Originally intended by Toby Keith to be nothing more than a fun little ‘deep cut’ on one of his yearly album releases, the 2011 release Clancy’s Tavern, after it was recorded he then decided it’d make for a fun little music video and all of the sudden the song became a viral internet sensation. With millions of page views at YouTube, that had radio interested (though there are edited versions of the song for them to play, if they wish) in “Red Solo Cup” and the stations kept playing it and playing it despite Toby saying that “Clancy’s Tavern” would be his next single.
The viral sensation continued to grow, Glee’s Ryan Murphy saw the video, had it integrated into a recent Glee storyline and that has only helped Toby Keith follow-up his first #1 hit in a couple of years (“Made In America”) with a song that is looking likely to rival “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” and “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” as the biggest hit of his long career. Now, to many this would be a blasphemous opinion but the evidence is clear. It’s not only on its way to being one of Toby’s biggest hits but it’s also a very good thing for country music, traditional died in the wool country music. And perhaps no other artist BUT Toby Keith could’ve gotten the song recorded, owing to the fact that he owns his record label.
Traditional fans may dislike much of the stuff Toby’s released the past few years – along with virtually everything else on commercial radio – but they should be dancing a jig to this song every time it comes across their ears. Yes, it’s a stupid song about a solo cup but it’s about a topic country music does so well, drinking. It’s also melodically one of the most traditional sounding songs on the country dial these days and best of all, it proves that country music doesn’t need to have swelling orchestras, loud telecasters, drum machines and hip-hop beats to get the audience’s attention (young and old alike).
“Red Solo Cup” may never win a Grammy or a CMA or ACM award and there will clearly be people who don’t get it (like my own brother) but clearly, there are many, many more of us who do get it. It’s a little ditty about a stupid little red cup, sure but it’s a COUNTRY song that cannot be mistaken for anything other than a classic country ditty. It’s not meant to be rocket science nor is it meant to be a ‘picasso.’ “Red Solo Cup” is pure escapism entertainment that has entered the collective minds of many people in America. When’s the last time you could say that about a true country (and western) song?
Look, “Red Solo Cup” is a stupid song and it shouldn’t work. But it does and that’s the beauty of a great, simple country song. Country music is a genre of music that is of the people, by the people and for the people. Country music is about real things from real lives, even little drunken pleas of love for a little red plastic cup. Country music is relatable and “Red Solo Cup” is relatable and it may not be the ‘savior’ for country music that some think artists like Jamey Johnson is, but “Red Solo Cup” is good, nay, it’s GREAT for country music.
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