Garth Brooks - "Mom"

[sabre14]

Artist: Garth Brooks 
Single: "Mom"
Writers: Wynn Varble, Don Sampson
Album: Man Against Machine
Label: RCA Nashville/Pearl Records
Add Date: November 24th, 2014
Source: All Access   

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It looks like Garth and RCA will be going with the sentimental ballad "Mom" as single #2 from Man Against Machine. The impact date is set for November 24th.

Chart Run: 48* - 40* - 38* - 38* - 35* - 37* - 38* - 39* - 39* - 41 - 48 (Mediabase)

[matty005]

I don't think Garth has ever released back to back singles that I don't like, until now. While I don't like this song, I can see it doing better than PLP. I still think, "Tacoma" is the best song on the album, but I am not sure how well that would do on radio.

[gurustu]

WELL, Women make up the majority of Country Music Listeners, a lot of them are Mother's too and we all know that Women are the main sex buying Country music as well. So I see this one doing much better than "PLP" just for those factors alone. The song's pretty good too (granted it's no "Every Now And Then", but it has that same kind of vibe to it; I just think "Every Now and Then" is one of the best Garth songs ever, along with "She's Every Woman"). So, sure, not even close to those two songs but will at least do better than PLP.

On a side note.... I hate it when people that create Lyric Videos say "Thank You "insert performers name" for this Beautiful song or Wonderful song", blah blah.... don't thank Garth, thank Wynn Varble and Don Sampson; give credit to where credit is due (the songwriters!). Songwriters are always left in the dust by your average joe. But glad to see Wynn & Don get this cut; it's one of those songs that A LOT of artists these days would simply stay clear of and it was going to take that one special artist to do it and so for them it worked out extremely well! :)

[kw9461]

The cynical side of me wonders if this release has more to do with trying to get Garth single/song of the year nominations more than actual radio success. I like this song a fair (it choked me up on first listen) bit but i just can't see this song making it to heavy rotation (nor do I really want to hear it that much). It's a song that plays on your emotions and at a certain point i just think it's going to lose its payoff for many listeners. If radio success was really the goal for Garth and his team then they could've done much better. Midnight Train, She's Tired Of Boys, or even a few of the ballads (Send 'Em On Down The Road for starters) would've stood a much better chance at radio. This comeback was really about the album though, and Garth met all of my expectations in that department. He could've came back with an album full of radio fodder if he wanted to, but he chose a selection of (mostly) well written songs and I give him credit for that.

[McCreerian]

This song killed me the first time I heard it and I actually have to skip it on the CD when I'm in the car if I'm only driving a few minutes cause I can't make it through it without losing it. I think it has the makings of a huge hit. I'm happy Garth went with this. It's one of those "I gotta pull over to the side of the road" type songs.

[countrymusic20]

Now I'll never have to wonder what a hallmark card with cheese whiz and syrup spilled all over it would sound like coming out of my stereo speakers. The start of the song sounds like the start to a really bad joke ... "so a scared little baby and God were sitting in heaven staring at a big blue ball ....". Geez Garth ... just stick to selling out your arenas and singing the classics.

[ant]

I did get a little emotional hearing this when I watched a clip of him performing it on GMA. But now it does seem a little cheesy, after reading the post above mine.

I just read on Wikipedia that Bonnie Tyler originally sang this on her album from last year? I'll have to give her version a listen.

[Andy]

I don't hate this song, but it's a bit too treacly for me to fully get on board with.

[sabre14]

I agree with kw9461 about this song at radio. I just don't see how this will find its way into heavy rotation for country radio stations and I feel the emotion of it will wear off after a while. The song I do enjoy to an extent as I feel it's heart felt (I really respect Wynn Varble as a writer), but that "little blue ball" line is really corny.

I mentioned in the "People Loving People" thread that I disagreed with this decision if RCA and Garth went with this second. The flame out of "People Loving People" to me indicated that Garth had to release a radio friendly tune, preferably upbeat, to win back radio and get him a return to the top 10. I really feel that Garth's long term and certainly short term radio future is hanging in the balance and I feel that this was a risk not worth taking right now if radio success means something to Garth and company.

