Country Music Trends You Can't Unhear 

The why country music was awful in 2013 sequel finally

Never stop doin that thang, Grady, even when the doin' doesn't get done.

I actually really like the comma style of writing. I feel it’s a lot more creative then a lot of the other mainstream songs in recent years.

Get a few “I want to sell my truck because it reminds me of her” songs lately. Maybe not enough to call it a trend but still odd that two came out weeks apart.

You know how you sometimes you will google lyrics to find a song? If the only lyrics you heard were "doin what we do" you'd find not one song, but a full catalog of country music to listen to 😂

I love how this feels like your first video

I honestly love comma songs and enjoy that aspect of songwriting.

This gives me "Why Country Music was Awful in 2013" vibes. Nicely done.

I wrote “Second Guessing” and there’s no comma there 😂 but I get the point. Cool seeing one of my songs on your video regardless of the context aha love your stuff, Grady!

I'd like to nominate the "high in/like Colorado" trend. We have other things here, and it's legal in other states.

I thought about the "comma songs" the other day when I heard "Damn Strait," by Scotty McCreery on the radio. I like the song but it is a bit of both the comma song and the Frankenstein song trend! Made me think of Grady right away 😆

I laughed so hard when I heard Tim mcgraws new song where he name drops other Tim Mcgraw songs. I’m surprised that he didn’t manage to work in the title of the song “Tim McGraw” by Taylor Swift for another layer of doucheiness.

Personally, the idea of trends doesn't bother me too much in and of itself - for the most part. For example, I think "Next Girl" and "Space Cowboy" are both interesting enough lyrically and musically that they're still good songs regardless of whether or not other artists are putting out songs with a similar "comma songs" concept. The point where trends begin to bother me is when it negatively impacts the songwriting, a la using the generic and uninteresting "doing what we do" instead of actually describing some activities a person might do.

I feel like I hear songs referencing a “one lane town” or “one stoplight town” or “one horse town” a lot

Keep doing what you do, Grady!

Grady has officially gone full circle

I'll be honest, I like the "comma songs". I think its a creative way to write something with more value.

Just doin what we do and have always done and will continue to do the things we’ve done that consequently are what we do, ya know?

Grady Smith always brings the receipts

the doing what you do trend is definitely the funniest thing they've been doing in country musical recently

Classic Grady, out here doin what he’s always done

Your channel is basically the country music channel. I'm not the most southern person out there, but as someone who grew up in the culture and can't help but see it as part of themselves it's great to hear somebody give thorough thoughts on the genre.

Great summary of the trends, thanks! I personally like the comma songs - didn't even know they were called that. I think it's a sign that the writer is able to play with the words and pacing. The songs that repeat certain phrases over and over in different songs show the songwriters laziness or willingness to jump on a current bandwagon or they just can't think of anything else to rhyme with for example, clock - tick tock! Yeah the 'doin what we do', I'd rather have it explained, but that's just the teacher in me. I don't mind the Frankenstein songs but who the heck takes a microphone and stands on a speedboat? Maybe you should do another video about strange things in the song videos!

Radio country music in 2030: “Do thing amen, angel person, no Colder Weather Wagon Wheel” Radio host: dang that was a deep song straight from the heart.

How you not gonna put “Damn Strait” on the “frankenstein” songs list?

I completely agree about the religious,/worshipful song about girlfriends. Super uncomfortable and cringeworthy sometimes. It’s like you can have something so honest and raw like Eric Church saying she loves me like Jesus does, but the examples you gave are like the other end of the spectrum.

Something to consider, these are the song writers not the artists, in a lot of these songs. Way to notice the trends Grady, that is why you have so much respect.

Reminds me of your first viral video Grady. I love all your content but this type has a special place in my heart ☺️

I’ll never get over “we do what we do and it does what it does” 😅

The women as Godly/worthy of worship trend really makes me feel icky. Though the songs that praise God for making women are ok. I do like Frankenstein/remix songs, but mostly because they make me feel smart and “in the know” 😂

Even though i love the song im gonna mention, "Midnight Rider's Prayer" from the Brothers Osborne falls easily into the last category, using the chorus from "On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson

Big & Rich's "Holy Water" is an example of why they're a very underrated duo in country music. They can tackle very serious subjects, such as domestic abuse, or even "Live This Life", which is another very powerful song about finding Jesus and God through difficult stages in 3 individuals' lives, that closes out "Horse of a Different Color". Check it out, if you haven't heard it.

