Have you always thought there was something special about 80s and 90s country music that you've never been able to put your finger on? Why does this music stand out? Well, let's don our cowboy hats, adjust our oversized belt buckles, tease that hair, and see if we can get the bottom of it, by picking apart one song at a time.
…
continue reading
A critical look at each King of the Hill episode by two fans. Join Melton McMaynerbury and Daisy Durndle as we stand in the alley behind Rainey Street and dig into each episode of this great television series, discussing the universal themes that it explores along with all the nice little touches that keep it grounded. Line starts behind Lucky.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood
31:31
31:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:31
Bonus episode! For the Fourth of July, we had to turn to Lee Greenwood's towering, uber-patriotic, 1984 single, "God Bless the U.S.A." That he's proud to be an American no one can doubt, but what richer depths might we find undergirding that sentiment upon closer examination? And what do fireworks have to do with it?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" by Reba McEntire
17:46
17:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:46
Reba McEntire helps us connect some of the dots that comprise the specific mid-90s MCA sound, as she narrates the complexities of adulthood as only she can, in her 1995 hit "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter". We relate to the loneliness mentioned in the title, but is that all that's going on here? And what do major 9th chords have to do with this song'…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Cadillac Style" by Sammy Kershaw
23:12
23:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:12
We cruise down to southwestern Louisiana to encounter Sammy Kershaw and his debut single, "Cadillac Style". We've all always known there was a lot of Jones in Kershaw, but is there something deeper to that connection than just the voice? And what possible connection could there be between Cadillac Style and one that's often considered the greatest …
…
continue reading
Little Texas continue to blend musical streams with their only #1 single, 1994's "My Love". This song is more than just the video, and this band is more than just the hair. But they aren't less than that either. Listen to find out what 80s hair metal and 70s California rock have to do with this song's specific sound. How much is Heart, and how much…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "It's a Little Too Late" by Tanya Tucker
17:38
17:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:38
In this episode, we dance across the familiar ground of 12-bar blues, as the energetic shuffle of Tanya Tucker's 1993 hit "It's a Little Too Late" convinces us to kick up a little sawdust while we re-evaluating some of our life choices. It's a fun song, but how does the melding of persona and reality make this early 90s dance number particularly me…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Straight Tequila Night" by John Anderson
31:56
31:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:56
We take a shot of an all-time classic, John Anderson's "Straight Tequila Night". Anderson's signature breathy vocals anchor a particularly textural take on neotradional honky-tonk, but why does this song have a certain uncanny sound, and what does the number 440 have to do with it?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Lost and Found" by Brooks & Dunn
25:48
25:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:48
We search through another early Brooks & Dunn hit, 1992's "Lost and Found". It's all about the flow, as this song always seems to take us exactly where we want to go, measure after perfect little measure. But we already knew Kix Brooks could write a great cut, so how exactly does this one nail the feeling of a frantic search, and what does Brooks &…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Honey, I'm Home" by Shania Twain
26:46
26:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:46
90s icon Shania Twain takes us right back to the world of 90s feminism with her half-arena-rock / half-honky-tonk hit, "Honey, I'm Home". Twain played big, and this song plays big, but where we do get irony in her particular brand of subversion, and what musical touchpoints does this song have with a couple of hits from 20 years before?…
…
continue reading
We look at how The Judds bring their acoustic-with-attitude vibe to the sultry, electric piano-infused "One Man Woman". Slow, dark, and bluesy is the order of the day on this late-career Judds single, but what does a sonic atmosphere like that have to do with the lyrics' insistence on monogamy?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap
33:33
33:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:33
We take a ride with a legend in his prime in this episode on Ronnie Milsap's 1980 classic "Smoky Mountain Rain". The connection to Elvis's "Kentucky Rain" is multifaceted and deep, but how does this song use theatrical drama to color its image of a country music cliche? And what happens when you ask Ronnie Milsap to make the thunder roll? Here a co…
