Garth Brooks Remaking “Friends in Low Places” with Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line
I’m envisioning this awkward moment in the studio where Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard (long-haired one) and Brian Kelley (Bevis-looking one) walk into the recording booth to sing their part of the new rendition of “Friends in Low Places,” and Garth’s in the control room in his black hoodie, baseball cap, and goatee, all giddy, but then gets a confused look on his face. “Why is only the long-haired one singing?” he asks, causing Florida Georgia Line’s producer Joey Moi, the former producer for Nickelback, to get a pained look as he realizes Garth has no idea who in the hell Florida Georgia Line is.
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Super secret sources are telling Billboard that Garth Brooks will be issuing an updated version of his 1990 mega hit “Friends in Low Places” to mark the song’s 25th Anniversary, and he will be enlisting a number of high-profile low friends to help him with the new rendition. Included on the new track are reportedly George Strait (yep), Keith Urban (err), Jason Aldean (nope), and Florida Georgia Line (puke). Even more super secret sources tell Saving Country Music that Sam Hunt was also considered for the updated version, but when quizzed, the only Garth that Sam could name was Dana Carvey’s character from Wayne’s World.
Oh, and the later-added third verse—the one where Garth says “kiss my ass”—will apparently be included in the new Silver Anniversary recording, so you can get all horny with anticipation for that.
“Friends in Low Places” was originally released as a single on August 6th, 1990. It was written by Dewayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee. Garth first sang the song in a demo session, and loved it so much he asked the songwriters to put it on hold for him for his next album. The idea for the song came when the songwriters were supping at the Tavern on the Row in Nashville, and Earl Bud Lee forgot his wallet. “Don’t worry. I have friends in low places. I know the cook,” Lee said, and the line became legendary. A few months later, while celebrating another #1 hit, Blackwell and Lee decided to make the line into a song, writing the song down on napkins because that’s all that was available before Skype sessions in cubicle farms gave rise to the inspired songs of country music today.
“Friends in Low Places” went on to spend four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart, and won both the CMA and ACM awards for Single of the Year in 1990. Mark Chesnutt also recorded a version, but it was released a month after Garth’s, so his rendition got screwed. “Friends in Low Places” is considered Garth’s signature song, unless you reserve that distinction for Chris Gaines’ “Way of the Girl.”
“Friends in Low Places” 2015 will probably be released exclusively through Garth’s weird GhostTunes, which likely means few will labor to hear it. But let’s actually wait to listen before we declare it sucks, mkay?
September 3, 2015 @ 6:29 pm
You forgot the “fake news” tag.
Can Aldean and FGL sing these days without auto tune?
September 3, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
I don’t know if this is fake or not, so I’m issuing two responses:
1. Funny
2. Desperate and I don’t need to hear it to know it will suck
September 3, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Oh, God. So, SO MUCH FAIL. Not even King George himself is gonna be able to redeem this.
September 4, 2015 @ 12:30 pm
I thought it was surely an article from “the Onion.”
September 3, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
Ok..
The nearest habitable planet is 12 light-years away. We can
September 3, 2015 @ 6:58 pm
Ok…
The nearest habitable planet is 12 light-years away. We can take the spaceship I’m assuming Trigger keeps in his basement, Sturgill Simpson, with his vast knowledge of the cosmos, can navigate, and we’ll take Sam Hunt in case we get hungry.
September 3, 2015 @ 7:47 pm
If Trigger doesn’t, we can always use that jaloppy I built years ago to try and escape from Taylor Swift. Unfortunately the machete wolverine made a nest under the front passenger seat. Also, I’ve never tried taking it out of the atmosphere, I’m not even sure it can handle the resistance, so we might all die a horrible and incendiary death. I’m sure Dr. Doom has a teleporter though… We’d just have to amass enough money to convince him to let us use it.
September 3, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
I’ve got 3 dollars of loose change in my couch cushions and a bus pass. How much more do you think he’ll want?
September 4, 2015 @ 6:11 am
Episode 1:
Greetings SCM: as suggested by another commenter, I have begun my search for a new home free of bad music. My homemade spaceship barely escaped the atmosphere, and now it’s making worse noise than a Chase Rice album. I should have done it Trigger’s way and got my spaceship at Sears. Fear of reptile aliens prevented Sturgill Simpson from agreeing to help, but Gary LeVox claimed to know how to get there, so he’s navigating. If ever an asteroid or space monster shows up I assume he’ll eat it. Stay tuned to Fuzzy TwoShirts in Space.
