Why was Garth Brooks so popular in Ireland?

lazygal

He played Croke Park loads of time, sold shedloads of records and seemed to be here all the time. What was it about him that Irish people like, and would a comeback tour sell out? I think he's playing Vegas now.

vicwatson

Past tense, and that's where it should stay

Gambas

He had friends in loooooooooow places...

He'd sell out no bother. Awful, awful sh!te.

Christ the Redeemer

Every oulwan in the country at one point was doing line dancing.

Xcellor

'Cause I got friends in low places,
Where the Whiskey drowns,
And the Beer chases my blues away'

Chucken

He made country music sexy

johnayo

If he came back I think he would sell out a reasonable size venue. Still plenty of people singing his tunes at parties etc.

I am pie

He was like a more dangerous Daniel O'Donnell for the backwoodsmen beyond the pale.

frag420

Chucken wrote: »

He made country music sexy

I think you just killed the internet with that statement!!

Robbo

I was always more of a Chris Gaines fan myself.

guttenberg

His "Ireland" song was weirdly quite catchy.

Chucken

Christ the Redeemer wrote: »

Every oulwan in the country at one point was doing line dancing.

Im an oulwan and I never line danced in my life. It was the kids here that took to it. It was great fun to watch.

super_furry

Because culchies.

Sulla Felix

He'd sell out the O2 tonight ffs, still massively popular with idiots all over the country.

Pandora2

I'm with Chucken!

One of his numbers is my party piece!

Lucena

Brilliant write-up of the phenomenon here:

http://wheresgrandad.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/garth-brooks-a-warning-in-retrospect/

ballsymchugh

he was popular in a hell of a lot more places than just ireland ffs

MonkeyTennis

Gareth Brooks as he was known round our way

jester77

He played a niche genre, post-culchie I suppose would be a good name for it. It was like Irish country with more edge, so it was going to appeal to a lot of country people.

Pandora2

Robbo wrote: »

I was always more of a Chris Gaines fan myself.

Loved that song and I have searched high and low for it without success!! Hint, Hint!!

Rasheed

He's good but he's no Mike Denver

Chucken

frag420 wrote: »

I think you just killed the internet with that statement!!

Listen to this!! Any woman and some men would swoon at this being sang to her.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/e558764b2pwdda?h1=Garth+Brooks+%22The+Dance%22

WilyCoyote

Chucken wrote: »

He made country music sexy

Yes, he did. And he knows his audience! But why the wellingtons inside the trouser legs?
Take it away Garth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv2ICKak5C4

Sulla Felix

Ha, brilliant.

Ireland has long been a slave to folk music and country is like folk music as understood by a Teletubby who fell out of a pickup truck straight onto his head. It’s folk music you don’t need a social conscience or patriotic pride to get in on. You just need to like easy little stories about rodeos and whiskey chasers and patriarchy, all told in metre-perfect rhymes.

ollie1

When I was in school they made us do line dancing in PE with Garth Brooks songs. I still wake up at night with nightmares about it

Pandora2

jester77 wrote: »

He played a niche genre, post-culchie I suppose would be a good name for it. It was like Irish country with more edge, so it was going to appeal to a lot of country people.

It was impossible to escape! My Mother wore me down, then he did a few covers that I liked and before you know it....addicted! I would suggest that 'Ireland' was the end for him, much as I liked him, I found it patronising although...it's been done before.

Chucken

Rasheed wrote: »

He's good but he's no Mike Denver

Ah Jayses. he used to play with his mammy (:pac:) in a pub here when he starting out. PAINFUL.

hinault

Line dancing.

It was all inbreeding, I tell ye

argentum

Since he seems to have fans on this forun I'll let you in on a little secret..Every culchie in the country is going to want Santa to bring him or her tickets to see the man himself next year.He's playing the same type of gig as Bruce in the stadiums around the country following by a few nights in Dublin RDS.The deals done but won't be announced yet

Rasheed

Chucken wrote: »

Ah Jayses. he used to play with his mammy (:pac:) in a pub here when he starting out. PAINFUL.

He can play with me any time
Love a man in a snow white suit.

lazygal

argentum wrote: »

Since he seems to have fans on this forun I'll let you in on a little secret..Every culchie in the country is going to want Santa to bring him or her tickets to see the man himself next year.He's playing the same type of gig as Bruce in the stadiums around the country following by a few nights in Dublin RDS.The deals done but won't be announced yet

Don't toy with our emotions like that.

sydthebeat

I used to work in a pub at the time and I can assure you that it was not just auldwans that we're into him.... it would have been pretty much youth orientated pub, discos, pool tables, duke box etc...and at his height he would have at least half the playing time on the duke box.young ones would come in and play nearly whole bloody albums at a time.

after years of psychotherapy I'm just about over it...

