Is "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X real country music? (feat. Blanco Brown)

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It’s often been said that music is a universal language. So why was “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X initially removed from the country Billboard charts? Hallease and Evelyn use this hit record to talk about the business of music and how it has historically affected Black artists’ ability to“crossover”, stay true to their musical tastes, or experiment with the art form. #SayItLoudPBS #LilNasX #BlancoBrown
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Black Migrations and Immigrants: • Where Are You REALLY F...
Soul Food!: • Should we keep eating ...
HBCU: • Should you go to an HBCU?
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Rolling Stone Article: www.rollingsto...
The Phonograph Changed Music: www.smithsonia...

[@shoyuramenoff]

'Old Time Road' is also the only song to have ever been performed at both the CMAs and the BET awards....what a time to be alive.

[@Decadancehallking]

just wait until BET creates the best country artist award

[@princessof96]

Really? Not even that nelly and tim song,

[@mrclueuin]

Yep. 👍 ✌

[@welliminitnowso]

🤣

[@thenbwkmtkspktrminc.4613]

Black folks turn off those TV's 😕

[@katiek.982]

"People will try to make you out to be what benefits them" daaaaaamn that is an A+ quote

[@hallease]

[ snaps ]

[@sashamassey8385]

This is literally how every fake manager, teacher and colleague treated me.

[@thenbwkmtkspktrminc.4613]

Yeah . . This whole system has conditioned US from the real facts of our people ✊🏼

[@Doctor.Dentista]

Old town road was removed from the country charts because he was breaking too many records that country artists could never beat.

[@theOstenHugo]

Gonna Make It After All it was just way too different for people to understand and what (white) people don’t understand they fear, until they learn what it is x then they try to capitalize on it x figure out a way to problematically appropriate it!

[@sallybeavers8506]

The songs not even country.

[@deonatillman]

I like how in old town they subverted the lyrics, Billy Ray talking about city boi stuff and Naz talking about country boi stuff. It should have been clear that music blurs the genre lines BUT this little step really made the fact known imo

[@starcherry6814]

Black artists have made an amazing impact on country music They don’t get enough credit for it either ✊

[@victoriarotramel2274]

Understatement of the year. Classic country evolved from Bluegrass, with a hint of Irish Fiddle. And Bluegrass has always been about the Banjo. And guess where the Banjo came from? Africa. The core root of country is literally a west African instrument!

[@Pr3ttyPariah]

We originated country music

[@sallybeavers8506]

But lil nas x isn’t country yes there are good country songs that black guys sing but lil nas x isn’t country he’s a wanna be. He can’t even ride a horse properly.

[@beautifulemily6382]

Yeah black country singers should receive more credit and much more credit than racist country singers like Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs.

[@sallybeavers8506]

@@beautifulemily6382 Morgan wallen and Luke Bryan aren’t racist

[@c22tch]

As a straight black man who likes house and electronic music, can we have a discussion about how most black folks dont know the origins of house ( chicago ), techno ( detroit ), freestyle ( Nyc ) and a lot of todays electronic music in general.

[@rocklesson86]

I too love EDM music too. I just group them all together because there too many genres within.

[@injunsun]

As a gay, whitish man (I had ancestors who passed into "whiteness"), it's also amazing the percentage of LGBTs who are ignorant of those same origins you mention. We are attracted to other "outcast" cultures, when our home folks turn away. Our liberation movement learned and benefited from the black Civil Rights movement. If our schools ever taught this Whole Culture thing, everyone's influences all around, I'd fall out dead.

[@Animefreak242]

Black people created every genre (country, rock, rap, funk, r&b, soul, neo soul, etc) That was easy. 😂

[@BESTDICKINCHINA]

@@Animefreak242 THAT'S NOT TRUE.

[@littlegothgirl8869]

@@BESTDICKINCHINA well....the ones that she mentioned were indeed invented by black people. Country Music was (at the very least) co created by black people.

[@Evelynfromtheinternets]

Thanks for watching, y'all! Looking forward to reading the comments :) #YeeHawAgenda

[@floydlechner2445]

Evelyn From The Internets trumpets are instruments too

[@floydlechner2445]

Evelyn From The Internets you kinda forget them on your list of all instruments.

