Is there a difference between classic country and traditional country?!
Question: I am just curious as to what defines the difference or if there is one. Also, when someone uses the word mainstream country are they talking traditional country or (for lack of a better word) modern country. In my mind, I relate classic and traditional country as being the same but I am starting to think I am off base.
Answers: I am just curious as to what defines the difference or if there is one. Also, when someone uses the word mainstream country are they talking traditional country or (for lack of a better word) modern country. In my mind, I relate classic and traditional country as being the same but I am starting to think I am off base.
first of all excellent ?! this is my OPINION.... i feel that TRADITIONAL COUNTRY means the SOUND of the song~music...for instance ALAN JACKSON is the #1singer of TRADITIONAL sounding songs to me and yet i would'nt classify him as a LEGEND just yet or any of his songs as CLASSIC ~they have'nt been around long enough~ he has'nt no where near paid the dues and pound the pavement that LEFTY~HANK~MERLE~WAYLON..ETC HAVE! ALL OF THESE TITLES REQUIRE "A HISTORY" BEHIND THEM.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
I would say classic country and traditional country are the same!
O.K. Mainstream (or lack of a better word for it) is what is hot at the time!
Classic country is just that, Music that lasts!!!
(and we all know who Beethoven is, Right?)
Traditional country is basic three chord progression songs like the Carter Family, (most bluegrass), Hank Sr., Jimmie Rodgers and Roy Acuff.
You know, you've got a point,
there is not much difference,
Between Classic and Traditional !!!!
I LOVE 'EM BOTH !!!!
Classic country a term for oldie, only country. It's actually older, having been recorded in yesteryear. Traditional country is new, but by artists who use mandolins, steel guitars, acoustic guitars and stand-up basses rather than electric everything and keyboards. They think they want to try and blend bluegrass with mainstream country or something. Whatever it is they do, it sounds better than the '80s rock-sounding "new" country, but it doesn't quite reach the standards of yesteryear's country.
Classic country tends to have low piano melodies or deep baselines, in 4/4 time, something that new artists who perform "traditional country" just either don't seem to understand or don't want to do.
If you want to hear subtle differences, play Terry Stafford's version of Amarillo by Morning, then play George Strait's right afterward. THAT'S the embodiment of the difference.
Hi kat !
I see no difference in the two terms. Classic and Traditional can almost be used interchangeably. Classic = Jimmie Rodgers, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Wills, but can also include The Delmore Brothers and the newer music of Bill Monroe.
Traditional Country, to me, means music which has stood the test of time. Tennessee Waltz, Tennessee Stud, Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, Deep River Blues, San Antonio Rose, to name but a very few.
Mainstream Country might be interchangeable with the term "Pop Country". Give it a thought and email me.
THEY ARE SPELT DIFFERENTLY
Basically Traditional Country has the same SOUND as Classic Country, but not the age. Most singers of Classic Country are dead or no longer performing NEW music. Besides the new releases would actually be traditional until they stand the test of time, but no one would question calling it classic just from the name. Mainstream is the POP that is coming out of Nashville for the most part, that is being called Country music. Some mainstream artists still do Traditional, but if they aren't established they have a hard time getting air time. Although it seems more of the established are moving more to the pop end as well. Then you have Southern Rock with people like Van Zant and Montgomery Gentry(and it is a style of it's own).
Well, I think it's changed a bit. Classic and traditional used to refer to the likes of Hank Sr., Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Kitty Welles, etc., and I still think of them as "traditional" country. Classic in MY mind is George Jones, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, etc., but many "newbies" like (and I'm about to show my age here) George Strait, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McIntyre and Garth Brooks (?!), etc. are being added to that pile now. I've even heard Alan Jackson and the ubiquitous Tim McGraw called "Classic" now... I feel really old!
I agrre with ookiefan, i was gonna say just about the same thing!
i too agree with proud okiefan...TRADITION is something that you continue, like a family tradition, CLASSIC is the time spent in the history of COUNTRY MUSIC, THE AWARDS, the HALL OF FAME..ROOTS.... ETC...