London + country music = ?

As a nation we often seem to follow the trends of our transatlantic cousin the mighty US of A. They like hip hop music, we like hip hop music. They become obese, we become obese. They have gang culture, we... well, I'm sure you get the gist. However, there is one thing that seems to divide us (and I'm not talking about their inability to use the letter 'u') - country music.

Such ditties have American audiences in raptures, but they seem to leave us cold. Clearly, this is all very generic (someone in the UK must country music - you know who you are), but with news that Dolly Parton and her bouncy castle chest are looking to bring her musical '9 to 5' to the West End, it does beg the question: could a show based on country music succeed in England?

As reported by Croydon Today, Parton told Heart radio: "Well, I'm hoping that does happen because I've written all the musical and it will hopefully open on Broadway in the spring of 2009. I think that a lot of times the UK audiences are better for me because people kind of take you for granted in your home town or your home country."

"Through the years my UK fans have kept telling me how much they appreciate me and what I do. I don't get to come over here to the UK often but I've always had wonderful times here. We've had great audiences here so why not?"

Dolly considers that she has a strong fan base here, but for a musical to succeed it would need to reach a mainstream audience. Is it all academic as most West End crowds are tourists or should Londoners brace themselves to accept the new show? Should diversity like this be encouraged, or is London not ready for the chirpy chimes of "I'm working nine to five, what a way to make a living?"

Flickr image from Rink a Dink's photostream.

Written by Katie on 1 Apr 2008 5:14 PM. Permalink