Bro-country
Bro-country is a form of country pop[1] originating in the 2010s, and is influenced by 21st-century hip hop, hard rock, and electronica.[2] Bro-country songs are often musically upbeat with lyrics about attractive young women, the consumption of alcohol, partying, blue jeans, boots, and pickup trucks.[3][4]
Bro-country
Early 2010s, Southern United States
- Vocals
- guitar
- drums
- drum machines
- bass guitar
- keyboard
- electric guitar
- banjo
The first use of the term was by Jody Rosen of New York magazine in an article published on August 11, 2013, in which Rosen described songs by Florida Georgia Line, particularly their debut single "Cruise". Rosen also named Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Jake Owen among singers of the genre.[5] Entertainment Weekly cited "Boys 'Round Here" by Blake Shelton and "Ready Set Roll" by Chase Rice as other examples of bro-country.[6][7] The popularity of the genre opened up a divide between the older generation of country singers and contemporary artists with a more traditional-leaning sound, and the bro-country singers which was described as "civil war" by musicians, critics and journalists.[8]
Reactions in music[edit]
A number of country singers expressed their criticism of the genre in their songs.[30] In July 2014, female duo Maddie & Tae released their debut single, "Girl in a Country Song", which criticized and referenced many bro-country songs, particularly the roles of women within such songs.[31][32][33] However, in the same month, country singer-songwriter Maggie Rose released her single "Girl in Your Truck Song". In the song she praises bro-country songs, saying she actually wants to be the girl in their songs.[34]
In August 2014, country artist Brad Paisley recorded a song called "4WP" for his album Moonshine in the Trunk. In the song, Paisley pokes fun at bro-country by joining the trend and heavily relying on some of its recurrent elements. A sample of Paisley's hit single "Mud on the Tires" is also featured in the song. About the song, Paisley said: "In the middle of this bro-country movement, with all this criticism about [the genre's reliance on] the jean shorts and the mud and the outdoors, we do a song that's just like that... but we include a sample of myself from 2003! Which is kind of like saying, 'I have a little license. I kinda did this already'. But it's written so tongue-in-cheek, and it doesn't take itself too seriously."[35]
On October 15, 2014, Canadian country music artist Paul Brandt released the song "Get a Bed" as a comedic response to the bro-country phenomenon.[36]
In April 2015, songwriter Brent Cobb, who has written cuts by Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Frankie Ballard and Luke Bryan, released a song called "Yo Bro" which mocks and pokes fun at all of bro-country's clichés stating that it was "inspired by frustration".[37]
In 2016, comedian and musician Ben Hoffman released his first country album, Redneck Shit, under the stage name Wheeler Walker, Jr., finding success satirizing stereotypical modern country music tropes with raunchy themes and lyrics. Hoffman has used the character's success to vocalize his displeasure with the modern Nashville music scene, specifically the bro-country subgenre.[38]