Author: Essiecountry

Twang 
by Gene Johns

Most of today’s mainstream country music is missing a few things—the fiddle, the steel guitar, and twang.

Okay, you’re probably thinking, Here goes Gene again on a tirade about pop country.

Well, my friends, let not your hearts be troubled. This isn’t a “hit piece” on pop country. It’s not even about the fiddle or steel guitar.

It’s about twang.

Without the twang, traditional country music can easily turn into something a little less country, a little more contemporary, and a whole lot more susceptible to mingling with pop and hip-hop.

So, I was thinking: How can we get “twang” back?

Then it hit me like a largemouth bass strikes a colorful fishing lure.

All right, I’m not a fisherman, and I’ve never had a largemouth bass—or any fish, for that matter—hit a fishing lure I was using. But that metaphor sounds good, so I’m keeping it in this piece. I’ll figure out how to get it past my editor later.

Now, let’s get back on track and talk about twang.

It seems to me that in recent years, four-letter words—otherwise known as profanity—have infiltrated everyday conversation about as thoroughly as the invasive python has invaded South Florida. They’re everywhere.

Yes, I’m getting to twang. Here it comes.

This is where “twang” comes in.

To get conversations back to a state where old ladies aren’t offended, children no longer need to cover their ears, and some movies can once again receive a G rating, why not replace all that profanity with one non-abrasive, civil, and commercially acceptable word?

Twang.

And “twang” isn’t even a four-letter word.

Let me explain.

Instead of saying, “Damn it,” say, “Twang it.”

If you make a mistake, don’t say, “Oh ****!” Say, “Oh twang!”

Get angry with someone? Don’t say, “Go to he**,” or use the F-word. Just say, “Go to twang!”

Or, if you’re really mad:

“Twang you!”

Twang may never again be dominant in mainstream country music, but just look at what twang could do for civility by removing four-letter words from everyday conversation.

Well, that’s the twang of it all.

This piece may be a bunch of gobbledygook, but if nothing else, I hope it made you laugh once or twice.

If not, what the twang?

I tried.

I couldn’t possibly end this without a song. So, what better choice than Roger Miller’s 1964 “Dang Me”? It’s silly, it’s country, and “Dang Me” sounds suspiciously like Roger Miller may have invented the whole idea before I did.

Mainstream country music used to have plenty of twang. Today, not so much.

This week’s Essie Country Notes takes a slightly different—and hopefully humorous—look at how we can twang back. 

Click the link below to read “Twang” and hear a fun song by the legendary Roger Miller. 

http://essie-country.com/essie-country-notes-twang/

Subject: The Dependable Spare Tire…Until Now

There is an old saying that goes, “The older the tree, the deeper the roots.” It’s a metaphor suggesting that as people age, they become more firmly established in their beliefs and routines.

Okay, at 72 there may be those who would say I’m firmly established in my beliefs and routines. That’s true, but I’m going bald, so my roots can’t be that deep.

I accept change when it makes sense. I reject change when value, common sense, and safety are sacrificed for the promise of profit.

I’ll spare you the tire puns because you’d probably get tired of them. Instead, I’ll get right to the point of my deflated enjoyment of buying a new car: Ford decided my new Bronco Sport didn’t need a spare tire.

The day after I drove my new 2025 Ford Bronco Sport home, I decided to see what kind of spare tire it had—a full-size spare or one of those little donut tires.

When I looked in the cargo area where the spare tire had been in my previous Bronco Sport, I found…nothing.

“No problem,” I thought. “It must be mounted underneath the vehicle.”

It wasn’t.

I was confused and stunned. There was no spare tire anywhere. Instead, there was an electric air pump with tire sealant sitting in the shallow well where the spare tire would normally be.

My confusion quickly inflated into anger, and my anger turned into regret. I felt Ford, the dealership, and—just a little—my salesman had betrayed me. At no point during the buying process was I told that the Bronco Sport did not come with a spare tire. One would think that little piece of information might be important enough to mention before someone spends tens of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle.

