User Reviews

This might be my favorite episode of Explained and I was in one! I really appreciate the research that went into it, mapping out the origins of evolving music styles laid out in beautiful graphics. I love the way this episode points out how basically the American working class, whether Black or White, is the soil from which country and hip hop grew and found a lot of crossover, as much as they are conventionally taken to be opposites, more or less. I didn't know the banjo originated in West Africa, for example.

I expected to see the Carter Family mentioned, known to be a big influence in American pop/rock music (also taking a lot directly from Black musicians) so that's my one issue. Otherwise, I found myself emotional toward the end, recognizing that it's important to understand where people, subcultures, and really similar experiences intersect historically, especially in such a divided time as now.

First half is a country music documentary.

The second is obsessed with race.

Can't Netflix just for once let us enjoy something without politics seeping in?

Just awful.

Wtf! You guys didn't include Taylor Swift. She is like the goddess of the country music over the last decade or so, even though she change her genre way too much. I'm not gonna watch explained anymore. And talking about people of color every time you guys have the change really bothers people not from the States.

Btw, Ok we understand there is discrimination against black people in the U. S and you guys treated them very badly but I'm not paying money to see you guys absolve from your sins you committed in the past. You don't have to remember us Europeans all the time. You do that in every show.