As a human being who was born in Nashville, there are several things I can attest to regarding Garth Brooks' "Friends In Low Places." One is that most people in the South pretty much come out of the womb knowing all the words (or adorably misconstruing them as children). Another is that it is no matter how sober you actually are, what time of day it is, or who you are with, you hear the opening chords to that song and instantly become drunker than you've ever been in your entire life. And the last thing I know is that everyone has that one epic story about one time the song was playing—but none quite so epic, perhaps, as the fans who watched Garth Brooks join Justin Timberlake on stage to sing "Friends In Low Places" in Nashville last night.
Garth Brooks is just one of many surprise guests that Timberlake has ushered on stage in his tours, including Jay Z and Timbaland. But Timberlake makes a bold move just before Brooks comes on by stopping the song right after the first chorus and saying, "Hold on, hold on—something don't feel right." I say "bold" because it's a miracle that fans didn't mount the stage and force the band to continue playing right on the spot. When you have this song already in your veins, you need your fix.
But their patience and faith in Timberlake was well-rewarded. Brooks being a country legend, the crowd reacts just the way you would expect them to: Pretty much deafening everyone within a five-mile radius around Bridgestone Arena. (Side note: I am genuinely concerned that whoever was repeating "Oh my God, OH MY GOD!" behind the camera might have passed out.)
Now, I am a JT fan like any other breathing person with access to the radio, but this was the first time I have ever just wanted to maybe nudge him off the stage so that Brooks could take the reins. There are some songs that just plain belong to their original artists, and "Friends In Low Places" is decidedly one of them. Although if we had gotten the full song then we also would have missed Garth Brooks dorkily pulling out an iPhone and snapping pics of Timberlake onstage, so this is a give and take kind of performance.
Go on, listen to it. I dare you not to yell "OOOOooOOAAASis" at the top of your lungs. I DARE YOU.
Image: YouTube