This shows pure dedication from Grady. This guy baffles me

"Beach Boys" by LOCASH is another in the re-interpretation trend, and I'm kinda digging it!

Could've included Parker McCollum - Pretty Heart "I could do you like I did" Josh Thompson - I Love Me Some You has a line "Watching you do what you do when you do what you do"

Home Boy by Eric Church is so iconic. This kind of content is excellent.

That Big n Rich song holy water is a favorite

i must confess i’ll always love a good comma song

Some of these trends go way back to the 60s.

I feel like "party mode" is an exception. And look I have nightmares about Tullahoma as much as the next guy but the full line is "doing that thing I do, running from the truth". He actually tells you what he's doing. I think it works In that song. Keep doing what you have always done grady!

OG style grady editing

Finally, a sequel to your first big hit.

Holy Water by Big And Rich is amazing.

This is everything that I didn’t think that I needed. Thank you Grady for the fan service!

Comma songs are a fun wordplay so I like them. I also love it when country songs name drop a different song or singer or town/state.

All I can think about when watching this video is the scene in The Office where Michael stares at Toby and says, "Why are you the way that you are??? ... I hate so much... about the things you choose to be..."

For someone who loves country, sometimes I really hate country 😂

Is this like the Lyric Video trend? You can just do a video with your script on the screen and footage grabbed from other sources. GENIUS! Doin what you doin without as much doin!

Basically the Simp Country video sequel to the bro one. Love it

New thumbnail just dropped 🔥

My big one is some combination of "Love" and "Crazy".

LOVE your content Grady. Most were spot on, some were spot off. For instance, homeboy that’s kinda classic Eric church word play kinda how he plays on record year. Worshiping girls is always weird however there’s a difference in saying God gave me this girl and worshipping said girl. I think the former can be creative while the later is always creepy and obsessive Note: I don’t think this video was entirely hating these trends but rather just showing what the trends are. And sometimes they work, but mostly they don’t. Like doing what we do is so dumb and lazy and over done

I've noticed a real surge just lately in songs playing on the "wasted whiskey" theme, I mean there always has been but recently there seems to be sssooooo many...

An offset of Frankenstein songs I’ve seen a lot and am tired of are the “name droppers” (aka songs that use other artists as their lyrics) Examples: Damn Strait- Scotty. Raised On Country- Chris Young That’s Country Bro- Toby Kieth If Heaven wasn’t so Far Away- Justin Moore Country Must Be Country Wide- Brantley Gilbert That Ain’t Country- Arron Lewis Etc.

I just finished listening to every single number one country hit, ever. There are definitely fads and phases, going right back to the beginning. I'll be glad when the talk-singing fad ends, and we can get back to having real singers.

I noticed a recent trend in songs about guys selling their pickup trucks after their girlfriends leave them.

The reimagining songs thing really grinds my gears

You know, for a video about country music trends, I didn’t really hear any country songs in it, just pop songs with acoustic guitar samples buried in the mix

I'm glad you made this. These have been so interesting as you pointed them out in the last few months/years

okay, okay. but hear me out. every one of these songs are BANGERS some how 🤣

Hey Grady. Another Frankenstein song to check out is “Mama Got The Chair” by Chevel Shepard. It’s a story from daughter of the woman in George Strait’s “The Chair”, and what she was told by her mother about that night. Check it out, man! It’s pretty good from the other POV.

Keep doing what you do!

They sure do do that what they do.

Is this you trying to relive your 2013 years? Lol

Forgot “forth of July” references. Lol those were very popular a few years ago but still. I like that first Holy Water song. Thanks for the new tune stuck in my head! Always a good experience watching your videos

It’s the video I never knew I needed! What I would love to see in a video might be outside your scope. But I would LOVE to hear a panel of women “Ye-Haw” or “Ye-Naw” a series of pick-up songs. Like I can’t stand Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night,” but I think Brad Paisley’s “Ticks” is hilarious. Could Grady get some female colleagues together to make that video?

Now who's up for the challenge of making a song that does all of these!

