AMERICAN KIDS- DISSECTION
KENNY CHESNEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de1aPKXBdAE
This song is going to be a little more difficult for me because I'm not particularly fond of this song. I know why it works, sort of, and it is one of those things that happen and you just go...yeah. Makes you feel very old. It is basically a cross breed of hip hop and Americana. The story is there,but told in somewhat sophomoric terms. Although not as poorly written as many of them, it is like a lot of writers and artists are doing now. It generates most of the intererest in movement and sounds, as opposed to story. Although the story is there, and not too bad. It reasonates with a huge buying public so who am I to discount any of that. It is the free market place. I just miss singing instead of talking in rhyme. Call me a dinosaur.
Interestingly,Phil, the fact that it is also written by Rodney Clawson should tell you that the guy is hot. I think you are a Rodney fan.
The story takes place from the beginning of the parents and where they got started.American Kids"
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Doublewide Quick Stop midnight T-top
Jack in her Cherry Coke town
Momma and daddy put their roots right here
'Cause this is where the car broke down
Actually well written history lesson. But you have to listen a couple of times to actually be able to understand it. One of the problems I have with 'rapid fire lyrics" is that they are hard to understand. but that is why people want to listen over and over which after all is the purpose for music.
Yellow dog school bus kickin' up red dust
Pickin' us up by a barbed wire fence
MTV on the RCA, no A/C in the vents
The setting here is the early mid 80's where MTC was starting up, all the images are pretty clear. Using the initials, MTV on the RCA, No AC in the vents. Is a very clever use of the initials. Elbow moments.
We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
Born in the USA
Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
New York to LA
We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
Baby, come give me a kiss
Put me on the cover of the Rolling Stone
Uptown down home American kids
Growin' up in little pink houses
Makin' out on living room couches
Blowin' that smoke on Saturday night
A little messed up, but we're all alright
A lot of John Cougar Mellonhead/Bruce Springsteen images here. It is all about middle America. Just like the main point, hook most important image, AMERICAN KIDS. But the images all are Mainstream. The hook is in a different place, in the middle of the chorus. but since every line refers TO the American Kids, it doesn't lose the impact. Had this not been the writers and Chesney, I don't think they could have gotten away with it. Interestingly enough, when I first started hearing this song, it reminded me of a "hippie sing along" type deal. Funny to see the video, where it IS on a hippie bus. It's kind of a "new take on the 60's lifestyle.
And they don't repeat the hook as it "trails off" at the end of the song. This one breaks a lot of rules, but it works. Can't argue with that.
Baptist church parkin' lot, tryin' not to get caught
Take her home and give her your jacket
Makin' it to second base, but sayin' you went all the way
Monday afternoon at practice
Jacket and Practice, are very good rhymes. Again, this has elbow moments all over the place. Does most things very well.
Sister's got a boyfriend daddy doesn't like
Now he's sittin' out back, 3030 in his lap
In the blue bug zapper light
Using the "Sister's got a boyfriend" melody which is the old children's nursery rhyme, blah blah blah sitting in a tree, kind of younger kid taunting the older ones when they start messing with the opposite sex. Another Elbow moment.
We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
Born in the USA
Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
New York to LA
We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
Baby, come give me a kiss
Put me on the cover of the Rolling Stone
Uptown down home American kids
Growin' up in little pink houses
Makin' out on living room couches
Blowin' that smoke on Saturday night
A little messed up, but we're all alright
[x2]
Writer(s): Luke Robert Laird, Shane L. Mcanally
Copyright: Smack Ink, Twangin And Slangin Songs, Songs Of Universal Inc., Creative Nation Music, Universal Music Corp.
These guys do this well. It is a throwback tribute to the hippie lifestyle and one element of America that is different. Instead of the "growing up on the farm, settle down, have kids, put down roots' it is exactly the opposite. The "gypsy lifestyle" that so many did in the 60's through to the 90's. Free spirits. God, I've known a LOT of them. Think of the "Grateful Dead" fans. of course a lot of those are now Doctors and Lawyers and this would be them as well. Their kids and grandkids are now growing up and can see this in their parents scrap books and home movies.
It is catchy and memorable. After hearing it a few times, and reading the words, I like it better than just hearing it. It is not one of the songs I would be good enough to write. Getting that much information into that kind of rhythm doesn't work for me. And for a singer, that is a lot of stuff to get out. Reminds me of some of the rapid fire like "Papa Loves Mama' and "Aint going Down till the Sun Comes Up" that Garth did in the 90's. Also there is a lot of this coming on now. Another part of the changing musical landscape.
MUSIC
This is primarily driven by the drums. The chords don't really do a whole lot. There is an interesting aspect that the production is all acoustic instruments, guitar, banjo, a little dobro. This keeps it into the "country feel" which comes through. There is no real melody for the vocals, more single note monetone, that Kenny pulls off very well. It is suited to his voice because he is not the best singer. So it plays to his strong points.
The "Second part of the chorus" ""Growin up in Little Pink Houses" part is your elevation. By adding more voices in a "sing along" quality, is what builds the chorus to a climax. It is even repeated in the video by the bus scene going.
Overall: Another interesting song that does much of what "DIRT" did, just in another way. Whereas "Dirt" spoke of the human condition, family, home, putting down roots, and that "DIRT' was the "AMERICAN CONDITION", this does much exactly the same thing, but presents the premise that "home can be wherever YOU are." Again it brings the "WE" aspect, the same as "DIRT" did the "YOU" aspect.
But they do the same thing. Every line points to the "AMERICAN KIDS" point. The visuals are everything American, which of course would limit it's ability to sell outside the US, since most of the world hates us now. But Kenny is able to do and say what he wants.And he does not take a "confrontational approach" like someone like Toby Keith does. It is more inclusive and telling " This is who we are instead" of THIS IS WHO WE ARE!!!!, more of a subtle attitude, than expressive attitude.
The Elbow moments go throughout the song, with the SHOW, DON'T TELL" approach. Emotions are told THROUGH the visuals. We get a sense of the clan on the move. The feeling of free spirit. Then growing through the teen years, first taste of love, teen age attitudes. This is actually much more of a teen age song than an older person's song. It targets the 30 and under, more than the Florida/Georgia Line song. But they both go after the same subject matter, WHO WE ARE.
Again, it is well written. Rodney and company know what they are doing. While I might enjoy a little more structured melody, a little more dynamic pauses, the song is hooky, and brings it's audience along on the "journey through American teenagers. Sort of a "Jack and Dianne/Little Pink Houses" approach. The parents probably listened to that song and it is loosely referenced. Again, using INDIRECT references instead of direct references. A "traveling gypsy" song for the road. Again, well constructed, singable, memorable and identifiable. Good job again.
Hope this helps.
MAB