Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with country

Worst countries for vegetarians?

dontjumplarry — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:47:27 -0800

I have a long wish-list of holiday destinations, and I would like to edit it down a bit. Which countries are difficult or impossible for vegetarian/vegan travellers? And which ones are terribly hard but worth making an exception for?

Recommend your favorite gospel music.

OmieWise — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:34:08 -0800

Please recommend your favorite gospel artists, records, and compilations. My particular likes are inside. I love gospel music, in many different guises. I tend to like it a bit more gritty, so vocal quartet gospel from the Golden Age is not my favorite. On the other hand I love large choir gospel, I love pre-war country gospel, and I am particularly enamored of gospel funk right now.

Here is a (pretty partial) list of records I have:

My two big loves right now are
This May Be My Last Time Singing & Fire In My Bones, and they prompt this question. What I like about them is that they are gritty, funky, and unexpected.

I've loved Rance Allen recently.

Goodbye Babylon

Sacred Steel

Various "mountain gospel" compilations.

American Primitive 1 & 2

The two gospel funk records on Numero: Good God!

I love the honky tonk gospel of Fern Jones.

A bunch of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson records.

U2's early albums.

A couple of shape note compilations.

I do not tend to like anything "easy listening."

I've seen this question.

What else might I enjoy listening to?

Help me find this bluegrass/country song about missing home and missing someone!

Grandysaur — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:21:30 -0800

Namethatsongfilter: Last winter/spring, I heard a bluegrass/country song on the radio. It was about coming home to a loved one. What was it? I heard it on KTAO in Taos NM, around February-May. The singer ways male. It sounded more recent than old-timey. Mellow sounding. I’m pretty sure it was accoustic, and it makes me thing of the warm yellow panels of light that shine out on the snow from windows on a winter night, but I'm unsure whether or not that scene was in the lyrics. It may or may not have featured and cabin that the male singer was returning to. He was returing to his love. Help?

Are country and Western two separate genres or one?

d. z. wang — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 13:02:11 -0800

Please suggest some examples of "country music" and "Western music" that encapsulate the genres for someone who knows nothing about either. I'd be especially interested in pairs of songs which highlight the differences between the two genres, if indeed there are two. Google only returns hits for things that are described as "country and Western," and I can't tell if this is convergent evolution merging two genres together or just the equivalent of people calling everything from The Beatles to Nightwish "rock music."

What songs embody that 'spooky' country & western feel?

deern the headlice — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:55:18 -0800

What songs embody that 'spooky' country & western feel - twang, tremolo, reverb, minor chords, dark vocals, preferably from the 1930s-1950s? I'm thinking of the American West and Southwest around the mid 20th century - night time scenes of dusty roads and loneliness. I've heard songs like this all my life, but have very few points of reference. Google is pointing me to stuff like Alan Jackson :/

The lesser known the better, but interested in any artists & songs you'd recommend... thanks!

How can I get along in a foreign country I don't like?

malach_sadriel — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 02:33:18 -0800

I have moved to a foreign country and am looking for suggestions as to how to get along in the best way possible until I can return to the US. I am a single woman with a professional background. I came to this country to reconnect with my ancestral roots. I have found the culture and behavior really appalling and irritating on a profound level as well as being sexist at a very deep level. Also many people here think Americans are the cash cow. I am not an "ugly American" and on the contrary spent much time learning about this place and its history, but that is not the same as experiencing it firsthand. This is a very traditional country with a facade of modernity. I always knew that the US was an unusual country but this experience has faced me with exactly how freedom-loving and American I really am.
I have passed through the newbie issues here, have had difficulty learning the language (and not because I can't) and even though I have found an MO here, of sorts, I am constantly appalled by the culture and behavior of many people. And yet, it is my ancestral culture and I cannot reject it entirely.
I have found my energy and will sapped because there are very few like-minded people here that I can connect with. I am generally a very self-reliant person but this is too much.
I have to stay here until I can find work back in the US to reasonably support myself. I have to do this search long distance because I cannot travel back temporarily to do so.
What I am looking for is not so much concrete suggestions like groups to join (although that might be helpful) as attitudes or strategies to employ. To date, the negativity has impinged on my ability to put myself totally into work-seeking.
As I am a mature person with long experience I have already tried many attitude changes, tricks and tips etc., being in nature, etc. Nothing seems to work for long against the constant assault of negative and hard-faced attitude that I see here. It might help to explain that I relocated from Northern California, and a live and let live attitude is my inner wish. Very not possible here, where the smallest thing done is up for analysis and judgment.

