Agents Of Change Have To Be Tough

Every tried to change the way the old crew used to do things? You are the new guy/girl, and they hired you for your energy and new blood. Well, the old blood pushes back and you either quit or -- with blood, sweat and maybe tears -- you break that wall.

Change for the sake of change is a pet peeve. New genius comes in and fires people to get their folks in as followers. We have all lived or been the victim of that.

Change in this case involves outsiders, and how they are accepted in Country music land. Historically, often not very well. Just ask Shania Twain, or read the story of the recently departed Olivia Newton-John.

Olivia was an Aussie living in London, where she was signed to a worldwide record deal. The bosses decided to take her Country. The first hit didn’t do much, “If Not For You” by Bob Dylan. Then the song “Let Me Be There” hit at multiple formats. Then came “If You Love Me, Let Me Know,” both top five Country/Pop/AC songs. A Grammy for Best Female Country Vocalist followed, along with CMA Female Vocalist and ACM Most Promising Female Country.

She was winning over Dolly, Loretta and Tanya. Outrage! There was even an organization formed in protest, ACE -- Association of Country Entertainers. Purists were not happy.

Olivia went worldwide Pop around that time, and became a huge movie star a little after that with “Grease.”

The old school didn’t roll out the welcome wagon. When Roy Acuff announced her win for Female Vocalist in 1974, he acted like he never heard of her, and probably hadn’t.

Was Elvis really told to go back to Memphis driving trucks? Probably, informally. That hair and those hips!

Yet Music Row was created by a bunch of rule breakers, from Elvis to “The Ballad of the Green Berets,” so it should have been a natural to take in a pretty Aussie girl. But she didn’t record in Nashville, the songwriters weren’t Nashville, so the end of the world walls came up.

Eventually, this calmed down. ACE folded, and Olivia cut an album in Nashville later … much later. She even opened a clothing store at Metro Center called Koala Blue.

Years later, Shania saw a similar purist slap back. She was recording with an out of town producer, she was from Canada and her songs were not the traditional Country of the day. And she showed her belly button!

Shania was managed by out of towners, too. Could this be the end of Music Row? Like Olivia, she sold over 100 million records.

Music Row survived.

Still later, Keith Urban and The Ranch sure didn’t look like good old boys. Taylor Swift was just a high schooler. Change can be hard on those being changed!

The Bro Country sound was a more recent example of slap back and success. Putting Rap into a Country song was close to sacrilegious.

Bottom line, I’m not crazy about body art and rap. Never got into ’90s metal music. I’m sure there is something that drives you into allergic reactions.

Sit down. Remember, this too shall pass. Change is the only constant in the world.

Be civil to newcomers and always consult a 13-year-old before you do anything adult stupid.

The compass should always point north, but in a magnetic storm even compasses get lost. If it doesn’t kill you it might make you better.

Olivia Newton-John was very special. Beautiful voice and a beautiful person. Go deep and watch on YouTube some of those long-form career stories about her.

Shania was far more talented than we were led to believe. Did you watch that documentary of Netflix yet?

Vince Gill is Country’s five-star General. That Ryman residency was historic. Pure talent and a cool fire.

Nashville is in the middle of some huge growing pains. It would be very easy to be very down on some of the changes.

Where is Country and where should it be? Be positive and find the light at the end of the tunnel. Arms should be open to any and everyone who wants to carry on the very wide-open tradition of Country music, the music of the people, their real life stories and emotions.