Would that this hoodie were a time hoodie!

So, I am officially 27 now, and what am I doing (instead of sleeping)? Watching a really old Garth interview and reliving the glory days. LOOK AT HIM! HE WAS SO YOUNG! HIS VOICE WAS SO FLAWLESS! HIS ANSWERS WERE SO HUMBLE! HE WAS STILL MARRIED TO SANDY! HIS BABIES WERE STILL BABIES! Oh, god, I miss him. I miss him so damn much. I fell in mad love with him exactly 18 years ago today and he still has the ability to turn me into a giddy puddle of goo. Sure, he may not sing as well as he used to, he may not be as wild as he used to be, he may not be as wide-eyed good old boy as he used to be, BUT HE STILL MAKES ME SWOON. God, his rendition of Starry, Starry Night (it starts around the 15:50 mark) had me gasping for breath because HE FREAKING TAKES MY BREATH AWAY EVERY DAMN TIME. OMG, I LOVE HIM. I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM. And his answers about wanting to still be in the business ten years from that interview? GOD, JUST BREAK MY HEART, WHY DON'T YOU. DAMN IT, GARTH, WHY DID YOU LEAVE? I WAS IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL. YOU'RE THE ONLY THING I'VE EVER FULLY COMMITTED TO. And apparently I am still committed, because look at me watching interviews from the early 90s! Because you went and retired in 2002 and broke my heart into a million pieces, so there aren't a whole lot of recent interviews to watch.

Anyway, watching this interview made me realize how utterly different the country music business was back then, and how Garth did indeed revolutionize it. Look at country music today: the stage shows, the mixing of music genres, the artists' dedication to their fans, the advertising campaigns, the insanely huge record sale numbers, it all mirrors what Garth did back then. He was the one that made it possible, and sometimes I forget about that. And when he retired, he left room for others to step up and fill his shoes, and that was exactly when Tim McGraw came into his own, and Kenny Chesney, and then later Rascal Flatts and Sugarland came along, and just... god, it's amazing how Garth's way of doing things became the norm.

Also, I can't believe that Garth is still my favorite after 18 years. I FEEL SO OLD.

Also also, I demand that Garth release an entire album of Don McLean songs. I DEMAND IT! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, GOSHDARNIT! No, but really, I love it when that man sings Don McLean songs. I even still have my VHS tape recording of that one PBS special that he did with Don where he sang a bunch of songs with him and was positively enchanting during each and every one. Oh god, now I will probably spend most of my birthday trying to dig that tape out just so that I can watch it.

You know, I typically mock boybands (because I'm a buzzkill like that), and yet I just spent like two hours on YouTube watching Il Divo videos (and Il Divo is basically a boyband for middle-aged housewives). But they make it look so classy!



See? And they sing Amazing Grace accompanied by bagpipes! And they sing All by Myself in Spanish! And they sing ABBA songs in some language that I'm not sure of! And look, Hallelujah in Spanish! I find the Spanish dude strangely alluring, by the way.

---

Meme! From caffyolay

Comment on this entry and I will give you a letter. Name 5 songs you love starting with that letter.

( She gave me L )

---

The 30 Day Shipping Meme
Day 09 - The most believable relationship?



Marshall and Lily Erikson, aka the cutest couple to ever grace television. They manage to be romantic in this very understated, real way that is simply beautiful to watch. They're responsible for getting me so wrapped up in seasons 1 and 2 of HIMYM (and oh man did I love their wedding episode, particularly the bit where Lily barfs into a trashcan and Marshall looks at her so fondly as he says "That's my wife." ♥).

( Next time on firthgal's journal... )

1. A meme that pretty much my whole f-list has done (I am nothing if not a follower):

Name a fandom, and I'll give you the scoop on at least three of my unpopular opinions related to that fandom.