[@floydlechner2445]

www.quora.com/How-many-musical-instruments-are-there-in-the-world-1 they say there are a thousand instruments or more and on the county music list were 5

[@floydlechner2445]

You should read melcom X. Good guy he knows who the problem is. Not shady music genres but i dont want to spoiler to much

[@kiwistrickland5277]

your cc says 1977 instead of 1877 for Thomas Edisons invention of the phonograph

[@jaicbacote3494]

First of all, Lincoln Park’s song “Numb” was deep and relatable. I still blast it today 😂

[@kristinbracy5189]

Facts, still in my playlist

[@hallease]

[cries in teenage angst] I feel so seen right now!

[@kristinbracy5189]

@@hallease we've found our tribe😁😁, as an elder here I grew up as MTV and VH1 were just emerging and all the hair band videos were just concert montages played on repeat while Yo MTV raps came later so groups like Linkin Park, Nirvana, No Doubt and Korn were inevitable due to the heavy hip hop and metal influences

[@kaylawaters2691]

@@MixyMix Same.

[@kaylawaters2691]

I'm a black woman and I've always thought Linkin Park was awesome.

[@talishagilbert9533]

I always thought of country music as a gentrified genre of music. It’s so deeply rooted in the work of black musicians from years gone by.

[@dailysip6607]

Talisha Gilbert come to Mississippi or Louisiana ain’t nothing change about country music . It’s just not main streamed but at every cookout or get together we ply country music

[@antimogul1316]

Country and Blues were born out of the work songs sung by enslaved Black Americans on plantations

[@jaicbacote3494]

I’ve been saying for years...country music is nothing but a country version of R&B 😂 like both be talking about the same stuff 😂

[@kaydreams6051]

It's more blues.

[@Angie_Onaleta]

@@kaydreams6051 which is what the B in R&B stands for.

[@anarchist_parable]

Right?! Classic country was just hillbilly blues too

[@flyleelee5351]

Exactly...I always said it's a country is a twangy form of R&B lol

[@Animefreak242]

Makes sense we made it too

[@SoniaSephia]

The answer is yes because country music like any genre of music is allowed to evolve!🎤 And other genres of music can be mixed with country to maximize creativity! Music is personal expression and we should not limit it!🎶

[@hallease]

Message.

[@hypintesti]

Look at the history of Rnb

[@Lycaon1765]

If it 'evolves' to this then it really isn't country music anymore.

[@floydlechner2445]

GalaxyEspeon when you mix two thinks you get a new one. Its not country music.

[@phoenixgate007]

“It was a lot of ‘just’, and I just wasn’t settling for it.” Blanco Brown. Well said.

[@shanellejackson1884]

I really love yall. the Dry erase board domestication really drives the point home. And the Keith Urban call out took me out

[@ReapTheWhirlwind]

One day folks are gonna find out about Rhiannon Giddens, an Oberlin trained opera singer who is a folk powerhouse and is also Black. 😂

[@rakiawithers1441]

I love System of a Down, I'm still in my Hottopic phase. Music is music just enjoy what they create. I love the videos keep it up !!!

[@rocklesson86]

Yes I love System Of The Down..

[@deonatillman]

Still in my hot topic phase, more than an aesthetic, it's a lifestyle at this point lol

[@mmelaprofonline]

Evelyn trying to take notes on the white board will be turned into a meme one day. J'fais juste dire....

[@vampireville18]

Omg that's a great idea!

[@thomashendricks9774]

My 11, 9, & 7 years old kids love this song beyond anything. They are singing it constantly, this or songs from Alexander Hamilton.

[@ladylove34]

Same here for my 10 year old - Hamilton and Old Town Road

[@yesterdaydream]

Before "Old Town Road" was even a thing, I saw a Black guy in full "Deadwood"-style garb walking down the street in Jacksonville, FL. Don't know where he was going or if he always dressed that way, but what I witnessed seemed to transcend time, space, race, and style. And to me, at least, that is a gorgeous type of diversity.

[@ashleyhamilton9053]

Duvaaaaaaaal

[@injunsun]

Oops. You aren't supposed to notice time travellers. He's going to be in so much trouble now.

[@yesterdaydream]

@@ashleyhamilton9053 Duuuuvalllll, indeed!

[@yesterdaydream]

@@injunsun I like to think he was actually Lil Nas X out living his best life in the wild, wild southeast

[@Animefreak242]

The original cowboys were Black and Native South Americans.