September 3, 2015 @ 6:48 pm
This can’t be real. It just can’t. There’s no way Garth is remaking this song with 4 other singers and a glorified hood ornament.
EDIT: …oh, how I wish the fake news tag was here…
September 3, 2015 @ 7:01 pm
Can George Strait be in the same room with FGL and not have a thermonuclear meltdown?
September 4, 2015 @ 1:35 am
George was on the same stage with Aldean, so he is a survivor.
September 3, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
I’m wondering;
If Garth doesn’t allow this on Youtube, iTunes, Spotify, Google Play or Amazon, and only releases it on Ghost Tunes and an album, will the country music audience even be able to hear it?
And if that’s the case, is this a genius move to get Garth back on the radio? Because the only easy way to hear this song is if it was played on the radio…
September 8, 2015 @ 9:20 pm
You and I have a similar line of thinking on this one. In my mind, the idea here is thus: Garth’s comeback album Man Against Machine, while successful, underperformed all around. He shifted a rather average amount of units the first week despite predictions of being just behind Taylor Swift’s record-setting spree with 1989. Then, neither of the two singles from the album made any impact inside the top 20 on radio. I’d say this was something of a sobering development for Garth Inc., so what to do next? His live shows continue to impress with the sheer numbers of people willing to attend a Brooks show, so obviously it’s not the man’s popularity in and of itself that’s taken a hit, it’s the format. What better way to “properly” reintroduce yourself than by remaking perhaps your biggest hit with a legend, a workhorse and some interlopers with hot iron? It makes perfect sense, Garth being the savvy businessman he is.
Sigh. It only seems like yesterday that we were all patting each other on the back and waiting on Garth’s return and the obvious “positive” effects. I’ve never doubted that Garth loves real country music, but it’s hard to RESPECT the man when he does stuff like this, not to mention reissuing the same damn albums fourteen times to milk his fanbase dry. And while we’re on the albums topic, who the hell wants to hear a version of No Fences with bonus tracks that weren’t even cut at the same time as the rest of the album, much less with this new (rancid) blood? That’s like Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reissuing Revolver featuring remakes of some tracks with Justin Bieber and Kanye West (you know, since the latter “discovered” Paul and everything). I’ll stick with my “remastered” copy of No Fences with the single bonus track of the era, thank you.
September 3, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
Sounds good to me. if there frends of Garth than there all rite in my book. and the florida gorgia line and jason aldeen are good boys just haven fun n all. Role tide! Were goin all the way this yeer!
September 3, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
Can I puke now?
September 3, 2015 @ 7:48 pm
Cause I’ve got friend with low I.Q.s and I hope they drown cause Jason scares all the girls away!
I’m surprised Sam Hunt knows about Wayne’s World, you’d think Elmo’s World would be more his speed.
September 4, 2015 @ 5:44 am
I also had the reaction that thinking Sam Hunt watched Wayne’s World is probably giving him too much credit.
September 3, 2015 @ 8:02 pm
This song will be terrific. I am really excited about this new direction that country music is taking.
September 4, 2015 @ 11:33 am
I think Chris Gaines and Flg and Jason Bryan will make a great team! Not sure wtf King George is doing though.
September 3, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
Has anyone ever definitively stated whose recording of the song was done first–Garth’s or Chesnutt’s?
Also, Garth sings “The last one to know, the last one to show, I was the last one you thought you’d see there.”
And in Mark’s version, it’s “The last one to show, the last one to know….”
Which one follows the original Blackwell and Lee lyric?
September 3, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
I was hoping a nice duet with Mark Chesnutt and Garth Brooks with this song (I like and I don’t mind George Strait and Keith Urban) but not with those 3 knuckleheads (Jason Aldean and FGL).
September 3, 2015 @ 9:13 pm
I’d love to hear this song, because I’m a big Garth fan, but I don’t want to, because I dont like the other artists (excluding Mr. Strait). I’ve hated FGL ever since they came to be. I never liked Jason after Dirt Road Anthem, and I just don’t care to listen to Keith Urban. I can see why this might take off though. Everyone knows who George Strait is, everyone loves Aldean and FGL, and some people like Keith Urban. I just hope, in the name of God and all things holy, that there is no auto tune, rapping, or those damn hip hop beats.
