Hypermasculinity in Country Music

            In the Friday’s lecture, we discussed the media’s obsession with masculinity and what lengths the media goes through to portray what it means to be “manly.” Specifically, we talked about Tupac and, consequently, looked at this topic through the lens of hip hop and rap music.

            Through this lens, we noticed not only through the lyrics of the rap music but also visual ways in which young men in this industry exercise the “cool pose.” Most of these things centered around a gangster lifestyle such as hand signals, tattoos, and gun usage. All of these things show that the man is strong and a threat.

            However, this lecture got me to thinking how these kind of hypermasculine trends are especially apparent in country songs as well. They too have a “cool pose” that they believe shows they are superior and a threat. However, it has more to do with concepts such as hard working man, an outdoorsmen, or man that fights for their country. Some things that portray this “cool pose” are muscles, flannel shirts, work boots, facial hair, cowboy hats, and guns.

            Additionally, countless country songs, mostly by male artists, touch on themes of violence, being tough or strong, or being able to attract women. Many songs pride the themselves on their man hood. One great example of this is Brad Paisley’s song, “I’m Still a Guy.” This song is all about how even though he is in love with a woman; he will never be any less of a man’s man. This is evident in the lyrics “Yeah, with all of these men linin' up to get neutered, It's hip now to be feminized, But I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair, Yeah honey, I'm still a guy.”
            Masculinity and hypermasculinty is seen in many different types of music. Men are showed to be tough, strong, brave, violent, and threatening. However, depending on what genre it is, the  way in which the “cool pose” is demonstrated differs.

I have posted the entire song, “I’m still a Guy” below.

When you see a deer, you see BambiAnd I see antlers up on the wall

When you see a lake you think picnics

And I see a large mouth up under that log
You're probably thinkin' that you're gonna change meI

n some ways, well, maybe you mightScrub me down, dress me upOh, but no matter what, remember,

 I'm still a guy
When you see a priceless friend's painting

I see a drunk naked girl

When you think that riding a wild bull sounds crazy

And I'd like to give it a whirl
Well, love makes a man do some things he ain't proud of

And in a weak moment I mightWalk your sissie dog, hold your purse at the mall

But remember, I'm still a guy
And I'll pour out my heart, hold your hand in the car

Write a love song that makes you cry

Then turn right around, knock some jerk to the ground

'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by
I can hear you now talkin' to your friends

Sayin' yeah, girls he's come a long way

From draggin' his knuckles and carryin' a club

And buildin' a fire in a cave
But when you say a back rub means only a back rub

Then you swat my hand when I try

Well, now what can I say at the end of the day

Honey, I'm still a guy
And I'll pour out my heart, hold your hand in the car

Write a love song that makes you cry

Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground'

Cause he copped a feel as you walked by
These days there's dudes gettin' facials

Manicured, waxed and botoxed

With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands

You can't grip a tackle box
Yeah, with all of these men linin' up to get neutered

It's hip now to be feminized

But I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair

Yeah honey, I'm still a guy
Oh, my eyebrows ain't plucked, there's a gun in my truck

Oh thank God, I'm still a guy