In 1965, Roger Miller released one of the biggest and most recognizable country hits of all time—“King of the Road.”
Here’s why:
* It spent five weeks at No. 1 on the country chart. * It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, far higher than most country songs of the era. * It reached No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart. * It reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom, an extremely rare accomplishment for a country song in 1965. * It won five Grammy Awards, making it one of the most decorated country singles ever.
One review I read described the song this way:
“With its laid-back rhythm, clever lyrics, and unforgettable finger snapping, King of the Road tells the story of a carefree drifter who measures wealth not by what he owns, but by the freedom he enjoys.”
Did you catch that?
”…unforgettable finger snapping.”
The finger snapping works perfectly. It helps create the relaxed, carefree mood of the song and became one of its signature sounds. Just as important, it fit Roger Miller’s easygoing style. It never sounded forced or gimmicky.
Thankfully, other artists didn’t jump on the bandwagon and start copying it simply because King of the Road was a massive success. It remained what it should have been—a creative production choice that belonged to one great song.
One creative idea in one classic recording is very different from turning it into a production formula.
Can you imagine finger snapping in Tammy Wynette’s Stand by Your Man, Merle Haggard’s Okie from Muskogee, or just about any Loretta Lynn recording? Country music would have sounded very different.
Fast forward to the mid- and late-2010s. Finger snapping, hand clapping, and even drumsticks clicking together evolved from an occasional production choice into a formula heard throughout mainstream country music. They became so common that many songs seemed to begin the same way.
Music critics have written extensively about the rise of snap tracks and clap tracks in mainstream country. But as I listened, another thought occurred to me. Somewhere along the way, the opening fiddle that once welcomed us into so many country songs was often replaced by finger snaps, hand claps, or the click of drumsticks.
I recently wrote that the fiddle is the heart of country music. When that familiar sound is replaced by production tricks that become the standard, something important is lost. The heartbeat of country music grows a little fainter.
So how do we keep that heartbeat strong?
By supporting the artists who still make country music sound like country music. Listen to traditional country. Support independent artists. And, of course, spend a little time each week with Essie Country’s Real Country Music Song of the Week.
Until next week, I’ll leave you with an encore performance of one of the greatest country hits ever recorded—Roger Miller’s “King of the Road.”
Essie Country: Home of 21st Century Real Country Music 