Talent can be a powerful, blinding curtain concealing the effects of one’s art. Morgan Wallen, an acclaimed country music singer, is fooling us with upbeat, catchy tunes with an “e” rhyme scheme that makes for fantastic songs. We must admit to ourselves the shallow nature of his music and imagine knowing someone who personifies his lyrics.
We should’ve been worried after Wallen’s fame rose after his n-word incident. Wallen’s controversies involving his violation of COVID-19 protocols and usage of the “n-word” have long been documented, but they highlight broader issues plaguing America.
Race is unavoidable when speaking about Wallen. His fanbase showed their true colors when his album sales skyrocketed 1220% after his “n-word” incident. This was despite a 79% drop in radio plays over the same period. From afar, it bares a striking resemblance to the attempts to cancel Eminem for his homophobic and misogynistic lyrics.
However, Wallen’s diehard fans backed him up and gave him a pass.
After 24 years of life, I’ve lost count of how many white people have said varieties of the “n-word around” me. Wallen used the word in the same manner many white people say it, in the comfort of other white people. How could his audience find fault in his actions when they’ve probably used it themselves?
From race to conspiracy theory, dots connect Wallen to multiple aspects of toxic social media conversations. The overextended confidence of the half-educated was put on full display during the pandemic. As people defied CDC guidelines, Wallen followed suit in 2020, ignoring guidelines while he partied at the University of Alabama. His actions accredited the conspiracy theories, defying scientists in the name of bureaucratic rebellion. Wallen is not to blame for these groups, but just as Jordan Peterson carries a questionable fanbase, Wallen’s fanbase is also worth questioning.
Another aspect of his persona relies heavily on small towns and country romanticization. Wallen’s song, “7 Summers Ago,” depicts a man romanticizing his stationary position in his hometown. At the same time, his ex seeks new opportunities. It’s cringe-worthy because getting outside your environment should be a goal we all carry. The world is far too big to ground yourself in a particular area.
Over 50% of people never live outside their state, and another 37% never leave their hometown according to the Pew Research Center. I left home as soon as possible, and I promise staying in your hometown pales in comparison to experiencing a new environment. Remember, life in rural areas isn’t the romantic country lifestyle that the media sells us. Rural residents have higher suicide rates than urban dwellers, and farmers are 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. You are not missing anything living in the city. In fact, you’re winning.
Lastly, ask yourself, “If I created a person matching Wallen’s lyrics, what would they look like?”
In his song “One Thing At A Time,” Wallen expresses a tradeoff for himself in case the girl he’s after is not interested in him. He sings, “If you ain’t gonna kiss me. Then I’ll take some whiskey, some Grizzly, nicotine, amphetamines too.”
I can only go two ways with that: call you a degenerate or give you pity. The cringe factor comes from using the word amphetamines; it’s just not hip. Also, why does Wallen need to go to the lengths of coping with drugs just because he might lose a girl? It’s a bit much.
For those interested in the XY chromosome, don’t be fooled by the romanticization of drunk conflict. In his song “Last Night,” the situation describes how reality can lead to hostile situations. According to Dolan Zimmerman, between 1994 and 2010, 80% of domestic violence victims were women.
There is nothing romantic about intoxicated arguments, and drunk outbursts are not the way to get through to your partner. A proper relationship doesn’t rely on periodic drunk outbursts to reveal pent-up emotions. Imagine the song as a toxic country spinoff of 50 Shades of Grey. Wallen aids these toxic qualities with the occasional Jesus lyrics to cement his Christian credibility and gives his listeners a guilt release.
Additionally, there are shallow aspects to his music. Wallen’s implementation of hip-hop sounds in his production stems from a viral initiative resembling artists like Drake. He’ll do anything to fit into the mainstream, a modern example is the Florida Georgia Line. It’s cool that Wallen can collaborate with MoneyBagg Yo and produce decent music, but the song’s forgettable nature makes his music temporal in its impact.
The fandom behind certain artists safeguards their appeal despite corporate or industry sentiment. Wallen’s exceptional vocal and emotional lyrics draw audiences to revel in their own romantic, depressive and nostalgic memories. His music has earned him a free pass, and it’s hard to keep yourself in check with that amount of freedom. If you created such captivating music, you might find yourself in the same boat.
Mohammad Tantawi is a 24-year-old mass communication senior from Smyrna, TN.
