Comments on: Retro Single Review: George Strait, “Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye”

By: Travis McClain @TravisSMcClain

Travis McClain @TravisSMcClain — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:12:17 +0000

Nice connection between song and CMT memories! I had begun to grow sick of country music around the time this song came out, entering adolescence and certain I’d outgrown the hokey old genre, but I loved this recording. There’s a cleanliness to its sound that’s just perfect. Every part of this recording, whether the lyrics themselves, Strait’s vocals or the instrumentation, feels entirely right every step of the way. There’s not a single word or note out of place, that feels forced, rushed, contrived or in any way incongruous.

Today, of course, the song would have at least twice as many words – many of them espousing cliches and banalities – and it wouldn’t be nearly as mellow as it is. Either it would be “punched up” with more forceful percussion, or it would be given that maudlin, faux-intimate production arrangement to make us feel sad.

In 1989, though, an artist like King George could take a song like this and record it in a casual, almost conversational, manner and allow the content to speak for itself. I never imagined I’d reflect on “Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye” and characterize it as an example of thoughtfulness whose kind we rarely see anymore, but that’s exactly what it’s become.

By: Boot Disk Blog

Boot Disk Blog — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:41:31 +0000

George Strait Boys…

[...] hing back several years. But even back then, George Strait loathed making vide [...]…

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:15:15 +0000

Unique angle on the review, going through the video, Kevin. Well done. And – completely agree with Maybe it was Memphis

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:42:54 +0000

When I was a kid, my dad had a copy of Ten Strait Hits that got played constantly. That was my introduction to George Strait and this was definitely one of my favorite songs on it.

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 13:51:02 +0000

This was my favorite George Strait song until “I just Wanna Dance With you.” The video is good too.

By: The_Trouble_With_The_Truth

The_Trouble_With_The_Truth — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 02:58:42 +0000

The 8 pm show was called Big Ticket! I used to watch it every night when I was a kid!

By: Jonathan Pappalardo

Jonathan Pappalardo — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 01:27:40 +0000

Ahhh, the good ole days of CMT. I, too, fondly remember the three videos/commercial break format and triple takes as well as Signature Series and their 8pm hour of current videos, which name escapes me at the moment (hot ticket? or something close to that).

I vividly remember a triple take with Trisha Yearwood – “The Song Remembers When”/”She’s In Love With The Boy”/”Believe Me Baby (I Lied)” in that order. GOOD stuff! I could wax poetically about the golden age of CMT all day.

Anyhow, “Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye” is my all-time favorite single of George Strait’s career. No particular reason, but I love the song so much. I can’t describe it, but it’s just my kind of song.

I haven’t seen the video as much as you have, Kevin, but I vividly remember it as well. I remember watching it with my grandmother and thinking I had to get the song on CD. For a 1980s video, it’s very well done and holds up well today.

I really, really miss this era of both country music and of CMT.