No one at Soldier Field was sitting. Everyone was up on their feet, singing and dancing along. There was just so much energy around you and it was a fun atmosphere. I attended country music star the Luke Bryan’s concert accompanied by Cole Swindel, Lee Brice and Dierks Bentley. Now many of you are thinking, “Ugh, I hate country music.”

Most people have very strong opinions concerning country music, and it is not the most popular genre. Sometimes I wonder why that is.

Country music, most of the time, has an upbeat rhythm to it and a majority of songs are about kicking back on the weekends with some friends, having a couple of beers and a good time.  To my knowledge, that is what most college students do during their college years. That is one of the reasons why I love country music so much. The tone of the music is so laid back, relaxing, and fun to hang out to with friends or by yourself.

And at the concert, there weren’t just college or high school students there. There were young kids, parents, grandparents, and men and women. Most concerts are geared toward a specific audience, but country music appeals to all age groups.

You aren’t going to see parents or grandparents at a Drake and Lil Wayne concert dancing along and singing to that type of music.

But the thing that I love most about country music is its lyrical content. And I’m not talking about the ones that are more upbeat (even though those lyrics are also good); I’m talking about those slower country songs.

Country lyrics have meaning and substance. The lyrics demonstrate real life situations that people can relate to and they tell a story. Country music hits you on an emotional level that not a lot of other genres.

For example, take the song “There Goes My Life” by Kenny Chesney. The song starts off about a teen boy who finds out he is going to be a father and how his life is going to be over. But by the end of the song, his daughter is moving away. He is saddened because she shaped his whole life. This song tells a story, it sparks of emotion, and every time I listen to it I get goose bumps.

There are so many songs that could demonstrate these characteristics, and it is hard to choose just one. Country music sings about love and life in ways that I can’t put into words, and this genre does the best of doing so. I’m not saying that other genres tell stories or spark emotions, because there are genres that certainly do. I just believe that country does it best.

Driving down the road on a summer day, with the windows down, and the sun out, there is nothing I would rather listen to than a good country song. The songs are fun and upbeat but can also be slow and emotional.  What else can you ask for? Isn’t that why we listen to music? For just a few minutes, we can get totally wrapped up in a song that can change your whole day. That is what country music is for me.