Ch. 10 "Countrypolitan, Urban Cowboys & Reagan Era"

Countrypolitan genre

-popular style of country music that emerged in and combines elements of traditional country with mainstream pop sounds

-popular musical fad

-Nashville Sound reminiscent

Countrypolitan key performers?

-Barbara Mandrell

-Alabama

-Dolly Parton

-Kenny Rogers

-Lee Greenwood

Countrypolitan main instruments?

-loud drums, electric bass, percussion, electric piano, organ, synthesizers

Countrypolitan musical characteristics?

-musical interjections and sometimes special-effects noises

-smooth backup singers

-minimal use of fiddles and steel guitars

-rhythmic grooves relying on 8th notes

-lots of syncopation

-lots of reverb and echo

-non-traditional chord progressions

Countrypolitan context of music?

-shift to Reagan's presidency reflected shift to inauthenticity in country

-"Urban Cowboy" movie w/John Travolta -- catalyst of pop/country crossover