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]

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]

  1. ^ a b Kanuch, Nathan (March 5, 2018). "Re-visiting Bro-Country". Medium. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Andrew Barker (November 26, 2014). "Despite Detractors, Bro-Country May Be a Bellwether of Nashville's Future". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Rodman, Sarah (November 2, 2013). "For songwriters, a country divide". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Bream, Jon (March 9, 2014). "Luke Bryan is poster boy for Nashville's new 'bro-country'". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on June 2, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  5. ^ Rosen, Jody (August 11, 2013). "Jody Rosen on the Rise of Bro-Country". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  6. ^ Smith, Grady (October 18, 2013). "Country brodown: Every truck, beer, jeans, moonlight, and 'girl' reference on the current chart". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  7. ^ Smith, Grady (October 1, 2013). "How country music went crazy: A comprehensive timeline of the genre's identity crisis". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference time was invoked but never defined (see the help page).