September 3, 2015 @ 9:39 pm
Once upon a time, I sang “Friends in Low Places” with Earl Bud Lee in my friend’s kitchen. It was a damn fine moment in my personal history – Far more so than ever hearing a rendition by FGL would be.
September 3, 2015 @ 10:56 pm
Ok, in all seriousness, this is the end of the Great Garth Comeback. When you are remaking your big hits in this fashion, especially with this bunch of musical kidney stones (George Strait excepted, but Garth must have some real dirt to get him to participate in this rubbish) then you are long past your creative expiration date. While Garth’s last album was not the sonic equivalent of the Star Wars prequels, it certainly was a huge disappointment. This is essentially the analog of Billy Ray Cyrus’ remake of Achy Breaky as some intergalactic alien twerkfest. Maybe the inevitable video will feature Garth in some skinny jeans riding a big rig amid thunderous explosions in an orgasmic display of country music impotence.
September 4, 2015 @ 7:09 am
I think this is just Garth’s way of trying to bridge the old with the new, and he sort of bungled the idea. I don’t expect him to come out in skinny jeans, rapping the verses.
But something I think has been overlooked here is that he figured out how to drag George Strait into this mess. This isn’t just Garth collaborating with Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, it’s Strait doing so as well.
I still expect for Garth to call the shots. I don’t expect this to be a Bro-Country song. I expect it to be a Garth song involving Bro-Country artists.
September 4, 2015 @ 10:19 am
I am not sure what to make of George Strait being a part of this. Is there any history of friendship between George and Garth? It sort of seems like Eric Clapton touring with Roger Waters back in the Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking days. Not a lot of fun for Clapton but a favor to his friend.
I am glad Garth is going to attempt to connect with the bro set by having them sing along on what is sure to be a memorable track. After all, their voices are so distinctive, I am sure they will add a lot.
September 4, 2015 @ 7:46 am
When you are remaking your big hits in this fashion, especially with this bunch of musical kidney stones (George Strait excepted, but Garth must have some real dirt to get him to participate in this rubbish) then you are long past your creative expiration date.
I think Garth demonstrated that he was long past his creative expiration date with “People Loving People,” but I am definitely not a fan of artists re-recording their older songs. Pretty much the only artist who did that and made better versions than the originals was Billy Joe Shaver with his son Eddy on the Tramp On Your Street and Electric Shaver albums.
September 3, 2015 @ 11:39 pm
George must owe Garth a favor for some reason..I hope he walks out of it when he realizes who Jason Aldean and FGL are
September 4, 2015 @ 12:22 am
Glad I’m not the only one not agreeing with this. I gotta tell ya, I’ve been making my displeasure known at planetgarth.com over Garth doing this, to the point where I’m SERIOUSLY considering skipping out on this one because I would rather stand up for Real Country Music than listen to three of the biggest thong wearing sissies that are dominating Country radio.
26 years old and yes I should be at their demographic of listeners but I choose not to because as Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers put it perfectly: I don’t have hits, I got standards.
September 4, 2015 @ 5:57 am
as Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers put it perfectly: I don”™t have hits, I got standards.”
Oh, WELL DONE. 😀
I’m 37 now, but I hated that song just as bad at 26. Back then I was mostly listening to the classic country and red dirt music. I got enough of Garth Brooks AND that stupid song about 1991.
September 4, 2015 @ 4:53 am
It was the song that started the decline of country music so it’s fitting.
September 4, 2015 @ 5:01 am
To quote Garth from Wayne’s World (whom I’m pretty sure Sam Hunt does NOT know), “It’s like people only do things because they get paid, and that’s just really sad.”
September 4, 2015 @ 5:32 am
So Merle Haggard says that bro country is “screwing on a pickup tailgate.” Well Garth just climbed up on the tailgate and bent over.
September 4, 2015 @ 5:35 am
Well dammit! Now I feel like I’m going to have to remove my “Blame it all on my roots” cowboy boot car decal. I never loved Garth, but I really liked that decal.
September 4, 2015 @ 6:19 am
Fitting. Brooks was the Aldean, FGL, Chesney, and Bryan of his day. I never liked him from the first time I heard him on the airwaves.
September 4, 2015 @ 9:36 am
Garth’s lyrics and music were far more original and better than bro-country. All he did was go more country rock and he didn’t turn the auto-tune up to 10.
