I've done a lot of thinking on this Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines thing. My
personal opinion would be that Garth has stumbled upon what could be a move
of pure brilliance. It's risky. It's new. It's unusual. It's never been
done before. Pure Garth.
Garth has never stopped tantalizing us with the potential he has. It comes
purely out of nowhere at times. Sometimes, we can see glimpses of things to
come. I truly think Chris Gaines has been around a long time. Maybe he's
part of that wild man we see? Maybe he's part of that kindred soul who truly
gives it all to the fans? Chris Gaines was one of those people who's candle
burned out, as the song goes, long before the legend ever did.
I'm looking forward to getting to know Chris Gaines. Yes, not Garth, but
Chris Gaines. Within each of there is this other side that we rarely let
other people see. I think within Garth is a piece of this Gaines character.
Possibly more so than we realize.
Now, I know Garth has said this movie, this character, is NOT about him. I'm
not saying it is. But, we all know that Garth has to totally sink himself
110% into anything he tries. When he's on stage, Garth becomes GB. Then, in
the beat of a heart, he's Garth again. So, just what's wrong with Garth
becoming Chris Gaines for a while?
I've read a few articles where people are saying that this move will either
break or totally cripple Garth's career. Little do they know! Garth has
already created such a stir with just the mere mention of "The Life and Times
of Chris Gaines" CD that many of us can't wait to just get the CD. We
haven't even been able to comprehend the possibilities that soar within the
movie "The Lamb."
Some fans seem a bit worried. Is Garth going pop/rock? Is Garth turning in
his country boots for acting shoes? Has Garth totally lost his mind?
Just how many personalities does this man have? Is he Garth, family man? Is
he Garth, country entertainer? Is he Garth, ball player? Is he Garth, writer?
Is he Garth, musician? Is he Garth, founder of the children's charity Touch
Em All? Is he Garth, actor? Is he Garth, pop/rock singer? Is he Garth or is
he GB? I mean, is he Garth or is he Chris Gaines? I mean, is he GB or Chris
Gaines? Um, I mean...uh oh...I'm confusing myself again!
Folks, relax! Pop Double Live into the CD player. Garth's still there. He's
not going anywhere. Garth is all of the above and more! He's just stretching
his wings a little more. He's feeling that ole urge to fly a little
higher...soar above the crowds. Let him fly! He'll always come back down.
His heart lies within Country Music and he is not going anywhere...not
permanently anyhow.
Just think of it this way. Where we once only had Garth, then we suddenly
found ourselves with GB. Now, we have Chris! This is just another facet to
an astounding individual.
Garth says, if we'll just give Chris Gaines and his music a chance, he thinks
we'll like what we see and hear. Hey Garth? We're listening buddy and we
can't wait to see it either. The idea that we could be disappointed, doesn't
even enter into my mind.
I was trying to explain to my parents the other night over supper the whole
Garth/Chris scenario. I lost them REAL quick. They got that Garth was making
a movie about a rock star who was killed by an obsessed fan. They got the
part about the movie would be told in a flashback style reflecting over
Gaines' life.
I lost them in a major way when I tried to explain that we would all KNOW the
character so well by the time the movie came out that it would be like he was
actually a live person at one time.
I tried explaining it to my sister the other day and to my best friend. Both
of them gave me that glazed over, "Teresa, you're losing it" expression. So,
they said, "Garth IS Chris Gaines?" I answered, "Well, of course...well, no,
but yes...kinda." The conversation ended with both of them just telling me
to let them know when the movie comes out. Then we'd go and I could attempt
to talk them through it. Course, I then explained that by that time, they'd
have heard lots from and about Chris and they'd need no explanations.
I've showed people the photos from the press conference where details of "The
Life and Times of Chris Gaines" were discussed. I've been called a bold
faced liar. I've been told I'm crazy. I've been called a nut...not the
Garthkind either. I've been told my imagination is just as "active" as that
Garth person's. (I thanked that person by the way!) Everyone I've showed
that picture too says that there is NO way on God's green creation that THAT
man is Garth Brooks. My answer? "Well, its not, it's Chris Gaines. But, it
is...it's Garth. Well, see what I mean? Ohhhh, nevermind!"
My fellow friends in Garthdom...I think this is another case of the folks
either "get it" or they don't! It kind of defies explanation! Hehehe...
Okay, so what is my personal take on Chris Gaines?
Well, I think we are all just getting to know Chris. We have yet to even
scratch the surface. He's a mighty complex man, very deep. Very deep! He
was a real go-getter in his time. Rough around the edges, ahead of the crowd.
He could keep to himself just as easily as he could open his soul up like an
open book. He was laid back, but at the same time he was driven and
passionate. But he had a soft side too.
It was a soft side that allowed him to stay connected to the fans, maybe a
little too connected. They saw inside the music, inside the facade of the
lights and the glitter. Past the hoopla and the wild life of a rock
musician...they saw another side. The fans of Chris fell in love with him,
heart and soul because he FELT the music and you could hear it in his voice
and see it in his eyes when he played and sang. The fans put him on a
pedestal at times, one he didn't care to be on, one he didn't understand.
He was just an ordinary man singing the music that moved him. The music and
the fans seemed to overwhelm him at times. Chris had a hard ride in his
time. Looking back, I don't think that he'd change a thing. He lived his
life just like he wanted, like he was destined too. He was a risk taker and
a bit of a dreamer. Regrets? Nope, I don't see Chris Gaines having many. He
just took life as the deck was dealt to him.
He was never quite sure which direction his road would lead but he never saw
himself growing old. Somehow, he always knew that ultimately the music would
take him down a road from which there was no turning back...no return.
Ahhhh that's it. That's how I see Chris Gaines today. My perception may
change as time goes on. Once I hear the CD, I figure I'll have a better idea
of just who this person is, uh, was, uh, is. Hum, now I'm getting myself
confused!
Till next time, folks, just sit back and enjoy! I figure we all better buckle
in cause Garth is fixin to take us on one wild ride again!
