Saddest Country Sellouts Of 2013

Selling Out:  "The compromising of integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for personal gain, such as money. In terms of music or art, selling out is associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream or commercial audience; for example, a musician who alters his material to encompass a wider audience, and in turn generate greater revenue." 

Chris Young


Maybe Chris Young's musical passion lies in the seams of his cowboy hat, because when he stopped wearing it it seemed as though he lost everything that made him a great artist. His first two albums, although they weren't stop you in your tracks incredible, they were a nice variety of simple pleasing country songs. Even his 2011 album Neon, proved he wasn't the same as those other pop country singers. The title track was especially great. He has such a deep southern voice that sounds so genuine. It is a shame that he wastes it on songs like his most recent single "Aw Naw." His entire album is filled with songs that are so different than what he normally does and so similar to what the mainstream is doing. With a voice like his he can do so much, I don't know why he settles for less than what he is capable of.




David Nail

I always really liked David Nail. He was never super country but his music was so refreshing because it was always so different than what the mainstream was offering. He was sort of like a modern day version of the Countrypolitian era of country music. Because of that, he never hit it big, up until recently. He has only had two albums, but they were two great albums. I remember listening to them while I was on my way back from a trip to New York City. A song of his titled "Mississippi" really stood out for me. The song is about someone who left their life behind to make it big in New York. They thought they'd love it but it turned out it just wasn't the life they were supposed to live. Ironic since I hated the city so much when I really hoped I'd love it. Then there was a song called "The Sound Of A Million Dreams" that was about pouring your heart into your music, and all the pain and struggles you face will be worth it in the end if your one song can evoke a memory or feeling from someone out there somewhere. There was also this line that went "When I hear "Mama Tried" I still break down and cry and pull to the side of the road." It made my heart smile. Those songs just hit me, the way music is supposed to. I saw him last year at this super tiny theatre. There couldn't have been more than 50 people in the room. He became very aware that there were few people in the room that knew who he was before the show, but it didn't stop him. He sang his songs and a couple of covers, some classic Waylon and a few others. It was a good time, but like many others, he deserved more and he wanted more. Fast forward to today and his single "Whatever She Got" is the most cliche pop country song you could imagine. I was so sad, I didn't want to believe it was him singing it, but guess what? It got his name swirling around the mainstream now of course. He has yet to release a new album, but I know what to expect. He does deserve the fame he's getting, but not like this.

Joe Nichols

Interviewer at theboot.com: Do you see anyone else carrying on the outlaw country tradition? 

Merle Haggard: There are a couple young guys who want to. They’re really trying. Joe Nichols, he is sure trying to. 

There was Merle Haggard, yes Merle Haggard talking about how modern day mainstream country singers can't carry on the outlaw legacy, but Joe Nichols is one of the few that may be able to. Calling him an outlaw is pushing it but again like the others, he was always really different. Now he has been around for over a decade and country music in the late 90's early 2000's was actually recognizable as country music, which is very different from today's country. With songs resembling those of Alan Jackson and George Strait, Joe Nichols did prove he can make some real good country music. A new record deal in 2013 came alongside a "new sound" for Joe. This new sound was obviously a combination of beer bottles clanking, hotties trying to get off their skin tight jeans, and money jingling in the pockets of those who thought sending Joe Nichols to cliche pop countryville was a good idea. His single "Sunny & 75" is just everything I thought he defied, it is everything he never was. He did his own thing, he was different, Merle Haggard called him an outlaw for crying out loud, why on earth did he change.


Blake Shelton

The thing about Blake is that he knows better. He isn't some innocent little singer whose label is controlling him, he is choosing to neglect the music he claims to love and the career that built him to judge some dumb TV show. He preaches how much he loves classic country but he doesn't mind ruining it's legacy. I do believe he has knowledge about and genuinely loves country music, which is more than you can say for some, but he has an awful hard time showing it. He straight up said that the old fart's music is out and it's not cool so we have to roll in the new hip country music to keep the kids into it. That's what everyone thinks now I guess. Anything somewhat rootsy or traditional is shunned by country radio. Blake used to be great, yeah he had some dumb songs but it never got as ridiculous as songs like "Boys Round Here." His 2007 album Pure BS I feel is his best. It was right after his divorce, the songs fit his situation and he had a hand at writing some of it and you can tell he actually meant what he was singing. His latest album Based On A True Story is a joke. How ironic it is that it's called based on a true story when all it is is the same beer and truck anthem repeated about 13 times, is that supposed to be an accurate representation of his life? Now he is super famous, fake stories headlining the tabloid magazines famous, and it is all his choice. It's his fault he doesn't have time to write songs or put out a good record. He probably just shows up to a recording studio in between the takes of The Voice and records a bunch of random songs other people wrote. He used to be a good musical artist, but now he's just a TV star. He chose to abandon his music.


Is it worth it? Is all the money and fame worth the fact that you are helping to destroy a genre of music. No, actually it's more than just a genre, country music is real life, a legacy, a family, a beautiful story that some folks have spent decades to create. Who cares about that anymore, they just knock it down because no one cares about anyone but themselves. To be fair the finger should be pointed at the big labels, corporate radio stations, etc. They are pulling the strings for the puppets on Music Row. It isn't just a coincidence that every single mainstream country singer got the idea to change their "artistic development" into another direction. As much as they try to tell you that country music is "evolving" into a new direction, that direction isn't forward. This need to modify your music to fit in with everyone else's is just stupid. An imitation will never create a legend. Everyone has the right to stand up and say no. But you change your sound just once to create one radio friendly song and you get a taste of the money and fame and that's it, you're beat, some can get out but most can't. Well let's say growing up you had this vision of playing in front of thousands of people, being famous and making a ton of money. If that's your dream and you get to live it, why would you go back? You have to keep in mind it's because you fell in love with the music that you can do all those things. You owe it to the music to put out a good song. Something deep inside you told you that you were meant to be a musician. That passion is in there, don't let other people tell you what to play or how you should play it, just do it. Keep in mind there are musicians out there that are barely getting by because they choose to stay true to who they are. It's not worth it. Play your music the way you want to play it, because even if you don't sell out arenas and you don't have your picture in the magazines it will be so much better. You could play imitation music to rile up a drunk crowd of a few thousand or you could play genuine heartfelt music at a little theatre or club and touch the lives of a few hundred. Knowing you could have possibly changed someone's life through music you created is a feeling I can't even find the words to describe. To me that has a lot higher price than any sports car or mansion ever could.