A Country Career Ain't What It Used To Be
Hitmaking singer Joe Diffie talks golf, style vs. substance and the legends of country music
By John Staton, Staff Writer StarNewsOnLine.com
In the 1990s, there wasn't a name in country music bigger than Joe Diffie's. With songs like Pickup Man, Third Rock from the Sun and John Deere Green, the blue-eyed Oklahoma native had a run of hits spurred by his comfortably familiar country vocals and his ability to turn a memorable phrase. From heart-tugging ballads to honky-tonk stomps drenched in good ol' boy humor, Diffie did it all.
His flair for writing cropped up again a couple of years ago when Jo Dee Messina hit No. 1 with My Give a Damn's Busted, a tune Diffie wrote.
His star cooled a bit this decade, and he no longer records for a major label, but Diffie continues to write and tour. He headlines the N.C. Country Music Festival on Saturday in Kure Beach. I talked to him on the phone.
I have to ask you first, I know you're a golfer and a golf fan - did you catch any of the U.S. Open last weekend?
Yeah, I was really frustrated though. To make a long story short, I cannot get NBC on my bus for some reason, which of course is where the tournament was being played. So I had my computer and I would just watch the leader board. But I watched the final yesterday, and you just kind of hated for either (Tiger Woods or Rocco Mediate) to lose.
The music industry has changed so much in the past few years. How has your career been affected by it?
Well, you know, I don't know exactly. Mine is probably just a victim of progression, of age and whatnot. It just happens. You can't stay at the top forever (laughs). All those young artists who are hot right now, five or 10 years from now they'll be having to make other plans.
Are you still writing new songs?
Occasionally I do. I don't write as often as I should. But I tell you when I'm home, man, I got a little 4-year-old girl and she occupies like almost all of my time.
There have been a lot of changes in country music as well. Do you feel like county music has changed for the better or the worse?
I think it's for the worse, to tell you the truth. I feel like today, it seems like we try to sell sizzle more than substance. Everyone I ever talk to agrees with me when I tell them something like that.
Along those same lines, there are all of these elder statesmen of country music - Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard. When these guys are gone, who is going to replace them?
(Laughs ruefully) I know what you mean. I know exactly what you mean. I hate to even name names, but do you think 10 years from now anybody will remember some of the songs that are hits right now? There's very few songs like He Stopped Loving Her Today.
That goes back to what you were saying, with people going for style over substance or the quick hit over something that might be more enduring.
Yeah, and you know, I hate to even admit this, but maybe I was involved in that a little bit just in my own little world. Because what ends up happening is, you want to play the game, if I could use that term. You get really focused on what is a radio hit. Well, what is the criteria to increase your chances? Make it up-tempo, make it light-hearted or kind of a lovey song, and make it less than three minutes long and you got a better shot at getting it played that you do a sad, slow tear-jerker. Maybe this is because I'm older, but I just really wish that you could've had more songs that actually meant something.
Well, you're not that old, are you?
I'm 49. I'm still hip, baby!
John Staton: 343-2343
john.staton@starnewsonline.com
By John Staton, Staff Writer StarNewsOnLine.com
In the 1990s, there wasn't a name in country music bigger than Joe Diffie's. With songs like Pickup Man, Third Rock from the Sun and John Deere Green, the blue-eyed Oklahoma native had a run of hits spurred by his comfortably familiar country vocals and his ability to turn a memorable phrase. From heart-tugging ballads to honky-tonk stomps drenched in good ol' boy humor, Diffie did it all.
His flair for writing cropped up again a couple of years ago when Jo Dee Messina hit No. 1 with My Give a Damn's Busted, a tune Diffie wrote.
His star cooled a bit this decade, and he no longer records for a major label, but Diffie continues to write and tour. He headlines the N.C. Country Music Festival on Saturday in Kure Beach. I talked to him on the phone.
I have to ask you first, I know you're a golfer and a golf fan - did you catch any of the U.S. Open last weekend?
Yeah, I was really frustrated though. To make a long story short, I cannot get NBC on my bus for some reason, which of course is where the tournament was being played. So I had my computer and I would just watch the leader board. But I watched the final yesterday, and you just kind of hated for either (Tiger Woods or Rocco Mediate) to lose.
The music industry has changed so much in the past few years. How has your career been affected by it?
Well, you know, I don't know exactly. Mine is probably just a victim of progression, of age and whatnot. It just happens. You can't stay at the top forever (laughs). All those young artists who are hot right now, five or 10 years from now they'll be having to make other plans.
Are you still writing new songs?
Occasionally I do. I don't write as often as I should. But I tell you when I'm home, man, I got a little 4-year-old girl and she occupies like almost all of my time.
There have been a lot of changes in country music as well. Do you feel like county music has changed for the better or the worse?
I think it's for the worse, to tell you the truth. I feel like today, it seems like we try to sell sizzle more than substance. Everyone I ever talk to agrees with me when I tell them something like that.
Along those same lines, there are all of these elder statesmen of country music - Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard. When these guys are gone, who is going to replace them?
(Laughs ruefully) I know what you mean. I know exactly what you mean. I hate to even name names, but do you think 10 years from now anybody will remember some of the songs that are hits right now? There's very few songs like He Stopped Loving Her Today.
That goes back to what you were saying, with people going for style over substance or the quick hit over something that might be more enduring.
Yeah, and you know, I hate to even admit this, but maybe I was involved in that a little bit just in my own little world. Because what ends up happening is, you want to play the game, if I could use that term. You get really focused on what is a radio hit. Well, what is the criteria to increase your chances? Make it up-tempo, make it light-hearted or kind of a lovey song, and make it less than three minutes long and you got a better shot at getting it played that you do a sad, slow tear-jerker. Maybe this is because I'm older, but I just really wish that you could've had more songs that actually meant something.
Well, you're not that old, are you?
I'm 49. I'm still hip, baby!
John Staton: 343-2343
john.staton@starnewsonline.com
Labels: branson mo, branson shows, branson theaters, country music
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