COUNTRY MUSIC FEATURE .
’n’ rock’n’roll
image of country music to UK consumers. tried-and-true but newly-fired for the 90s.
, oft-rousing, oft-becalmed mix of country The New Country campaign and the Route But for the editor of Country Music People.
twang and soft rock anthems can shake up
89 and 90 showcases of its stars broke new 7 the follow-on success of Clint Black. George this side of the water like it‘s shook up that ground in promoting country in its ‘ Strait and Alan Jackson is far from ensured. side is open to question, Certainly, without corpulence. no early 80s Urban Cowboy ; that “Hat Acts” area as meaning much over enthralling stage show (schedules
denim‘n'stetson chic. But thus highlighted. these stars seeped into other styles. be it come the year end aIbum charts, Gan“ Steve Earle's biker rock. Nanci Griffith's i Brooks was tops, outsemng Guns N’Roses folk whimsy. or the blues-jazz of Lyle ' Prince, Hammer and U2 in1991. ’
permitting. it won‘t be here until next January). the UK audience‘s historical preconceptions about country music will continue to mitigate against any repeat mega-success here. Which would be
i l . I ‘ ' I reincarnated form: no 70s cornball and Says Craig Baguley. ‘I personally don't see [ his mania-inducing and genuinely i l l ! l
Lovett. Actual country. the stuff ofthe heart
and the heartland. was left mouldering in the unfortunate since. as Baguley states. ‘he’s
haYIOft- Enter Garth Br00k5. ' here. A lot of those artists are doing straight the one country artist who‘s shown that he ‘Whatever music Garth plays. it‘s deeply I country. more than Garth Brooks—he‘s can actually shift people‘s ideas and
rooted within country music. whether it's verging a little bit into philosophical and conventions. He is the one chance now to
the image or the music itself.‘ conCurs ; adult-orientated rock in parts of his music. break down these barriers in Britain and
Pannetier. For the marketing man. Brooks‘s .‘ whereas the George Straits ofthis world are Europe. Who’s going to be as big as him
success with these traditions isparticularly I doing regular country balladsor western again?‘
important. opening the way. as it could. fora swing. To me. that‘s a very culturally
clutch of American (male) performers defined thing in the States.‘
plying the same kind ofthemes. l Whether Garth Brooks and his Ropin' The Wind is on EM! Records.
r / A WEE same: A ‘- for MILESTONE
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The List 14 — 27 February 199215