Agricola

Catchy, soulful lyrics about loss and alcoholism all sung in a (Texas?) drawl with country music. How could we NOT lap that shít up!

Pandora2

Lucena wrote: »

Brilliant write-up of the phenomenon here:

http://wheresgrandad.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/garth-brooks-a-warning-in-retrospect/

That proved my point, it was an artist that both myself and my Mother enjoyed equally. I also think it was something to do with trickle down economics and our emergence from the long recession of the 80's! Prior to the arrival of the Celtic Pussy! It was fun, it was lively and he made himself available and they attended in their droves! I understand he didn't skimp on the live shows either. A great night out was the word!

Uriel.

At the time I thought he was brilliant, and today I still do. He had some class songs. Never saw him live. IF he is touring next year, I will be there.
And I ain't no culchie or grandpa either:pac:

Chucken

lazygal wrote: »

Don't toy with our emotions like that.

It could happen :eek:

http://themusicuniverse.com/garth-brooks-planning-a-world-tour-comeback-album-next-year/

Wattle

ollie1 wrote: »

When I was in school they made us do line dancing in PE with Garth Brooks songs. I still wake up at night with nightmares about it

How unbelieveably cruel. I'd sue.

Pandora2

He's married to Trisha Yearwood now.... Nashville Royalty! Love to see the two of them in concert

I Heart Internet

With a bit of TV work and marketing to remind the people who need to be reminded, he'd easily sell out a few nights in Croke Park.

He was catchy and of his time.

Chucken

Wattle wrote: »

How unbelieveably cruel. I'd sue.

Line Dancing was very inclusive. No need to have a partner so nobody was ever left out.

Rega

sydthebeat wrote: »

I used to work in a pub at the time and I can assure you that it was not just auldwans that we're into him.... it would have been pretty much youth orientated pub, discos, pool tables, duke box etc...and at his height he would have at least half the playing time on the duke box.young ones would come in and play nearly whole bloody albums at a time.

after years of psychotherapy I'm just about over it...

Hahahahahahahahahaha

Matt_Trakker

The Irish masses love MOR crap.
See also: Bruce Springstein. That man is practically bleeding the country dry he tours here so much.

lufties

I remember it well, there was a summer in the mid-nineties(just around my junior cert I think), that south Tipperary turned into a mini Texas all of a sudden

Wattle

Chucken wrote: »

Line Dancing was very inclusive. No need to have a partner so nobody was ever left out.

I'd rather smash my own toes with a lumphammer.

Splendour

Chucken wrote: »

Listen to this!! Any woman and some men would swoon at this being sang to her.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/e558764b2pwdda?h1=Garth+Brooks+%22The+Dance%22

The Garth Brooks tribute band 'Friends in Low Places' played at the Bray festival last friday and I turned around to see an elderly couple dancing away to that song-it was beautiful to see...

Saw Garth in concert years ago and he gave a great show. I think it's the country cowboy lifestyle his music portrays that appeals to many people and not just the music itself.

Pandora2

Chucken wrote: »

Line Dancing was very inclusive. No need to have a partner so nobody was ever left out.

Lot of mature women took it up for the exercise, I know my Mother did! She never wanted my Father to go, herself and the girls were having the time of their lives. Think there was more laughing done than dancing! I went with her once and there was one of her friends totally without co-ordination...it was better than a concert! Mind you, I also find the odd trip to bingo hilarious!! If you've never been, go once as an observer... Priceless!!

Diairist

This may cause some to cancel travel plans...

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/14659144-george-jones-at-bridgestone-arena

Pandora2

Diairist wrote: »

This may cause some to cancel travel plans...

http://www.songkick.com/concerts/14659144-george-jones-at-bridgestone-arena

Now that's just making my brown eyes blue!

RikkFlair

He wouldn't be my cuppa tay now...

Chucken

Chucken wrote: »

He made country music sexy

That's a bit of a stretch!

Chucken wrote: »

Listen to this!! Any woman and some men would swoon at this being sang to her.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/e558764b2pwdda?h1=Garth+Brooks+%22The+Dance%22

I'm seriously worried for your sanity Chucken

As a side note, a friends mother told me that Colin Farrell used to teach line dancing, a concept I find truly disappointing.

El Guapo!

When I was younger, I used to think he was singing about a pub called The Oasis where I grew up. It didn't help when my da told me "Yeah Garth Brooks drinks in there every weekend."
I believed him.
I was fairly thick as a child.