[@hallease]

Impromptu poll: who knew the Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" was a cover from Dolly Parton? Hit me up with a 🙋🏾‍♀️or a 🙅🏾‍♀️and let me know which is your favorite.

[@turtleamor2001]

🙋🏾‍♀️ I have both versions in my Spotify library.

[@Future-zx9ts]

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ But Dolly’s version is so good. Totally different, but old school awesome. Whitney’s is the best, IMO, but I love the original every once in a while.

[@gladneymomma]

🙋 Love Dolly but Whitney version brings back memories of my mom wearing that bodyguard CD out!

[@253loli2]

🙋🏾‍♀️whitney's is the one i grew up with so its the best. But dolly's is great too

[@MsMEAGAIN1]

🙋🏾‍♀️

[@Indigoqueer]

Y'all need to check out The Carolina Chocolate Drops. They are reclaiming Black Bluegrass and Folk in the South. Their music is amazing!

[@boombangbeep]

In many ways, Old Town Road is more authentic to the traditional sound, concept, style and composition of Country Music across most decades of country's existence. It's the homogenization, commodification and dare I say, sterilization of country music across the last 20 years that has caused this divide in the concept. Of course, all of this puts aside the fact that American music is African American Music, there is not the first without the latter. I am a huge Metalhead. I listen to Metal almost exclusively. And without Jazz and Blues being fused, there is no Metal. compositionally, Jazz and blues fusion makes up an easily arguable %75 of what makes Metal, Metal. smatter in some occasional concepts from classical music and Opera, And you've got it.

[@misersmakeup-nguoihatien2316]

“Did you have a Zune?” I did not need to be reminded of their cursed existence 😭😂

[@mayam2479]

Lmao. I loved my Zune, though! Just not the crashes :(

[@Future-zx9ts]

Oh gosh, my husband had one. That thing was a piece of crap 😂😂😂😂

[@jazzknowsbest]

@@mayam2479 I had one, I dont remember it crashing

[@mayam2479]

@@jazzknowsbest mine used to freeze all the live long day and i'd have to do a hard reset c o n s t a n t l y

[@misersmakeup-nguoihatien2316]

I have nothing against Zune users who enjoy their devices, seriously don't mind me! My gripe with the Zune largely had to do with it being a part of Microsoft's ambition back when it was launched. It was a part of them forcefully jamming their toes in the mobile phones & pocket media player market, with the creation of Windows Phones (both the phones and the OS), the Zune and the marketplace (their app store). The Zune in particular was meant to be a direct competition of Apple iPod AND their entire ecosystem, and the way they were headed (in order to make money) was to introduce an extremely incapable devices (willfully exclude commonly used app available out of the box with most other phones, the forced tile layout was annoying, very limited ability to customize anything, overall this expensive device had very limited functions, if you don't fork out money to buy apps. And the app store was abysmal, not to mention the OS was tricky to work with, app developers hated it) to trap users in the eco system the same way Apple does, while paying app developers and artists dirt, like Apple was already and are still doing. So a lot of us phone nerds resented Microsoft and the Zune 😂 there was a lot more details to it, I don't want to bore you, if you weren't obsessed with mobile devices 10+ Years ago you can still catch up and go back to read all the articles & the blogs, they're still there. Recalling all this is giving me whiplash 😩 my dyslexic self also hated the metro UI, there was no text box, every icon is forced to be in a tile that only comes in one color throughout the interface, the keyboard was a visual nightmare & typing was so unintuitive etc etc. And now that I've exposed my nerdy roots, I'll see myself out...

[@ambertrunksies8083]

I think it's country, rap, and pop. It should be on any and all of those charts.

[@Tiffthegiraffe]

I love this song though it makes me so happy knowing that a young black man succeeded 💕

[@moev29]

Not just succeeded but in ALL the markets with ALL the people. It’s genuinely so impressive. He absolutely crushed it. 💓

[@pietrojenkins6901]

@@moev29 but that's white people's entertainment though.

[@moev29]

Pietro Jenkins what are you talking about?

[@thisisAB]

Not a lot of people know that Black Keys collab record. It is sick and glad it got a mention!

[@JensenJames]

of course it is. it was before daddy cyrus was a part of it too.

