Hacker News thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31939013

Funnily enough I had a phase during the iPod years where most of my playlist were country music songs

Nowadays I just listen to the music that is the sound of my own screams

If you’ve spent time in rural sub Saharan Africa one thing that might shock you is the popularity of American country music to the point where you can’t go to a bar, party, or wedding without avoiding it 🧵

The moment American county music reached Africa in the 70s it became instantly popular in the Anglophone so much so that many African singers at the time tried to emulate 70s American country singers

One of the most popular anti-apartheid albums in west Africa in the 80s was an attempt by local singers at making their variant of American country music

“Country themed” weddings are especially popular in rural parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe even adopting country line dancing

Of course the question why is American country music popular with rural Africans of all people? Well it’s mostly because it’s the only foreign music they can relate to. Compare this contemporary Zimbabwean country music and you’ll see many similar themes to American country music

Rural Africans are socially conservative farmers and ranchers so naturally music about cows and trucks speaks more to them than pop or hip hop especially if it gives them an excuse to wear their cowboy hats and boots

The popularity of American country music can even be seen in arguably the most popular music genre in anglophone sub Saharan Africa that being Christian worship music with the integration of country style melodies

And to the converse Africans have added in their own styles and instruments to covers of American country music. So if you ever find yourself in rural Africa don’t be surprised by how popular Johnny Cash and Hank Williams are !

And one more for fun from the rural west of Kenya

I wanna know what moids are liking these days. By beautiful I mean more on the pretty side rather than just your favourite.

!augustlovers please let me know, I'm very interested

edit: adding my own

I've not really browsed /mu/ or 4chan in ages but is that still the best place to find deep cuts / underground music? - Le gems if you will

Music I'd be referring to has like hundreds/thousands of listeners. Usually a one off album or project.

Examples:

Japanese Lo-fi synth music - https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/麓健一/美化-bika/

Random Vocaloid album with 2k views - https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm17530945

[insert random Vaporwave album that ends up being Good Actually] -

I would've used Brave Little Abacus in the past but they're super high on RYM now lol - https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-brave-little-abacus/just-got-back-from-the-discomfort—were-alright/

!dixie

Slow day and I've wanted to do thread like this for a while

Starting with 2 DDR outlaw core songs, his legal shenanigans make it very topical and his slightly raspy voice fits well

Now the hip hop of white people, country

Actual, legitimately interesting cover, with Butters singing the sample and Cartman rapping over it

Speaking of Kanye, what if Freaky Friday: Ye and Tay edition?

Kanye as an indie folk/pop/country singer

And Tay as a rapper

Dumping a bunch more that I don't want to clutter the post with

In no particular order these are mine. In this list I have mentioned my favorite artists. If you have other fantastic albums by other great pianists (Gilels and others), drop their names and albums and I'll listen to them.

Timeline of composers should be Baroque to Late 19th Century. I don't want to hear Shostakovich or Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Prokofiev etc. I'm not a music nerd so their genius will probably be lost on me.

Edit: Suggestion by @LazarusFrozen

Instead of posting individual songs, I'm just going to use this post to share music (until I reach 20k characters or otherwise can't edit).

Category Key

• C = Country

• EI = Electronic/Instrumental (broadly speaking)

• F = Folk (broadly speaking)

• GP = Garage/Punk

• HR = Harder Rock

• HH = Hip-hop

• JC - Christian

• LKGSBMA = Lesser Known Good/Great Songs by Mainstream Artists

• MR = Melodious Rock

• Pop = Pop-like music

• SC = Sneedcore

Secondary Category Key

• TBSBF = Their best song by far (IMO)

They're complaining about her dating a racist and cheating on a guy with depression

Strega Beata by Lana Del Rabies

I know what you're thinking. This must be some shitty parody music of Lana Del Rey's songs. Trust me this is why I slept on this too. I thought it was like Oblivia Rodingo but this is actual proper music. It's dark gritty noisy quality Death Industrial music.

——

Chen Jingfei (self titled)

Now this is actually Lana Del Rey-esque music but it takes it to some cowboy movie soundtrack route and somehow it's in Chinese. It seems like a weird mix but it's done well and it's very cinematic.

——

Inner - Space by ISON

A lot of rock and metal stuff bore me these days. I don't know. Kinda lost appeal but I find myself enjoying this and revisiting.

——

Works for Abattoir Ferme 2007-2011 by Kreng

You know how you always see artists or albums tagged with “DARK ambient” and it sounds about as scary as playing peekaboo. This album is actually dark. When someone says dark ambient, this album should be the first thing on their mind. Why isn't this more popular? I have no clue. It's dark, cinematic and terrifying especially the first 4 tracks. The album art is chef kiss too.

——

Songs for the Children of Baphomet by The Royal Family and the Poor

Umm I don't know what this genre is. Liturgy Darkwave, maybe? I don't know. It sounds churchy but also like LARPing as a medieval knight at a nightclub?

Ranked Choices (in my opinion)

1. Wilhelm Kempff - Subtle, Sweet, Perfect

2. Gregory Sokolov - Rich, Warm, Slightly faster compared to 1, Vibrant

3. Sviatoslav Richter - That signature Richter touch, very melodic, though slightly faster

4. Alfred Brendel - Light and slow, very moody

!classics what are your favorite interpretations?

i don't think men do and tbh i think they need it.

— emily (@emilykmay) January 20, 2024

Aphex Twin: Spread vaccine misinformation.

Hanson: Zac had a Pinterest account that was loaded with memes that were racist, transphobic, homophobic and sexist, including memes supporting the murder of Trayvon Martin and Rosa Parks. Isaac posted that he wouldn't "comply" with COVID restrictions. The band held concerts in defiance of COVID-19 protocols.

Josh Groban: Regularly works with non-union labor.

Kanye West: Supported Donald Trump. Spread vaccine misinformation. Worked with DaBaby and Marilyn Manson after they committed horrible acts. Has a ton of misogynistic lyrics. Performed for an authoritarian Kazakhstan leader. Spread anti-Semitic misinformation. Defended Bill Cosby. Said slavery was a choice. Engaged in a series of harassing actions against his ex-wife and her new boyfriend. Was convicted of battery. Issued a series of violently antisemitic Tweets. Sent more anti-Semitic Tweets. Wildly blamed George Floyd's death on fentanyl. Purchased conservative website Parler to keep it running. Doubled down on his anti-Semitic comments. Gave White Lives Matter shirts to homeless people. His Donda Academy was sued for health, safety, ethical and labor violations. Accused of antisemitism by his former business partner. Involved racist and accused sexual offender Dov Charney in his business decisions. Sued by former employee of Donda Academy for unsafe conditions.

Killer Mike, Run the Jewels: Met with and legitimized Republicans Brian Kemp and Herschel Walker.

Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth: The band performed at a superspreader event during the COVID-19 pandemic and he cast doubt upon the pandemic. Performed a Nazi salute while drunkenly on stage.

My Top Genres

My music tastes better than yours!!!!!!

Post your wraps friends!!!!!