The country singer who fought with the Dixie Chicks over President Bush and the war on terrorism has turned in a new political song and accompanying video that's sure to make a stink. In American Ride, Toby Keith takes a shot at global warming, Desperate Housewives, Internet-obsessed kids, plastic surgery, big TVs, lawsuits, terrorists and illegal immigrants.
"That's us, that's right. Gotta love this American Ride," sings Keith.
But it's the images on the video that will stir debate. One shows former President Bush in front of the White House giving Christian-right leader Pat Robertson a piggyback ride. Another shows bankers hoisting President Obama in a walk through a destroyed Wall Street district as dollars fall from the sky. There's more. He makes fun of a Paris Hilton-looking woman, warns of being caught singing Christmas songs, and spears cable TV shouting matches. In general, it's not too much of a stretch to say that he sums up in a song what some of the so-called town-hallers are yelling about this summer, and it could become their theme song.
This isn't the first time Keith has stirred it up. He did it after 9/11 when he wrote Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, a song about the attacks and the military's response.
Here are the lyrics to American Ride:
Winter gettin' colder, summer gettin' warmer.
Tidal wave comin' cross the Mexican border.
Why buy a gallon, when it's cheaper by the barrel.
Just don't be busted singin' Christmas carols.That's us, that's right.
Gotta love this American ride.
Both ends of the ozone burnin'.
Funny how the world keeps turnin'.
Look, Ma, no hands.
I love this American ride.
Gotta love this American ride.Momma gets her rocks off watchin' Desperate Housewives.
Daddy works his ass off payin' for the good life.
Kids on the YouTube learnin' how to be cool.
Livin' in a cruel world, pays to be a mean girl.That's us, that's right.
Gotta love this American ride.
Both ends of the ozone burnin'.
Funny how the world keeps turnin'.
Look, Ma, no hands.
I love this American ride.
Gotta love this American ride.Poor little infamous America's town.
She gained 5 pounds and lost her crown.
Quick-fix plastic surgical antidote.
Got herself a record deal, can't even sing a note.Plasma gettin' bigger, Jesus gettin' smaller.
Spill a cup of coffee, make a million dollars.
Cousins caught a buzz with an aerosol can.
If the shoe don't fit, the fit's gonna hit the shan.That's us, that's right.
Gotta love this American ride.
Both ends of the ozone burnin'.
Funny how the world keeps turnin'.
Hot dog, hot damn.I love this American ride.
Gotta love this American ride.
Oh, yeah,na na na na na na na na...
CMT, which alerted us to the new video, sent along this release plus the three pictures in our slide show:
TOBY KEITH'S CONTROVERSIAL ANIMATED VIDEO "AMERICAN RIDE"
AVAILABLE NOW, EXCLUSIVELY ON CMT.COM
Keith's New Video Debuts First on CMT.com
Followed by CMT Premiere on Friday, August 14
NASHVILLE - August 13, 2009 - CMT has the online and television exclusive to superstar Toby Keith's new animated video for the title track from his new album, "American Ride," available now at www.cmt.com. The politically-charged video will make its world television debut on CMT tomorrow, Friday, August 14, beginning at 6 a.m. ET/PT, and will air every hour on the hour during CMT's music video hours throughout the weekend. In addition, the video will be featured during CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN which airs Friday, August 14 at 11 a.m., ET/PT. In total, "American Ride" will air 18 times throughout the weekend on CMT.
"I'm a 'right-wrong guy' not a 'right-left guy' and this video shows that," Keith says. "We took our shots at everyone."
Toby Keith has been among the top musical performers in any genre throughout this decade. Already the No. 4 album seller of the decade according to a recent Yahoo! analysis, Keith is once again one of Forbes' top earning musicians in the world. And his business empire is almost as expansive as his hit making ability, encompassing restaurants, movies, a clothing line and his own record label, Show Dog Nashville. His latest single, "American Ride" from his upcoming release of the same title, is one of the fastest rising songs of his career, while the critically acclaimed That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy, his current album, boasts the back-to-back No. 1 hits "She Never Cried In Front Of Me" and "God Love Her." And his tours, including his latest Toby Keith America's Toughest Tour with Trace Adkins, continue to be among the top-drawing concerts in the world of entertainment.
The video "American Ride" was directed by Michael Salamon.
CMT will extend its promotion of Keith's new video across all of the network's multiple platforms, including CMT.com, CMT Radio Networks, CMT Mobile, and the digital 24-hour music channel CMT Pure, among others.
For viewing and embed code at CMT.com, visit:
CMT is the only country music network in the unique position to deliver world premiere exclusives to fans on demand, on multiple platforms. Toby Keith joins other recent artists, including Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire and Gloriana, who have partnered exclusively with CMT and CMT.com and music video premieres.
Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
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