2. Garth Brooks. My celebrity obsession of old. The man has been retired for nigh on 10 years now, and yet he is ALWAYS on the cover of the supermarket tabloids, and of course they pick the most horrible pics ever. But the latest headline? Suicide Drama, Naked Woman, Is his Marriage in Trouble? Yeah, this stupid cover has people panicking and thinking that he cheated on Trisha Yearwood and that he is such an epic drama queen that he would commit suicide over this. Firstly, this naked blond that "holds the keys to his heart"? HIS LESBIAN BIPOLAR SISTER. SHE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. NOT GARTH. *sigh* So Garth and Trisha? Still going strong. Garth's sister and her life partner? Not doing so good. Especially since Garth's sister was streaking through the neighborhood in reaction to the breakup. WHY is Garth still tabloid fodder? HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE BUSINESS ANYMORE! SHEESH! I swear I see him on the magazines more now than when he was the biggest country star in the history of the industry. But anyway, through all of my frantic searching to make sure that that tabloid was completely false, I found out that Garth is in talks to become a Vegas act. HOW EPIC IS THAT? I would so go to Vegas just to see him. Forget Barry Manilow, Garth is where it's at. The only thing keeping him from signing the contract is that he thinks the ticket prices are way too expensive (and this is why I love him. He may be a shrewd business man, but he loves his fans. Always has and always will). Of course, cheaper tickets = bigger crowds. But anyway, if this happens, then I will find some way to get Vegas and see him as many times as possible. I didn't have the means to see him when he was in his prime, sadly, but I will gladly take old/slightly broken down Garth, I'm not picky. He just won't jump around as much as he used to. And he can't quite hit all the notes that he used to be able to (probably because he still tries to jump around a lot and then ends up being out of breath). But anyway, I love him, and I want him to come back, and if Vegas is the only way, then I'll take it. He's been out of the business for almost 10 years, so I seriously doubt that at this point he could ever make a full comeback, so Vegas is perfect for him. But if he ever does try to make a full comeback and reinvent himself, I will so do my part to support him. No one has made me as passionate about music as Garth has. I miss him terribly. The Lost Sessions just wasn't enough to satisfy me. I'm sorry, Garth, but I want a real album that you've poured your heart and soul into. Which... won't happen until his youngest girl is all grown up. *sigh* No, I love him for choosing his family over his career, but I miss him. A lot. He's so much More Than a Memory *wink wink nudge nudge*



Oh Garth, you and your over the top acting. It is glorious. Also, in the comments to the article about Garth possibly going to Vegas, there were numerous "Yay! I've been waiting for you Garth!" comments, but there was also one that made me want to shoot my computer screen that said, "Eww. He's old and fat and jiggly. He sucks. Stay away." WHAT THE FREAKING HELL? So, because he isn't thin and doesn't have blond highlights, that means he sucks as an artist? WHAAAAAT? Hey, remember when country music wasn't completely superficial? It always was to a point (usually towards the women), but it's reached insane levels lately.

3. Speaking of mainstream and superficial, I am so, so, so addicted to Rascal Flatts. WHAT HAPPENED? I used to mock them for being the N'SYNC of country music, dammit! (I suppose I should update that comparison to the Jonas Brothers). And yet, I downloaded their latest album today and love it to bits, and I've pretty much accumulated every single one of their songs ever since I did that Buffy/Giles Rascal Flatts fanmix. Why did I not love them this much when I went to see them in concert? Ugh. See, the same thing happened to me with Tim McGraw. I really didn't like him, but I went to a concert just because I could (my friends had JUST gotten into country music, so I had to go. I couldn't discourage their newfound love of something that they had mocked me for for ages). The concert blew me away, and I ended up downloading every Tim McGraw song ever. I'm not as into him as I was after that concert, but I now have a fine appreciation of him, whereas before I was like, "Pfft, I don't get the hype." With Rascal Flatts it was more like, "DEAR GOD THEY ARE ANNOYING!" Now I am all, "OMG, I LOVE THEM! THEY ARE SO VERY WONDERFUL! I SHALL SING ALONG TO EVERY SINGLE SONG!"

Why
Unstoppable
Summer Nights

I mean, HOW DID I NOT LOVE THEM BEFORE? Obviously I was just being a big old sourpuss. *Rocks out to Summer Nights while feeling sexy*

4. I rewatched the Audrey Hepburn version of Sabrina last night. Then I rewatched the Harrison Ford version tonight. I'm almost certain I'm going to have to make Gwen be Sabrina, no matter how much I want to write Uther/Morgana. Sabrina is a totally sweet love story that ends all happily, and you just can't have a happy ending for Uther/Morgana, it's just not possible. But I can easily mold the Sabrina and Linus characters into Gwen and Uther and have a very similar love story of surprise and discovery. And Morgana would fit better as the mother character (only, you know... she'll be the king's ward instead of his mother, but she basically runs the Pendragon family anyway, so it fits). And I will have a heck of a time making the Uther/Arthur relationship fit the Linus/David one, but I think I can make it work as father/son. OH, I SO HOPE I ACTUALLY WRITE THIS THING! I have visions aplenty. It's putting them into words that is the problem. Anyway, watching the films, I noticed that I much prefer Audrey Hepburn as Sabrina (naturally, I love that woman), but I much prefer Harrison Ford as Linus. And the Harrison Ford version sold me better on the romance.