September 4, 2015 @ 6:42 am
Years ago there was a TV special with Grand Ole Opry members paying tribute to Garth Brooks for some reason, possibly his Hall of Fame induction. Johnny Russell, John Conlee. Bill Anderson, and Porter Waggoner joined him on stage for this song. I don’t think it was performed in a comfortable key for Russell, Anderson, and Waggoner, but John Conlee absolutely nailed his part. I felt at the time that if Conlee would have recorded that song instead of Garth it could have re-ignited his career, much as “He Stopped Loving Her Today” did for George Jones a decade earlier.
I found a video of it, and after listening to it again my opinion hasn’t changed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2SiEBGhGqA
I have absolutely no interest in hearing this new version.
September 4, 2015 @ 7:03 am
and Brian Kelley (Bevis-looking one)
I think of Brian Kelley as the rapey frat boy/jock looking one.
September 4, 2015 @ 7:14 am
There”™s a CD out there titled, In The Beginning: A Songwriter’s Tribute To Garth Brooks, in which Dwayne Blackwell sings a song called “Pains”, set to the tune of Friends in Low Places. In short, he sings about going to a Mexican fast food joint and the result is “pains” in his neither regions.
I”™m a fan of both Garth”™s and Mark”™s versions of the song, but this speculated new version seems to be much like a trip to Taco Bell. You”™re hungry for something; so you stop for the quick, cheap, and easy bite. Unfortunately, you hate yourself afterward because you knew it would result in “pains” in your neither regions.
September 4, 2015 @ 7:50 am
Gross. And George must be bored. As cool as I think a Strait and Garth collaboration could be, this ain’t it. I really fail to see what FGL brings to it, as well. I find their voices near intolerable.
But, I’m not going to bother with it because I never liked the song to begin with. Garth was pretty great when it came to sincere ballads. But when he tried to get cute (Friends in Low Places, Ain’t Going Down til the Sun Comes Up, etc.), his stuff was just as bad as some of the stuff on the radio today.
September 4, 2015 @ 8:01 am
.” It was written by Dewayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee. ”
Kudos to YOU Trigger for crediting the writers. More often than not this information is overlooked/neglected/considered insignificant/unnecessary in these kinds of ‘promotional “announcements . You’ve always made a point of including writers credits in your reviews etc.
And hell …..good for Garth ……
September 4, 2015 @ 9:33 pm
Yes, but the writers get the lion’s share of the money from the sales. So it boils do this question: what would you rather have, money or fame?
September 4, 2015 @ 8:29 am
Sad when great movies, mini-series and songs are all rehashed and served up as something new. Creativity. Where have all the flowers gone.
September 4, 2015 @ 9:17 am
Gone to young girls, every one! I thought everybody knew that.
When will they ever learn?
September 4, 2015 @ 9:20 am
So he’s broing up a classic? Just great. Has FGL ever sung this song? Apparently Thomas Rhett hasn’t.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX35GekZn5k
Blame it all on my roots
I showed up in old boots, new dirt and wallet chains
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to bro
I was the last one
You thought you’d see there
And I saw the surprise
And the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of fireball
And I toasted you
Said, drip o honey on the money maker, we may be through
But you’ll never hear me complain
‘Cause I’ve got bros in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay
I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the broasis
Oh, I’ve got bros in low places
Well, I guess I was wrong
I just don’t belong
But then, I’ve been there before
Everything’s all right
I’ll just say that’s my kind of night
And I’ll show myself to the door
Hey, I didn’t mean
To cause a big scene in my skinny jeans
Just give me an hour and then
Well, I’ll be as high in my jacked up truck
As that ivory tower
That you’re livin’ in
‘Cause I’ve got bros in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay
I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the broasis
Oh, I’ve got bros in low places
I guess I was wrong
I just don’t belong
But then, I’ve been there before
And everything is alright
I’ll just say that”™s my kind of night
And I’ll show myself to the door
I didn’t mean to cause a big scene in my skinny jeans
Just wait ’til I finish this glass
Then sweet little tailgate girl
I’ll head back to the bar
And you can slide your painted on jeans ass over here and kiss mine
September 4, 2015 @ 9:30 am
Good find with the video.