…
continue reading
In this episode, we look at how Collin Raye's signature song, "Love, Me" kept it gentle sentimental. Everything contributes, from the memorable acoustic guitar intro to Raye's smooth, sweet tenor vocals. But what do stoic farmers have to do with it? Also, who remembered that this recording had an electric piano?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Better Things to Do" by Terri Clark
23:13
23:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:13
Terri Clark tells her ex where he ranks in no uncertain terms, with her debut hit, "Better Things to Do". Or does she? There's plenty of 90s attitude here, but what details in these lyrics hint that something else may be going on?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Carrying Your Love with Me" by George Strait
25:05
25:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:05
Melton finally gets to take on the King, by way of his 1997 hit "Carrying Your Love with Me". Everything works in this perfect little country song, but how does it all work together, and what is it about George Strait's simple delivery that connects so well not only with the song but also with us?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "I Feel Lucky" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
22:05
22:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:05
We continue to explore the quirky side of Mary Chapin Carpenter, and of early 90s country, with her Grammy-winning 1992 hit "I Feel Lucky". So what is it besides the Dwight Yoakam and Lyle Lovett reference that makes this song so much fun, and what does the long history of country "outlaws" have to do with it?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Christmas in Dixie" by Alabama
29:30
29:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:30
For Christmas day, we went with the perfect song about Christmas night: Alabama's 1982 classic "Christmas in Dixie". The joyful yuletide setting is plenty explicit in the song, but what subtly bittersweet threads have also been knit into this comfy Christmas sweater?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "John Deere Green" by Joe Diffie
17:52
17:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:52
We plow through one of Melton's all-time favorite's, Joe Diffie's and Dennis Linde's 1993 classic: "John Deere Green". The tongue-in-cheek Mayberry tone carries over from "Bubba Shot the Jukebox", but how exactly does this one celebrate simplicity with an assertion that never flaunts its rural contentment?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "On the Other Hand" by Randy Travis
27:08
27:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:08
They don't get much more classic than Randy Travis's major label debut single, 1985's "On the Other Hand". We could have spent the whole episode on Travis's understated vocals (we practically do!), but what other elements of the song cause us to find ourselves rooting for a man who has already gone a few steps too far?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Bubba Shot the Jukebox" by Mark Chesnutt
24:59
24:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:59
Mark Chesnutt balances funny and disturbing with the of-its-time 1992 hit "Bubba Shot the Jukebox". It's a Dennis Linde composition, so we can expect a tongue-in-cheek tone, but how does this one mix peril with absurdity to stay just on this side of too far?
…
continue reading
We finally get to a classic from Clint Black's era-defining (and we're not exaggerating here) 1989 debut album, its title track no less: "Killin' Time". But we're not just filling 24 minutes: What are the puzzle pieces that make this song cross that line from great to classic, and why do they fit together so naturally?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Down at the Twist and Shout" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
16:04
16:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:04
Mary Chapin Carpenter's ode to her favorite Bethesda haunt is one of the most infectious country songs of the early 90s. But what exactly made "Down at the Twist and Shout" strike such a strong Cajun chord, and what exactly is she saying anyway?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Party Crowd" by David Lee Murphy
17:15
17:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:15
David Lee Murphy shows us what it was like in 1995 to hang out with the "Party Crowd"... or does he? What's going on below the surface of this honky-tonk celebration, and what do "Neon Moon" and "The Thunder Rolls" have to do with it? I bet you thought this one was straightforward, didn't you? Listen to see if you agree with Melton that there's som…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Honky Tonk Man" by Dwight Yoakam
24:11
24:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:11
Dwight Yoakam's influences are readily apparent in this early neotraditionalist cover of Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk Man". Hank, Cash, Elvis, and of course Buck Owens are all in there, but what thematic material has Yoakam also imported from the mid-20th century?