Basque Country or south of France?

kookaburra — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:27:47 -0800

Basque Country of south of France for post-Christmas vacation? My boyfriend and I will be visiting his family in Munich for Christmas. After Christmas, the two of us want to spend a week or so somewhere else in Europe. We would like to go somewhere with decent weather and good food (we're both foodies). We'll probably rent a car so we can enjoy a city/tourist scene as well as get out into the country. A fun New Year's vibe would also be fun. Right now, we're thinking either Basque Country or the south of France. Neither of us have been to either place, so we're hoping for some Hive Mind input! If it's helpful, we're 29/30 and live in San Francisco.

Country artists covering R&B songs?

pete_22 — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 12:11:43 -0800

What are some examples of country artists covering R&B/soul songs? Inspired by this excellent FPP about R&B artists covering country songs, I’m curious about the reverse. There were some suggestions in that thread but to clarify, I’m talking about an established country singer recording and releasing a track that had been recorded and released first by an R&B or soul singer ...and I'm not counting tribute, “duets” or other gimmicky albums. (Though if there's a reverse equivalent to Ray Charles' Modern Sounds, that would certainly count.)

That thread had a lot of discussion of cross-influence and what do these labels really mean and the history of blues vs appalachian traditions -- interesting topics but, respectfully, I’d like to avoid them here. I’m looking for clear cut examples of covers, not just influence.

I can think of lots of examples of R&B artists covering straight-up country songs in the way I’m talking about, even beyond the ones mentioned in that post -- and some that were real hits too, like Solomon Burke’s “Just Out of Reach (of my Two Open Arms)” or Candi Staton’s “Stand By Your Man.” But in the other direction I’m drawing a blank. The only one I can think of is Gram Parson’s cover of “Dark End of the Street” and I wouldn’t call him a pure country singer. And Charlie Rich covered some blues songs but that’s also not quite the same thing.

So which songs am I missing? Or has it really been as much of a one-way street as it seems?

Does Midsomer Murders portray English country life realistically?

OrangeDisk — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:14:26 -0800

I know that the real English countryside is not as violent as Midsomer County -- no place is -- but how realistic are the other aspects of country life portrayed in the show? (specific questions inside) I live in the US and was born and raised here and have never lived in another country. My husband and I love watching Midsomer Murders, and are very curious about the non-murdery aspects of the show. Specifically:
Can a DCI (I'm thinking of the original Barnaby -- I haven't seen any episodes with the new guy yet) support a family on one income and live in a big (upper) middle class house on that income?
Do small towns really have that many festivals, fetes, celebrations, anniversaries, commemorations, jumble sales, carnivals, etc?
Do bands of gypsies really roam the countryside?
Do towns and villages have signature "things" that many or most people are really into, so much so that that becomes a characteristic of the town? Like orchids or biking or change ringing or painting or music or history or books or whatever.
Do ordinary, middle-class people have time to participate in so many hobbies and activities? I am often jealous of how Joyce spends her time.
Do ordinary, middle-class people live in really, really old cottages and houses that are nicely maintained with beautiful gardens? (I always assumed these belonged to rich people when I've seen them on trips)

We are more curious about how realistically the small towns and villages are portrayed than we are about Causton. A lot of these questions might seem tongue-in-cheek, but they are intended seriously. With the US workweek being so much longer and our communities so much more fragmented than those in other countries, I would not really be surprised to learn that much of the above is accurate.

tl;dr: If I moved to a small English village expecting my life to be like the middle class people in Midsomer Murders (the ones who don't get killed, that is), would I be disappointed?

City or country? I want both.

wannabecounselor — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:03:58 -0800

City or country? I want both. I grew up in a beautiful mostly rural area (with mountains) that was also known for its culture (in terms of theater and the arts,). It was socioeconomically diverse but not ethnically or culturally diverse. I loved growing up there and I picked a similar area to attend college.

For most of my post-college adult life, I've lived in a city that I also love. I most appreciate the ethnic/cultural diversity, convenience of most things, public transit, social life, being near the ocean, and more job opportunities. I only need to drive 15 minutes (without traffic) to hike in the woods. But at least two hours to really "get away" and see mountains, which I crave on a regular basis.

I lived for about two years in a small city/suburb type town and kind of hated it, so the suburbs scare me.

