Strait Country
Why the songbook of George Strait is becoming more of a fleeting memory. Hint: It's not about the music.
Let's get something out of the way: George Strait is the king of country music. No ifs, ands or buts.
Since first kicking up dust with “Unwound” in 1981, Strait holds the record for most number-one albums and singles, gold albums, platinum albums, and multi-platinum albums in the history of country music. The man is untouchable.
But looking at the country music landscape in 2024, is King George's influence starting to wane?
Let's start with something that may not be obvious to everyone: Strait is rarely the author of his hit songs. Sure, in more recent years, you'll find tunes on his albums that he's written with his son Bubba. But Strait has always employed outside songwriters, which makes him an interpreter of songs.
Nothing wrong with that. So was Linda Ronstadt. That didn't prevent her from getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Both are masters of interpreting songs they didn't write themselves.
These days, writing your own hit songs makes you a bona fide, adding that extra feather in your Stetson. Chris Stapleton is a renowned songwriter, even though (ironically) his biggest hit was his interpretation of an old George Jones warhorse. Jason Isbell and Maren Morris in the current generation, Dolly Parton and Keith Urban in previous ones, all pen tunes for themselves and others.
But no, Strait not being a singer-songwriter in that tradition isn't why we don't hear Strait-like songs as much anymore. I think the reason has less to do with music and more to do with where we are in society.
Here's the deal: Strait songs are too good for today's tastes. And I don't just mean good in terms of quality - I mean good as in pure goodness.
Strait was never about messaging at one fringe of the political spectrum or the other. The most controversial he got was “Murder On Music Row” with Alan Jackson where he decried the inauthenticity of Nashville’s Music Row. But that doesn't tug at the hearts of Democrats or Republicans, at Blue or Red.
But Jason Aldean does at one end of the spectrum. The (Dixie) Chicks do it at the other. Regardless of whether you like either song, neither is Strait Country.
The values reflected in Strait's songs are tried and true. We abandon them at great risk. See the examples below:
“Love Without End, Amen”
George sings about God and love in a song that celebrates fatherhood. If that is out of fashion, Lord help us all.
“The Chair”
Love song for all time? Or is George getting dinged in 2024 for using a white lie as a pick-up line?
“All My Ex’s Live in Texas”
In 2024, seems we're less likely to get married at all and more likely debating what a relationship actually looks like.
“I Cross My Heart”
Too sappy for today's sensibilities? Call me a sap. I well up every time I hear this song, every time I see that climactic scene in Pure Country. Sue me.
One of Strait's latter-day gems is “I Hate Everything” - and if country music no longer has a use for George Strait, I'll hate everything about that.