Gone Country

There was a time, when country music wasn't cool. Then came Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Brooks 'N' Dunn, etc.Now these days, seem everyone, "Gone Country". Seems like Bob McDill knew what he was writing about when he wrote this song. Alan Jackson released "Gone Country" as his third single from his fourth album, Who I Am, in November 1994 and was produced by Keith Stegall. The song peaked up to #1 on the Hot Country Songs the week of January 28, 1995, and lasted one week. In Canada however, it managed to meet #2. Cledus T Judd came out with a parody soon afterward with, "Gone Funky", as shown below (Not that great of a song, in my opinion).

The music video followed the lives of three artist trying to survive out in the music business world. Risking it all, they try out for the Country music world where they soon found success bigger than where they previously were. Directed by Michael Oblowitz and was filmed in New York, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Las Vegas. The concert featured in the video comes from Evansville, Indiana. late in the 1990s, Alan Jackson made a jingle for the Ford Motor Company using the song, and was titled, "Ford Country".

Thanks to George Jones, "Good Year Before Roses", Bob McDill was inspired enough to start writing country songs after not finding much success with writing rock and pop (probably where the idea of writing "Gone Country" came from). McDill was born in Walden, Tx. as Robert Lee "Bob" Mcdill on April 4, 1944. during his childhood life, he took Viola lessons in 4th grade, and later picked up on guitar. During his high school years, he played with several different bands. After graduation, he attended Lamar University and then enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve, serving active duty for 2 years. He came across Allen Reynolds, whom gave him many sognwriting advice, and had helped McDill produce his first chart record as a songwriter with, "The Happy Man". The song was recorded in 1967 by Perry Como.

McDill later moved to Nashville by 1970, where he pursue a full-time music career as a songwriter with Jack Music, a publishing company owned by Jack Clement. McDill first country cut, "Catfish John", was recorded by Johnny Russell in 1972. The song propelled McDill into the front ranks of country songwriters. In 1977, Bobby Bare (best known for "Detroit City" and "500 Miles Away From Home") recorded an entire album of McDill songs titled, Me and McDill. McDill, after writing many and many songs, which provided up to 31 #1 hits, retired in 2000 since his start in 1960.

These days, you can still hear "Gone Country" in your mind whenever you hear about all these artist who crosses over into country music. Even when we have these newcomers who don't even belong in the country music world. Back then, it used to be about the music, now it's only about the money. So is Country Music really dead? Some say yes, others say no. With this, I leave you with Alan Jackson, "Gone Country", and a farewell.

Resource

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Country_(song)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_McDill
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bare
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish_John