American Country MusicVocabulary

Before we begin:If you learn what’s in this presentation, you will . . .Teacher Bao

do better on exams (e.g., CET, TOEFL, IELTS, BEC)

have something to talk about with foreign friends

Let’s get started!

“Country music is the people's music . . .

It just speaks about real life …

and about truth . . .

and it tells things how they really are.”Faith Hill, Country Singer

GeneralVocabulary

ComposerPerson who writes the music for songs

Lyrics- the words of a songLyricist- the writer of words for a song

Ballad - a slow, sad song that tells a story, often romantic, historic, or tragic

Genre- a type or category, in this case, of music

CrossoverA song that starts in one musical genre and becomes popular in another genre

Twang: when singing, sounds made through the nose; a characteristic of early country musicClick here to listen to the sound of TWANGgeorge_strait-twang.mp3Hint: in the new page, click on the “play” button in the upper left hand corner

Yodel- a form of singing where the voice changes quickly between the normal voice and a very high sound (falsetto)Click here to listen to someone yodel

Cover- a recording of a song that was first recorded by somebody else

The Grand Ole Opry(1) a place; a theater in the American South (Tennessee) that produces live country music shows(2) a weekly country music radio program

Roots of Country Music

Sources of Country MusicChurch SingersTrainsSteamboatsSinging CowboysBanjo PlayersSquare DancingFolk SingersFiddlersFiddlers

Instruments of Country Music

GuitarBassBanjoFiddleMandolinSteel guitar

Banjo

Fiddle

Mandolin

Guitar

Steel Guitar

Bass

Types of Country Music

Country Music GenresHillbillyRock -A -billySinging CowboyHonkyTonkBluegrassNeo-CountryNashville Sound

Hillbilly土包子Country music from Texas and Oklahoma; rough, loud and often including yodeling

Singing Cowboy

Honky-tonkA type of country music first played in noisy [热闹的] bars; often included a piano

猫王Rockabillya blend of black music and country music; part of the roots of rock and roll

BluegrassA type of country music played at a rapid speed on banjosand guitars

The Nashville SoundCountry music that includes elements of popular music; broadcast on radio & TV out of Nashville, Tennessee

Neotraditional CountryModern country music that takes its inspiration from traditional country artists

Country Music’s Place in Time

Timeline

1941Hillbilly1922

19351955Singing Cowboys

Tonk1955Honky1941

Rockabilly19601954

1940Present …Bluegrass

1958Nashville SoundPresent …

NeotraditionalPresent …1980

AppendixCountry music IS the people's music!

Word ListIn this presentation all vocabulary words appear in yellow

TimelineHillbilly 1922 - 1941Singing Cowboys 1935 - 1955Bluegrass 1940 - PresentHonky-tonk 1941 - 1955Rockabilly 1954 - 1960Nashville Sound 1958 - PresentNeotraditional 1985 - Present

ReferencesAnderson, S. E. [compiled by] (2003). The quotable musician: from Bach to Tupac. New York, NY: Allworth PressTribe, I. M. (2006). Country: a regional exploration. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press