Post by erik on Sept 16, 2023 21:49:59 GMT -5
Maren Morris, one of the newest female singers in country music, though not without a fair amount of controversy, is in this week's Pop Music Hits Spotlight with her very first national hit.
MY CHURCH (Maren Morris; Columbia-Nashville: 2016)—Born on April 10, 1990 in Arlington, Texas, within sight of the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium AT&T Stadium, Maren Morris began her career at a fairly early age in independent Texas music circles during the early 2000’s, following her muse to Nashville and a country music career. Her sound, while initially rooted in country, was of a decidedly non-Nashville variety, not only mixing elements of pop, R&B, and hip-hop, but also incorporating the neo-traditionalism of her fellow Texans The Dixie Chicks (who had become persona non grata in Nashville by the time Maren came to town) and the progressive California country-rock of Linda Ronstadt. Signed to CBS’ Nashville division, Maren made her first major-label solo release Hero during the summer of 2015, and released it just after the start of 2016. Out of this, and during the height of what was derisively known as “Bro-Country”, came a slice of roots-rock-influenced country music in the form of the song “My Church”. Given the country genre’s notoriety with promoting family values and religion, some might have gotten the idea that this was a modern country/gospel number from Maren, but it really wasn’t. The “church” she refers to is the sanctuary she felt when listening to the country satellite radio outlet known as Highway FM. Maren’s lyrics referred to listening to such country super legends as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, while perhaps being influenced also by Linda’s mid-1970’s country-rock style. “My Church” managed to peak at #5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles Chart in April of 2016, while also crossing over to the Hot 100 and getting halfway up at #50. Maren’s country successes were mixed in with some of her pop and hip-hop influences, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, made her a target of staunch right-wing critics and (more hypocritically) the very same “Bro Country” acts (such as Jason Aldean). By the summer of 2023, Maren publicly hinted that she would in all likelihood abandon the country music scene altogether, fed up by what she perceived (and not without due cause) as the genre’s rampant misogyny and homophobia. Nevertheless, when it came to 2016, “My Church” did get her a Grammy for Best Country Solo Vocal Performance.
MY CHURCH (Maren Morris; Columbia-Nashville: 2016)—Born on April 10, 1990 in Arlington, Texas, within sight of the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium AT&T Stadium, Maren Morris began her career at a fairly early age in independent Texas music circles during the early 2000’s, following her muse to Nashville and a country music career. Her sound, while initially rooted in country, was of a decidedly non-Nashville variety, not only mixing elements of pop, R&B, and hip-hop, but also incorporating the neo-traditionalism of her fellow Texans The Dixie Chicks (who had become persona non grata in Nashville by the time Maren came to town) and the progressive California country-rock of Linda Ronstadt. Signed to CBS’ Nashville division, Maren made her first major-label solo release Hero during the summer of 2015, and released it just after the start of 2016. Out of this, and during the height of what was derisively known as “Bro-Country”, came a slice of roots-rock-influenced country music in the form of the song “My Church”. Given the country genre’s notoriety with promoting family values and religion, some might have gotten the idea that this was a modern country/gospel number from Maren, but it really wasn’t. The “church” she refers to is the sanctuary she felt when listening to the country satellite radio outlet known as Highway FM. Maren’s lyrics referred to listening to such country super legends as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, while perhaps being influenced also by Linda’s mid-1970’s country-rock style. “My Church” managed to peak at #5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles Chart in April of 2016, while also crossing over to the Hot 100 and getting halfway up at #50. Maren’s country successes were mixed in with some of her pop and hip-hop influences, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, made her a target of staunch right-wing critics and (more hypocritically) the very same “Bro Country” acts (such as Jason Aldean). By the summer of 2023, Maren publicly hinted that she would in all likelihood abandon the country music scene altogether, fed up by what she perceived (and not without due cause) as the genre’s rampant misogyny and homophobia. Nevertheless, when it came to 2016, “My Church” did get her a Grammy for Best Country Solo Vocal Performance.