TheAmericanamusicgenre has a rich, storied history in the United States, with a mixture of incorporated soundsas diverse as the nation itself. Americana is commonly thought to only be based around the folk stylings that hovered aroundsome of Bob Dylan’s biggest songs, or the country commentary that made up so muchof Johnny Cash’s famed career.
The truth is, Americana has also blended in blues, soul, bluegrass, and gospel elements as the genre has evolved. Even classic rock groups like Creedence Clearwater Revival have gotten in on the actionwith many of their defining songs. All have been brought together through the same message: commentary onthe heart, soul, and lifeblood of everyday American existence.
What many listeners often misinterpret about that social commentary within Americana music, however, is that it’s not always positive. In fact, most Americana music that chooses to make a direct statement or stand about the structure or function of some aspect of life in the United Statestakes the opposite point of view.
Most Americana Music Actually Offers Criticism On America
This Has Always Been A Consistent Factor
What has often occurred in Americana, more than perhaps any other genre, is the mislabeling of a song’s artistic intent. Take folk icon Woody Guthrie, for instance, whose signature song “This Land is Your Land” was forcibly shaped into a misty-eyed portrait of American idealism. Extra verses of the trackreferencing the country’s social/income inequality issuesare frequently ignored.
Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” has suffered a similar fate of misunderstanding, being seen as a patriotic ode to America from a surface-level perspective of Americana. In reality, the lyrics within depict a critical analysis of US society through the character of a disillusioned Vietnam War vetwho feels alienated after returning home from the conflict.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 single “Fortunate Son” is also incorrectly utilized at times in displays of back-slapping nationalism. CCR lead singer John Fogerty actually intended the songto act as a critique of class, especially when it came to those who were drafted into the US military (and the wealthy/well-connected who avoided it) during the Vietnam era.
Americana Highlights What The Country Could Be, Not What It Is
Speaking Out To Benefit The Needs Of Everyone
These songs in the Americana mold (and plenty of others from the genre) are not meant to portray or exude characters of outright sneering disrespect or ill intent toward the idea of the United States. Rather, they’re intended to call out/improvesystems and powers that aren’t built equitably for allby shining a light on them through melodic protest.
Some societal aspects, like those Guthrie championed during his day, have improved since then, but there’s still a long way to go until this type ofAmericanasong stops being so relevant. Until then, we need to better understand the intent of these songs in the genre, and whythe truth within them isn’t more popularized.
