Gareth Brookes - the atheist + agnostic angle

robindch · 11-07-2014 11:27am #1

Granted there's a war in Ukraine, military strikes in Palestine, the burgeoning marriage equality debate, the mother and baby enquiry and much else besides. But even a cursory examination of the Irish media suggests that the importance of Gareth Brookes and his three/four/five/whatever concerts far exceeds anything else the world has to offer just now.

Anyhow, as the topic hasn't come up here in A+A, I thought it would be useful to open up this thread here where we could put everything related to the Babbling Brookes. And hopefully, encourage a little debate too.

What are Mr Brooke's religious views? Does he have any? Is he gay? Does he support marriage equality? What are his views on abortion? Is he a committed secularist? Has his religious views, or those of the managers at Croke Park, unduly influenced what appears to be the most trivial political bunfight since Gladstone stubbed his toe and blamed his cat? Who is Gareth Brookes and what's all this about anyway? Uh, god.

*discuss*

11-07-2014 11:29am

:rolleyes:

Brian Shanahan · 11-07-2014 11:30am

Who is this Gareth Brooke, and what does he have to do with Garth Brooks' on again, off again concerts in Croke Park (of which we are making a holy show of ourselves again by kowtowing to a musical non-entity in the blithe expectation that the whole world is scrutininsing every minute detail of this non-event)?

Skrynesaver · 11-07-2014 11:31am

Ah Friday, personally I feel the residents of this forum have a right not to be subjected to other baked goods and that the traditional baked good form of the biscuit should be the only acceptable form of baked good and in this light I ask you to withdraw the above post and modify it so that we have biscuit fights rather than "bun fights" (as though that's a real thing) as is traditional for this forum.

robindch · 11-07-2014 11:33am

Forgot about biscuits. Must be the heat.

Hoagy · 11-07-2014 12:11pm

Gareth believes in re-incarnation:

GARTH BROOKS LYRICS
"Cowgirl's Saddle"

Last thing I remember was saying,
"Hey y'all, watch this." Next thing I know I'm walking toward this light
When a voice from out of nowhere asked this question.
"Garth, what did you love most in your past life?"
"Well," I said, "it had to be between cowgirls and horses."
And as I wondered which one that I would settle on,
The voice said, "May you be happy with your answer."
I said, "What answer?" He said, "Watch this." And I was gone.

[CHORUS]
Now I'm back as a cowgirl's saddle
Heaven on Earth for all eternity
Forever in between
Every cowboy's dream
Riding horses, holding rodeo queens

Sew me, show me, throw me in the pickup
Take me, break me, make me what you need
It's safe to say we're made for one another
And you'll never fall if you just stick with me

Fit me, sit me, get me how you want me
Wrap me, SLAP ME, STRAP ME ON YOUR STEED.
Can't believe I'm out here flying with an angel
Oh this afterlife's sure looking up for me

[REPEAT CHORUS]

Loping, roping, hoping that you're happy
Racing, placing, chasing all your dreams
Makes me think if I'd lived life a little better
Would I've come back as a pair of cowgirl jeans

[REPEAT CHORUS]

Every cowboy's dream
You know just what I mean
Riding horses, holding rodeo queens

Mr. CooL ICE · 11-07-2014 12:24pm

A few points to note:

1) His followers are mostly of the older generation.
2) He has loads of followers in this country, but it is impossible to understand why.
3) He was apparently around a long time ago and is due to return soon, but that is highly unlikely to happen.
4) I have never seen any proof that he exists.
5) It is claimed he wants to bring happiness to his followers, but really just wants their money.

Therefore, Garth Brooks is Jesus.

SebBerkovich · 11-07-2014 12:27pm

Why is the media not asking about his stance on Pineapple on pizza?

The people DESERVE TO KNOW!

lazygal · 11-07-2014 12:27pm

Real name Troyal! Is this a biblical name?

magicbastarder · 11-07-2014 1:35pm

he seems willing to perform on the lord's day, so i hope they refuse him a visa for that alone.

Pherekydes · 11-07-2014 1:50pm

Concerts off again? As WWN commented recently, Music is the winner here. Gareth/Garth Brooks/Brookes/Brooke* is not music news. The passing of Luciano Pavarotti/Frank Sinatra/Freddie Mercury, now that's news.

I don't believe in evolution. I mean how could country music evolve in the human population? Alongside Jazz and Classical music and Opera? Unless country music fans are a different species. That must be it! I bet they think Jaffa Cakes are biscuits! And don't have pineapple on their Hawaiian pizzas. Weirdos.

*delete as appropriate

Nodin · 11-07-2014 4:00pm

Long extant flaws in Irish processes highlighted by disastrous failure without anyone dying as a result, for a change.

