The psychology of folk music fans, finally explained

Jeffrey Castillo77 said:Let me say it again: Only idiots listen to country music.

Happy now? You want me to repeat myself again?

Jeffrey Castillo77—honestly, I thought you were sharper than this based on your old posts. Now? You’re acting like a horse wearing blinkers... just staring straight ahead and refusing to see anything else.😂 😂 😂

Honestly... Shania Twain and Brian Adams are basically my soul food...
...though I can definitely find something I dig in pretty much any genre...
...as for the quality of what most people call "country music"—well, you could argue about that forever (just like anything else)... but that’s not even the point here. The issue is that the OP made some pretty bold claims, using nothing but their own hazy opinions as proof... if you want to debate whether country music is good or bad, go start a thread in the right subforum... seriously, only an idiot would even reply to that post. You nailed it, nice work...
...in my case... I used to only listen to that stuff when I was out in the city... never in the car or at home... but then one day it was just there, and bit by bit, I started picking it up. Now, when I'm working out, it actually helps me push harder—same thing when I'm doing dishes or cleaning, everything goes faster with some country playing in the background... maybe it's just a phase for me or whatever... but to be so pathetic as to claim there's a specific psychological profile for someone based on the music they listen to... well,
that's something only someone with extremely limited mental capacity would try to do...
I think it’d be way more interesting to talk about the psychological profile of people who reject everything traditional—the ones who act like anyone listening to country is some kind of primitive, who sign off as Michael instead of Michael to fit in with their social circle, and who genuinely believe they live in the United States... you know, those folks who spend their whole lives pretending they're characters in a movie instead of just accepting who they really are...

I guess I should probably start by saying... well, I don't really know where to begin, actually. Maybe it's just one of those days where everything feels a bit scattered, if that makes sense? Anyway, I was thinking about what was said earlier, and I suppose I'll just share my two cents. It’s funny how things work out sometimes, isn't it? I mean, I might be wrong, but it seems like we're all just trying to find our way through the noise. It’s a bit overwhelming, I guess. But anyway, let's just see where this goes.

I guess I'm just sitting here thinking about things... maybe it's the weather, or maybe I've just been staring at the screen too long. It's funny how certain thoughts just drift in, isn't it? I don't really have much to say, per se, but I felt like checking in. Just a bit of wandering thought, I suppose. kaže: I've never quite been able to wrap my head around how some people can actually sit there and listen to country music. I mean, I guess everyone has their thing, but it’s just... I don't know, it's never really clicked for me. So, my girlfriend sent me a text yesterday with some old-school country song attached to it. I had to ask her... like, you know I don't really listen to that stuff, right? And I think she knows exactly what my stance is on country music, I guess. She’ll probably be the one to answer... I guess I just can't quite find the right words to describe what I'm feeling on my own. Maybe she'll put it better than I ever could. I think I finally had this sudden realization... it just clicked. It seems to me that people who gravitate toward country music—you know, that raw, sentimental stuff—might be doing so because they find themselves reflected in those lyrics most clearly. I suppose it’s often folks who might struggle with expressing their own emotions or maybe just don't care for anything too abstract. I mean, it's not necessarily about intellect, I guess... maybe some people just have a hard time putting words to what they feel. It’s possible that English-language pop songs would have the same effect on them, but they probably wouldn't quite grasp the nuance there. These songs, though... they're just so simple, yet somehow so vividly life-like in their complexity. Or maybe that's just how it feels to me. So, I was thinking... you know how it goes when you're falling for someone? You head down to a local country bar, maybe grab a drink, and suddenly every single song playing over the speakers feels like it was written specifically about your life. It’s kind of wild. Most of those tracks either perfectly capture the heartache or they actually offer some sort of way out—a little bit of closure, I guess. And then there are the people singing along, just pouring their guts out, expressing everything they're actually thinking through the lyrics. Maybe after a couple of rounds, everyone starts feeling a bit better, too. Honestly, I think the whole experience is basically just a form of group psychotherapy. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it, but it really does feel that way, doesn't it?

It’s an interesting question, I suppose... and I have to admit, being here on the Psychology board, I was kind of hoping for something a bit more insightful than just your typical online shouting match.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that fans of country music are just people who struggle to put their feelings into words, or maybe they just have a hard time grasping the lyrics to an English song... I guess. It’s probably more complicated than that, though.