[@ashleyhw4388]

"There's only two kinds of music, as far as I'm concerned... Good and bad" ~Ray Charles FACTS!!! 💯

[@theOstenHugo]

Ashley HW BIG FACTS

[@EbTheeAmazon]

Let's go education and discussion! 🤠

[@Mac-ze4gu]

If it were a white artist, this wouldn’t even be an issue

[@Animefreak242]

Well, of course not. They appropriated country and think they own it.

[@orlock20]

That isn't true. There was a saying, "All hat and no cattle." It referred to "fake" country artists produced by the music industry. Instead of white people sounding black, it referred to people sounding like they were from the South when many of them came from major cities outside the South and even from other countries. These singers would sing about experiences they never had while sounding more like rock artists than Hank Williams and Kenny Rogers.

[@TheKnoxvicious]

Does it ALWAYS have to do with race with you people? It can NEVER be something else?

[@Hello-ge4yz]

There are and have always been plenty of great black country artists. Darius Rucker’s cover of Wagon Wheel is one of the most famous country songs of all time. The problem is that it’s just not a country song. Just like most Florida Georgia Line songs aren’t country songs. There’s nothing country about it

[@c1berserker744]

Y’all are pitiful man 🤣

[@halallen9195]

Whitney houston's I will always love you hits different than the original

[@hallease]

You ain't wrong.

[@wren9463]

I actually love Dolly's version...but both ladies did an amazing job with the song

[@melteddali8000]

It’s always really interesting when both the original and cover version of a song are excellent but have very distinct different visions. I Will Always Love You is definitely one of those examples

[@halallen9195]

@@melteddali8000 absolutely

[@co5miccharli356]

Got that right.

[@eliscanfield3913]

Musicians love to blend music. You could sing Handel's Messiah as if it's off a Metallica album and it's still more than half classical hymn. And musicians are nerdy enough that somebody probably has, at least informally. And yes, Lil Nas' versions are still country!

[@pinkcloudsnightlightbell]

Every new episode from this digital web series seriously just feels like a blessing, honestly. Love from Canada!!

[@mon6745]

❤❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️

[@TyRhooooone]

This is also a good time to mention Ken Burns' documentary on country music, also aired on PBS.

[@iluminati]

Agreed. That documentary madee realize how Black and how broadly diverse country music really is. Loved it.

[@serenityq26]

that quote is how i feel about food: its either good or bad. i dont know this "breakfest food" or "bitter, sweet, savory" foolishness. its either good or bad and thats all that matters and all i can judge it by

[@gladneymomma]

I agree! Lol #foodie

[@KManwarren]

I LOVE THIS EPISODE! History that actually captures the truth of the complexities of people. I have always loved country because it tells a story the same way I love gospel music because it tells a story. You guys nailed it. As an adult, it's cool to be myself and own it. I wish I could have been that way as a child/teen. Now I have the privilege of raising my two girls that way. Embrace your coolness. Be okay with the coolness of others. #abetterworldforsure

[@AfrosNPuffs]

Please don't stop creating content! There's not much black studio produced content on youtube, especially those that educate and challenge us. Keep going 💪🏾🙌🏾

[@dustyfrye2400]

No pun intended, but this struck a chord with me

[@hallease]

😎

[@alexlestrange8662]

Don't apologise girl, I'm still in my Linkin Park 'phase' till now lol

[@hallease]

[cries in teen angst]

[@alexlestrange8662]

[cries together] their songs made me feel seen too:'(

[@Animefreak242]

Great times.

[@seldomplayed6279]

I am so glad I watched this video. I do rideshare driving and the whole summer and, now the fall I’ve had conversations about this song and how, in their words, “it is definitely a country song“. I always find those conversations so annoying because they are always with people who never listen to country music. (I don’t listen to metal. My opinion on whether a song would or would not be metal isn’t relevant because I’m not familiar with the genre, for example.) Normally these conversations about old town Road are people who clearly aren’t familiar with country music and when they are referencing what country music sounds like or what the songs are about, I find that they seem to still think country music sounds like Hank Williams or Patsy Cline which hasn’t really been what country music sounded like for at least a quarter of a century. I really like this video because it sidesteps that entire issue by pointing out that a lot of these genre divisions aren’t really that meaningful. Is there really much of a difference between say Mumford & Sons and old-school country? Not really. Is there much of a difference between country and hip-hop both singing songs about flexing and girls they think are cute? Not really. There’s not that much of a difference between these two genres in many important ways. They may sound different but there are a lot of similarities. I like this video.

