This story originally appeared on September 6, 2024 in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.
My legs are weakening. The floor sways from one side of the room to the other. The nausea is overwhelming. I bitterly regret having accepted a ZYN pouch that a urban cowboy was so kind to offer me. I'd chewed tobacco before, but didn't recall there being any drop in blood pressure.
Why did you accept this offering of nicotine on a Sunday evening at a small western event on Saint-Laurent, anyway?
It all started with the observation that country music was becoming popular among young people in Quebec, thanks in part to streaming platforms. At the time in 2024, several artists had joined the rodeo: Beyoncé, Post Malone—I even heard someone say they were impatiently waiting for Céline's country album.
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