Salute to Real Men

It's not hard to find real men in country music. Most of the guy singers qualify. There are a few exceptions, though. I don't have anything against Keith Urban, for example, but the guy paints his toenails. That sort of thing just doesn't cut it for real men.

However, there's one guy that we should take the time to recognize. And that guy is Trace Adkins.



He sings about hot chicks, hard work, the military, and vehicles. He can also sing tender songs about love and family without anybody questioning his manhood (because let's face it, he'd kick the crap out of them). If the hit songs and Opry membership weren't enough, he's also had his nose nearly detached in a car accident, his fingers severed and reattached, survived a hurricane on an off-shore oil rig, and been shot through the heart and lungs by his ex-wife. And he's lived to tell/sing about it all.

If that doesn't say "real man," I don't know what does.

P.S. I also highly recommend his book, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck.

Salute to Real Men

Let's face it, men are a dying breed. Oh, sure, as long as humans are around there will be people who meet the genital requirements that allow them to pee in the men's room. But there's more to being a man than having the right plumbing.

In an era where women fantasize about metros and dudes wear mascara, it's important for us to recognize real men where/when we find them. We need to give them their due and remind people of their awesomeness. Maybe then more of our urinal using imposters will see the error of their ways and join us. And maybe chicks will get a clue and hold out for men who can love them and defend them rather than hog their mirrors.

Of course, there are obvious examples of masculinity. The Duke is the most obvious. Therefore, he won't be a part of this tribute, for two reasons. 1) That's a standard the rest of us could only dream of living up to. 2) I don't have the talent to begin to give the Duke a proper tribute. He holds a hallowed place in manhood.

Eastwood would be right there behind him except for that whole Madison County thing.

Anyway, let us begin to take masculinity back by pausing to admire one of the truly great men of the past twenty years. I present to you, Al Bundy.