OT: Who's the Greatest

[Jeffreauxdawg]

George Strait vs Garth Brooks

I would rather see Garth Live, but I find myself listening to George way more... So many good songs. I give it to George, but still love Garth.

Give me a towel whip if you agree that George > Garth, or bust a lip if you prefer Garth.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

It's not an apples to apples comparison.

IMO a good bit of Garth's best music never got radio play.

 

[Drebin]

George Strait vs Garth Brooks

I would rather see Garth Live, but I find myself listening to George way more... So many good songs. I give it to George, but still love Garth.

Give me a towel whip if you agree that George > Garth, or bust a lip if you prefer Garth.

I'm a fan of both. George Strait is more of a traditional country guy. Garth started out that way but really was, in my opinion, the catalyst for a lot of "pop country' crossover stuff we see today. Garth's early stuff was really good, though.

I've seen both in person - Garth definitely puts on a better show, but there's something to be said about the simple greatness of a guy like George just standing at a microphone in his stetson and singing. The music was the show for him.

 

[mdm3045]

George Strait is the king of country music. Garth is king of bro country

 

[aTotal360]

When y'all grow up, you'll appreciate real musicians like Big and Rich.

 

[NTDawg]

George Strait is the king country music. Garth is king of bro country

The Dance, What She's Doing Now, If Tomorrow Never Comes and Much too Young to feel this Damn Old (my theme song) are not Bro Country

 

[mcdawg22]

It’s George for me, but that isn’t a slight of Garth, it’s a statement of George’s greatness, minus the acting of course.
“Go on, get your *** outta here.”

 

[Drebin]

When y'all grow up, you'll appreciate real musicians like Big and Rich.

That's funny, I always took you as more of a Colt Ford fan, not that there's anything wrong with that, of course...

 

[aTotal360]

True story...I've played golf with Colt Ford. That rotund bastard can smash it.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I did not grow up to Country Music so Garth for me. To me southern rock with a mix of Willie, Waylon, and Bocephus was country music and that is still what I like. I don't really think much of any George Strait songs.

 

[kired]

I'm curious how age affects this answer. I was born in 1980, so was around 10 - 12 years old when Garth exploded. He was insanely popular at the time. So for me he's always been the greatest country star (even though I really haven't listened to country music in 25 years).

My brother who's 10 years older than me listened to them both, went to both of their concerts. I'm positive he would say George Strait is better.

They are both great. But Garth is just so damn entertaining, and I definitely listened to his stuff more back growing up.

 

[Rebeldude]

I will simply add this
George Strait Billboard number 1 songs = 44
Garth Brooks Billboard number 1 songs = 19

Both have a voice and style that you immediately know it is their song. Garth puts on a fantastic, high energy concert, while George just lets the music speak for him.
Garth has had some iconic songs (and I agree with Cochise that some of his best stuff never got much radio play), but George is the King for a reason.

 

[M R DAWGS]

Definitely George

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I'm about your age... 20 years ago I would have said Garth. George is just classic. I figured it was my Texas roots skewing my opinion, but it doesn't appear to be just me.

 

[fieldcorporal]

I like some of Garth all right, but he can't hold George's belt buckle.

 

[johnson86-1]

I'm curious how age affects this answer. I was born in 1980, so was around 10 - 12 years old when Garth exploded. He was insanely popular at the time. So for me he's always been the greatest country star (even though I really haven't listened to country music in 25 years).

My brother who's 10 years older than me listened to them both, went to both of their concerts. I'm positive he would say George Strait is better.

They are both great. But Garth is just so damn entertaining, and I definitely listened to his stuff more back growing up.

Age is probably part of it, but part of it is probably also who is really a country music fan. I'm not much of a country music fan but like a lot of Garth Brooks stuff. That cross over appeal could be an indication that he's really great, or it could be an indication that he's not "real" country. I'm guessing it's more of the latter although that's not to say he's not great also.

ETA: Or maybe better said, he's not limited to just country. I assume some of his stuff is traditional country.

 

[dorndawg]

George Strait vs Garth Brooks

I would rather see Garth Live, but I find myself listening to George way more... So many good songs. I give it to George, but still love Garth.

Give me a towel whip if you agree that George > Garth, or bust a lip if you prefer Garth.

I think George is more significant for American country music.

I think Garth is more significant for American culture.

 

[josebrown]

I'm curious how age affects this answer. I was born in 1980, so was around 10 - 12 years old when Garth exploded. He was insanely popular at the time. So for me he's always been the greatest country star (even though I really haven't listened to country music in 25 years).

My brother who's 10 years older than me listened to them both, went to both of their concerts. I'm positive he would say George Strait is better.

