I have a hard time appreciating country dancing. I grew up thinking it was stupid and redneck. Country music was for people who had no culture. The most I've ever appreciated country music was during the "Blues Brothers" movie when they play in a country bar.
I could never get behind the style of cowboy hats, fringed shirts, short skirts and cowboy boots. Country music, to me, represented the worst of everything American. Willie Nelson just doesn't do it for me.
Now I find that the French are crazy about all things American country. Who would have thought that these normally sane individuals would pay any attention to "boo hoo" music, to lame impersonations of indians and to imported US cars?
Sorry to sound like such a complainer, but when I watch the country dancers give their demonstrations, and people ask me "Oh, what do you think?" It's hard to be polite.
Maybe I should go to this festival to get a good laugh. But no one would be laughing with me.
17 comments:
It puzzled me too...I could sort of see the car buffs with their American classic cars - well, sort of - but the dancing and whatnot, well, how did this start off?
My dear, if I only could find out. It's beyond my understanding.
Country has it's place, just like everything. Most people don't get it right. Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline were some of the few. No wonder they were best friends.
I'm astounded that the French would find that aspect of our culture even slightly appealing. I don't:)
I'm right there with you on this!
Judy
One of the hotels I was staying at in the South had an "American night" and brought in two country line dance teams. It was sooo funny - they spent the whole night doing a dance-off, with each team taking turns dancing while the other would glare at them. They took it so seriously and not one person looked like they were enjoying themselves. But I sure was cracking up!! :)
Don't forget, these are the same people who were Jerry Lewis's biggest fans.
I love it! That is too funny. I remember visiting Fred in the early 90s and he took me to some sort of Steak-House which was suppose to be American. I was laughing at the place so much that I could barely eat.
Take care. m.
Blues Brothers! John Belushi was my cousin...and his Mom was my Godmother.
That was some movie.
You all make me laugh.
Diane, I love Patsy Cline and she is absolutely unknown here.
Lori, OMG!!! Did you ever meet Belushi? You must have a wicked sense of humor.
Jeez...of all things to be a big hit over there. Puzzling!
As a guy (I mean Bear) who likes classics and "easy listening," I've found country music a bit hard to take. However, having spend over a decade working at radio stations which used country music as their identity, I became more mellow about it. Well, a bit. Patsy Cline, Williams (Sr. and Jr.), Cash, Nelson, Jennings, etc. Yeah, whatever.
Line dancing is extremely popular in Belgium. But it's mainly a female thing. You'll rarely catch a man doing it. It's not my cup of tea, though :)
J'aime bien la musique et la dance country, moi !
J'aime bien les vieilles voitures américaines. En fait j'ai l'âme un peu américaine et j'en suis fière.
I never got the fascination with Jerry Lewis.
Some things we're just not meant to understand.
I like country music !! More the modern kind than the corny kind, though - a case of "whatever wrinkles your prune" I suppose !!
It took me completely by surprise to find that the French love country music. It seems even more corny the way they do it, though. In our little patch of rural France it is common place for all generations to be seen together at a village "do", dancing to terrible music but loving every minute, like the guests at a wedding reception, but in public !! The total lack of sophistication may seem ridiculous to some I find it strangely comforting.
Country??? Jerry Lewis??? I'm not a fan of either. You can add the Three Stooges along with the other two in my estimation.
The western clothes? Now, that is another thing! I thought I read that you were from Oregon, like me?
I love dressing western with the fringe, the hat, and the boots. I even have dangle earrings that are cowboy boots, although they haven't been seen in a while :-).
Post a Comment