Shakespeare's Sister · 11-07-2014 4:01pm

Garth Brooks. At this stage I'm convinced people pretend not to know how it's spelled.

wp_rathead · 11-07-2014 6:25pm

I know this thread is a pisstake but should point out that Garth is Pro-SSM Equality

Piliger · 11-07-2014 7:37pm

I have only one comment on this thread: Why ?

magicbastarder · 11-07-2014 9:44pm

that's a question, not a comment.

antiskeptic · 11-07-2014 10:15pm

robindch wrote: »

Granted there's a war in Ukraine, military strikes in Palestine, the burgeoning marriage equality debate, the mother and baby enquiry and much else besides. But even a cursory examination of the Irish media suggests that the importance of Gareth Brookes and his three/four/five/whatever concerts far exceeds anything else the world has to offer just now.

Anyhow, as the topic hasn't come up here in A+A, I thought it would be useful to open up this thread here where we could put everything related to the Babbling Brookes. And hopefully, encourage a little debate too.

What are Mr Brooke's religious views? Does he have any? Is he gay? Does he support marriage equality? What are his views on abortion? Is he a committed secularist? Has his religious views, or those of the managers at Croke Park, unduly influenced what appears to be the most trivial political bunfight since Gladstone stubbed his toe and blamed his cat? Who is Gareth Brookes and what's all this about anyway? Uh, god.

*discuss*

Granted, I don't know a thing about the guy cept he sings a kind of music that makes me wonder about humanity.

Heard him on the radio and he came across as pretty shallow and insincere. That parsed through US-speak (especially southern), which can often sound shallow and insincere anyway.

iguana · 11-07-2014 10:27pm

robindch wrote: »

What are Mr Brooke's religious views? Does he have any? Is he gay? Does he support marriage equality?

The first song of his I ever heard informed me that some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. So I believe he does have faith in the sky fairy.

The song references his wife and a woman referred to as his old high school flame who he dreams is an angel. So I'm presuming he is straight. His deceased sister was a lesbian and Brooks has campaigned for gay rights. He has a song imploring on us to 'stand straight, walk proud' which may mean that heterosexuals should go have fun at pride.

And the guy clearly likes biscuits, though I suspect when he thinks of biscuits he's thinking of those scone like things Americans eat with gravy.

Standman · 12-07-2014 1:23am

LordChessington wrote: »

A few points to note:

1) His followers are mostly of the older generation.
2) He has loads of followers in this country, but it is impossible to understand why.
3) He was apparently around a long time ago and is due to return soon, but that is highly unlikely to happen.
4) I have never seen any proof that he exists.
5) It is claimed he wants to bring happiness to his followers, but really just wants their money.

Therefore, Garth Brooks is Jesus.

Jesus can't even get most people to turn up to one poxy 45 minute Sunday gig, Garth is on another level:

Doctor Strange · 14-07-2014 1:05pm

I stopped caring so long ago, and I wish the whole story would just **** off now.

lynski · 14-07-2014 8:41pm

Haha turns out if he were gay he would have got his concerts according to our fab Iona loving, rebooted, definitely not homophobic but anti-equality, columnist. I bet if he were atheist the trendy, righton, flavour of the month media would also have been behind him.

FURET · 14-07-2014 8:55pm

I like Garth Brooks. His music reminds me of the early to mid-90s, long summers, and happy times. Call it nostalgia. I love some of his songs.

By the way, he's closely aligned with the Carter foundation and is a staunch advocate of same-sex marriage, so accusations that he's a redneck are baseless.

I have no opinion on the concerts. But I do think that around half the people who want to see him are trying to revisit the mid-90s, which were something of a golden age.

Tim Robbins · 14-07-2014 10:17pm

Instead of doing 5 concerts in Croker, he should do 200 in the Tivoli and that should cover all 400,000 fans.

Manach · 14-07-2014 10:21pm

Sorry for contributing nothing major to the discussion beyond an observation that for such a popular person, the spelling of his name seems to have so many different variations.

lynski · 14-07-2014 10:25pm

FURET wrote: »

I like Garth Brooks. His music reminds me of the early to mid-90s, long summers, and happy times. Call it nostalgia. I love some of his songs.

By the way, he's closely aligned with the Carter foundation and is a staunch advocate of same-sex marriage, so accusations that he's a redneck are baseless.

I have no opinion on the concerts. But I do think that around half the people who want to see him are trying to revisit the mid-90s, which were something of a golden age.

Back then I used to work in a traveller bar and a rural bar ergo i hate pretty much all country music, expecially 'irish' country 'music', but nearly all others bar a-bit-a Dolly

robindch · 15-07-2014 12:10am

Manach wrote: »

[...] for such a popular person, the spelling of his name seems to have so many different variations.

