Let Me Tell You About George
I grew up listening to George Strait. Obviously being involved with playing fiddle and a brother that played guitar we might have played a tune or too. There is a reason that he is dubbed "King George" of country music. Hit after hit with so many songs that resonate in your heart. And who can forget the movie Pure Country?
When I moved to Raleigh and met my husband one of our first "real" dates was to see George Strait. I actually googled it and we attended the Charlotte, NC show on September 14, 2002 together. Shortly after that Ma, Dave, and I had a wild and crazy adventure to see George together at the RBC in Raleigh. George holds a special place in our hearts. That is why my sweet hubby got tickets for us as our Valentine's Day gifts this year.
This tour "The Cowboy Rides Away" with Martina McBride marks the retirement of the legend. We had to see him one last time. What I didn't realize is the rich history George Strait has with the Houston Rodeo. Here is a little from the coverage from Culture Map Houston
It was 30 years ago that the Texas rancher and country music newcomer received a last-minute call to make his Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo debut, replacing the ill Eddie Rabbitt. Since then, George Strait has become part of the RodeoHouson fabric: He’s played a total of 21 shows, including the Astrodome’s closing concert in 2002 — its highest-attended event — and the Reliant Stadium’s debut concert in 2003.
And Sunday night, he made one last piece of history with a terrific RodeoHouston appearance, a stop on his “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” Along with Martina McBride and the Randy Rogers Band, Strait’s concert-only performance amassed a record-breaking crowd of 80,020.
I must say this was an emotional concert. George was emotional throughout. Special moments and songs were played. I was amazed that every open space of the floor, atriums, doorways, hallways, were filled with Texas two-steppers.
The first emotional jolt of the night came from Strait’s 1982 hit “Marina del Rey,” a song that, over the years, Strait’s learned to inject with the melancholy weariness it deserves. The crowd sang along audibly while brave couples took to the floor to dance.
The '90s followed with songs from a “little ole movie called ‘Pure Country,’” including “The King of Broken Hearts” and the fast-paced toe-tapper “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” But just like the decade before, it was the slow two-step of “The Chair” that mesmerized the audience, bringing it to a standing ovation that lasted for a good 20 seconds.
You can look on YouTube and find video after video of his performances from this show. He wrote a tribute song that he sang that left many in tears (AKA me.)
His plain-speak ‘thank you’ to fans was achingly sincere –“But you kept calling me back to the stage / And I finally found my place in each and every face,” he sang.
But for his final encore after being called out time and time again was Troubadour.
I still raise a little Cain with the boys
Honky tonks and pretty women
Lord, I'm still right there with 'em
Singing above the crowd and the noise
Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing's gonna change what I am
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
Well, the truth about a mirror
Is that a damned old mirror
Don't really tell the whole truth
It don't show what's deep inside
Oh, read between the lines
And it's really no reflection of my youth
Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing's gonna change what I am
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
And I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
And in a Rodeo tradition, he threw his hat on the way out.
When I moved to Raleigh and met my husband one of our first "real" dates was to see George Strait. I actually googled it and we attended the Charlotte, NC show on September 14, 2002 together. Shortly after that Ma, Dave, and I had a wild and crazy adventure to see George together at the RBC in Raleigh. George holds a special place in our hearts. That is why my sweet hubby got tickets for us as our Valentine's Day gifts this year.
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| Boys stayed with their best friend "Rima" |
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| my cowbow |
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| Boys wanted in the picture of course |
It was 30 years ago that the Texas rancher and country music newcomer received a last-minute call to make his Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo debut, replacing the ill Eddie Rabbitt. Since then, George Strait has become part of the RodeoHouson fabric: He’s played a total of 21 shows, including the Astrodome’s closing concert in 2002 — its highest-attended event — and the Reliant Stadium’s debut concert in 2003.
And Sunday night, he made one last piece of history with a terrific RodeoHouston appearance, a stop on his “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” Along with Martina McBride and the Randy Rogers Band, Strait’s concert-only performance amassed a record-breaking crowd of 80,020.
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| Floor seats. 9th row. |
 |
| Martina |
 |
| George |
The first emotional jolt of the night came from Strait’s 1982 hit “Marina del Rey,” a song that, over the years, Strait’s learned to inject with the melancholy weariness it deserves. The crowd sang along audibly while brave couples took to the floor to dance.
The '90s followed with songs from a “little ole movie called ‘Pure Country,’” including “The King of Broken Hearts” and the fast-paced toe-tapper “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” But just like the decade before, it was the slow two-step of “The Chair” that mesmerized the audience, bringing it to a standing ovation that lasted for a good 20 seconds.
You can look on YouTube and find video after video of his performances from this show. He wrote a tribute song that he sang that left many in tears (AKA me.)
His plain-speak ‘thank you’ to fans was achingly sincere –“But you kept calling me back to the stage / And I finally found my place in each and every face,” he sang.
But for his final encore after being called out time and time again was Troubadour.
I still raise a little Cain with the boys
Honky tonks and pretty women
Lord, I'm still right there with 'em
Singing above the crowd and the noise
Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing's gonna change what I am
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
Well, the truth about a mirror
Is that a damned old mirror
Don't really tell the whole truth
It don't show what's deep inside
Oh, read between the lines
And it's really no reflection of my youth
Sometimes I feel like Jesse James
Still trying to make a name
Knowing nothing's gonna change what I am
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
I was a young troubadour, when I rode in on a song
And I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
I'll be an old troubadour, when I'm gone
And in a Rodeo tradition, he threw his hat on the way out.