September 5, 2015 @ 6:05 am
I wasn’t looking for it and it showed up in a Garth search. Since that video is so short and low quality I went looking for a better one and found this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn8xoiHn9hM
So it was 2 guys from the audience that butchered it. Sorry, I was also misled by the title “Thomas Rhett messes up Garth Brooks Friends In Low Places 3.” He still doesn’t sound great but sounds better singing country than his own pop songs. I’ll give him a B- for his Garth cover and F for his covers of Bryan, 1994 and Round Here. I forgot he wrote 2 of those.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6r4nyiPPes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XF2GhNtvjE
Can it get any worse that bro-country acts covering each other? It’s disturbing how many girls sing along to bro songs because they’ve heard them on the radio a million times and they’ll raise their kids on lyrics that objectify and degrade women. A big piece of our culture has been ruined and lost by people with no respect for country music.
September 4, 2015 @ 11:24 pm
Yup ….basically these bro boys are just your average every day bar band singers Nashville has ‘manipulated ‘ with some auto-tune , drum loops , trendy ‘fashion’ and a handful of generic songs.
Nothing professional about any of them when it comes to performing . That Garth cover was about as sloppy as the worst karaoke .
September 4, 2015 @ 9:32 am
Well to be fair, you really can’t get much lower than that.
September 4, 2015 @ 11:18 am
So Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean, who usually sing crap, are going to be in a remake of an old Garth Brooks song that wasn’t half bad … and the problem is?
At least they’ll be singing better stuff than they normally sing.
And they have sung it before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abhKbUkjT9U
Don’t get me wrong … I’m not an FGL fan … but I’m not exactly sure why all the negative reactions?
September 5, 2015 @ 6:44 am
This probably isn’t in FGL’s wheelhouse and your video sort of shows that but it’s hard to tell with the audience singing. I’d need to hear them sing this without the audience and auto-tune to be sure but I doubt FGL will sound very good on a studio version and maybe Aldean can pull it off. I don’t want to hear FGL’s whiney, annoying auto-tuned vocals and many actual country artists sing country songs better so why choose them? It amazes me how many artists don’t pick the best singers for duets and covers and go with whoever radio plays.
It’s an endorsement of bro-country from Garth, which is surprising after his Sony signing speech frowning on it.
Garth doesn’t need the money and Aldean and FGL don’t either.
September 4, 2015 @ 11:47 am
OMFG!!! This guy just cannot stand being without attention & grasps at anything to try and make
himself relevant again. Garth, it’s over. You had your run, please retire for good. May as well take George with ya since he’s going along with this circus.
September 4, 2015 @ 12:20 pm
You can’t go much lower than Jason Aldean to find friends.
September 4, 2015 @ 12:41 pm
This might get some radio traction, but beyond that I doubt it will do anything. Garth and his management team are so behind the times it’s sad. Nobody is using GhostTunes and I don’t see this changing that. If Garth is serious about attracting new fans to his base, he needs to at least put his stuff up for sale digitally where it can be found like iTunes, Amazon, Google etc.
Yes, I know all those companies can have shitty deals for artists, but GhostTunes was destined to fail the moment it was launched.
September 4, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
Looks like this may be on hold. Acc to Billboard, royalties may get in the way. Thankful for such blessed obstacles….
September 4, 2015 @ 1:29 pm
There will be royalties from this schlock? I guess there is truth to the old adage “a fool and his money are soon parted”.
September 4, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
I’m sure George is doing it just to show up these hacks.
September 4, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
This might be good. Another couple potential ways to look at this: It could be Garths attempt at gate keeping. Bringing fgl and Aldean in on something more country in an attempt to lead by example.
Also Jason has done some damn good country singing on a tribute album (see:Working Mans Poet.). And reissuing new versions of your hits is not always a sign you are giving in and changing your sound. (See Randy Travis’ entire album of re-recorded hits.)
Just another way of looking at it.
Lets wait too hear the damn thing.
September 4, 2015 @ 2:36 pm
Where?
September 4, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
Where to hear it? As much as my stupid local country station was lauding on it this morning it will be all over the goddamned “country” radio stations.
September 4, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
How about Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, and Chase Rice join in the party.
September 4, 2015 @ 5:31 pm
I don’t know what to say. It’s sad Garth went from a king to a joke so quickly. I hope his new Sony CEO really saves him!
September 4, 2015 @ 8:58 pm
Eff Garth. The mofo is fake as hell and started the trend that brought all of this crap we hear now to fruition.
Again, as I have stated in a couple other posts – he changed his accent/voice from song to song back when he was cutting and for me right there stated fake/poser.
September 8, 2015 @ 3:38 pm
I am completely disgusted by this. But I am not in the least bit surprised. Garth has always been a sellout.