Brooks & Dunn Down Under in Sydney
The journey home from work yesterday was rather serendipitous. At the last minute, not that I am in anyway complaining mind you, I was invited to go, see and experience the Country music juggernaut that is Brooks & Dunn.
Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo, consisting of singer-songwriters Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn.
The pair made their debut in 1991 with four singles all reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts. Brooks & Dunn have had more than 40 singles on the country music charts, of which 20 have reached number one in the US. They have recorded ten studio albums, two greatest-hits compilations, and a Christmas album. So they are BIG, at least by any current measure we might apply to the mainstream music industry generally. They have won a number of awards in the US, where they call home, and are lauded by a HUGE following world wide. Australia didn't disappoint either, there were thousands of fans who sang along, cheered and stomped their way unashamedly through the songs. I really enjoyed watching those around me enjoying themselves. I felt a little out of place there though. Even if I was in my boots and belt complete with big buckle. I simply didn't know many of their songs at all. Shame on me! The concert was great. It was a big show. It occurs to me also, that paying the big bucks for shows these days, people want desperately to be entertained. For that short 2-3 hours they can forget their troubles and be immersed in some great music. Judging from all the people I saw around me, no-one was disappointed.
Dare I admit this? I am not a big country music fan. Well, not yet anyway! I am happy to admit that the genre is growing on me. I have fallen in love with the McClymonts, the Dixie Chicks and LeAnn Rimes. I like Keith Urban, Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, Lee Kernaghan, Casey Chambers and a few others. My big sister Olive is a big country music fan and I thought of her tonight. I think she would have loved the concert. Country Music to an outsider like me seems to be growing here in Australia. Tamworth in mid northern NSW certainly has the biggest country music festival in the country and it attracts legions of dedicated fans each year in January.
As you can imagine, the belt buckles were out, the western shirts, the jeans and boots were all on display here in this unabashed display of country music fervor. Ladies dressed well and looked a might perty in their finery! I must note that though the crowd was boisterous, it was extremely well natured and everyone who was there, was so because they wanted to have fun, and that they did.
I am grateful for the opportunity to go and even more grateful to have a very dear friend who thought of me for the invite. It is sincerely appreciated.
If life's richness is experiential, then I am l striving to live it through as many experiences as I can. Tim Rice and Elton John wrote it eloquently for the Lion King which I have quoted from before on my blog.
From the Day we arrive on the planet
and blinking step into the Sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen,
more to do than can ever be done...
....and yet I try my hardest to see and do as much as I can fit into my life. I am conscious also of not going too far too fast. I recognise the importance of stopping to smell the roses and enjoy the journey on occasion. I try to appreciate the simplicity and joys that unfold to those who wish to recognise and feel them. Friday night is a case in point. I was out running some errands in Castle Hill and came home late to a massive downpour of rain. I drove into my driveway and got out of my car and walked onto the grass, took my shoes off and stood in the rain and with arms outstretched, closed my eyes and felt the drops on my face and then allowed the rain to permeate my clothes through to the skin. It was wonderful. I accept there were people who passed by me and were staring and thinking I had lost the plot, and was crazy. Some who read here you may feel the same, but I love to feel life, and I often do that in the most simple of ways.
I think of myself as a free spirited story teller, only my stories are largely told through the lens. Now if only I could find more people willing to let me have even more stories to tell.........
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