wow. I never woulda thunk it. I know now though.

This is an interesting topic.

I grew up in Flint, Michigan bouncing back and forth between divorced parents homes there- dad/grandparents from the South and watching Hee-Haw every night; mom/and grandparents all lifelong Michiganders. I went to predominantly black schools and had lots of black friends.

Incidentally, I speak northern (it's changed to a little western since moving to Alaska 3 years ago), sing country with a drawl, and when I get around my African American friends a little of the "ebonics" (trying to be as PC as possible) comes out. Does this mean I'm selling out? Where do I call my roots to consider as a baseline? These were just all my influences growing up and I have carried them with me and feel that my broader exposure has simply made me a more "dynamic" personality.

Have you ever let somebody hold you hostage to conversation becaususe you wanted to be "nice"?
Have you ever put your beliefs or values in your back pocket to let another have thier way?
Have you lost something you worked hard for to the pawn shop?
Did you ever break a promise to your kids?

If you can answer "no" to every single one of these questions, then please call a non-southerner who uses an accent in a country song a sell-out. Feel free. Chances are you can answer yes to one of those, and if you can, than you like the rest of us has experienced being a true "sell-out". We're talking about sing a song here. A song.

Are there some singers who don't sound good with a drawl? Sure. Maybe they should choose another song or genre. Maybe they shouldn't. Maybe people liked it anyway. Who knows.

The point is, it's a song and no consequence hinges on it except for making a buck or million. That's the singer's business.

Now, if the guy from Bahstun sings with a drawl and claims to be from N'Awlins, then you have yourself a sell-out and a liar. If he/she makes no bones about being from beantown, then maybe you just have yourself a good country singer. Excuse me - a good country MUSIC singer. I think that's where the emotions are getting lost at. It's the music that makes country music, not the singer. Anybody can be a country singer.

What about the little girl who from Newark, when asked what she wants to be when she grows up replies, "A Country music star?". Do you tell her that if she wants to do that she'd better get training on the Dobro or the fiddle because with that northern accent it's forbidden and you won't allow her to adapt a drawl, because then she's pretending to be somebody she's not if she wants to sing? What if it was your child?Good God! I think some folks ought to get out of thier cubicles a little more and read a book or get a pen pal or do something that exposes you to a little more of the planet than the block surrounding 123 Main Street, Smallville, USSR.

It's just music, it's not that big of a deal. If you disagree with sellouts, then tell the truth 1 more time per week than you usually do, because that's how your parent's raised you. Ask your kid who his homeroom teacher is. Take the extra money you'd spend on that Thursday night 12 pack and buy your wife a rose and tell her she makes you feel the same as she did when you got married 12 years ago and your sorry you've taken her for granted for the last 11.5 years. Remember the faces of your parents next time you conscience tells you you're being dishonest. Something, anything. There's bigger fish to fry.

Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world". I want to sing country and I haven't spent more than 60 days of my life south of the Mason-Dixon Line. That doesn't make me a sellout.

Cheers,

Rodney

[This message has been edited by rodhughey (edited 04-01-2004).]

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