Using Country Music to Measure My Change
How often have you heard, “People don’t change”?
I’ve heard it said so many times, even had the phrase used against me as a way to dequalify my progress. I have even uttered it a few times myself. Sometimes, I truly believed it to be true. I believed at the very core, people don’t change. But at 48 years old, I’ve seen far more evidence to the contrary. I’ve witnessed small to radical changes in both the natural world and in the people I love. My daughter is a testiment to radical change. Her fifth grade year is near it’s close and that means a new school next year as she starts middle school. Her body is changing. Her friendships change. Her taste in clothes and styles change.
I remember my dad telling me a long time ago, “The only thing constant is change.” A quick Google search informed me this quip wasn’t original to my dad but is credited to Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher. Though I prefer to give my dad credit for its enduring presence in my personal thought process, it is a sentiment that dates back to a long time ago. And that “long time ago” is worth noting. Change is nothing new, and it really isn’t unique to humans or to any place or culture. Without change, our very planet would not survive. Change enables trees to rest and rebloom. It is what fuels scientific discovery and aids humans in innovations. Change is everywhere. God built it into the very fabric and movement of creation.
Perhaps the season when change is most evident is Spring, at least here in the Midwest. As the snow melts and daylight extends the day, tulips and crocus begin pushing their way out of what was once frozen ground. Temperatures climb, and people begin to descend into parks and bike baths as they move their bodies out of hibernation. Even the way we cook and put together ingredients change. The slow cooker is stored away, and the grill is uncovered and given a good cleaning. Just last night, we enjoyed grilled brats with sides of potato salad and watermelon.
A change I never thought I’d encounter is in my music tastes. I have always turned my nose up at rap and believed myself to evolved for country. But having a daughter and husband who love both new and old country artists, I decided it was time to turn my radio dial to 102.1. I have always loved bluegrass and Americana for their folksy sounds, strings and harmonies. O Father Where Art Thou was my favorite for its soundtrack. Those Soggy Bottom Boys were fun and made danceable melodies. And I can belt out some classics like “Fishin’ in the Dark” from countless small town street dances. But to listen to country music was going to far. My husband loves 90’s country as it holds lots of good memories of high school and a simpler time. He also loves the patriotism and tributes to blue collar America – the working class which are our roots. My daughter on the other hand loves the new stuff, most specifically Meghan Mulroney, Zac Bryan and Jason Aldean. And together, my beloved both croon and cry when any country song highlights the special bond between father and daughter.
Over the course of the last year, I kept my car radio tuned to Minnesota’s Country Station, K102. While sharing an Apple Music account with my girl, I’ve listened to Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Barber, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson. We recently watched the new Twisters movie, and I can confidently say that the soundtrack was my favorite part (Glen Powell was a very close second). I have become a country music fan. I listen to it in the car and especially love Sam Barber’s “Indigo” and “Pink Skies” by Zac Bryan. The music is easy to sing to and isn’t a far cry from Americana and bluegrass. The songs have given my daughter and I something to connect on, and we love talking through the stories behind the lyrics. When I need some catharsis, I have a playlist of country songs that does the trick. I mostly gravitate toward female voices, and the more harmonies the better. It seems there is a trend right now that has lots of male artists featuring a female voice. The verses weave in and out of two perspectives, and I just love the feminine attributes that lift what might otherwise be a male dominant vibe. I mentioned “Indigo” which features Avery Anna. Another one that gets heavy rotation on my Apple music is “I Remember Everything” with Kasey Musgraves.
Had I not made room for my daughter’s music while carting her to and from hockey and track practices, I would have missed out on the opportunity to change. Change is hard, and so often I resist it. Unlike new music tastes, some changes are harder to embrace. But like embracing country music, I need to remember to keep an open mind. In doing so, I may just be surprised by the new delights and discoveries I find. Not sure I am ready to tackle rap, but I have a few local artists that keep me willing to try. Dessa and Doomtree can be found on my playlists, but for now I’m settling into country and enjoying the simpler life it celebrates. After all, change is meant to nurture new growth and welcomes the end of one thing so something new can take its place. May you be blessed with your small changes, from music to new foods and everything in between.