I want the best of all worlds. I want a house in the woods near mountains and the ocean, but I want a job in a city working with and serving people from all walks of life (a city salary is nice too). I also prefer no longer than a 45 minute commute by public transpo or car. I know this is totally unrealistic (or is it?)

For others who love both city and rural/country, how did you decide where to live long term (and raise a family if you have)? Would you do anything differently?

Also I know job/career is a factor, let's pretend it isn't for this particular question. If it helps, I live (and plan to always live) pretty frugally/modestly no matter where I live or how much I earn. Also I have a partner who is on the same page with me about this. We just can't decide. Fortunately there's no rush to make a move, but it's always on our minds.

Romantic getaway hotels near Bay Area?

tessalations999 — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:35:51 -0800

Cheap wine county hotels/motels/ B&B's? I am planning a romantic getaway in August. We want to check out an area 1-2 hours away from San Francisco, and preferably in Napa or Sonoma. But, if you know of other romantic weekend getaways, we are open to exploring! We have been to hot springs that were also amazing. We are on a budget, but sifting through Kayak and hotels.com is a chore and not always accurate, so we would love your recommendations. Thanks so much!

Where can I find good country music on the Internet?

david1230 — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:59:48 -0800

I love KEXP's Swinging Doors, but the streaming archives no longer work on my Mac. What other radio shows or podcasts available on the Internet might I like? For reference, the show's description is "Honky tonk, alternative country, western swing, country boogie, bluegrass, and all other kinds of hardcore twang"

Looking for country/alt-country along the lines of Cash, Guthrie, early Dylan, etc.

allseeingabstract — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:14:04 -0800

I'm looking for new & modern country/alt-country artists along the lines of Uncle Tupelo, Richard Buckner, early Dylan as well as Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, and so on. Masterfully played acoustic guitar and bluesy tendencies a big plus!

What should I be thinking about when I look for a house/cabin in the country??

Elly Vortex — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:28:44 -0800

What should I be thinking about as I search for the perfect house/cabin? City Mouse considers becoming Country Mouse. I live in a small town in a scenic area of the US. It's cold and snowy in the winter, warm (but rarely hot) and heavenly in the short summers. I have a good job in town and plan to stay with it for at least the next 5-7 years. I currently live in a little apartment and have been casually thinking about purchasing a home.

Home sales in town are sloooooooooooooooow. There are houses that have been on the market for over a year - I've been in these houses, they're reasonably priced and in good condition. The market is just slow, the town is not growing, and I am skittish about buying a house in town that would be a total pain in the ass to sell in the future.

However, the real estate market is much more interesting once I get out of town and into the surrounding area. Cabin real estate is hopping: people are selling/abandoning their "second homes" all over the place. After thinking long and hard about it, I think that I would enjoy living full-time in a house/cabin just outside of town. If I leave the area after 5-7 years, then I will have a cabin in the woods that I can rent out to friends/visit myself instead of trying to sell a house in town. I am meeting with my realtor today to talk about it.

I say house/cabin because a cabin with an outhouse, outdoor shower and no-frills kitchen may be fine for a week or two, but I want something that has more in the way of creature comforts than that. No shacks for me, thanks. One way in which I am willing to be flexible is in size: I am more than okay living in a small space. In fact, I prefer it. I have had Tumbleweed Tiny Houses' Bodega bookmarked on my computer for years...I daydream about having a house about that big. I have considered building my own tiny house/cabin, but that brings up mortgage murkiness that I'd rather not deal with unless there are no other options.

I have never lived in a cabin before. I have lived in small towns, but always in town. I grew up in a large city and although I am into outdoorsy stuff (hiking, camping, etc), I still prefer to have things like plumbing and heat in my home. I'm not sure what sorts of things to be on the lookout for as I look at house/cabins - particularly as I look at cabins as a primary, four-season residence for myself. I do not plan on living more than 15 miles out of town, but that would put me squarely in THE COUNTRY in this part of the world. (bears, moose, hunters, etc). I think that I am up for it, but I wouldn't mind some advice.

Do any of you live in the country? What did you look for when you inspected houses for purchase? What do you wish you'd asked or looked for? Are you a former city dweller that moved to the woods? What did you love? What did you hate? Any advice for this City Mouse on becoming a Country Mouse would be most appreciated.

Looking for suggestions for middle-class to upper-middle-class rural areas around the Bay Area.