I mean, I guess it feels like emotions don't always need to be put into words. Sometimes, you know, it’s actually much easier to express what you're feeling through other means... and I've always felt that music is one of those alternative, maybe even more natural, ways to get everything out. It just has this expressive quality that language sometimes lacks, I suppose.

I mean, fans of other genres aren't always exactly gifted with the gift of gab, either... and honestly, even some of the songwriters themselves? I guess there are plenty of guys out there who are absolute musical geniuses but just can't seem to find the right words when they open their mouths.

It really comes down to the specific blend of emotions you feel, the way you live your life, and how you choose to express all of that, I guess. It’s more about a certain vibe—a lifestyle and an emotional frequency—than anything else.

I guess when you look at heavy metal fans, most of the music they listen to is really just an expression of their own sense of rebellion, or maybe that raw wildness, or even just a certain kind of pride... I don't know. It's hard to pin down exactly, but it seems to be how they project all that energy.
I guess I’ve been thinking about this lately... there seems to be this one distinct difference in how Western music works. Even when it’s absolutely drenched in emotion, it feels like there’s this underlying sense of pride holding everything together. It's like they keep those feelings somewhat contained, you know? Like a certain level of restraint or keeping things to yourself... even in something as raw as the blues or soul. Maybe that's just my take on it, anyway.

When you listen to folk music, I guess you could say all the restraints just vanish. It’s like... everything comes flooding out at once. Emotions leak from every direction, expressed in this way that feels almost too theatrical, maybe even a bit tacky if I'm being honest. It's just very unrestrained.

Even when you set aside the whole overly sentimental, tasteless emotional angle—which, let's be honest, can be a bit much—there’s still that underlying irritation with the actual sound itself. It’s got this weird, synthesized, almost Middle Eastern woodwind vibe that just gratingly cuts through everything. I guess it’s more than just the music, though. There’s something about the mental makeup of the people behind these lyrics and tracks... you can just sense their mindset bleeding through every single one of those compositions. It's hard to ignore.

I mean, there's probably a whole laundry list of other things that get under my skin. I guess... if you want to, maybe just put them into words? Just let it all out. 😁 I guess... I don't know... there's just something about that inherent resilience of theirs. It’s hard to put my finger on it exactly, but maybe it's just how they handle things. Just an observation, I suppose.

Jacob Long said:Jeffrey Castillo77, I honestly had a better impression of you before; you seemed much more intelligent based on your posts... now, you remind me of that horse they put blinkers on so it can only look straight ahead and nowhere else at all...😂 😂 😂

It seems you've taken offense, mostly because you've decided to lump me in with the mindless crowd... Let me be clear: my stomach turns at the thought of modern pop-country trash and the people who obsess over it—and I’m not talking about the classics or anything with actual soul, I mean that specific brand of commercialized noise that dominates the airwaves today... you know exactly what I mean.😉

I simply have no taste for that kind of music, and even if we set aside the fact that it doesn't resonate with me, there remains the matter of my firm conviction that those who gravitate toward it lack any real depth. If I ever happen to cross paths with someone truly enlightened who enjoys it, perhaps I'll reconsider... but until then, I shall continue to find that genre absolutely revolting and its listeners quite dim-witted.

I am merely forming an opinion based on my own lived experiences... 🙂

As for you, you seem to think you have some sort of impact on me, but you really don't, because I don't spend a single second of my life thinking about you or your little remarks... I couldn't tell you a single one of your posts if my life depended on it, nor do I even remember your username, so please, spare me your judgments regarding the substance, intelligence, or stupidity of my writing... though, by all means, if you truly have nothing better to do with your time, feel free to entertain yourself by dissecting other people's posts and drawing grand conclusions from them...

So I guess you’re officially the only idiot out there who doesn't listen to country music 😛

but honestly, you're just narrow-minded 🙄

look, I don't go out of my way to stalk anyone's posts—it's just that when someone acts this brainless, it really sticks in your head. So, I can safely say I never thought you were particularly bright, and now you've gone and proven me right. 😈

Look, let's be real: turbo folk is basically just the local version of pop music, and honestly, it’s not all that different from something like American country-pop if you really sit down and think about it.

