Know Your Enemy
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The Sad Truth (w/ Shuja Haider)
🕑 Added 2020-04-02 15:28:26 +0000 UTCWe're joined by writer and editor Shuja Haider to discuss a topic near and dear to all of your hearts: country music. We talk country's conservative reputation, the problem with Ken Burns, and the humane politics that arise from acknowledging — as the best country songs do — our collective frailty. Plus, a bunch of great music recommendations for your quarantine listening.
A playlist featuring every song we mention in the episode, plus a few more bangers can be accessed here.
Further Reading:
- Matthew Sitman, "E Pluribus Country," Dissent, Winter 2020.
- Shuja Haider, "The Empty Jukebox: Johnny Paycheck and the Return of the Repressed in Country Music," Viewpoint, March 10, 2015
- Shuja Haider, "A World That Draws a Line: Interracial Love Songs in American Country Music," Viewpoint, March 1, 2017
- Shuja Haider, "Canon Fodder," Popula, Sept 13, 2018
- Cole Stangler, "Emotional Archaeology: An Interview With Ken Burns," Commonweal, Sept 13, 2019
- Shuja Haider, "The Invention of Twang," The Believer, Aug 1, 2019
- Shuja Haider, "Somebody Had to Set a Bad Example," Popula, Nov 14, 2018
- Nick Murray, "The Other Country," LA Review of Books, Nov 1, 2018
- Jesse Montgomery, "African Chant," Popula, Sept 18, 2018
Comments
Know Your Enemy
I loved Cocaine and Rhinestones! And as you may know, Tyler is David Allan Coe’s son! (-Sam)
Neal J
I’m a little surprised you don’t mention the Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast. It isn’t a comprehensive genre spanning history and the host Tyler Mahan Coe doesn’t do explicit investigations of the political economy of country music -that said the episode about Okie from Muskogee is pretty amazing. Three episodes about Harper Valley PTA! I’m curious to hear your take on that podcast.
Catherine M Stanford
Love the playlist of all the songs you talked about!
Catherine M Stanford
There's a critical error at the Viewpointmag.com website; I can't access any of Shuja's articles cited here.
Joel
Uhh ... this episode absolutely fucking pounds! Thanks guys. I couldn't imagine a more on-brand episode for myself lol
Jerry Callen
If you guys are not familiar with John Mccutcheon, find a d give a listen to "Hail to the Chief" and "Stand Up!", a couple of his "short shelf life" albums. John crosses the folk/country line, and has just a wonderful biting wit.
Jerry Callen
OMG - I just listened to "John Walker's Blues." I cannot BELIEVE that this song saw the light of day in 2002.
Know Your Enemy
fixed! thank you!!
OZ
Just a heads up that the Spotify link is broken. Looks like there's an extra "http" in the link. Once I deleted that, it worked. Looking forward to the episode!
