By Anthony Washington, The Contemporary Toast
Like it or hate it – nation music is a robust style…however what in regards to the music and marijuana?
Whereas it has all the time been fashionable, in the previous few years it has had an explosion of followers. Within the US alone, over 139 million hear. And never simply old-fashioned like Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, or Randy Travis…the brand new technology of singers together with Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, Sturgill Simpson, Morgan Wallen, and Colter Wall. Whereas ingesting is huge within the scene, what’s the connection between nation music and hashish.
Nation music and hashish share a captivating and evolving relationship, reflecting broader cultural shifts. Whereas traditionally the style leaned towards conservative values, latest years have seen a rising acceptance of marijuana inside nation music, each in lyrics and amongst its artists.
Up to now, nation music usually distanced itself from marijuana, aligning with socially conservative values. A first-rate instance is Merle Haggard’s 1969 hit “Okie From Muskogee,” which explicitly rejected marijuana use and symbolized conventional American values.
Regardless of this, outlaw nation artists like Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr. and Johnny Money embraced hashish as a part of their rebellious personas. Willie Nelson, particularly, turned synonymous with marijuana tradition, famously smoking on the White Home roof throughout Jimmy Carter’s presidency.
Over the previous decade, mentions of marijuana in nation music have elevated considerably. Artists like Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Eric Church have integrated hashish themes into their songs, usually celebrating its use casually or humorously.
Songs akin to “Burn One with John Prine” by Kacey Musgraves and “Might As Well Get Stoned” by Chris Stapleton spotlight this shift towards normalization.
Curiously, research present that nation music mentions medication extra regularly than some other style, together with rap. Marijuana references now outpace these of tougher substances like cocaine or alcohol in some circumstances.
Hashish has change into an emblem of individualism and freedom inside the style. This aligns with nation music’s custom of storytelling about private struggles and breaking societal norms. The altering authorized and publicl panorama of marijuana within the U.S. has influenced this shift, making hashish a extra socially acceptable subject for mainstream audiences.
The Contemporary Toast is a each day way of life platform with a facet of hashish. For extra data, go to www.thefreshtoast.com.
