FAWM: "Call It Americana"

Call It Americana

Liner Notes

This is in response to Tyler Childers' comment at the Americana Music Awards a few years back as well as Sturgill saying he's never played a note of americana in his life. And I don't really disagree with them, especially after watching their comments in context. But this is how I felt at the time, so...

I had this first verse and first line of the chorus a few days before FAWM but the rest was written on 3 February. Just took me an extra day+ to record and mix this thing. (Abandoned the first arrangement.)

Implements of destruction: Firefly Acoustic Guitar Fender Modern Player Telecaster Squire Paranormal Stratosonic (p90's for the win) Short scale Squire Jaguar Bass Superlux S241 small diaphragm mic samples for drums

Lyrics

It seems that country music don't want us here It seems there is no doubt, they've made it clear I understand the labels can feel too tight No matter what you call it The music still feels right

What the hell is going on with all this drama? And why the hell can't we call it Americana? Does it really matter as long as we listen to you? Why the hell can't we call it Americana?

Well, I don't disagree with what you've said I'm glad that true country music isn't dead And I understand the problem with the label But just keep playing your music As long as you are able

What the hell is going on with all this drama? And why the hell can't we call it Americana? Does it really matter as long as we listen to you? Why the hell can't we call it Americana?

You say you're only playing country songs And calling it something else still feels wrong But why the hell do you want to be with them? Selling your soul to the radio Seems like quite the sin!

What the hell is going on with all this drama? And why the hell can't we call it Americana? Does it really matter as long as we listen to you? Why the hell can't we call it Americana? Why the hell can't we call it Americana?

Comments

@damschen 3d

I really like the melody of the chorus. Your instrumentation is always fantastic. Like the storyline - all around great song!

@catmisgivings 1w

A rose by any name, right? Big singalong vibes at the chorus!

@deandra 1w

You never cease to amaze me, TC - love this lyric and your musical skills are so impressive!

@jacobeverettwallace 1w

This is fantastic, TC! As a singer-songwriter originally from Texas, I've always fought against both of the Americana/Country labels. The syncopated "what. the. hell." line is so good, super catchy! Great stuff!

@philnorman 1w

No Depression was a album title. Then a print magazine. Now it's just nostalgia for being young, depressed, and listening to great bands that didn't fit commercial genres. You can pry Son Volt's Trace out of my cold dead hands.

The What. The. Hell. rhythm sets a great hook. Love the subject, love the musical exploration.

@tcelliott 1w

Love Trace. Love some things from Wilco. Absolutely love the Bottle Rockets (with the most tenuous connection to No Depression, but it's there.) Thanks for the comment.

@edwinb 1w

Indeed, who needs labels? I'm not even sure what most of them really mean... Great tune and production too! (And I'll probably keep singing "what the hell is going on" anyway...)

@steveodell 1w

you can

@aeye 1w

Killin it with the production this year TC. Adding this to your song writing ability it's just such a fantastic combo. Hit after hit! Now do a dis track

@val 1w

I can't keep all these subniches and genres straight anyway, so call it whatever you want. Love your three note down beats on your "what the hell." Such an ear catcher. And the whole production is a great success.

@nahlej381 1w

Another banger in the hopper TC! I know I sound like a broken record but I’d like to think that’s because you’re super consistent and not that I have little to say 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyway…the guitars sound so good and your vox have all been great so far this month but this may be the best one yet (from both a performance and a recording standpoint)

@wynia 1w

Amen!! Aside from this being just overall excellent, I really appreciate the staccato emphasis on “what the hell” as that really draws the attention to the lyrics, if the listener wasn’t already paying close attention. Guitar sounds so nice!

@froggymagee 1w

Ha! What the hell is going on with all this drama! Awesome concept for a song! Your delivery and instrumentation are fantastic, per usual! Loving the tasteful harmony too :)

@odetocollaboration 1w

Love the "what the hell" breaks! Lets face it we live in a world where everything must be labeled. like Kids t-shirts with labels that say remove child before washing! As far as music goes the days are gone where you go to the record store and buy an album that has a cool cover and are just looking for something new to discover. At the end of the day if you like a song you like it and genre makes no difference. But From a listener perspective it is nice to have some idea of what you might be getting because of so many sub genres that exist today. As an example I don't care for screamiing guturral vocals so every sub genre is just labeled metal, I will be regularly disappointed. I don't care for most modern country but am all about Alt country, roots, Americana music and Sturgill to me is a great example If he were labeled country I probably wouldn't have heard of him or chosen to listen. His perspective is probably hugely different though. If I were him I would rather be labeled as country because it is a massive market in comparison to Americana.

@paulmilne 1w

I'm not really familiar with this controversy, but I get the sentiments and it's a cracking song. Thabks for the kit list, how many guitars do you own now? 😆 Really good work, thanks for that.

@tcelliott 1w

Kinda embarrassed about the number of guitars here. I've several on the for sale list and quite a few in need of repair or set ups or attention. Got 'em cheap or in trade or whatever. Mainly using two acoustics and two electrics for FAWM, though. Oh, and the Jag bass.

@ductapeguyMod 1w

Firstly, the song and arrangement rocks hard. You hit exactly where you were aiming.

Secondly, as to the name of the genre, many Canadian musicians have felt at unease with the term Americana for many years. Since last January when we were blindsided with 51st state rhetoric, the sentiment among Canadian musicians has leaned towards calling that wide umbrella of country folk pop tinged music as simple Roots music. I know there is a similar consensus forming among musicians and music organizations around the world, outside of the United States.

But you the hell can certainly call it Americana.

@tcelliott 1w

I understand what you're saying. But Canada is in America, too. The Northern bit above the central bit that's above the southern bit. It's kind of what Childers and Simpson were saying. Why should they rename something that was theirs to begin with? But I don't disagree with the sentiment, either.

@mostlymediocremusic 1w

What the hell is going on with all this drama? That line alone is THE question these days. Well done.

@fb2studios 1w

this is great fun - i like those hard stops in the chorus, had me nodding my head to the beat throughout

@headfirstonlyMod 1w

I can empathise. Y'know, I really wish we could dispense with the whole genre/labels thing and putting types of music in little boxes. Just play the sort of music you like, man! And as a Brit, I wouldn't have a clue about what the differences between country, western, alt-country, americana, and all the other dozens of genres are. "Does it really matter as long as we listen to you?" nails it. That's all that counts!