5. I'm posting the meme again, because after all that babbling, you've probably forgotten about it:

Name a fandom, and I'll give you the scoop on at least three of my unpopular opinions related to that fandom.

6. Anthony Head is hot.

So, I sat through two hours of country's most currently popular stars completely butcher all of George Strait's songs with the promise of a performance from Garth Brooks. EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL BREAK the announcer made it look like Garth was going to perform. Until the very last one where he's like, "And Garth Brooks passes on the torch to George Strait when we return." WHAT? WHAAAT? DAMN YOU, CBS! WHY DO YOU TEASE ME WITH THE IDEA OF A GARTH PERFORMANCE ONLY TO CRUSH MY HEART INTO A GAZILLION PIECES? WHYYYYY? I am so Garth Performance deprived that it is insane. And they go and make me think he's going to come out and sing his favorite George Strait song. But he didn't. He just... talked about how much he loved George Strait and the first time he heard him on the radio, a story that I have heard countless times over the last 20 years. THANKS, CBS. YOU SUCK. Luckily for you all Garth has to do is appear on my screen and my stomach still gets all tumbly with butterflies, especially when he cries, which he pretty much does during any appearance anywhere, because he is such a girl. I love him. But seriously CBS, that was cruel. And you didn't even give Garth his own tribute concert when he won the artist of the decade award 10 years ago. Hmph. And what's worse? The camera people showed very non-enthused fellow artists when Garth walked out, so it just reminded me of how much his peers hate him because he was such a ruthless business man. NICE. But anyway, Garth was adorable, even though he didn't sing AT ALL, even during the group bit. *sniff* And, the only person that didn't totally butcher a George Strait song was Tim McGraw. He was wonderful, sang it like it was made for him. Oh! And I liked Jamie Foxx's rendition of "You Look so Good in Love." That was pretty cool (is it weird that whenever I watch Jamie Foxx I still see him as the dude on In Living Color that played Wanda? Probably). And, also, George Strait didn't butcher any George Strait songs, so that was good. And he sang my favorite, a song that absolutely everyone should listen to at least once in their lives because it is epic and shows why the man is still around after 30 years in the business:



Ooooooh, I love that song. I don't think it's possible for anyone to not love that song. Especially when you are feeling old.

Am I the only one that finds Jim/Pam porn disgusting? I can't even explain it. They just... they're so innocently sweet that the thought of them and porn has always turned me off, and yet the shippers have always talked about them like they'd have wild hot sex and I have to quickly click off the page and go running away from my computer screaming and trying to erase the images from my head. And then today, I clicked on this. *shudder* I think I threw up in my mouth a little. And, when their sex life is eluded to on the show, I get so uncomfortable. I don't know. They're just not sexual! Why does the show and fandom at large force their sex life on me? Why? It's icky. Yech. Ryan/Kelly, no problem with their sex life (because that's pretty much all they did with each other), Michael/Jan, no problem with their sex life. Michael/Holly, on the other hand, I had the same problem as I have with Jim/Pam. In fact, I probably have an even bigger problem thinking of them in sexual terms since their relationship was made to look like ten-year-olds crushing on each other (whereas Jim and Pam were more like 13-year-olds, so... slightly less icky?). And, Andy/Angela was just plain wrong, so... I definitely had trouble thinking of them in sexual terms, but Dwight/Angela I had no problem with because they were always sexual with each other. I don't know. I just have an aversion to childish couples being viewed in sexual ways. I even have that problem with some of my own OTPs, like Daniel/Betty from Ugly Betty. Unless a fic manages to do it right (which, they usually don't), I prefer to keep their sexual life private. I don't even elude to it in my own fics, because... well, they're too innocent. I have no problem thinking of them as a married couple raising a family and growing old together, but the sex would be such an intimate thing for them that it just shouldn't be shown. But then I have OTPs where the chemistry is so physical that I yearn for porn, like Uther/Morgana. And then there are ships like Jack/Liz where the UST is sometimes so strong that I'm just like, "OMG, they need to make out" and other times their affection for each other is so innocent that I'm just like, "Awwwww, they're so sweet," but Jack is so open about sex that I don't really have a problem with Jack/Liz porn (and in fact I read quite a lot of it). I don't know. A lot of people say that fanfic is purely for porn, but... I much prefer emotional development to the porn. Although, emotional development plus GOOD porn for a couple that I can picture in a sexual light is an added bonus.

