THE VIKINGS TAKE BANGALORE!

 

 

If it hadn’t been for Cotton Eye Joe, bluegrass would never have married techno, and the world would never have jigged at a pace as frantic as set by Rednex! Making the barn dance funkier by the beat, Rednex burst onto world charts in 1994 with their debut single Cotton Eye Joe, which reached the No.1 spot in 12 countries and went triple platinum in Germany while their consequent album turned platinum in Europe. This Swedish eurodance group uses their banjos, fiddles and harmonicas to create numbers which are impossible to not to dance to. Bengalooreans got to experience their spirited music first hand when Rednex performed on 24 March 2007, for The Indian Institute of Planning and Management’s festival Amaze ’07. TSI caught up with Annika ‘Mary Joe’ Ljungberg, the lead singer of the band (the others being Maverick and Cotton Eye Joe) before they got onto the stage for a rollicking, rockin’ show . . .

Considering it’s your first rendezvous with Indian fans, how do you expect it to turn out?

In Japan, the audience would just sit and clap but we are more used to the Europeans who want to jump and dance, so we hope that the audience is like that. There is so much positive energy already and we would like to make our audience happy with our songs.

The Indians have been very nice and warm. We have never had such a warm welcome. We have been to other Asian countries, but I love the Indians. Friendly. Hospitable . . .

What inspired you to play country music?

I have been into country music since I was a little girl. Country music is not just about playing and singing; it’s an entire way of living. In ‘94, when the band came together, we focussed on country music with a blend of techno and electronica. But today we focus on the roots of country music and a little bit of what the younger generation wants so that it’s easier to reach out to them. Who composes the songs and who writes the lyrics? How do you rate the group synergy?

The songs are written by us. We always stay together. We have done over 2000 shows since 1994. We work 7 days a week. There are endless early mornings and late nights. It’s a lot of hard work.

Which song or album is your personal favourite and why?

The track: Wish You Were Here, which was released in 95, is my favourite (2nd biggest single after CIJ). It has very strong lyrics. It is about a woman losing her husband in a war. It goes like: Me and my country men, wish you were here . . . Whenever I sing this song, it feels as if it’s the first time, every time . . .

How do you handle your personal life with your professional life?

There is no such thing as personal life. Rednex is my family. And I give all my time to it.

When have you faced the maximum competition and from whom?

I don’t think that there is any other band like Rednex that does a mix between country and the ‘thing of today’. However, we have had close competition on the UK charts when we would be listed on No. 25 and by some others on 19 or 20.

Has there ever been rivalry within the band?

We live like a family. I have put the band together. I am like the mom to my band family. Rednex is close to my heart. It has been over a decade that you have been performing . . . what’s that one goal that you are looking forward to?

Coming to India has been our goal for quite some time. (They feel they are coming quite late to India). It feels good to be performing in a place where the people are so nice. It’s a big day for us, performing in a place where we have only sold our music till today . . . now we shall take love and give happiness. We always want to spread happy feeling and have fun on the stage.

Most of the international bands and artists have invariably been involved in controversy. Have you ever been trapped in any?

I stay away from alcohol. I have never tasted it in my life. We go crazy on the stage as it’s the music that drives us crazy . . . not drugs or anything. We stay close to nature . . . we like to live in the mountains. It’s the experience of life which is so beautiful. People have had things to say about us using different artists now and then . . . but that’s the way to keep getting better is how we look at it.

The younger generation is overwhelmed with the rap and hip hop today. Is there something you want to say to them?

Country music is all about depicting a real life situation. I know a rapper can do the same.. but one must do it positively. It’s so easy to be depressed and full of attitude. There are so many dirty things happening around us . . . we must give more love to each other . . . more respect to mankind. We want to be good mentors for the youth. They need to believe in themselves and the future.