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Country Music’s Suicidal Influence

Joshua Rodriguez

The University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding country music and its influence on suicide.

Many people have believed this to be true. There has only been one study done on this particular

issue. Country music’s very essence is about the realities of life. It talks about things that are

very closely related to suicide. This is the obvious reason as to why country music is considered

suicidal music. For the most part country music listeners tend to be white. This study is solely

done on the white community, however, not subject to the south. In this report you will

understand the connection between suicide and country music. I will also discuss the several

issues that my cause depression that lead to suicide. This will further lay bare the connection

using research as well as lyrical content of several country songs. The research was done by two

university professors so the quality is guaranteed.

Country music has become increasingly popular over the years. It originated around the

early 1900’s. In its formative years it was known as “hillbilly music” but because of its

derogatory name was changed to Country music in the late 1940’s. Country music has produced

many incredible legends of music. Some of the most well known country singers are: George

Strait, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Conway Twitty, and Elvis Presley. These four men each have

accomplishments that to this day remain insurmountable. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Garth

Brooks are three top selling artists of all time. Conway Twitty has the second most number one

hits of all time with fifty-four number one hits. George Strait beats him holding the record for the

most number one hits in any genre with an astonishing fifty-seven. Even with all these positive

attributes of country music there are, of course, some negatives. Country has always been known

as “Suicidal Music” this was actually proven in 1992 by Jim Gundlach and Steven Stack. Their

extensive research led to the conclusion that country music is suicides accomplice.

This study was done in 1992 by Professor Jim Gundlach from Auburn University and

Steven Stack from Wayne State University. Their article is about their findings between the link

of country music and metropolitan suicide. The effect is independent of divorce, southernism,

poverty, and gun availability. The report is based on the belief of the existence of a country

music’s link to suicide. According to them, their model explains fifty-one percent of the variance

in urban white suicide rates. The reason for their skepticism is that they felt that there was not

enough research to make this ghastly assumption. Although music has been linked to criminal

behavior, it was, for the most part, unexplored. Their findings were as follows, “We contend that

the risk of suicide and that it is thereby associated with a high suicide rate. The effect is

buttressed by the country subculture and a link between this subculture and a racial status related
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to an increased suicide risk.” (Steven Stack and Jim Gundlach, 1992) In this statement they say

that the risk of suicide is correlated with country music.

Looking at the essence of country music it is easy to understand why this assumption is

true. Country music is known for its traditional conservative roots. Every country song tells a

story, most of these stories are easily relatable to one’s life. The genre’s music talks about things

that are usually closely related to suicide. Examples of this are: divorce, heartache, issues at

work, and inner turmoil. Although many other genres have songs about these kinds of suicidal

topics, none can capture the emotion and heart of these topics like Country music. It paints a

picture of reality and describes it in a way that is captivating to its audiences everywhere. It’s

easy to understand this study when you hear songs like: Let me let go, He stopped loving her

today, The Heart won’t lie, She used to be mine, Starts with goodbye, Drinkin’ my baby

goodbye, You were mine, Learning to live again, and You can’t make a heart. With the titles

alone one can understand the seriousness of country music.

Taking a glance at the main reasons as to why people commit suicide will show us the

variety of reasons as to how Country music can be a catalyst. One of the main reasons people

commit suicide is because of depression. When people become depressed they tend to look for

ways to make their selves feel better. When it becomes apparent that they cannot, they often

resort to drugs and alcohol, inflicting pain on themselves, and suicide. There are many causes of

depression, here are a variety of reasons: the death of a loved one, a divorce/separation/breakup,

losing custody of children, financial losses, serious/terminal illnesses, severe accidents, chronic

physical pain, loved one being victimized, abuse (physical, sexual, verbal), bullying, low self-

esteem, and hopelessness. This entire list is often sung about in country music. The severity of

these problems is magnetized in these country ballads.

