Strait's success began when his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached #1 on the country charts. In the 2000s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014. He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.
By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most #1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 #1 singles surpassed Twitty's 40. Counting all music charts, Strait has amassed a total of 60 #1 hits, breaking a record also previously set by Twitty, giving him more #1 songs than any other artist in any genre of music.
Strait is also known for his touring career when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years. His concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in June 2014 drew 104,793 people, marking a new record for largest indoor concert in North America.
In more than 30 years of recording, all of which have been spent with MCA Records, George Strait has garnered 61 #1 songs on all country charts (including Mediabase 24/7, the former Radio & Records chart, and the now-defunct Gavin Report chart), and has more #1 hits than any other artist in a single genre. His 44 Billboard country #1 hits are a record, four more than Conway Twitty's total that includes several duets with Loretta Lynn. Additionally, Strait is also the first artist in the history of Billboard to have at least one single enter the top 10 of a Billboard chart for 30 consecutive years, starting in 1981 when his debut single "Unwound" peaked at number six on the Hot Country Singles chart. All of his top-10 singles have been on that chart. Strait has sold more than 68 million records in the United States alone, and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.
George Strait Discography:
Strait Country (1981)
Strait from the Heart (1982)
Right or Wrong (1983)
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (1984)
Something Special (1985)
#7 (1986)
Ocean Front Property (1987)
If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin' (1988)
Beyond the Blue Neon (1989)
Livin' It Up (1990)
Chill of an Early Fall (1991)
Holding My Own (1992)
Pure Country (1992)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1993)
Lead On (1994)
Blue Clear Sky (1996)
Carrying Your Love with Me (1997)
One Step at a Time (1998)
Always Never the Same (1999)
George Strait (2000)
The Road Less Traveled (2001)
Honkytonkville (2003)
Somewhere Down in Texas (2005)
It Just Comes Natural (2006)
Troubadour (2008)
Twang (2009)
Here for a Good Time (2011)
Love Is Everything (2013)
Cold Beer Conversation (2015)
Honky Tonk Time Machine (2019)
The Real Thing
George Strait Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From Atlanta in '53
And I picked up a Rhythm & Blues magazine
Laying underneath my seat
And I found out the stuff they'd been playing us
Wasn't made from grits and bone
And it would take more than the Crew Cuts
And Pat Boone to take me home
[Chorus]
I want the real thing
Give me the real thing
Make it loud I'll make you proud
Or the songs they'd sing
I don't want you under my roof with your 86 proof
Watered down till it tastes like tea
You're gonna pull my string
Make it the real thing
I remember old Elvis when he forgot
To remember to forget
And when young Johnny Cash hadn't seen this side of
Big River yet
And old Luther and Lewis and Perkins was picking
And playing them songs for me
[Chorus]
In George Strait's song The Real Thing, he reflects on his passion for authentic and powerful music. He describes a moment when he realized the music he had grown up with was lacking in soul and substance. On a bus ride in 1953, he stumbled across a Rhythm & Blues magazine, which opened his eyes to a new world of music that was raw, authentic, and deeply emotional. He was struck by the realization that the music he had been listening to was just a watered-down imitation of the real thing, lacking the heart and soul of the music he had just discovered.
The chorus of the song is a plea for the real thing, for music that is not diluted or watered-down, but passionate, loud, and soul-stirring. Strait rejects anything that is not authentic, calling out those who would try to pass off a weak imitation as the real thing. He wants his music to be the genuine article, something that will make him proud, and that will not be diluted with anything less than the real thing.
Overall, The Real Thing is a song that celebrates the power and authenticity of music, and the need to reject anything that falls short of that standard. The song highlights Strait's own commitment to genuine and heartfelt music, and his willingness to seek out the real thing even when it may not be the most popular or accepted choice.
Line by Line Meaning
I was on a bus coming back to us
I was traveling back home on a bus
From Atlanta in '53
The journey back home from Atlanta took place in the year 1953
And I picked up a Rhythm & Blues magazine
I found a magazine about Rhythm and Blues music
Laying underneath my seat
The magazine was lying underneath my bus seat
And I found out the stuff they'd been playing us
I discovered that the music we were listening to wasn't genuine
Wasn't made from grits and bone
The music didn't originate from traditional Southern roots
And it would take more than the Crew Cuts
Just listening to popular music wasn't enough to satisfy me
And Pat Boone to take me home
I needed something more authentic and true to my roots to feel connected to my home
Chorus: I want the real thing Give me the real thing Make it loud I'll make you proud Or the songs they'd sing I don't want you under my roof with your 86 proof Watered down till it tastes like tea You're gonna pull my string Make it the real thing
I want authentic and genuine music that is not watered down with artificial flavors or influences. I want music that represents my roots and my identity. I want it to be bold and strong, and I will proudly listen and support it.
I remember old Elvis when he forgot
I recall a time when Elvis Presley had a memory lapse
To remember to forget
He forgot to remember to forget his past lover
And when young Johnny Cash hadn't seen this side of Big River yet
I also remember when Johnny Cash had not yet experienced this part of his life
And old Luther and Lewis and Perkins was picking And playing them songs for me
Luther, Lewis, and Perkins were playing their songs for me, and I appreciate their authentic music
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHIP TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shannon Beeler
on The Fireman
Tara we know how much you miss spending the 4th of July with David, so we thought this may make you feel a little better! Love ya!