…
continue reading
Tanya Tucker reminds us that there is more than one point of view to a country cliche, beating Sugarland to the punch while doing so, in her early 90s hit "Soon". We didn't just start liking cheating songs or anything, but what is it about the melody and harmony on this particular one that leaves us feeling so unsettled?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks
28:18
28:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:18
Garth Brooks finds the best kind of disillusionment at his high school homecoming in his 1990 hit "Unanswered Prayers". Nostalgia reigns in this early example of Brooks's sweet spot, but what is it about his brand of neotradionalist country music that keeps this song so gloriously local as we wistfully revisit it all these years later?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain with Bryan White
22:39
22:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:39
Shania Twain takes us back to the diva days of the late 90s with pop-country powerhouse, 1997's "From This Moment On". Of course, we're still suckers for the soaring vocals and dramatic key-changes, but is there something more that keeps this nuptial classic in our collective consciousness?
…
continue reading
Billy Dean takes us into the wild west of his childhood backyard in his signature hit, "Billy the Kid". Rodeo-esque dark, western blues permeates the chorus, but in what sense(s) does the tone shift in the choruses? And what exactly is so relatable about Dean's specific take on nostalgia in this song?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Step by Step" by Eddie Rabbitt
22:51
22:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:51
We take our first walk with Eddie Arnold's brand of early 80s R&B-inspired country pop with his 1981 hit "Step by Step". But what is it that gives this song its particular catchy groove, and how does that groove relate to the idea of taking it slow?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "You Had Me from Hello" by Kenny Chesney
29:29
29:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:29
The influence of Garth Brooks and some hallmarks of country piano take center stage in Kenny Chesney's 1999 #1 hit "You Had Me from Hello". Some of the same trends we've previously explored about country music in 1999 show up here as well, but how does Chesney's particular brand of macho mojo enrich in this seemingly straightforward love song?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "He Didn't Have to Be" by Brad Paisley
30:10
30:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:10
Brad Paisley applies his self-consciously retro schtick to the concept of grace in a modern family, in his late-1999 breakthrough hit, "He Didn't Have to Be". But what exactly is the nature of his throwback vibe? What's surprising about it, and what about his neo-traditionalist-influenced vocals works so well with this song's whimsical melody? "Whe…
…
continue reading
Alabama shows us how country music approaches Conway Twitty's favorite subject, while continuing to meld the 70s & 80s influences that formed their unique wheelhouse, on their 1982 hit "Take Me Down". But how does this song's harmonic complexity particularly fit the particular subject matter?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" by Steve Wariner
22:16
22:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:16
Melton tackles Steve Wariner's 1998 ACM & CMA Song of the Year, "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," a cut remarkable for its similarity to recent selection, "Two Teardrops". But what holes might there be in this song so acclaimed, and what points of departure from its said close cousin?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks & Dunn
19:24
19:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:24
Brooks & Dunn get us up from our tables and onto the dance floor with their quintessential neotraditional honky-tonker, "Boot Scootin' Boogie". But what is it about this cut that not only made us start dancing in 1992 but has also kept us dancing all these decades later?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "A Little More Love" by Vince Gill
21:55
21:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:55
Vince Gill teaches us how to milk a great hook for all it's worth in his 1997 hit "A Little More Love". But what specific take does this hook have on the country trope of almost breaking up? And what on earth is Melton talking about with this idea of "bluegrass soul"?