It’s just traditional folk heritage that’s been slapped together with some modern production techniques to make it sound shiny for the radio.

So, why is it that people over here in the States are constantly blasting all this foreign regional folk music?

Because they simply aren't ashamed of themselves and have zero sense of decency left.

Walter Smith8 said:you’re probably the only idiot out there who doesn't listen to country music😛

but honestly, you’re just narrow-minded... 🙄

I don't go out of my way to follow anyone's posts, but when someone is being particularly foolish, it tends to stick in the memory, so I can say I never thought you were much brighter than this, and now you've gone and confirmed it... 😈

You're the one with the limited perspective, and that post above wasn't even directed at you!

I never had high hopes for your intellect either, and seeing this just proves me right, goodness... you really are a strange woman... 🙂

Just put on some country music and try to relax, because it’s pretty obvious you could use it... 🙂

Best regards, my little critic... 😘

It seems every man is determined to sing his own praises and nothing more, which effectively renders this entire debate a lost cause—everyone is far too busy clinging to their own narrow perspectives to actually digest what anyone else is saying, and then, predictably, three or four people swoop in to bicker amongst themselves like hens in a coop, utterly dismantling whatever shred of meaningful discussion we were attempting to build

How pathetic; this particular brand of psychology is starting to feel a little too much like a gossip column in a suburban women's magazine🙂

Judging someone as an idiot just because of their taste in music? That’s a pretty narrow-minded way to look at things—honestly, it just screams insecurity
it's an absolute fact
usually just masks some deep-seated complexes

Jeffrey Castillo77 said:I’m just not into that kind of music—even putting aside the fact that it doesn't fit me personally, I’ve honestly concluded that people who listen to country music are just dim. If I ever run into someone smart who digs it, I guess I'll change my tune. Until then, I'll stick to thinking country music is trash and its fans are clueless.

I know plenty of brilliant people who throw on some country every now and then... sorry your experience hasn't matched mine, but you're missing out on the realization that musical taste isn't strictly tied to IQ—it's influenced by a million other things, and I'm certainly not an expert enough to list them all... but it's definitely not just about being smart...

...if we're really going there, I’d probably question the intelligence of techno fans before country listeners, but I won't be so narrow-minded as to make sweeping generalizations like that...

Look, I know taste is subjective and everyone’s entitled to their own playlist, but there's a real issue with this low-brow, trashy pop music—whatever you want to call it—because it just taps into these raw, primitive instincts in people... it triggers this reckless energy that leads to broken glass, total loss of control, and frankly, it usually spirals into aggression and senseless fighting.

It really gets under my skin how fans of this stuff act like the entire neighborhood is obligated to suffer through it at max volume, which honestly just highlights how little some people understand about living in a civilized society... You never see someone blasting Beethoven or Bach out of their car, or even Deep Purple or Metallica.

If they kept it to themselves, I wouldn't care so much, because let's face it, we aren't all on the same intellectual or cultural wavelength... But when they operate on this "wild ones take over from the polite ones" mentality, it just creates this massive friction for anyone who actually values a bit of decorum.

rustymaker5 said:basically, it just triggers those low-level, primitive impulses in people, which leads to stuff like smashing glasses, total chaos, losing all self-control—in the worst way possible—and usually just ends with someone getting aggressive and a full-blown brawl breaking out.

Honestly, it’s the exact same nonsense the white Puritans in America used to spout back in the day about 50s rock and roll.

I wonder if quietbadger34 actually enjoys that trashy pop-country stuff.

I might partially agree with him, though I’d love it if people here could try to be a bit more specific about why that genre is considered such low-quality music—which, in my opinion, it is.
What's the actual difference between, say, letting loose at a concert, unleashing some wild energy, and the fundamental psychology of a rock fan versus a fan of that tacky commercial folk? What is it about the attitude of a rocker, or even just someone who likes decent dance music, that makes them more relatable than those folks listening to that rural-style pop?

Also, based on the little bit of that junk I've been forced to hear, it isn't always just that overly dramatic, "heartbreak" vibe—sometimes they're being ironic, almost making it clear they aren't being serious at all, just leaning into that whole "we're the craziest ones out there" trope.

Kimberly Anderson22 said:I honestly can't tell if quietbadger34 actually digs that trashy pop-country stuff or if they're just playing along.