Here are some examples of songs that I believe are great example of what I’m talking

about. First is a song that is about separation and suicide titled “Whiskey Lullaby” sung by Brad

Paisley. This is a song about a woman that leaves a man. The man becomes increasingly

depressed and resorts to drinking. It soon becomes too much for him to handle and commits

suicide. After his suicide she too became increasingly depressed and overwhelmed with guilt.

Shortly after, she too committed suicide. Another example of song called “The Thunder Rolls”

by Garth Brooks. This song is about a wife that is worried about her husband’s safety. It’s a rainy

night and she is scared that something tragic has happened to him. It’s late and he should have

been home by now. When he arrives she is relieved to see him and is thankful he is okay. As she

hugs him she realizes he smells like another woman’s perfume. She becomes enraged and

murders him. Another song that I would like to share with you is called “Who’s that Man” by

Toby Keith. It’s about a man that has been divorced from his wife for a while. He decides to

drive by and see how things are. He contemplates getting down to see his old family but decides

not to. He reminisces about his life with his family when he was still married. The whole time he

asks himself who’s that man that seems to have taken his spot as the new father of the family.

The fourth and final song that I would like to share is a song titled “You can’t make a heart love

somebody” sung by George Strait. This is a song about a man that is in love with his girlfriend.

He invites her to have dinner; while they are there he decided to propose to her. She tells him

that she’s sorry but she simply cannot. She says that she has tried her best but to no avail, she is

not in love with him. She goes on to also tell him, you can lead a heart to love but you can’t

make it fall.

This is an extremely important issue to be aware of and address. Country music has

always been in and out of popularity. In the 1990’s it was most definitely one of the most
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popular genres. Since this is true it is important to address this issue in case it becomes an even

bigger issue. This issue does have the potential to become more severe. Just listening to the

content of country music can be saddening to hear without even listening to the actual song.

Many people may feel trapped and when they hear songs that are exactly what they’re feeling

can make them extremely depressed. This can cause them to snap and lose control of themselves

causing them to commit suicide. According to the study done an astounding fifty-one percent of

white listeners are linked to country music suicide. That is an unusually large number. I believe

people should not merely focus on the heartbreak depressing country. They should also listen to

the upbeat country. They should listen to the kind of country that you can listen to while having a

good time with your friends. I personally love listening to all types of country. Instead of using

the sad songs to make me even more depressed, I use them to help me get over my situation.

This piece of pop culture has been criticized for its negative lyrics; however, I believe it has so

much more than sad lyrics. A way to be able to enjoy country music while making sure that you

don’t become even more depressed is to listen to the different variety of songs this genre gives to

us. There are many positive songs that country music gives us; we just need to look for them.

Listening to the content of these songs can be quite invigorating. I propose to those people that

are having difficulty listening to country music without getting depressed should consider

listening to the joyful country. Some excellent example of this are: Garth Brooks, Billy

Currington, Zac Brown Band, and my personal favorite George Strait. If you want to look for

alternative types of country, watching CMT and GAC are excellent stations to find them. Using

these mediums to find country music that suits you can be extremely beneficial to you in many

ways.
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References

Entertainment Weekly (2004) “Country Music”, Issue 789, pg. 92. Retrieved from EBSCO Host:

Academic Search Complete

Maguire E. R., Snipes J. B., Reassessing the link between Country Music and Suicide” Retrieved

From EBSCO Host: Academic Search Complete

Mauk, G. W., Taylor, M. J., White, K. R., Allen, T. S. “Comments on Stack and Gundlach’s the

Effect of Country Music on Suicide”: An “Achy Breaky Heart” May not Kill You.

Retrieved from EBSCO Host: Academic Complete

Snipes, J. B., Maguire, E. R. “Country Music, Suicide, and Spuriousness” Retrieved from

EBSCO

Host: Academic Search Complete

Stack, S., and Gundlach J. (1992) “The Effects of Country Music on Suicide” Social forces, 211

218. Retrieved from EBSCO Host: Academic Search complete

www.jstor.org (2010) “Effect of Country Music on Suicide” Retrieved from Ask.com

www.thespoof.com (2008) Report published linking country music to suicide” Retrieved from

Ask.com