They are both great. But Garth is just so damn entertaining, and I definitely listened to his stuff more back growing up.

Im 10 years older than you, was in StarkVegas when first heard of Garth. A friend and I drove from Walmart to Walmart and finally found his tape in Greenville. I think you nailed it for your brother and me. Now I’ve always been a Bocephus guy, but George Strait is the king of our era of country. Garth puts on a helluva show though! Almost as good as Bocephus forgetting the song, smashing guitars and the Bama Band walking off stage leaving him nearly passed out on his stool. I thoroughly enjoyed them all many times in concert. I was also a big Willie guy. Think the first time I saw Willie and Family live I was in single digits. CDB was also great in show. I forgot how much fun I used to have Thanks... ��

 

[NTDawg]

For me it is toss up between George and Garth but my favorite from the era (maybe a little before them) was taken from us way too soon. Keith Whitley hands down

I'm no stranger to the rain
I'm a friend of thunder
Friend, is it any wonder lightning strikes me?
I've fought with the devil
Got down on his level
But I never gave in, so he gave up on me

 

[CochiseCowbell]

George is the King for a reason.

Wrong George.

"Yabba Dabba Doo, the King is gone & so are you."

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I knew you’d... stand by your man.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

This native Yank has better taste than many of you rapscallions!*

Bruce, we need you to weigh in on the ballplayer's "socializing" thread.

 

[Grove Sh*tter]

Al di meola

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

George Strait vs Garth Brooks

I would rather see Garth Live, but I find myself listening to George way more... So many good songs. I give it to George, but still love Garth.

Give me a towel whip if you agree that George > Garth, or bust a lip if you prefer Garth.

Strait by a mile. And I've been a pretty big fan of Garth for a long time until recently.

 

[Drebin]

True story...I've played golf with Colt Ford. That rotund bastard can smash it.

Instead of playing "Meet Me At The Waffle House" in the golf cart between shots, he could've just sang it to you himself. Nice.

 

[ronpolk]

I will simply add this
George Strait Billboard number 1 songs = 44
Garth Brooks Billboard number 1 songs = 19

Both have a voice and style that you immediately know it is their song. Garth puts on a fantastic, high energy concert, while George just lets the music speak for him.
Garth has had some iconic songs (and I agree with Cochise that some of his best stuff never got much radio play), but George is the King for a reason.

I can understand this argument and honestly can’t argue against it much. Both are legends. For me though, Garth’s hits are better than George’s hits. I’d go Garth but man it’s close.

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Which one writes his own songs?

 

[Beerbully]

This comparison has a generational feel...I'm a little older, so my real interests go further back. But of the two, I would say Strait was the better pure country singer. I was driving north up US 287 from Dallas one evening back in the mid-eighties, with those shorty light poles flying by alongside the road and some red buttes rising off in the distance, when Amarillo By Morning came on the radio. It was like the essence of the song was pouring out through the car speakers, as if I was understanding it in a whole new way, even though I didn't start in Abilene.

 

[gasdawg]

Can’t go wrong with either of those dudes. I’d like to add Alan Jackson as an honorable mention.

Best current - Tie between Eric Church, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton

 

[Beerbully]

Can’t go wrong with either of those dudes. I’d like to add Alan Jackson as an honorable mention.

Best current - Tie between Eric Church, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton. My goodness, there's a voice.

 

[grimedawg1]

Went to a George concert in early 90s when a young Garth opened for him. Garth only had, if I remember correctly, one song on the radio - if tomorrow never comes. He was all over the stage. His last song he said he was going to play a little song that was about to come out - the dance. I had not heard it abd it was just awesome live. Then George came out and did his thing. Great, great show.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Wrong George.

"Yabba Dabba Doo, the King is gone & so are you."

17 yeah! One of my favorites of all the Possum songs.

George Strait is a music institution. He kept making his music while many came in and out of style without changing the roots of his music to follow some fad (B&R?)

George Brooks is a different type of musician who credits both Jones and Strait as the reason he started. His influences go from Kansas to Hank Sr & Jr. He changed the way the entertainment industry as a whole looks at country music.

Ex - Goo Goo Dolls "Cowboy killed the rock star..."

It's hard to say who is "best" since both laid the groundwork for these auto tune bro country FLGA Line wanna be's make millions singing aNOTHER song with truck, beer, babe, etc in every song that has no story or moral or anything.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I did.

 

[klong-dog]

I think Strait was the more constant, longevity wise, at a really high level. But I think Garths peak was at an even higher level during the 90's. So it's hard to say which is GOAT.

 

[Dawg_4_lifes]

Dolly Parton is better then both of them!!