Anywho, I finished Skins, and series 3 ended up having a few brilliant episodes (Pandora, Namoi, JJ, Emily and Katie) but the rest of that series was crap. I just didn't get why everyone loved Effy. None of them knew anything about her. There were no emotional bonds there, it was purely hormones. So, I didn't care one bit about the love triangle, and that was the main plot of the series. Boring. The most moving story was definitely JJ's episode. The most moving romance was definitely Emily/Naomi. The sweetest one was Pandora/Thomas, until it got ruined. :'( But, yeah, I just wasn't invested in this one like I was for the first two.

And, because it's been too damn long, random ASH:



GOD, I love his hair. *dreamy sigh*

PS

I adore this song with every fiber of my being. Hadn't listened to it in years then it came on my ipod yesterday, and now I can't stop singing it:

So... I think I've changed my Dollhouse OTP to Boyd/Topher. This is more because of last week's episode than this week's, but I found that I was absolutely DEVASTATED at the lack of Boyd/Topher in this ep, so apparently they are eclipsing Boyd/Echo in my heart, which is just insanity. I didn't even like Topher to begin with, but he's somehow weaseled his way into being either my second or third favorite character (the assholish guy (that works with the lead lady of the Dollhouse) that wants to kill Echo? He seems to be my second favorite character for some ridiculous reason, even though I can't ever remember his name. Nor can I remember the lead lady of the Dollhouse's name. This show isn't big on names. At least I remember Boyd, Echo, and Topher. Those are the important ones). Anyway, Dollhouse continues to be entertaining, but it still fails at the ongoing plot. I can't wait till it gets to the eps where the network just let Whedon do his own thing, because the arc needs serious work. We're 4 episodes in and it's been moving at a snail's pace. The show is still doing well with the plots of the week though. Definitely keeps me entertained. And Boyd is still awesome, and I still love his love for Echo, even though the Boyd/Topher flirting (and Topher's mad jealousy over Boyd's flirting with the doctor lady) is attempting to steal my heart. Honestly, I'm 85% convinced that Topher actually has a crush on Boyd. I know tonight's ep was trying to set up a cutesy ship for him, but... blerg, the dude is gay, I don't even care what canon ends up saying. If they try to make him straight, he's just repressing his big gay love for his big manly Boyd. Boyd's heart and soul obviously belongs to Echo (hence why they feel like a sort of Buffy/Giles to me). Oh, my shipping heart is so confused. This show. It is impossible to pick an OTP.

Anyway, I did a lot of driving today, so it's time for another segment of "songs that firthgal really, really loves that you all will probably just ignore but they're really good so she's posting them anyway."

First, a song that I haven't listened to in ages and the second I heard those first piano notes I almost passed out because I was gasping with so much excitement and I COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHY THE HECK I WAS HAVING THIS KNEE-JERK EXCITEMENT. I just knew that the song was epic, and I was conditioned from childhood to fangirl over it after only hearing the first three notes. So, naturally, it was a Garth Brooks song, and I am embarrassed that it took another three notes for me to realize exactly what song it was. *sigh* I'm totally slipping. Nonetheless, I belted out the entire song with my windows down, and... I was almost to my house, so I was in the neighborhood, and today was ridiculously warm, so everyone and their mother was out walking/jogging/biking, so they all heard me and my craziness. But, it was Garth. I couldn't help it. Garth is pure epicness.


*dreamy siiiiiiiigh*

And now, a prime example of why I so thoroughly adore Montgomery Gentry and wish they'd come back to my city for another concert, because they are wicked fun:



Also, TOBY KEITH AND SEXINESS. God Love Her. God love song. Well, I love the song. I guess in that scenario I'm God. I mean in the loving the song scenario. Not the loving the preacher's daughter scenario.