[tim]

I'm a little surprised by the early negative response to this song, especially references to this being cheesy. A little personal background...I'm easily moved by any song that was written for any mom out there. Blake's "The Baby," Randy Travis' "Angels," Jamie O'Neal's "Somebody's Hero," and Tracy Byrd's "That's What Keeps Her Getting By" are just a few off the top of my head that will easily grab my attention. My family lost our mom way to soon and we'd give anything for one more day. I suppose I shouldn't have been easily irked by the cheesy references, but for some reason I was. The words mom and cheesy would just never fall into the same sentence for me I guess. I don't know the personal history of the two songwriters, but when I listen to a song like this I try to also form my opinion based on where they might be coming from. Anyways, I wanted to chime in and defend the song a little as all its trying to do is give all Mom's out there some love.

As to whether this will find a run up the chart in the current state of radio, well I really don't know what to think yet. I've listened to the album a good five times already and I'm not sure I hear anything that will find much success on today's radio. That said, "Mom," "Midnight Train," and "Send 'Em On Down the Road" have stood out above the rest to me. I still skip the first three songs on the record. I know everyone has been raving about "Tacoma" but for whatever reason I find myself unable to connect to his version of the song. I'll have to give that one more time.

[Deleted]

It'll fit just fine on radio this time of year. It can be tossed in between Christmas songs with ease. It's a pandering song that has a semi holiday feel that can carry over into January before he releases a stronger single. If he released anything else this close to the holiday season, it would vanish in the Christmas wasteland that most radio stations become. It's a smart move.

[Deleted]

This is a bit too chesy/Hallmark for me and never really seemed to go anywhere. Meh.

[dm2081]

Nov 13, 2014 23:50:08 GMT -5 @looney said:

It's a pandering song that has a semi holiday feel that can carry over into January before he releases a stronger single. If he released anything else this close to the holiday season, it would vanish in the Christmas wasteland that most radio stations become. It's a smart move.

He's already struck out with the first single.  Now he's on to the second.  If they don't think this is his best chance at a "Strong" single, then it makes no sense to release it.  Sure a few holiday spins would be nice, but they're promoting this as the second single.  If this strikes out as well, radio won't give him a 3rd chance, and like sabre14 said, you can forget any future on country radio.  If this song fails he will be joining the rest of the retired/abandoned veteran country singers whom radio won't touch anymore.  IMO, they need to be all in on this single if they're serious about a radio comeback.  

[gardyfan]

He performed it live for the first time in a concert setting tonight. Goodnees did it get a major reaction. Great live.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2014 0:59:26 GMT -5 dm2081 said:

Nov 13, 2014 23:50:08 GMT -5 @looney said:

It's a pandering song that has a semi holiday feel that can carry over into January before he releases a stronger single. If he released anything else this close to the holiday season, it would vanish in the Christmas wasteland that most radio stations become. It's a smart move.

He's already struck out with the first single.  Now he's on to the second.  If they don't think this is his best chance at a "Strong" single, then it makes no sense to release it.  Sure a few holiday spins would be nice, but they're promoting this as the second single.  If this strikes out as well, radio won't give him a 3rd chance, and like sabre14 said, you can forget any future on country radio.  If this song fails he will be joining the rest of the retired/abandoned veteran country singers whom radio won't touch anymore.  IMO, they need to be all in on this single if they're serious about a radio comeback.  

Sometimes the stupidity on this board is just a bit much. 

[George Strait Junkie]

nice this is a great song the lyrics just grab you awesome songwriting

[Zazie]

I like songs about mothers that have some reality to them. I don't like sentimental songs about mothers, and even more do I dislike sentimental songs about God, which is another category this song seems to fit into. The writers aren't trying to be offensive and I know they're being sincere, but yikes! and yet again yikes. My mother was not an angel, I do know that. She was a woman.