Recently I’ve only been listening to Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley, so when I listen to any Country music not like that it makes me take pause and question what I like about Country music. Is it instrumentation, is it lyrical ability, is it the style of performer, is it all three? A lot of Country music, even songs I used to like, has become unpalatable to me; and I think it comes from the fact that almost all Country music in the modern day is obsessed with aesthetic. Music that is pop in everything but name or songs that desperately try to remind you how Country they are,dominates modern Country songwriters pens; and it has really bankrupted the soul of Country Music (specifically from Nashville). My theory as to why this is is due to the popularity of 80’s and 90’s Country Music, and that due to its unbridled success Nashville wanted to maintain by essentially bottling and selling a certain view of rural America (camo, 4 wheeling, big trucks, etc) rather than understanding the cultural niches of the different rural areas (ie the difference in cultural customs in say Appalachia versus Nebraska or even the differences in Northern and Southern Appalachia). So instead of being a soulful manifestation of cultural rhythms it’s a shallow regurgitation a trend long past (that trend being the 90’s). Not to mention with the advent of TV and the Internet, the access to other musical interpretations has a decided effect upon a given musician’s taste; it’s not surprising we see this sort of regurgitated tripe. I think that’s what makes the regional explosions of country music (red dirt, Texas Scene, Appalachia) so interesting. It allows these artists to be themselves and the music to be unequivocally itself, not a costume to be used, not an industry project posing as something else, a genuine attempt and interpretation of Country Music that promulgates its own cultural stylings.

OH! As well as the Beach Boys song, man that drives me nuts. But the worst, is when you can sing a different song within the new one. Look What God Gave Her ( I do like the song but...) reminded me of how I was able to sing Tom Petty's Learning to Fly, and actually there are MANY songs that use that particular guitar chord progression it drives me UP the wall.

And when you do it'll do what it does

I feel bad my favorite recent Grady video didn’t have Grady in it at all.

I think the first "do what you do" in country music might be from just about right by Blackhawk. Still one of my favorites.

I'm so tired of hearing theologically incorrect songs on country radio. Another trend I have noticed is country artists singing with contemporary Christian artists.

One of the tropes that always annoyed me was the divine woman trope. As a female I find it rather demeaning to be put on a pedestal like that. That and the abusive ex boyfriend.

Okay but honestly some of those “comma songs” are pretty great lol.

Loved this video!

Kicking Up Dust is another one.

Never realized in Homeboy the last line is “come on home, boy”

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most of these artists make me roll my eyes

3:33 Sean stemlay did the same thing with Georgia on my mind by willie Nelson

Love this video it just satisfied something I didn't even know I was needing

In regards to the "women worshipping" category I think songs like Dierks Bentley's "Women Amen" or Blake Shelton's God Gave Me You don't totally fit and should possibly be exempt. I think the lyric of getting down on his knees and thanking God or for his wife or saying God placed them in their life as a partner "for the ups and downs" is very different from songs like HOLY by FGL. To me the way Dierks and a couple of other artists have phrased it is very respectful in being thankful for their partner and having a deep love and respect rather than presenting them as some divine being which can come across as more weird.

Can’t help it, still love “This is What It Comes To” by ERNEST. The lyric works

Gotta say, I have a soft spot for the comma songs. Shows creativity and precision in songwriting. “Dirty Looks” by Lainey Wilson is another great one.

This was Awesome! Now you get off tick tok

You crossed a line with Kid Rock....😝

The constant references to George straight...bud light and red dirt roads... worst is spelling out words...drives me nuts

This is gonna be like snap tracks where i never Unhear it

I’d argue Eric Church’s “Homeboy” is not only the original, but does it best for the third one

Oh my goodness. 40 seconds of "doin what we do" was painful. 😂 I don't know how I never noticed that phrase everywhere.

Great video, Grady!! But I wanted it to be 4x longer. LOL

“Do what you do” or a version of it, is a very common southern expression so it makes sense it would be in a lot of country songs

haha please do more this is fantastic

Cole Swindell really been taking notes…

Great video. Defo like me so compilations/lists from time to time on your channel Grady

Old Alabama by Brad Paisley could fit in the last category but you could also just call it a sample

I haven’t listened to country radio in years.

Grady, will you do a show on Clay Bingham, plays Walker, on Yellowstone, but sings on that show too.

"Why Country Music was Bad in 2013: The Sequel"

That was definately fun....love comma songs though :)