It's hard to have a variation that isn't different.

legspin · 15-07-2014 11:36am

I'm a bit torn on this one. If he had come it meant lots of work for me between the stage build and the rigging. However, his 'music' won't now be played and personally I think that is a result for the world.

Jim Rockford · 15-07-2014 11:52am

robindch wrote: »

What are Mr Brooke's religious views? Does he have any? Is he gay? Does he support marriage equality? What are his views on abortion? Is he a committed secularist? Has his religious views, or those of the managers at Croke Park, unduly influenced what appears to be the most trivial political bunfight since Gladstone stubbed his toe and blamed his cat? Who is Gareth Brookes and what's all this about anyway? Uh, god.

Interesting tick list for judging people, would make a good thread all of its own.

legspin · 15-07-2014 12:00pm

lynski wrote: »

Back then I used to work in a traveller bar and a rural bar ergo i hate pretty much all country music, expecially 'irish' country 'music', but nearly all others bar a-bit-a Dolly

Way moreso than the darkest metal, country music is suicide music.

wp_rathead · 15-07-2014 12:02pm

Manach wrote: »

Sorry for contributing nothing major to the discussion beyond an observation that for such a popular person, the spelling of his name seems to have so many different variations.

That's our Gary

On an aside- he seems to have become the Irish Godwin's Law- as is uaually only matter of time before he is mentioned in any online discussions

endacl · 15-07-2014 12:06pm

wprathead wrote: »

That's our Gary

On an aside- he seems to have become the Irish Godin's Law- as is uaually only matter of time before he is mentioned in any online discussions

Godin? Does he have a law too?

Jim Rockford · 15-07-2014 12:09pm

legspin wrote: »

Way moreso than the darkest metal, country music is suicide music.

Far from it, unless you specifically go looking for it, like any other genres.

A lot of people confuse American country music with the vastly inferior (with a few exceptions) Irish country music attempted clones

Personal preferences and acquired tastes aside, good music is good music, regardless if its classical, country, pop, techo, jazz or metal. Shyte music is shyte music, regardless if its classical, country, pop, techo, jazz or metal.

legspin · 15-07-2014 12:33pm

Jim Rockford wrote: »

Far from it, unless you specifically go looking for it, like any other genres.

A lot of people confuse American country music with the vastly inferior (with a few exceptions) Irish country music attempted clones

Personal preferences and acquired tastes aside, good music is good music, regardless if its classical, country, pop, techo, jazz or metal. Shyte music is shyte music, regardless if its classical, country, pop, techo, jazz or metal.

I was not referring to it's inherent goodness or badness. The content and subject matter of country music has been well documented as having a role in depression and suicide.

On a personal note, having been forced to listen to the likes of Margo and Ray Lynam on long car journeys as a kid, how I didn't throw myself out of the car just get away from it I don't know. I still shudder at the thought of Philomena Begley and her misogynistic trucker of a dad or Big Tom and his drug addled backing band (the Mainliners).

wp_rathead · 15-07-2014 1:11pm

endacl wrote: »

Godin? Does he have a law too?

...grrr...

Jim Rockford · 15-07-2014 1:48pm

legspin wrote: »

I was not referring to it's inherent goodness or badness. The content and subject matter of country music has been well documented as having a role in depression and suicide.

On a personal note, having been forced to listen to the likes of Margo and Ray Lynam on long car journeys as a kid, how I didn't throw myself out of the car just get away from it I don't know. I still shudder at the thought of Philomena Begley and her misogynistic trucker of a dad or Big Tom and his drug addled backing band (the Mainliners).

I think you might have missed the point, but yeah some Irish country music is woeful

Obliq · 15-07-2014 8:23pm

Excuse me while I Godwin this thread but this is a work of genius. That is all.

You're welcome.

robindch · 17-07-2014 10:28am

Ah, here we go.

If you're using Chrome, this addon is a must:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/garth-blocks/baicbelfjoldkmllpmjmheemjiddppod

Hotblack Desiato · 20-07-2014 8:46pm

http://kingofiona.tumblr.com/post/90853256535/the-intern-remixes-john-waters

Meaning, hope, and purpose - concepts ailen to the godless liberati - abounded within my spirit as I devoted my considerable intellect to this crusade. And yet there was an absence. I felt it when, in old and futile habit, I stole fleeting glances through the seething morass we have come to know as the nation’s media. Who among the members of the Irish writers’ guild had the firmness of character required to fill my considerable void? Who would embody the courage and fortitude that forms the sine á que non of writing my conservative column, railing against a media where little people are allowed comment both unsupervised and uncensored? Who would dare to voice the truth of the insidious menace that masquerades under that nom de guerre, ‘Garth Brooks’?

O_o

Gareth Brookes - the atheist + agnostic angle

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