Kacey Musgraves: Pageant Material

Pageant Material;

Much to the same of any Kacey Musgraves song, Pageant Material demonstrates this songwriters ability to write a song which is both comedic but touching. She is the great example of the new Country era. You may disagree, telling me that her music doesn't sound much different to that of much other country music through the ages. However, I plead you listen (and I mean really listen) to the subject of the tracks and her choice of vocabulary within them. They set her apart from others in her industry and I think makes her one of the leading players in the game.

Her massively successful and grammy award winning album ‘Same Trailer Different Park’ introduced Kacey to the larger audiences. She has since become a favourite on UK Radio with her latest singles finding their place on the Radio 2 Playlist throughout 2015 (she even headlined at the Royal Albert Hall which is something the likes of Adele have done…). Her newest album named the same as my favourite track from it ‘Pageant Material’ again presents Kacey as the ‘girl next door’ type of character with realistic and sassy songs to challenge country music stereotypes.
Pageant Material has the catchy melody and her flawless vocals however my love for this song started after I really understood the message behind it:

"There's certain things you're s'posed to know when you're a girl who grows up in the south."

Kacey immediately reminds listeners that she is a southern girl (i.e. she is from the birthplace of the heart of the country genre). I think this is important as it encourages us to un-generalise our concepts of females from the south. I love that as soon as you hear the first line and the melody that she sings, we know she is a country artist. She isn't shying away from the typical sounds of the genre despite attacking the constructs it has often exploited.

"And it ain't that I don't care about world peace but I don't see how I can fix it in a swimsuit on a stage."

The subject matter becomes more personal, addressing the theme of the song and the values it places of young women growing up in the south (and of course across the world with the Miss World pageant taking in applicants from countries globally). She isn't rude about the contestants themselves but the competition and it's categories. I think what I love most about this line and the song in general is that Kacey is demanding that listeners consider her opinion on these pageants and pressures without being degrading about them. The song is fun, catchy and in a major key, placing you in a good mood without the feeling of being lectured. This is why I believe Kacey is an intelligent and creative song writer; She is able to use her medium to write great songs as well as explore the issues country music often ignores such as drugs to homosexuality; Using American music to address America on itself. Pretty clever I would say!