bonatoc said:

You're absolutely free to think what is Country Music and what isn't.

But I can see your point of view: "The Holy River" bends more towards "Jolene",
this kind of "unorthodox" Country standards.

On second thought, I can easily imagine it being covered by a Country artist.
And you're right, Country has come a long way, and has evolved.
Lines have blurred, and it's pretty hard to label something being more Folk-rock than Country-rock.

Don't worry we pardon you.

bonatoc said:

You're absolutely free to think what is Country Music and what isn't.

But I can see your point of view: "The Holy River" bends more towards "Jolene",
this kind of "unorthodox" Country standards.

On second thought, I can easily imagine it being covered by a Country artist.
And you're right, Country has come a long way, and has evolved.
Lines have blurred, and it's pretty hard to label something being more Folk-rock than Country-rock.

How in the sam hell is Jolene an unorthodox country standard? As they say in the actual country, "too much college". All , bonny.

poppys said:

bonatoc said:

You're absolutely free to think what is Country Music and what isn't.

But I can see your point of view: "The Holy River" bends more towards "Jolene",
this kind of "unorthodox" Country standards.

On second thought, I can easily imagine it being covered by a Country artist.
And you're right, Country has come a long way, and has evolved.
Lines have blurred, and it's pretty hard to label something being more Folk-rock than Country-rock.

How in the sam hell is Jolene an unorthodox country standard? As they say in the actual country, "too much college". All , bonny.

Jolene is a CLASSIC country standard, not unorthodox. One of my favorite Dolly Parton songs.

The small club version of Still Would Stand All Time has a country vibe to me.

purplethunder3121 said:

poppys said:

How in the sam hell is Jolene an unorthodox country standard? As they say in the actual country, "too much college". All , bonny.

Jolene is a CLASSIC country standard, not unorthodox. One of my favorite Dolly Parton songs.

& !

Of course it's a classic. I loved "Jolene" for decades.

What I meant by "unorthodox" is that Jolene’s chords and melody don't follow the typical chord progressions or the melodic gimmicks

found in most of Country music. Like Reggae or Metal, it's a strongly typed genre that comes with somewhat strict musical rules that help define it.

Same goes for "Walk The Line". Strong original songs have such an impact, they may spawn musical siblings and even dedicated sub-genres,
but they're quite unique when compared to the rest of the musical production of the genre at large, especially at the time of their release.

bonatoc said:

Of course it's a classic. I loved "Jolene" for decades.

What I meant by "unorthodox" is that Jolene’s chords and melody don't follow the typical chord progressions or the melodic gimmicks

found in most of Country music. Like Reggae or Metal, it's a strongly typed genre that comes with somewhat strict musical rules that help define it.

Same goes for "Walk The Line". Strong original songs have such an impact, they may spawn musical siblings and even dedicated sub-genres,
but they're quite unique when compared to the rest of the musical production of the genre at large, especially at the time of their release.

Totally agree with you that there are some songs in every genre that break the rules; Johnny Cash was one who did it (since you refer to "I Walk The Line."). Prince was another artist who had many songs that broke the rules for many genres...

purplethunder3121 said:

bonatoc said:

Of course it's a classic. I loved "Jolene" for decades.

What I meant by "unorthodox" is that Jolene’s chords and melody don't follow the typical chord progressions or the melodic gimmicks

found in most of Country music. Like Reggae or Metal, it's a strongly typed genre that comes with somewhat strict musical rules that help define it.

Same goes for "Walk The Line". Strong original songs have such an impact, they may spawn musical siblings and even dedicated sub-genres,
but they're quite unique when compared to the rest of the musical production of the genre at large, especially at the time of their release.

Totally agree with you that there are some songs in every genre that break the rules; Johnny Cash was one who did it (since you refer to "I Walk The Line."). Prince was another artist who had many songs that broke the rules for many genres...

WDC being the usual suspect. It's a pop hit and now widely accepted as such,
but at the time of its release, it was nothing short of a... revolution.
You could say it still is, and not only due to the "no bass" factor.

Can't Stop this Feeling I Got

djThunderfunk said:

He did give Kenny Rogers a song.

Also, LeAnne Rimes, Rodney Carrington & Dwight Yoakam have all covered Purple Rain.

That live clip of him joining Sheryl Crow onstage for Everyday Is A Winding Road is country-ish.

[Edited 10/12/17 9:54am]

If we're talking covers . . .

The Dixie Chicks were covering "Nothing Compares 2 U" on their last tour.

And Prince gave Deborah Allen a song, too. But she was moving from country to a more pop direction.

A while back, I tried to find a bunch of country/folk/Americana covers of Prince to make a mix. They're not all exactly country, but they're all kind of rootsy. I never got around to actually making the mix--it's mostly the same few songs that get covered--but these are some I found (or already knew of):

The Gear Daddies - Little Red Corvette (an old favorite)

Steve Poltz - Little Red Corvette

Guy Forsyth - Delirious

Lydia Loveless - I Would Die 4 U

Cory Branan - Under the Cherry Moon

The Derailers - Raspberry Beret

Hindu Love Gods - Raspberry Beret

Kris McKay - When Doves Cry

The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry

Greensky Bluegrass - When Doves Cry

Joshua James and the Runaway Trains - When You Were Mine

Crooked Fingers - When You Were Mine

Texas Lightning - Kiss

Texas Lightning - Nothing Compares 2 U

The Red Dirt Rangers - 1999

Dynamo's Rhythm Aces - Alphabet St.

I didn't include things like YouTube covers, just recordings released on CD or digital download.

bonatoc said:

Still Waiting.

I don't know if Prince intended for Still Waiting to have a country vibe, but I can definitely hear a country type of vibe in this song.

214 said:

JohnCragg said:

Gotta Broken Heart Again, a little

Forever in My Life (sing it to yourself with a 'twang')

[Edited 10/3/17 10:32am]

These two, Shy and Count The Days and what about Dark?

Yes to Count the Days and Shy.

No to Dark. Dark is very jazzy.