Okay, I've FINALLY watched the ep, and since you all prepared me for it, I didn't cry at all. Or it's just that my hormones are back under control, therefore no waterworks. Also, I COMPLETELY APOLOGIZE FOR MY FREAKOUT OVER GILES/ANYA! OMG THEY MAKE THE CUTEST MARRIED COUPLE EVER! GILES WITH HIS VANITY! ANYA WITH HER VULNERABILITY AND HER PROPENSITY TO HIT HER MEN WITH RANDOM OBJECTS! THEIR BICKERING!!! OMG SO ADORABLE! I AM SORRY I EVER DOUBTED THE POWER OF THEIR HILARIOUSNESS! Also, the Giles/Spike moment where they tried to hug, SO BEAUTIFUL! Hee. Willow needed a wakeup call, so I completely approve of Tara leaving her. Giles, on the other hand, is just being an idiot. Hmph. I understand his reasons, but... come on, SHE SAID SHE'D TRY HARDER! SHE'D DO ANYTHING TO KEEP YOU IN HER LIFE, GILES! YOU IDIOT! In season 4 he was all depressed because she ignored him, and now he's all depressed because she depends on him too much. What the hell, man? All he's teaching her is that the people she loves most will ALWAYS leave her. Oh god, the montage at the end with Giles and his angsty face and Buffy looking emotionally dead at the bar and Tara leaving but not wanting to and Willow crying and GILES FIGHTING HIS TEARS and the song being all sadly romantic and the most lovey moments being played over the Giles/Buffy bits and then the song gets defiant and Buffy goes and plays with Spike's heart because it makes her forget about the pain that Giles is causing her AND IT'S ALL SO MESSED UP! DAMN IT, GILES! YOU IDIOT! YOU ADORABLE, SWEET, WELL-INTENTIONED IDIOT! *huff*

Before I forget, I just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! I hope you get lots of goodies and have a stress-free day. My mom has to work tomorrow (all day, then she's on call all night) *cries* so I'm in charge of the whole shindig. I MADE CAKE! THAT'S MOTHERLY, RIGHT? And my brother will help me with the lasagna (more like I'll get stuff out for him and he'll do everything else). I can do the appetizers though. I'm good with appetizers. Because they come in a box. But I already got all the presents and wrapped them and arranged them under the tree and whatnot. I even stuffed my nephew's stocking, which, by the way, is huge and so filled that it can't even stay up on the mantle. My stocking is empty. *sniff* I'll just have to throw a candy bar in it and act like I got something special so I can annoy my nephew. Oh yes. No, no, it's Christmas, I'll refrain from annoying him. Maybe.

Anywho, I saw this meme yesterday, and it was just shouting my name. Really, it was:

[1] - List your top 10 celebrity crushes.
[2] - Put all of them IN ORDER of your lust for them. (10 to 1, 1 being your number one fixation)
[3] - Say which movie/show/thing it was that hooked you.
[4] - Supply photos for said people.

As you probably know by now (especially those of you who have been with me since my Ed Helms obsession), I go through very intense obsessions just about every 6 months. I am basically a slut when it comes to imaginary boyfriends.

( I can only choose 10? )

So, it's been what, 9 months since the ABC Wednesday night lineup was on? You'd think absence would make the heart grow fonder. Instead it made me say, "What the freaking hell?" I mean, PP and DSM were fine, just... so mediocre. And Pushing Daisies was so effing annoying. The background music was so loud that I couldn't focus on the dialog, and I just find this show so very boring. I remember loving the pilot and thinking it had so much potential, but ever since then it basically makes me want to claw my eyes out. Except for the Olive scenes. I love Olive. But not enough to continue torturing myself with all that boredom. SORRY! I know most of you love that show, but I just can't take it. I tired of the concept after the pilot, but at least I liked a few of the eps. Now I really can't take it. Especially with that nonstop music. I don't need the quirky, fairytale type music to express EVERY SINGLE thought/quirk of the eyebrow/emotion. It's just so tiresome. Anyway, back to Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money.

