I recently re-listened to this Today, Explained episode that delves into the iconic and ubiquitous John Denver song "Country Roads." The first few minutes of the episode include renditions from all around the world, including Scotland, Quebec, and Japan (where it is apparently a karaoke staple). The geographic spread of the song is partly due to the wide play that it got on U.S. army bases during the 70's and 80's. Army radio tended to avoid songs that were judged to be too transgressive or profane and John Denver's inoffensive tune was put in frequent rotation (to be fair, it was also a crowd pleaser). A series of covers by the likes of Ray Charles and Olivia Newton-John introduced the song to new audiences. John Denver's performance for Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping during a state visit to Washington D.C. in 1979, and Xiaoping's subsequent appreciation for Denver's music, is also credited with boosting the popularity of Country Roads in China.
Even though John Denver had little connection to West Virginia, I learned that this song is sung at graduations, football games, and funerals in the state. It is also used in political campaigns, protests, and advertisements.
Host Sean Rameswaram talks to several experts about the factors that makes the song so universal. One explained how the song, originally written by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, expertly nails Irving Berlin's fundamental rules for effective song-writing. Among these are a reasonable range (the song is eminently singable) and a title planted memorably within the lyrics. The chorus follows the timeless "mi re do" progression– think "three blind mice."
References to roads, mountains, and rivers aren't unusual in folk songs, but the vague and nostalgic lyrics exemplify the Welsh concept of "hiraeth", a longing or homesickness, perhaps for something that never existed. This helps the song satisfy Berlin's fourth and sixth rules: the song should include "heart interest" and universal qualities that anyone can relate to.
What makes a song appealing has always been fascinating to me. Sometimes a song will capture my attention immediately, usually the result of a chord progression or a beat that I like. I am very attuned to lyrics when I listen and these can really impact my enjoyment of a song. Irving Berlin's rules must be a great starting point for a working songwriter– I especially appreciate songs with modest ranges and decipherable lyrics. However, the occasional song can almost be too catchy (I have a few that I avoid listening to because I'll wake up at 3 am with them marching unprompted on loop through my head). What gives a song this quality? What other songs are loved around the world and why?
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