…
continue reading
Ronnie Milsap does what he does on 1982's "He Got You". You knew it was going to be 50s/60s R&B-infused 80s country, but what other genre shows up, perhaps unexpectedly, with all four on the floor?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys
30:53
30:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:53
The Oak Ridge Boys remind country music what it sounds like to be lighthearted and fun with their monster 1981 hit "Elvira". Everybody remembers Richard Sterbin's rafter-rattling bass solo, but what context does it take for something that unique to fit perfectly into? In other words, why are our hearts on fire for this classic country song?…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner
23:01
23:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:01
Steve Wariner puts on a clinic in tasteful, well-crafted sentimentally in one of his last hits, 1999's "Two Teardrops". But how exactly is he able to keep it mellow without becoming melodramatic?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Love in the First Degree" by Alabama
21:07
21:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:07
In this episode, we get locked away inside of some old Alabama, in their 1981 hit "Love in the First Degree". Nowadays it all just sounds like old school country, but what specific things things were happening more broadly in country music at the time that Alabama are guilty of?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "I Can Still Feel You" by Collin Raye
21:19
21:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:19
Collin Raye makes us still feel like we're in 1998 with his upbeat pop country hit "I Can Still Feel You". We've apostrophized lost love before, but what perhaps surprising left turn does this particular version take?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Third Rock from the Sun" by Joe Diffie
27:15
27:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:15
The restrained pendulum from the last episode swings fully the other way as we examine Joe Diffie's audacious 1994 hit, "Third Rock from the Sun". Diffie's vocals take center stage in another E blues romp, but what are the links in this chain that Melton thinks don't quite hold together?
…
continue reading
Vince Gill's 1992 CMA Song of the Year "Look at Us". What a nice, straightforward love song. ...Or is it? Might there be some sub-surface complexity in this one that invites us look at it a little more deeply? Tune in and find out.
…
continue reading
Syncopation moves to the center of the ring, as we saddle up for a youthful and whimsical ride through Faith Hill's 1993 debut megahit, Wild One. But what particular twists will we find on this otherwise well trodden course?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Crazy Over You" by Foster & Lloyd
20:31
20:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:31
Everybody in town knows Foster & Lloyd are doing their best Elvis impression on 1987's Crazy Over You, but what early 90s country song finds its boots firmly in this song's footsteps?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" by David Frizzell
17:42
17:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:42
Melton has more questions than answers as he explores the ambiguous tone of David Frizzell's 1982 hit "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home". Who's mocking whom?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Girls Night Out" by The Judds
22:45
22:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:45
Melton tackles an early example of The Judds' unique approach to 80s country in "Girls Night Out", but does this song hold up as well as some of its contemporaries?
…
continue reading
Melton puts his best effort toward getting to the bottom of what makes Alan Jackson's 1995/1996 hit "I'll Try" tick. It comes down to three adjectives: two of which are part of the patented Alan Jackson formula, but the third of which may surprise you. Tune in to see if you agree or disagree.
…
continue reading
The rhythm section yields to a three-way dueling electric guitar showcase, on Steve Wariner's fun 1987 hit, "Lynda". Listen to the guitars, then listen to Melton break it all down. But sorry folks, calls to Wonder Woman have not been returned.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" by Reba McEntire
16:21
16:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:21
Melton drives 25 miles away from his responsibilities, upshifts, and revels in the motion-filled energy and contentment of Reba McEntire's 1996/7 "I'd Rather Ride Around with You". We also have a little fun diagramming sentences.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "I'm Alright" by Jo Dee Messina
18:34
18:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:34
Melton grabs a chair and spends some time reminiscing with Jo Dee Messina's 1998 hit, the Phil Vassar-penned "I'm Alright". It's great old time with a great old song, but how does the song's incessant motion play into its specific take on nostalgia?
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Dissecting "Summer's Comin'" by Clint Black
22:06
22:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:06
Melton looks this time at what doesn't work about an 80s/90s country song, as Clint Black makes an uncharacteristic trip to the beach in this 1995 hit, "Summer's Comin'". The Beach Boys comparison is obvious, but what does George Strait have to do with this?
…
continue reading
Cotton and Black Friday descend upon Rainey Street, and everyone is forced to react, as the stuffing isn't the only thing that's spoiled in this classic holiday episode of King of the Hill. But are we voting for Hank's mom or the mower? Also, is Melton offering listeners $50 to participate in a Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music …
…
continue reading