If losing your mother too young is a credential I need to have before criticizing this song, I have it. But nothing about her foreshortened life and untimely death is addressed by this song's lyrics. For those of you who find the song moving, I'm not criticizing you. I don't want to hear this on the radio, but I am sure there are plenty of people who will like hearing this. How much they'll like it after they've heard it 20 times, I'm not so sure. But requesting it once, sure, that'll happen.

Is it just a coincidence? -- maybe my least favorite song ever about a mother is Garth's Papa Loved Mama. What an awful portrayal of a woman that is. And the same singer who managed a big hit with that tribute to domestic violence now chooses to release this awful single? Yikes again. I'm through with Garth for a few months, anyway. Maybe he can find something to rope me back in, though. He's certainly capable of it.

[tim]

Nov 14, 2014 11:40:49 GMT -5 Zazie said:

If losing your mother too young is a credential I need to have before criticizing this song, I have it.

The entire conversation of this thread has really turned me off. I think I'm just going to avoid coming to this thread for a while.

[buythecaseof12]

It is all a matter of personal opinion.
It all goes back to--if you really don't like a song, then simply don't buy and/or listen to it.

[sabre14]

Here's the thing about this song to me. I do think this song is sincere and there are some tugging at your heart strings moments within the lyrics - and I said before that I love Wynn Varble's songwriting as well as Don Sampson's. But this song is not nearly as good to me as "The Baby" and "Angels". I really do feel this will grow tiresome on people once its on radio therefore I don't see this becoming a huge hit for Garth.

People have different beliefs on many things and religion and God is two of them. If I dislike a song because of its lyrics in terms of God or one's religious beliefs then I would at least find it in me to respect where the writers are coming from and understand everyone has they're opinions as do I. Just because I personally believe in God (which I do) doesn't mean it's in my right to judge people who don't and feel that songs like this are wrong headed. I like to think that many understand where someone is coming from who loves this song and understand someone who doesn't think that a song should use God when it comes to sentimental songs about one's mother. Country songs about Mom's have been around as long as I can remember since it's something that is near and dear to someone and your Mom is often times the person who has been there for you the most in your life. When you have a song like "Mom", I could see how someone, whether they have lost their Mom or haven't, can criticize it by using God to stir up your emotions about a mother.

What I do like about this song is I find it totally sincere which is the most important thing to me anyway. But I do find that some of the lyrics are cheesy - at the same time I find no fault using God in a song like this since I personally believe in him, though I understand someone who doesn't will automatically be turned off by it. I guess I'm torn on this one personally but I can clearly see how this has already made people fall one way or another. In the end, I feel that Wynn Varble and Don Sampson just wanted to write a song about Mom's and perhaps for anyone who has lost their mother - nothing more or less. I don't feel it was trying to be controversial therefore even if I disagreed with it, I could not find it in myself to criticize for its unrealistic (which it is) subject. I can totally understand where both tim and Zazie are coming from and respect their feelings about this song even if it differs from mine.

[bigfan101]

Nov 14, 2014 13:22:53 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Here's the thing about this song to me. I do think this song is sincere and there are some tugging at your heart strings moments within the lyrics - and I said before that I love Wynn Varble's songwriting as well as Don Sampson's. But this song is not nearly as good to me as "The Baby" and "Angels". I really do feel this will grow tiresome on people once its on radio therefore I don't see this becoming a huge hit for Garth.

People have different beliefs on many things and religion and God is two of them. If I dislike a song because of its lyrics in terms of God or one's religious beliefs then I would at least find it in me to respect where the writers are coming from and understand everyone has their opinions as do I. Just because I personally believe in God (which I do) doesn't mean it's in my right to judge people who don't and feel that songs like this are wrong headed. I like to think that many understand where someone is coming from who loves this song and understand someone who doesn't think that a song should use God when it comes to sentimental songs about one's mother. Country songs about Mom's have been around as long as I can remember since it's something that is near and dear to someone and your Mom is often times the person who has been there for you the most in your life. When you have a song like "Mom", I could see how someone, whether they have lost their Mom or haven't, can criticize it by using God to stir up your emotions about a mother.

