KEVIN B. KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat A couple dances during a country song at Cactus Moon, a Tucson night club, Jan 29. Many UA students are "closet" country lovers, and Cactus Moon is one place where students can "come out" and dance.

The closet's a little crowded - the country music closet, that is. It's filled with fans too embarrassed to show their true colors at an institution that thrives on Clay Aiken and rap-rock.

But it's time they stepped out and started achy breakin'.

Scott Moore, a plant sciences junior, said that instead of the repetitive pop and alternative music lyrics, country music offers something different.

"Country music is real. There's a lot of themes of patriotism and American life," Moore said, who added that older country artists like Willie Nelson and Hank Williams got him interested in the music.

"With newer country, it doesn't really seem like there's a lot of heart behind it," Moore said.

Those who aren't fans of country argue that most country songs seem to be about the same thing.

"It seems like country is something that's more for conservative people," said Amanda Yontz, a psychology sophomore who believes that country lyrics are pretty clichŽ. "The stories are always about people triumphing and dogs dying."

But for UA country fans, the sources are limited, with only one country bar geared toward a younger crowd, Cactus Moon Cafe, 5470 E. Broadway Blvd.

Country music makes me feel good. It's uplifting. - Mary Owen education senior

Du Cassell, a disc jockey at Cactus Moon who plays a mix of country and top-40 dance hits, thinks country has a weak following among a younger audience because it's not promoted in the mainstream music industry.

"In Tucson, for some reason, stations promote country music to an older crowd because that's the demographic they're shooting for," he said.

Perhaps because some people think country music is uncool, UA students keep their appreciation for country to themselves.

Jennifer Barrows, a biochemistry junior whose parents played country around the house growing up, admits to listening to it. But when she does, it has to be on her own time because her boyfriend doesn't approve.

"My boyfriend doesn't like it," she said. "He thinks it's redneck."

For some UA country fans, admitting they like country is easier now than when they were in high school.

Country fan Rachel Hoffman, a Judaic studies junior, said that although she sneered at her best friend's love for country in high school, her musical taste has matured with age.

"It's like not liking broccoli when you're younger," Hoffman said. "When you get older, you start to open up to things."

Like Hoffman, Moore also said he didn't start liking country until he went to college.

"Growing up, there was this attitude that I'll listen to everything but rap or country," Moore said. "When you're in high school, it's all about what you listen to. And that defines you."

While it's known for playing country music, Cactus Moon has to cater to a variety of tastes.

Cassell said the bar has a playlist of half country music and half top 40. On a Wednesday night, the club's most popular night for UA students, club-goers can expect to hear Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw sandwiched between Justin Timberlake, OutKast and Missy Elliot.

The DJ said the mix of country and top 40 means there's something for everyone to dance to.

"A lot of college girls love to dance, and country is music that you have to know how to dance to a certain way. And that can be a drawback," he said.

Though communication senior Lindsey Tamblyn doesn't like the music, she thinks dancing to country can still be fun.

"It's fun because these guys you've never met before will teach you how to dance to country," Tamblyn said. "It's a change of scenery from the greek bars."

And it's the girls who help attract communication junior Michael McCartney.

"I love country music, I love Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. And I love it here (Cactus Moon) because they have girls," he said.

UA students may never see eye to eye on country music.

But for students like Mary Owen, an education senior, country music is worth the teasing she could receive from her friends.

"Country music makes me feel good. It's uplifting."