Anonymous — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:01:29 -0800

I'm looking for suggestions for middle-class to upper-middle-class rural areas around the Bay Area. I may be single again soon and and thinking of possible places to move to. Here's the list of what I'm looking for:

-An area where you're living in the country, but could drive for 20 or 30 minutes and be in a great town or city with a lot going on. Major crime should be far away.

-Solid middle-class (everyone stable and employed, happy, no big drug or crime problems, not many broken down dwellings or yards full of beat up cars) ranging to upper-middle-class or even a bit above. If you're thinking about an area that is outside of this range but meets everything else, please include it.

-The area has a thriving community. Many neighbors and community members know each other.

-Most houses have at least an acre or two of property, but most still have a few neighbors within walking distance.

-The area has a decent number of roads that are mainly only driven on by the people who live there - roads that are kind of off the beaten path, dead ends, or circles. The area is kind of out of the way and not being driven through by tons of strangers.

-Kids and pets run around and play and people aren't worried about them being snatched if they are outside playing in the yard.

I'm open to pretty much anywhere in the Bay Area and a bit south, from Santa Rosa all the way down to Monterey. A bit outside of that range is okay too.

Song that may or may not be titled "Novocaine"

PeppahCat — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:08:36 -0800

Need the artist and song name of a song from Animal Planet's "American Stuffers" that has lyrics talking about "Novocaine" and is sung by a Carrie Underwood-type woman! Gah! Been driving me crazy for months...I can't find information on the song or artist or anything. Animal Planet's website also has a really crappy set-up for the episode guide (considering they had one or two shows with promo info for a particular song playing) and I even asked on the Facebook fan page of the show and got no responses. Used a couple song-ID things on my phone (where the phone records sound and compares it and finds the song and all that) and no results. Wondering if the song was just recorded for the show specifically or what?!

Info I know:
Female singer, very Carrie Underwood-sounding voice (not *quite* as deep as hers) and song (upbeat and reminds me of "Last Name"), in the episode of 'American Stuffers' called "The Dog Named Precious." Song begins about halfway through the episode when Daniel and Dixie start stuffing the Yorkie, Precious. Lyrics I can make out:
"Go the easy way, take it
You're not mister right
you call me sweet/lemme break it down for you
[unintelligible] my Novocaine, here to ease the pain
ooh Novocaine, ooh Novocaine, no-no-Novocaine."
Mind you there are more words in and between these lyrics, I just can't make it out over the talking of the various Xtreme Taxidermy members.

Anyone have ANY idea who sings this or where I can find info on it?

How do I survive the city?

Bibliogeek — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:18:19 -0800

Moving to a big, foreign city from a very small American town- what skills or situations should a country lady be aware of? In other words, how do I not die and/or not go crazy from the people? So. Many. People. I grew up miles outside of the nearest town....which had 800 people in it. I'm going to be moving in a few months to a very large (for me) city in a foreign country. Basically, moving from small town America to Cologne, Germany. I won't speak the language (I'm working on it, but it is slow going) and I will know one person. I will not have a car, but Cologne has great public transportation, I hear (another thing I will have to learn how to do).

I am finding the city aspect almost as frightening as the not-speaking-the-language part and thus am asking:

-What sort of skills should an urban dweller posses? Are there certain personality traits that I should develop?

-How do you deal with the sheer amount of people always around you? Does this bother you?

-As a lady type, how do you decide when/where it is safe to wander around alone/at night? It seems like in movies/TV big city females are wandering all over the place at all hours of the night. This would make me very nervous (oddly though,it would not really make me nervous out in the country.).

-Have you made this transition before? What was hardest for you to adjust to? What did you do in order to ease that adjustment? How long until you felt comfortable there? If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice about your move, what would it be?

- Germany Specific: As a person who was on some SSRI's in the past for anxiety/depression and who takes comfort in knowing that I could jump right back on them if it ever got that bad again- is there a general German attitude about these medications? Am I likely to run into any static from doctors if I want to resume that course of treatment?

I am trying to look at this whole thing like a big adventure and a fantastic opportunity to live abroad- but I'd like to go into it as prepared as possible. I wish I could be a little more focused with this question, but I really don't know how to prepare or what I will be getting into. Thus the kind of vague nature of my question, but I suppose it all could be boiled down into what does it take to survive and thrive in a city?