I was ready to take it back to the dealership.

A few hours later, I learned that eliminating spare tires is becoming a growing trend throughout the automobile industry.

The explanation is that removing the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench reduces weight, improves fuel economy, and saves manufacturing costs.

I understand the reasoning. I just don’t agree with it.

In my opinion, the small improvement in gas mileage simply isn’t worth the possibility of leaving someone stranded in the middle of nowhere—think Montana, Wyoming, or Nebraska—with a tire that can’t be repaired with sealant and no cell phone service.

To be fair, the odds of that happening to me are probably very small. Then again, three years ago, while traveling out West, I found myself in an area without cell phone service. Low-probability events do happen.

I don’t believe the minimal savings in fuel or manufacturing costs justify removing something that has provided drivers with peace of mind for generations.

At the very least, if automobile manufacturers choose not to include a spare tire, they should still design the vehicle with space for owners who want to purchase one.

This letter really isn’t about a tire.

It’s about trust.

When customers spend a significant amount of money on a new vehicle, they deserve to know when something as basic as a spare tire is no longer included. That isn’t a minor detail—it’s something buyers should be told before they sign the paperwork.

As I said in the beginning, I accept change when it makes sense. I reject change when value, common sense, and safety are sacrificed for the promise of profit.

One more thing.

This isn’t directed solely at Ford because many dealerships do the same thing. Why do dealerships think it’s acceptable to place their own sticker or emblem on a customer’s brand-new vehicle? Unless you’re willing to compensate me for advertising your business on my vehicle, please leave it exactly as it came from the factory.

I’m sending these comments to Ford, my dealership, and my salesman. My salesman is a good guy, and this isn’t intended as criticism of him. I simply wanted him to know how disappointed I was.

I’m also choosing not to identify my dealership publicly because I have been a loyal customer and intend to remain one.

However, I will post these thoughts on social media because, like me, I’m sure many people have no idea the dependable spare tire has quietly disappeared from many new vehicles.

The disappearing spare tire may be the worst automotive idea since the Ford Edsel.

I hope these comments will spare future customers from the same deflated new-car buying experience.

I suppose the next thing that will happen is country music radio will stop playing country music.

Wait…

That already happened.

Scotty, beam me up!

Gene Johns
MSgt, USAF (Retired)

A low scoring college football game is still more exciting than a high scoring soccer game. 

It’s Not About the Economy, Stupid

by Gene Johns

In May, reporters asked President Donald Trump whether Americans’ financial situation was a factor in his negotiations with Iran. Trump reportedly responded that he was not thinking about Americans’ financial situation “even a little bit” when making decisions regarding the conflict and negotiations. His stated focus was preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and addressing what he viewed as national security concerns.

Liberals and Democrats quickly criticized President Trump’s statement that he was not concerned about the economy when dealing with Iran. Some interpreted his remarks as meaning that he does not care about Americans. In my view, that interpretation is incorrect.

President Trump was right to say that concerns about the U.S. economy should not dictate his actions toward Iran. Why? Because allowing economic considerations to limit his response could weaken efforts to achieve the primary objective—eliminating the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran to the United States and its allies.

Why do many liberals and Democratic leaders criticize President Trump for his remarks? In my opinion, some oppose him regardless of the issue and are unwilling to acknowledge his successes, even when those successes could benefit the American people.

Flag Burning
by Gene Johns 

In my opinion, while offensive to me and many others, burning the American flag in protest is an expression of speech and is therefore protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

When I express my opinion about flag burning, I often receive angry pushback and personal insults. I understand the reaction, but I stand firm in my view. Why? Because I value the freedoms the flag represents more than the symbol itself.

After all, burning a flag changes nothing and physically harms no one, provided the flag being burned is not mine, stolen from someone else, a flag of historical value, or a flag flying above federal, state, or local government buildings. Burning any of those previously listed flags would be a crime.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that flag burning is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

In the 1989 case Texas v. Johnson, the Court ruled 5–4 that Gregory Lee Johnson’s act of burning an American flag during a political protest was expressive conduct protected by the Constitution, even though it was deeply offensive to many Americans. The Court emphasized that freedom of speech protects even offensive expression.

