When I don't know who Garth is, why he's retired, & hear "Shameless" - then I know

[UTUSN]

[PubliusEnigma]

1. I'm just going to leave this right here.

[UTUSN]

3. What would I do without Wiki: Well, I'll say Garth's experiment is not for me, but I know

that he's got stuff tailored for me - meaning: a "hook" and super "popular" (I'll do my YouTube research) .

I caught a couple of his making the talk show rounds a couple of weeks ago, and I identified with his being happily overweight on the Kelly RIPA show (I don't like SEACREST), and wondered why he's retired at whatever his age is (he doesn't look old), and am glad he's happily married (Trisha YEARWOOD). But I'm going to say, when you left "Chris GAINES" here, you really REALLY *left* it (does nothing for me).

Note to Garth: I don't get it.

[Sneederbunk]

2. Peaked at #1 on charts in 1991.

[UTUSN]

5. What, *my* Garth/Shameless post or "Chris GAINES"?!1 1991 shows how old my taste is!1

[Kajun Gal]

4. When you don't know who GARTH Brooks is...it means you are pretty cool!

[UTUSN]

6. You put it SO nicely, I'll say THANKS in a non-ironic way!1

[AJT]

7. I really enjoy this version of Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love"

Watch "To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks" on YouTube

[UTUSN]

8. Wow. I can't even imagine this in DYLAN terms. My kind of melody and tenderness. Thanks!

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. I'm not the biggest fan of Garth...

But “We Shall be Free” gives me the chills, and makes me weep.

He was also the best performer at Obama’s first inauguration concert. And the first thing he did when he walked onstage was wave at the adorable first daughters. He later said he didn’t want them to feel left out. So sweet.

[UTUSN]

10. Will check it out, thanks!1

[UTUSN]

15. Thanks *very* much for the beautiful lyrics. I could have done without LENO & Colon POWELL but

my quibble defeats the message of one-family/one-world/love. That said, my personal philosophy about music is that music is ALL (not lyrics), so this song is an example of not making it for me. I sincerely ADMIRE you for being moved, and for the message of it I am fully sharing your sentiment, but this melody is not for me. Really, I totally appreciate your having brought it to my attention.

As for BROOKS, in the brief talk show interviews I've seen, he comes across as a really nice human.

[TlalocW]

11. I was part of the web site shop that did Garth's first website

When I lived in Tulsa. He was "retired" - meaning he didn't want to be MIA in his kids' lives while they were going to school in Owasso (north of Tulsa). I knew (and still know) only one song of his, but I've never met a nicer guy. He engages with you on a personal level, gets everyone involved in things, and likes to have fun. I got the impression during our meetings that the whole Chris Gaines thing went off in a direction they weren't expecting - I think he was wanting to show his chops in another musical style, and Chris was supposed to be another side of his personality, but it went from, "Is this Garth?" to "Okay, it's definitely Garth." to "Does Garth think he's actually fooling us?" with minimal focus on the music, which was negative (which maybe it should have been), but it was overshadowed by everything else. Also, think of your stereotypical country music audience and how open they would be to, "Oh Garth is exploring another side of his personality."

TlalocW

[UTUSN]

12. Just guessing, they wouldn't be open!1 Now I remember a roadie at a bar

proud that he worked on Trisha's tour!1 As usual for me, the more somebody tried to impress me, the less I was. I knew the name only, no songs

[TlalocW]

13. What wouldn't be open?

eom

TlalocW

[UTUSN]

14. You provided valuable context about "Chris GAINES" & how BROOKS' fans would react. You said,

"Also, think of your stereotypical country music audience and how open they would be to, 'Oh Garth is exploring another side of his personality.' "

From the "Chris GAINES" link in Post #1 that I heard 30 seconds of, I'm assuming that a "stereotypical country music audience" would not be open to BROOKS' experiment. I myself am not a "country music" fan except for isolated songs here or there, but *I* am not tolerant of this experiment either. So them AND ME aren't "open" (to "Chris GAINES" ) .

To clarify my whole slant in this o.p. (what brought it on), I saw him twice on the talk show rounds last week. I don't see him for years, then he pops up and all I hear is that he retired (as you also say), so it's always puzzling to me why, since he looks so young (I hear what you said about his kids). I am also puzzled what these appearances are promoting (I didn't hear), since he's RETIRED.

O.K., I'm also always puzzled at how UNclear I am, since I put so much effort into it. By "it" I mean, striving for clarity.

[TlalocW]

16. He's more or less unretired now

Since his kids are now out of high school.

TlalocW