I started listening to contemporary Country music a while ago, and now I’m hooked.  It was rather a surprise.  I wouldn’t describe myself as a Country music sort of person.  But, my problem is that I like to sing to music, not just listen to it.

Back in the day, there were songs you could sing along with, like “Turn the Page” by Bob Seger.  I remember one time I was on a long-distance drive, fortified with my favorite Foreigner tape.  I was rocking out to Head Games and Juke Box Hero, with the pedal to the metal.

It occurred to me that I should clean up my act when a guy in front of me made a bee-line for the right lane, then stared at me with a startled, almost frightened look on his face as I zoomed by.  I’m not sure it was the speed that got him as much as the fact that he probably thought I was yelling at him the entire way.  Likelihood is he couldn’t hear the music. . .

But, then, music got to the point where there was little melody, unusual rhythms and words you could only figure out if you memorized the lyrics from a printout on the CD.  And, half the time you wouldn’t want to know what the song was about, anyway.

So, one day I was playing with the radio and came across the local contemporary Country music station.  And, you could understand the words, the harmonies were great, and the songs were pretty interesting.  Country music has moved beyond the ”I lost my dog and now my girlfriend won’t talk to me” phase.

There are great musicians like Little Big Town, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, and of course, Keith Urban of Nicole Kidman fame.

If you want to know what Country music is all about, find a song called “Songs About Me” by Trace Adkins.

And, if you want to strain your vocal cords on a long road trip, tune in to a good Country music station.  You just might be surprised.

But, don’t worry.  I haven’t invested in the hat and guitar. . .  yet.