[@TulilaSalome]

As a metal head, the genre policing annoys me also - metal is a very wide genre, if you can play it with cellos, why should there be some sort of fencing? There are always a few borderline 'is it hard rock - is it prog rock? Is it just weirdness?' bands but why should that matter? Listen to them, don't listen to them, as you like. Only use of genre labels is that it gives some indication on what it sounds like, if you haven't heard it before, and making it easier to find in your streaming service of choice: though that exactly makes it problematic - the song might not get to the people that would enjoy it, if it is arbitrarily classed on non-musical basis.

[@alonelygoldfish2966]

I was today years old when I learned that “I Will Always Love You” was a Dolly Parton song.

[@Tru1Tani]

Blanco Brown is my friend from college I've watched his career grow from nothing. I'm super proud of him!

[@brisadler6915]

I really appreciate that you guys have accurate closed captions.

[@jada0505]

Also, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood SLAP HARD AF!!👏🏾👏🏾

[@beautifulemily6382]

OMG I loooooooooove Carrie Underwood. What’s your favorite Carrie Underwood song?

[@jada0505]

@@beautifulemily6382 Hard to pick but two of my faves are “Blown Away” and “Two Black Cadillacs”.

[@beautifulemily6382]

@@jada0505 Two Black Cadillacs is my 2nd favorite song from her too, but my favorite song from her is Choctaw County Affair

[@joeygutierrez9018]

I love when they discuss music ❤

[@Future-zx9ts]

I love how your videos always give me flashbacks to my childhood (well, hs and college years, bc I’m older than you guys). This video reminded me of Zune and JNCO, and I was just not ready for either of those 🙏🏻😂

[@VolcanoEarth]

It's more country than some of the other country music out there. Even David Allan Coe's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" doesn't mention horses, tractors, front porches, nor the Marlboro Man....& if those aren't country ain't NOTHIN' country.

[@theOstenHugo]

Spike Volcanohead country music now is adopting trends from pop x hip hop music so much so that they are still considered country music but have just as much bass and rhythm as rap songs. and no one is questioning their credibility. it’s unfair but i mean since when does the world ever cater to us (black ppl) ?!

[@austinlarrimore6542]

@@theOstenHugo plenty of people are. Country radio sucks now and. That’s why they are failing cuz all it is nowadays is pop with a southern accent

[@gwensimmons_gigi1629]

Loved the research done on this episode, thank you ladies!! 😘✨👍🏾

[@naturallykendall9905]

I hope they bring this show back😪😁

[@achannelhandle]

There was a time Shania wasn't considered country? Wow!

[@MovableNu]

There was a time Billy Ray wasn't considered country! They both stuck it out long enough enough to go from radical outsider to beloved establishment.

[@ajfranco7458]

I went through that phase too Hallease❤️

[@hallease]

😎

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Just asking, did Dolly Parton ever end up doing that remix of Old Town Road with Lil Nas X like the two were talking about? Bc I love both of them and I REALLY wanna hear them both on that song

[@jessicabrown3430]

Yaaaaaaas, Middle School Hallease FTWWWWW 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@hallease]

🤓🤓🤓

[@AmishaJohnson]

Yo what's crazy is I'm watching this like "this should be on PBS, it runs like a PBS show" meanwhile ...lmao I love you guys. So awesome

[@fabiodesousa8923]

Once again, such an amazingly researched and insightful video. You ladies always do an amazing job and I love learning something new with each instalment😍😍😍

[@enzomthethwa5861]

I am so glad that you guys mentioned one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys. Little known fact, they got their early blues sound from training under a black blues artist named Junior Kimbrough. The Black Keys had mastered his sound so well that I thought they were black when I had first heard them!

[@t2blessone559]

Ladies you voices (speaking) voices) are Phenomenal continue in deed🌟✨💫

[@niaimanicooper7757]

LOVED the checklist of what makes a song country. Great idea, great video! Y’all make a great team! I love y’all!

[@Lovely2291]

Thank you so so much for linking the Tim McGraw/ Blanco duet! I never heard that song and it was beautiful!

[@AdelWolf]

I didn't know that the banjo was West African! See, this is the kind of thing I love about this show.

