For this blog I wanted to talk about Jay Fencel’s presentation. I wanted to talk more about the the 2000’s country genre and my experiences with country music. Country is the genre of music I grew up on. I don’t think that most people would think that about me or guess that I grew up that way, but until around age 14, I was a country girl. I was born during the 90’s and it was the genre that was close to me heart as a child. I’ve been to many concerts in my day, the first being Alabama. I’ve seen Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, George Straight, Kenny Chesney, and many more. Going to country concerts were a huge part of my childhood and it began my love of concerts that continues today. I knew every country song in the radio. 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s country music is a part of me. I listened to a lot of Alan Jackson growing up and the song “Drive” is something that resonated with me because I lived the life of a country girl; mostly outside, spending summers in mud, water, and around a fire or playing in the woods. It was a simpler lifestyle, but it’s one I miss and one I try to get back to as often as I can. One thing that bothered me during the presentation was the fact that Fencel said that the genre was primarily filled with male artists. This simply isn’t so. I grew up listening to the strong female country artists of the 1990’s and 2000’s that filled the radio as much as the men. Some of my favorite artists were The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, and Sugarland. Not only were very present within the genre in the 200’s, but they also helped form the genre. One of the very first country groups include none other than June Carter Cash. Another thriving artist includes Dolly Parton. Today, female artists are dominating the country genre, sticking to the roots of the genre. Male country artists of today are spilling into the rap and pop world and the product of what they are trying to create is in my opinion terrible. Throughout the history of the genre, women have been just as prevalent and successful as the men they sing beside. Country is also unique because as the women age and grow in talent, they aren’t just thrown away. Too often in the pop world, women get into their 30’s and become old hat and don’t have sex appeal, so they are brushed out of the industry. Country music doesn’t really have that as much. Older female artists still perform and have successful careers today. Like I said, I do have my fair share of favorite male artists, but there is something about female artists in the country genre that is just so impressive. They are frankly all kick ass women and they are all worth talking about. I wish they were mentioned more throughout this presentation of 2000’s Country.