Hunter Hayes And Hunterfrey: Traditional Country Music

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“You know, traditional country music is something that’s going to be around forever.” George Strait (Jackson, “Country Music Quotes”). While Hunter Hayes’ style isn’t exactly traditional country, he has similar qualities to Roy Acuff- the most popular hillbilly singer of the swing era (Starr & Waterman, American Popular Music pg. 140). Hunter Hayes song “Wanted” is similar to the country music in the Swing Era in chapter six of American Popular Music. Hayes and Acuff are alike by how they both were crossover artists, neither were afraid to try something new with their music, and they both could play a wide variety of instruments. Roy Acuff and Hunter Hayes are both tremendous examples of popular crossover artists. Roy Acuff’s song “Great Speckled Bird” was considered a country song due to Acuff’s twangy accent and the instruments he used, but with its unforgettable melody it eventually crossed over to the pop charts (Starr & Waterman, American Popular Music pg. 140). Hunter Hayes song “Wanted” reached number one on Country …show more content…

“Acuff was not averse to using technological innovations that fit within the framework of the southern string band tradition.” (Starr & Waterman, American Popular Music pg. 141). Acuff would alter the texture of his songs by trying a new string instrument or using interesting techniques, such as; using the blunt edge of a steel knife to play melodic patterns of the dobro. Hunter Hayes shared this quality with Acuff due to him trying out his new ideas at the concert. Hayes took some of his old songs and did a rendition where he would alter the tempo from relaxed to more wild and loose. Hayes also harmonized vocally with another singer, creating a very appealing texture. Another new idea for Hunter Hayes at the concert was trying improvisation on the electric guitar. He hasn’t done much of that in his music, so it helped create an astounding

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