Name That Tune

bigspoon — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:46:37 -0800

Name that tune. I heard a song on a oldies station (WTIX New Orleans) and I got too distracted to remember enough of the lyrics to google it. It had a country feel but with sparse guitar and a funky beat and bass (reminiscent of "Cripple Creek" by The Band). The vocalist was doing a kind of sing/talk rap. I remember the word "moon" was in the lyrics somewhere and the song ended with a repeated refrain along the lines of "Lay it down". Really dug the song, anybody got any ideas?

what is the name of this werewolf love song?

dolce_voce — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:54:07 -0800

What is the name of that song about a werewolf in love? Hi everyone!

It's a female voice, country style song of a girl singing to her love about how she is a werewolf, and some suggestion that she bites/has bitten him so they can be werewolves together. That is all the info I have... can you help??

love,
Dolce

What was this song called?

kittensofthenight — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:35:37 -0800

Name this 80s pop-country song! I'm trying to find a song that my gf and I heard played on a jukebox in Milltown, MT. The song was a mid-tempo 80s country song, sung by a lady. There was a good guitar solo, solid state distortion, a little chorus, that sounded a bit out of place in the context of the song- more rock and roll than one would expect. The song reminded us of 7-Year Ache by Rosanne Cash. The song also sounded sad... probably a break up song...
Definitely 80s, on account of the drum production and guitar tone.

Trying to find the song is driving us nuts, we even called the bar to ask. Shot in the dark here.

Connect me with music I know little about, please?

Exchequer — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:38:08 -0800

Looking to make a couple of custom mixes for my GF as a gift, but her music taste is rather different than mine. Based on her likes noted below, could you please suggest specific songs that may also interest and delight her? Alison Kraus, When You Say Nothing At All
The Band Perry, If I Die Young
Rascal Flatts (big fav, she likes the entire catalog as near as I can tell)
Duncan Sheik, Barely Breathing (possible outlier)
Taylor Swift, You Belong With Me
Darius Rucker, unknown track

Bluegrass for Dummies

daikaisho — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:22:30 -0800

I am not a habitual listener of bluegrass. However, I really, really like The Devil Makes Three. Can you recommend additional bands or artists I might like? If it helps, part of what I like about The Devil Makes Three is the relatively dark nature of the lyrics. However, I don't know if that's standard for the genre so I'm not sure if that is useful. Other than that, my only real exposure to bluegrass and similar music has been through the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, a FPP about the Cleverlys, and Hayseed Dixie. (All enjoyable, mind.)

Like Avett's I and Love and You?

ShootTheMoon — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:21:52 -0800

I love listening to the Avett Brothers "I and Love and You" album for the piano lead track. What other folk/alt country/indie songs or albums would I like? Specifically looking for songs with piano leads in those categories.

The eerie side of Patsy Cline?

drzz — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:07:01 -0800

MeFites, A long time ago I was playing trivia in a bar and in between rounds one night this dark, almost minimalist country song played. I'm reasonably sure it was a Patsy Cline song. It was in a minor key with a theramin or possibly backup singers (or both!?) providing eerie accompaniment to a very catchy tune. I'd heard it before so I assume it's well known, but it's not on her greatest hits. Any ideas what the title might be?

Should i get a dog sled?

furnace.heart — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:12:50 -0800

Help an anxious dude navigate cross country. I have to drive from Portland, OR to Portland, ME leaving the first week of December. I will be driving a 2002 Honda Civic that is in good repair from Portland, Oregon to Portland, ME, with a dog as a co-pilot (wife and baby will have flown out a week prior). I am a lifelong north-westerner, and haven't ever really dealt with driving in snow, beyond going up to Mt. Hood a few times.

I will have chains, a typical road emergency kit, a bit of food and water for me and pooch, a fresh AAA membership, paper maps, along with a GPS. The car will be fairly full of worldly possessions, including some bikes and a top-rack. Anything in particular i should make sure to be carrying?

The good news, is that I don't have a firm date for arrival, so if the weather gets too hairy, I'll simply hole up for a day or two.

It looks as though my options for routes are
1. I-80
2. I-94 then to I-90
3. I-90 the whole way

Which am I least likely to run into problems on? Do these roads typically stay fairly clear? Are any of these particularly better than the others? I have a couple options for friends and family to stay with on all 3 routes, and will be staying in hotels if need be.

I'm quite looking forward to one major part of the trip: Never having driven across the country, I'm stoked to sample some of the better regional dishes offered up by each area. I'm willing to deviate a couple hours off the highway to get the tastiest regional dish available. Once I hit the rust-belt, Beef on Weck will haunt my dreams. What else can't be missed, and where shouldn't i miss it?