Grex Music2 Conference

Item 64: Garth Brooks in Central Park

Entered by eskarina on Fri Aug 8 21:16:32 1997:

Last night was the much-advirtised by all stations carrying it Garth Brooks
Concert in Central Park.  I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I thought
there might be a slim chance that someone else on grex heard it, perhaps even
enjoyed it.

I had completely forgotten about it until about 8:30 last night (the concert
began at 7, Young Country began broadcasting it at 8), and about 8:40 I began
recording it, after I'd let live versions of Unanswered Prayers and The River
slip through my fingers.

Huge numbers of people have heard the song "Friends in Low Places", and almost
as many have heard the live version of same.  Something in me feels an
affinity to that song, and the infamous third verse only sung at concerts and
exceptionally hard to get on tape.  I now not only have a recording of the
third verse to "Friends In Low Places".  I have a recording of many, many New
Yorkers singing the third verse.

I really enjoyed listening to that, as well as the live version of the dance.
Anyone else?
23 responses total.

#1 of 23 by senna on Fri Aug 8 21:38:54 1997:

Ask richard, he saw it.  I'm waiting for a good rock group fight down their
ego and do something like this... not counting Woodstock, which seemed to have
something to that effect.


#2 of 23 by bruin on Sat Aug 9 00:28:01 1997:

I don't know if my nephew Joshua was aware of the Garth Brooks concert, 
but I do know that he is a big country music fan, even though he lives 
in upstate New York.


#3 of 23 by eskarina on Sat Aug 9 02:15:06 1997:

It was funny, Garth figured since he was in New York he'd better do something
New Yorkish.  He sang "Shameless", and then out walks Billy Joel (who is to
New York like Bob Seger is to Ann Arbor).  Billy sang "New York State of Mind"
live for the Garth Brooks crowd.  Mind rush.

But that was after he sang "American Pie".  Can't remember what conf it was,
but today I found someone's analization of the lyrics.  While Garth sang, my
mom insisted on singing along.

Excuse my newbie-like ignorance:  Who's richard?


#4 of 23 by mcnally on Sat Aug 9 02:19:01 1997:

  Ordinarily neologism don't bother me but I think we'd better 
  nip "analization" in the bud, so to speak..  How 'bout "analysis?"


#5 of 23 by eskarina on Sat Aug 9 18:56:28 1997:

geez.  sorry.  I don't talk english so good.


#6 of 23 by anderyn on Sat Aug 9 23:39:02 1997:

So what is this infamous third verse? (I never listen to country music if I
can help it, but this sounds interesting.)


#7 of 23 by richard on Sun Aug 10 15:02:19 1997:

I was at the show and thoughtit was good.  There was an additional set
after the HBO telecast ended, and Billy Joel came back out and sang
a couple more songs.

Brooks is as much pop as country...I know some country purists who 
wouldnt call him country.



#8 of 23 by scott on Sun Aug 10 19:26:40 1997:

 Country music is really pop product right now, in the mainstream.


#9 of 23 by eskarina on Mon Aug 11 04:43:24 1997:

The infamous 3rd verse to "Friends in Low Places":

"Friends In Low Places" is a drinking song that Garth Brooks put out awhile
ago, dunno when. 

        Blame it all on my roots
        I showed up in boots
        and ruined your black tie affair
        The last one to know
        Last one to show
        I was the last one you thought you'd see there
        And I saw a surprise
        And the fear in his eyes
        When I took his glass of champagne
        I toasted you, said "Honey we may be through
        But you'll never hear me complain"

        CHORUS
        'Cause I've got friends in low places
        where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases 
        my blues away
        I'll be okay
        etc, etc

Its rather disturbing to me to realize I know the entire song.  Anyhow, the
original song had 2 verses.  Then a few years back Garth puts out a live
recording of the song that isn't released, but is given so much radio air that
most people have the 3rd verse memorized, myself included.

Story of the 3rd verse:  its live, end 2nd chorus, Garth says:

"You know, some of the strangest things in the world can happen.  YOu can
actually cut a song, they can put it on one of those little bitty discs, and
they take it to your radio station, and its then and only then do you realize,
somethings wrong.  I didn't first notice it; I played it and I played it and
it never hit me til one day I was riding around back home and it came on the
radio.  And I said to myself Garth <pause for loud audience cheer>.  That's
what I go by back home is Garth; I said Garth, would you handle that situation
that way, and I said no, I don't think I would.  So I hope you don't mind,
but I went back and added a 3rd verse to this song to make it a little more
me, if you know what I mean."  <etc, etc, loud audience cheer, sings verse,
everyone cheers even louder when the last line is "Sweet little lady, I'll
head back to the bar, ha ha, and you can kiss my ass".  Very meaningful. 
Resulted in much airplay.>

OH, btw, richard, what songs did Billy Joel sing at the end that they didn't
put on the radio?


#10 of 23 by lumen on Fri Aug 15 04:01:18 1997:

re: Scott's comment: blasted hick poseurs :P


#11 of 23 by richard on Sun Aug 17 18:47:20 1997:

re: #9...Billy Joel sang "You May beRight" with ABrooks to enbe the show..

The show is going to be re-broadcaston HBO next month, aroun d the 13th
and will p[robably include the extra set.


#12 of 23 by tpryan on Thu Sep 4 02:22:23 1997:

        Wasn't this in music.cf?


#13 of 23 by valerie on Thu Sep 4 15:42:19 1997:

This response has been erased.



#14 of 23 by krj on Thu Sep 4 15:43:33 1997:

Yes, I sent off a link request several weeks ago, when it was a 
current discussion, and a parallel discussion was running in Agora --
in the Announcements item, I think.  Ah well.  Feel free to 
move towards a discussion of your relationship with country music.


#15 of 23 by tsty on Tue Sep 9 06:47:33 1997:

...about adding the 'missing verse,' joni mitchell did _both sides
now_ and it was just a foolish bit of puffery to me *UNTIL* pete
seeger added teh 4th verse.... and *KAPOW* - that song suddenly
became a scorcher for/to me. 
  
hell, i even learned it after that!
  
if i can find the words (long ago i learned it...<g>), and if anyone
is at all interestd, i can post it.


#16 of 23 by aruba on Tue Sep 9 16:19:54 1997:

I'm interested.


#17 of 23 by valerie on Tue Sep 9 17:40:50 1997:

This response has been erased.



#18 of 23 by void on Tue Sep 9 19:07:34 1997:

   methree


#19 of 23 by orinoco on Tue Sep 9 23:16:26 1997:

Mefour.  
Would that be the "I've looked at life from both sides now" verse, or another
one after that?


#20 of 23 by bruin on Wed Sep 10 00:10:06 1997:

Go for it, tsty.


#21 of 23 by tsty on Sun Sep 21 02:55:26 1997:

ok, i'll start dgging .. i think orinoco has it started right,
pete sings the first three verses,m and then says something like, 'i hvae
this very good friend.. and she let me add this verse.....'
  


#22 of 23 by diznave on Tue Sep 30 16:48:35 1997:

Garth Brooks is in Central Park? Good! I hope he stays there! Him and all the
OTHER cheesy pop artists who *claim* to play country music. Speaking with a
southern accent, or wearing a certain style hat does not necessarily mean that
you are a musician


#23 of 23 by lumen on Thu Oct 2 01:16:47 1997:

Amen to that.  However, it's steeped in the culture of the urban hick.  That's
the stuff they like..


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