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They all like country

Country music is doing well both among the young and the old in Mangalore

Photo: AP

KING OF COUNTRY No doubt the Oscar-nominated biopic on Johnny Cash has boosted the genre's popularity

American country music may not be cool in the metros but is doing well in Mangalore's music outlets. Both the young and the old alike are looking at this genre and buying it. Why is it becoming so popular? One reason could be thanks to Joachim Phoenix's Oscar-nominated role in Walk the Line, the biopic of country great Johnny Cash.

Max Karkada, musician, attributes its appeal to its simplicity and because it is easy on the ear and the heart. The songs generally speak of universal emotions and concerns. Jim Reeves, John Denver, Roy Drusky are some popular names in this genre.

Rajnikanth Shenoy, owner of Kudpiraj.com at Bejai, a multi-media expert who has a fine collection of country music confirms that a number of people in the city are taking to country music. Not only are country music buffs asking for the standard singers, but they are also seeking out old-timers such as Boxcar Willie, Marty Robbins, John Anderson and Anne Murray. The DJ at the Liquid Lounge Zero Degree says there are any number of those demanding the classic numbers of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.

It may be recalled that Steve Young performed in Mangalore a year back to an audience that got an opportunity to watch a country musician live. Young just had an acoustic guitar as accompaniment. Thanks to the U.S. Consulate, Young still gets to perform often in many homes here. Incidentally, Mangalore is the only city in India that remembers Jim Reeves every year on his death anniversary on July 31. A number of local musicians get together and play to pay tribute to Gentleman Jim.

Michael Lobo, a researcher in music, says country music is also popular probably because it acts an antidote to the hectic pace of life. According to him, country music is bereft of pyrotechnics, carries with it the "lonely" harmonica, the restful riffs of the acoustic guitar, the odd hit on the cymbals and the typically rustic vocals. "It has a soothing effect on the mind and the heart. That is why it is important to those who love country music."

To truly understand the charm of country music, try "Darling", a 1970 number by Marty Robbins. In the number, he sends a self-composed country song to Steve Goodman and asks him to see if it was the perfect western country song. Goodman gives the thumbs-down saying it did not say anything about momma, getting drunk, prison, pick-up truck and rain. When Robbins attaches an additional verse to the song, he gets a pat from Goodman, who, with tongue firmly in his cheek, says it was now a perfect country song. The song goes like this:

"I was drunk, when my momma got out of prison,

And I went in the rain to pick her up in a pick-up truck

But before got there she was run down by a down bound train... "

M. RAGHURAM

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