[@gemfloral4016]

"K-POP fans know what those letters mean" 🤭😂

[@hypnobunny3089]

Thank you! This is just another thing I love about music. I didnt want pop rock to be a thing but it is. Someone made it, it sounded like pop and rock and bam, it existed now. Whether anyone likes it or not, if Lil Naz says it's a country song, and it sounds country, it's a country song! Love it

[@jama1155]

Dear Say It Loud, Thanks for keeping a Yankee Boy hip and introducing me to Blanco Brown. He ain't on the juke box up here in MN.

[@freshencounter]

“The song don’t say anything deep but it’s doing the deepest work in the world...” Bringing lightness, joy and conversations about what and who owns music!! Thank you!! ❤️❤️🙏🏾❤️❤️ I was tempted to replace the cowboy hat I let go years ago!!

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

The episode reminds me of the Chappelle's Show sketch with John Mayer doin different instruments around people. Dave said music isn't black or white, it's about culture. Much love sistas.

[@k.c.5426]

😒

[@theOstenHugo]

J Fez unfortunately music IS black x white tho bc white ppl steal black folks music x techniques all the time x call it their own creations...

[@moev29]

I LOVE when you guys explore music.

[@ThatBlackPiano]

Same goes for all the hate being given to Blanco Brown and his song, “The Git Up”. They refuse to acknowledge that ALL of his music is a country music artist. Hello, my fellow #ARMY! I purple you! 🤟🏽💜☺️

[@madeline799]

Is this channel still a thing? I know it hasn't gotten the views it deserves but I love it so much...

[@lagaulerefractaire743]

I'm a white conservative, and I love your videos about black american culture, can you make new ones ? thx

[@endangeredasexual]

I miss y’all 😭😭😭 come back 🤧🤧

[@julieleblanc3182]

This is one of my favourite YT channels. Thanks for teaching us so much with every video! Keep up the great work everybody.

[@atlroxmysox98]

Where did y'all go???? This video is everything to my musicologist heart!! Musicologists spend a lot of time debating the meanings of concepts like "genre" and "music" and "good".

[@mj41N5]

Can’t wait to hear ur thoughts about Cowboy Carter! It’s genius and B’s own genre!! Ground breaking !!!!!

[@joneseyswords471]

Thank you for the hats. They were wonderful. Also - lots of learning, much appreciated.

[@jonplaud]

Mainly country, but with a lot of other elements. The one I love is that it's been a while since we have seen a White and Black guy singing with each other. That hit me right in the feels.

[@lshakti2149]

Hello! I was really enjoying this channel - I found it informative, witty, intelligent. Are you planning to come back?

[@jazzknowsbest]

HATERRR, I HAD A ZUNE lol! I loved my zune! I was upset when they stopped making them

[@Evelynfromtheinternets]

hahah! those were the days!!

[@byusaranicole]

I loved mine too!

[@hallease]

👀

[@RamenNoodle1985]

Omg same!

[@CleverCover05]

I still have mine! The battery ain't what it used to be, but it still works.

[@rosendamoore]

Your video programs are great! Great topic. You know, I found out back I’m the late 80,s reading a biography interview inside the Hank Williams Sr box set, that as a teenager he learned how to play guitar and write music from an older Black blues musician he sought out cause he wanted to learn the craft. It was cool to learn that!I still love older country music from the 30’s - 70’s as it’s still so funky and bluesy.

[@theOstenHugo]

i’m with 13 yr old Hallease x i will not apologize for appreciating listening to The Used x Hootie x The Blowfish, as well as Ace of Base x Alanis Morisette when i was younger plus lowkey i STILL STAN THESE ARTISTS!!! especially The Used>>> ps Old Town Road is a song that has really changed the culture for the better!! thanks Lil Nas X...x Evelyn x Hallease ♥️ 💜 ♥️

[@Decadancehallking]

Fantastic, yall did your research tuff! Once I got over my "I cant like country music" phase, it opened me up to appreciating folk and blues as well. And then you realize what's considered country or not gets really gray... Tracy Chapman, Odetta, Leadbelly, Bo Diddley, or Chuck Berry just to name a few.