In 1990, the Court reaffirmed this position in United States v. Eichman, striking down a federal flag protection law passed after the Johnson decision. The government itself conceded that flag burning constitutes expressive conduct.

On June 22, 2005, the United States House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment that would have given Congress the power to prohibit the desecration of the American flag, including flag burning. On June 27, 2006, the amendment failed in the U.S. Senate by a single vote.

Fortunately, a majority of Senators agreed with me and valued the freedoms the flag represents more than the symbol itself.

Our Constitution does not protect us from actions or words that insult or anger us. If it did, I would invoke that constitutional protection to silence Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and countless other political pundits whose rhetoric often infuriates me.

First Amendment protection is not limited to “pure speech,” such as books, newspapers, or spoken words. Symbolic speech, or nonverbal expression, such as flag burning, is also a form of protected speech. The very act of burning the American flag is a clear demonstration of one’s right to freedom of expression. To prohibit such action would violate the First Amendment of our Constitution.

However, there is something else to consider. If flag burning incites violence, then the individual responsible should be arrested for inciting violence or rioting—not for the specific act of burning the flag itself. In that case, I believe flag burning should be prohibited only when it is clearly intended to provoke violence or civil unrest.

That reminds me of an old argument concerning freedom of speech. One has the right to free speech, but that does not mean a person can falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theater when there is no fire. Such speech is intended to create fear and chaos and therefore is not protected.

The Supreme Court once wrote that freedom is “the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom.” By that definition, freedom would undoubtedly extend to citizens the right to burn Old Glory.

A few years ago, I noticed the Stars and Stripes flying above a post office that was faded and torn. In my opinion, that was more offensive and insulting than some disrespectful degenerate burning an otherwise insignificant flag.

Perhaps Congress should pass a law requiring the U.S. Postal Service and other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that any American flag they display is kept in good condition. Flying a torn and faded Old Glory above government buildings is an insult to our heritage, disrespectful to our citizens, and, in my opinion, worse than burning a flag in protest.

Looking for real country music?

Essie Country’s 2026 Real Country Songs of the Week playlist on YouTube brings together some of the very best traditional country songs released today—featuring steel guitar, fiddle, heartfelt storytelling, and the kind of country sound Nashville too often ignores.

From rising independent artists to overlooked traditionalists, this playlist is dedicated to preserving and promoting real country music the way it’s supposed to sound.

If you miss the days when country music actually sounded country, this playlist was made for you.

🎶 Listen here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGJjqJTu_SjN9T2m9SHmq_wtHlIs2nm0p&si=wCNa1FJPjBhJh-ZQ

Midnight Cowboy 
Released 09/13/2024
by John Haywood
(Source Spotify)

Intro by Gene Johns 

I’m always looking for “real” country music—and it appears John Haywood is too. His song “Midnight Cowboy” tells the story of a search for traditional country sounds that Nashville seems to ignore.

With Nashville bars playing the same ole “fake” country heard on the radio, he searches for a DJ he calls the “Midnight Cowboy,” playing the sounds of Willie, Waylon, and Haggard. Instead, he finds empty dance floors and closed honky-tonks—places where that music once lived.

This up-tempo chronicle of real country music’s decline offers a refreshing look at where the genre stands today. This song has energy, creative insight, and a memorable melody, all coming together in a well-crafted song.

John may not have found his Midnight Cowboy—but Essie Country has. “Midnight Cowboy” by John Haywood is this week’s Essie Country’s Real Country Song of the Week. You can find it by clicking the link below.

Midnight Cowboy 
by John Haywood 
     ⬇️
https://youtu.be/roDAaIiYNqk?si=mZ5hQCZqdlMW50hN

Essie Country—promoting country music, the way it’s supposed to sound.