Look, I wouldn't say he's exactly my favorite person in the world, but it's not like I have some deep-seated hatred or an allergic reaction to him either. It’s complicated, I guess. There are those days where he can absolutely crack me up—like, genuinely make me lose it—and then there are those other moments where I'll just catch myself humming along to one of his tracks without even realizing it. Usually, it's the faster stuff, you know? Those more upbeat, pop-leaning hits that just sort of get stuck in your head and refuse to leave.

I get exactly why so many people are obsessed with him, honestly. It’s because his music feels like it’s ripped straight out of the gritty, broken-down neighborhoods we actually live in—it doesn't try to put on some fake, polished persona or pretend to be something high-class that it isn't. It’s raw, it’s real, and it speaks the language of the streets without all that pretentious nonsense you hear from those mainstream acts trying way too hard to sound sophisticated.

I guess I’m just a bit more Westernized than your average guy from the South, so honestly, that kind of music doesn't really move the needle for me—it just kind of passes right by.

There’s actually something kind of catchy about that mainstream country music, though not all of it,
if you use it in moderation and don't let it get in the way of other genres you love.

www.freestatestreet.com/forum

Emotions... honestly, they're what make life worth living!

rustymaker5 said:... and it often ends in aggressive behavior and fights.

Honestly, it’s even more likely to turn into stabbings, shootings, or grenade tosses—it's wild. I feel like the best business move would be opening a gun shop right next to a country music bar.

rustymaker5 said:It’s annoying how fans of that music think the whole neighborhood should blast it at max volume—it really shows you how much they value living peacefully with others. You never hear someone cranking Beethoven or Bach, or even Deep Purple or Metallica, out of their car.

So true. Just as I'm typing this, my neighbor—who isn't exactly a rocket scientist—is blasting that trashy country music. And yep, he's got it cranked way too loud...

I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush, but I honestly feel like most fans of that genre aren't exactly hitting the high marks when it comes to intelligence.

Walter Smith8 said:Look, I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush, but honestly? I think most fans of that trashy, over-the-top pop music aren't exactly winning any Nobel Prizes.

See, this is what happens when someone thinks they’re being deep... making sweeping statements like that is always a gamble—especially here, because we're talking about taste, and you can't just link someone's playlist directly to their IQ score.

You could use that same logic to bash people who love fine art versus those who dig cheesy, tacky kitsch, and if we called them idiots just for their preferences, we'd just look narrow-minded, intolerant, and frankly, pretty obnoxious.

Personally, I think kitsch is an absolute eyesore and I can't wrap my head around why anyone would enjoy it—but I know plenty of brilliant people who absolutely live for it. It's the exact same deal with people who blast mainstream country music.

sinisa_7 said:I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush, but I honestly think most fans of that trashy pop music have some serious questions being asked about their IQ levels.

See, this is what happens when a "smart guy" posts... any kind of generalization is a slippery slope, especially this kind—you can't just link someone's taste in music directly to their brainpower.

By that logic, we could go off on a rant about lovers of fine art versus people who dig kitsch, and if we called them all idiots just because of their playlist, we'd just look narrow-minded, intolerant, and plain old rude.

Personally? Kitsch is an absolute eyesore and I struggle to wrap my head around why anyone would enjoy it, but I know plenty of brilliant people who absolutely live for it. It’s the exact same deal with people who love country music.

arna said:While I realize taste is subjective and everyone should be free to listen to whatever they desire, the real issue with this mainstream trash—this overproduced, low-brow pop junk—is the way it stirs up such primal, base instincts in people. It inevitably leads to broken glassware, total debauchery, a complete loss of inhibition, and quite often spirals into outright aggression and senseless brawls.

It’s incredibly grating when fans of this music act as if the entire neighborhood is obligated to endure their playlist at deafening volumes, which really just highlights their utter lack of consideration for others. You never see someone blasting Beethoven or Bach from their car, nor even Deep Purple or Metallica.

If they kept it to themselves, one could hardly complain, given that we aren't all operating on the exact same cultural or intellectual wavelength. But when they adopt this "scorched earth" policy where they essentially force their chaos onto everyone else, it naturally triggers a visceral resistance from anyone who prefers a more refined atmosphere.

You hit the nail on the head 👍

absolutely spot on from start to finish 😉