( PP spoilers )

( DSM spoilers )

And now, a meme to cheer me up:

1. Open your unsorted images folder, or, if you don't have one, any other images folder.
2. I will give you a letter.
3. Find the first three images that begin with that letter, and post them, whatever they are. Give the name they're saved under.

michellek gave me G.

( Ahahaha, I knew all my G's would be Garth... and Garret )

And just because:



unexpecteddamiansex.mmm

Also, if you're wondering why this post gets Damian's Crotch Icon, it's because Shonda Rhimes can suck my (Damian icon's) dick. No, I shouldn't say that. I didn't hate the episode. I'm just invested in Cooper/Violet a little too much.

I was tagged by the lovely ams87:

We all love music, and we all hate music. List five music artists you can't stand and five that you can't live without. Then tag five people.

Can't stand (I apologize to so many of you for this):

1. N'SYNC
2. Backstreet Boys
3. Hanson
4. Jonas Brothers
5. Britney Spears

Can't live without:

1. GARTH BROOKS!!!!!!!!!!! - Notice how I pick the vid where he's taking a shower and overacts the hell out of everything.  I love you Garth.  Especially your ridiculous facial expressions.  You are responsible for me making ridiculous faces when I sing because I wanted to be the female version of you when I was 9.  I love you.  So very much.  His music has been a huge part of my life for the last 15 years.  No one speaks to my soul like he does.  Oh god, that clip always makes me bawl.  I'll wait for you however long I have to, Garth.  Why did you go and retire right when I was able to go and see concerts?  Why? :'(  Please come back.  My #1 dream since the day I turned 9 was to see you live.  I don't care if you're not as spry and vocally able as you were 10 years ago, COME BACK!

2. Big and Rich - When hip hop meets country.  I love you and your spastic dancing Big and Rich!  Most of all I just love how they always genuinely look like they are having so much FUN.  But they can be serious too.

3. Sugarland - Songs about real life, loss, love, and having fun.  I adore them.  Plus, you know, girl crush on Jennifer Nettles.  She sings with so much passion that I can always so acutely feel what she's feeling.  The only other artist to have this huge of an effect on my emotions is Garth.  Also, they do awesome covers.

4. Phil Vassar - One of the greatest song writers in country music, and the most engaging performer that I've ever had the pleasure of seeing live.  He really makes you feel like a part of the show (and OMG, he's so gorgeous in person).  And his songs are so true to life - generally happy, falling in love, heartbreak, loss, learning from mistakes, regret, and loving your family.  I adore him.  If we had someone narrating our lives through song, my narrator would be Phil.  He gets just the right amount of happiness and gratefulness for what you have and living for today while still having some regrets.  I love him.  I've seen him live 3 times, so I've pretty much caught him on tour for every album.  Doesn't look like he'll be coming here for his latest tour though. :'(

5. Toby Keith - This man has the most fun songs on the planet.  He's not afraid to say what's on his mind, and he always manages to do it in a charming way, even when it's kind of offensive.  I don't know how he does that, but he does.  I just have to link this one because the vid is funny.  And this one.  Oh, and he can be serious too, which kind of makes me melt inside.

I tag (see, I'm finally remembering to tag people, woohoo!):

pwink__dolphin
tinted_glass
15lbpurebunny
adlervan
jesshelga
krys33
michellek
themightybee

Yeah, I tagged 8 people, but I'm nosy, so it had to be done.  I want to know about your music!!!

So, quite a few months ago I did a write up for the CMAs, and I decided to do the same thing for the ACMs this year, especially considering the fact that GARTH FREAKING BROOKS WAS THERE!  OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! *dreamy sigh*  So here's the blow by blow (along with much spazzy fangirling, and some brief talk about Get Smart):

- Overall, pretty good show.  The awards were all predictable, but I watch for the performances anyway.  I haven’t been invested in the actual awards part of it since Garth retired.  Man, I used to get SO involved back then.  The CMAs and ACMs were like the superbowl of music for me.  Anyway, this year the show gets a thumbs up from me purely for finding an excuse to invite Garth to perform.  I love it when they make up awards for him.  They did that about 10 years back when they gave him an award for special achievement for his Central Park concert, but come on, you know they just wanted an excuse to make him show up at the awards and bring in the ratings.  That was back when he was ridiculously on fire, breaking every kind of record there was and winning all the awards in existence. *sigh*  I miss those days.