What I do like about this song is I find it totally sincere which is the most important thing to me anyway. But I do find that some of the lyrics are cheesy - at the same time I find no fault using God in a song like this since I personally believe in him, though I understand someone who doesn't will automatically be turned off by it. I guess I'm torn on this one personally but I can clearly see how this has already made people fall one way or another. In the end, I feel that Wynn Varble and Don Sampson just wanted to write a song about Mom's and perhaps for anyone who has lost their mother - nothing more or less. I don't feel it was trying to be controversial therefore even if I disagreed with it, I could not find it in myself to criticize for its unrealistic (which it is) subject. I can totally understand where both tim and Zazie are coming from and respect their feelings about this song even if it differs from mine.

Very well articulated. I feel similarly to this, but I also feel like it has been done and done better.

[sabre14]

Delivered to country radio this afternoon.

[someguy]

I like the song, but I do appreciate where the criticism of the song is coming from. I can definitely see both sides, and why people would feel strongly on opposite ends of the spectrum about the song.

I do agree that I find the intentions behind it to be sincere, which is probably the main reason that I fall on the 'liking' side of it.

I'm not sure how it will do at radio, though. The last month or so must have been a big blow to Garth's ego ("People Loving People" stalling out, album sales being less than desired), and so I'm sure that he and his team have thought long and hard about what from the album would work on radio in today's climate. As I said in a different thread, I think that something like "She's Tired Of Boys" would have been a better single choice at this point, but I guess we'll just have to see. I'm going to guess he'll get back into the top 10 (I can't imagine Garth not having a hit from this album), but at this point, I'm not really certain about anything.

[Andy]

I've listened to this song a few more times and it's grown on me. I do think it's a bit heavy-handed, but the lyrics and Garth's performance are well-meaning and sincere. A song like this is designed from the first note to tug at your heartstrings, and naturally people are going to have very different reactions to it (cf., "The Little Girl", "God's Will", etc.). I played this song for my mom earlier today and she bawled her eyes out. I guess I split the difference in between the two extremes in that I like it but wouldn't place it among my favorite Garth songs.

[McCreerian]

Garth posted this on his Instagram

garthbrooks MOM will take it's place beside IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES, UNANSWERED PRAYERS, and THE DANCE. It's that strong. -love, g


I agree with Garth all the way! I haven't loved a single this much from anybody else this year in Country music.

[gopolks]

Agree, love the song, its perfect for Garth, one of the best slow songs to come out of country for a long long time.

[tonyei31]

Nov 14, 2014 11:10:45 GMT -5 George Strait Junkie said:

nice this is a great song the lyrics just grab you awesome songwriting

Wynn Varble is a great writer.  All of his cuts have been loaded with great emotion (Have you Forgotten and Waitin on a Women are the first two that pop to mind).  

[onebuffalo]

Nov 14, 2014 15:40:18 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Delivered to country radio this afternoon.

Love the single cover. Too bad Garth isn't seen looking at a picture of his mother, Colleen.

[rjz]

Finally listened to this song.

Ok, it is a huge 'orange ball' of cheese, but I don't find it any worse as far as that goes than countless other Country songs.

Country used to be the refuge of cheesy, sentimental songs so this fits right in, IMO. It didn't bring tears to my eyes (yes, I'm a mom) at all but it did bring a smile; some of the lyrics, particularly the one about their driving goal being to make sure the baby is ok through life, ring simple but true.

Whether I enjoy listening to it or will tire of it/consider it a novelty song will depend on the production/studio version-it has to be better than PLP.....
It is a little surprising for a second single choice and I'm not sure how it will do on Country radio but at least it is different and lends variety to said radio.

[rsmatto]

That cover art is much better than the album cover. He should re-issue the album with better cover art.