In the vibrant halls of Miami Senior High School, where music serves as a universal language, an intriguing question lingers in the air: do students here enjoy listening to country music? Country music is not for everyone. A lot of people have different opinions and thoughts about it especially in a predominantly Hispanic high school like Miami Senior High School.
Country music originated over 100 years ago in the South and the West of the United States. Nowadays there are artists like Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs whose songs have reached No. 1 and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. When you ask someone, “What music do you listen to?” you usually hear the response “everything, but country” but some people hide the fact they like country because of their friends or society calling country “weird.”
10th grader Angelica Pulacari stated, “If you put it in the car, I’ll listen to it but if I’m going to shower and I need to pick music, I’m not choosing Luke Bryan.”
Senior Luna Torres, stated, “To me country music is lame.” She finds country music cringy because she never grew up around it and this leads her to feeling uncomfortable when listening to it. She states, “Country music is for certain type of people and not for everyone to enjoy.”
On the other hand, 12th grader Nikki Rodriguez stated, “A lot of people think about the rhythm, but if you listen to the lyrics, it has a big impact on your view of life.”
Similarly, senior Gretta Somoza, stated, “Country music reduces stress and expresses deep emotions whether I’m happy or sad.”
Within the halls of Miami Senior High School, teachers shape the school’s environment. This makes us wonder: do teachers here enjoy listening to country music?
Mr. Hernandez, the band director and music teacher, loves country. He states, “More than anything, country music is about telling a story.” He names a song called “Long May You Run” by Neil Young and states, “You’d think it’s about a partner that’s gone away but it’s about his car. He makes you feel the same emotions he felt and how in love he was with his car. In the most beautiful way, it tells a story.” He says that there are songs in country music that are truly story-tellers and those are the country songs that he finds incredible.
Social studies teacher Mr. Nguyen stated, “I can’t tell you if I like country or not because it depends on the beat. If you ask me if I like to hear bluegrass, which is another form of country music, I would say no. I like the more modern country music.”
Ms. Yanes, another social studies teacher, stated, “The songs relate to life. They’re genuine, they’re real, and if you actually listen to the lyrics, it makes sense.” Her favorite country song that she plays to her kids and to her own classes is “Stay Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw. She even made her class write an opening routine about what the song means, and she states the song keeps her grounded.
Stereotypes in country music frequently convey a picture that extends beyond the song itself. While cowboy hats and twangy guitars are popular, there’s a lot more to discover beneath the surface. Stereotypes about country music tend to be about how it exclusively is about heartbreaks and pickup trucks and also how it lacks diversity.
Senior Gretta Somoza states, “Some people view country music as associated with being white or annoying, especially in Miami where it’s seen as out of place. I think it affects the perception of the fans because new listeners might not be interested in listening since they think it is boring and uninteresting.”
The challenge lies in breaking down these stereotypes to reveal the diverse and engaging aspects of country music that extend beyond the preconceived notions. Senior Nikki Rodriguez states, “A lot of people think that the people that live in the middle of nowhere, the people that wear button downs every day, and the people that drive trucks are the only ones that listen to country. I drive a normal car and I still jam with country music every day.”
From a teacher’s perspective, Mr. Hernandez states, “A lot of people think that country is this repetitive spewing of certain phrases to get people’s attention.” This perception suggests that there may be a stereotype surrounding country music as being predictable. While some mainstream country songs may use certain common phrases, an in-depth examination exposes a diverse range of stories, emotions, and musical creation, defying stereotypes.
Country music expresses a lot of feelings and stories through different styles, ranging from old-fashioned to modern. However, when people get stuck on stereotypes about country music, it can hide how meaningful and diverse it truly is.