[@taliciastallings9791]

I miss this channel so much

[@amthomas1542]

Yess I considered it country as soon as it came out and was saddened when southern whites were tryna protest it smh

[@1VampieNight]

This episode really hit close to home as a person that had been made fun of all of my life for likeing all kinds of music. If the music is good it's good.

[@abigailbarlow5681]

Do you guys have a podcast? If not, You guys definitely deserve one.

[@KarleneA380]

I had a Zune! 😐 I started liking "Old Town Road" when I saw kids singing it too. Another great video ladies. I just happened to hear a podcast on this song last Saturday. So this was quite timely.

[@yvonneking9047]

I Love to watch y'all brake it down and give the option for deep thought and open conversations! Keep doing Greatness!

[@SSJMihoshi]

The sheet music industry existed 100s of years before the phonograph, and definitely defined the popular scenes of the day. Regardless, great episode as always!

[@merelymayhem]

This doesn't have anything to do with this video but I started watching say it loud tow days ago an I can not get enough of it! I love this channel so much, from the deep research to the funny parts to just learning through well presented videos I love everything about it!

[@TheMsNjg]

I miss this show 😭

[@Dallas_like_texas]

Old Town Road can be whatever Lil Nas X says it is. Artists (and their labels I guess) get to decide the execution and intent of their work. His contribution is important to any genre he decides to work in. Also Georgiana, AL isn't even on maps, so I'm so happy y'all mentioned my hometown. It's a cute place for a family visit or passing through on my way to the gulf.

[@awareyah6146]

The ? SHOULD be is what “white” people do consider REAL country music!

[@awareyah6146]

EARS TO HEAR

[@awareyah6146]

That’s a verse I dropped

[@awareyah6146]

Look for this comment by ONEKBABY

[@awareyah6146]

It’s at the bottom of the page that thread has UNDENIABLE information on it

[@RIXRADvidz]

depends on how olde you are, Olde Folks like the Porter Wagoner era singers, young folks like the McGraws, I prefer the Women of Country Music. in my mind they sing better songs.

[@blackwinter963]

Country culture broke my heart when Beyoncé preformed with The Dixi Chicks. I grew up on country music & had no idea people felt so split about race & country. Until Old Town Road I hadn’t listened to any country since & I have 8 Garth Brooks 💿’s.

[@savannaray7293]

I just want to comment on the bit. There was a claim that the instruments listed fall into the category of all instruments. But what you listed was more sting and percussion instruments. I mean old-time road still has those instruments prominently throughout the song so it still could be considered a country song. I just wanted to comment on that part. Love you guys! XOXO

[@barbarag5387]

You guys are GREAT!!! Please keep it up! What a great way to under, over and inner stand history and popular ideas. Brilliant.

[@tmm8829]

I was wondering just recently how the genres came to be. Great episode, thank you!

[@TheGraceOfEbonee]

I always saw Old Town Road as country. This was very insightful. I always struggled with sharing the music that I liked because it wasn't what my peers were listening too. I have a very open look on music but use to see feel ashamed because I didn't know this rapper or that R&B song. Especially when people would talk about how they were a classic and something I SHOULD know because that's what the culture demanded of me. But I have gotten to the point of "I like what I like; I know what I know". It's not my fault for not knowing something. I'm happy to listen and learn, but people seem to talk as if I deliberately ignored the music. I have certain things that I relate to despite my race and you can't help what you connect to and like.

[@j0nni235]

This topic is hecka interesting, and I used to listen to Numb by Lincoln Park as well!

[@keepinitkawaii]

* linkin park

[@niccenikki4898]

The thumb nail is lit😆😅

[@hallease]

Yay! You noticed :)

[@vamps_rock]

FACTS!!! And thank you for validating my very eclectic (but not very up to date!) music tastes. :)

[@theOstenHugo]

Vamps Rock the alternative music listening black folks got ur back!!!

[@vamps_rock]

@@theOstenHugo lol!

[@dramonmaster222]

I think the main issue is that people think music should be ONE THING when in reality it can be ALL THINGS to everyone.

[@ZoeAlleyne]

I remember an interview with various country artists who were asked if old town road was country and a lot said yes and I only remember one no, and the no was basically "great song, really fun, but country tells a story and this song doesn't" and I remember thinking that, for a personal philosophy, that was fine. Like, people define things differently. But be consistent with it and acknowledge that black people have an uphill battle being seen as valid in industries where they are a minority.