Post by LS on Oct 25, 2004 12:45:12 GMT -5
COUNTRY MUSIC'S OTHER VOICE:
A group of Nashville music industry professionals, calling themselves the Honky Tonkers for Truth, decided it was time that a country song take issue with Presidential policy, (much like Darryl Worley's, Have You Forgotten and Toby Keith's, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue speak in favor of it). They had no problem finding a hit-songwriter, a professional studio, and top-drawer session players and engineers, all who were willing to donate their talents and services and, to stand up and be counted as country music's "other voice."
What they had in a matter of days was, Takin' My Country Back, penned by David Kent (Austin by Blake Shelton and other country hits), a stone-cold country song clearly criticizing the President's record. With just a "demo vocal" of the song, they went directly to the top: Tim Dubois (President, Universal South Records); Mike Dungan (President, Capitol Records); Don Cook (Producer, Brooks & Dunn); Garth Fundis (Producer, Trisha Yearwood) for starters. Without exception, these Music Row executives loved the song. What the Honky Tonkers for Truth had on their hands was a hit...almost.
What they didn't have was a "brand name" singer willing to put his/her career on the line by singing a song with a critical message. The Honky Tonkers for Truth are comprised of successful songwriters, publishers, producers, musicians, and attorneys. Even with their combined contacts, the best they could get from the "star" country artists they queried (all self-proclaimed Democrats) was a "maybe" and then, when their managers caught wind of it, "Sorry...and good luck.
Enter, Tony Stampley, one of Nashville's most respected session singers and son of country legend, Joe Stampley. Tony's stellar performance of Takin My Country Back and his willingness, rather, his passion and enthusiasm, to be a part of country music's "other voice" inspired the Honky Tonkers for Truth to take the song directly to the world via radio, the internet, and any other means possible. Examples:
1) The lyrics of Takin' My Country Back were broadcast on the JumboTron at the Gaylord Entertainment Center as the song played to 8,000 concerned Nashville citizens who came to hear speaker/activist/filmmaker, Michael Moore, the night of October 9, 2004.
2) Acclaimed Nashville journalist/reviewer, Robert K. Oermann, wrote in Music Row Magazine (10/8/04), "The war, the economy, tax cuts for the rich, sending jobs overseas...it's all here in one cleverly written package. Yes, it's topical. But it's also a real good country record."
3) Journalist, Neil Haislop, who provides the Nashville Update for GAC (Great American Country) television network wrote, "The Honky Tonkers for Truth, a grassroots Nashville-based organization, who support the troops overseas and love this country, have released a country track that expresses their sentiments for a change in Washington."
4) At this writing, the website: www.TakinMyCountryBack.com has been up for eight days. It's had 90,000 hits to date.
5) 30 and 60 second radio spots featuring the song "Takin' My Country Back" begin today on selected country radio stations.
The Honky Tonkers for Truth support our troops overseas, believe in family, faith and freedom, and deeply love this country. What we disagree with is, the image and the misconception that all people in the country music industry support the current administration. For those who differ with our opinion, we respect your right to speak freely, defend your position, and express yourself because, we believe in the rights provided to ALL of us by The First Amendment. So far, there has been nothing on country radio to reflect our sentiment and, there are millions of country music lovers who feel the same way we do. All we're asking for is EQUAL TIME on the airwaves.
You can listen to the song here...(lyrics are below):
www.takinmycountryback.com/files.htm
TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
COUNTRY MUSIC'S GOT MAMAS AND DADDYS
WE GOT BAR ROOMS AND OLD HEARTBREAK SONGS
BUT I 'M HERE TODAY TO STAND UP AND SAY
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY HOME SWEET HOME
WHAT'S LEFT, WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG... AND
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU TOOK OUR JOBS AND SENT ‘EM OVERSEAS
NOW WE OWE BILLIONS TO THE RED CHINESE
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
SO I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
WE HAD A BUNDLE IN THE TREASURY DRAWER
MORE THAN THERE HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE
BUT EVERY DAY WE'RE DROWNIN' DEEPER IN DEBT
MAYBE FOUR YEARS SHOULD BE ALL YOU GET
THEN YOU GAVE TAX BREAKS TO THE MILLIONAIRES
AND TRIED TO MAKE THE WORKIN’ MAN PAY
BUT YOU CAN’T TAX A MAN WHEN HIS JOBS NOT THERE
NOW LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY…HEY
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU GOT TOO MANY FANCY FRIENDS FOR ME
THE SAUDIS TREAT YOU LIKE YOU'RE ROYALTY
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
NOW I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE HOT
'CAUSE BIN LADEN NEVER DID GET CAUGHT
SO YOU SAID WE HAD SADDAM TO BLAME
TRIED TO TELL US IT WAS ALL THE SAME
BUT NOW THE YEARS ROLL BY AND OUR KIDS KEEP DYIN'
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO BRING 'EM HOME
AND THOSE W.M.D. YOU PROMISED ON T.V.
HEY ADMIT IT, YOU FIGURED IT WRONG... SO I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
NOW YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU KNOW WHO I AM
I'M YOUR EVERYDAY WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
RAISE KIDS AND PRAY HARD COMMON MAN....
AND LORD KNOWS I LOVE THIS LAND...THAT'S WHY
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU SAY "UNITE" BUT YOU DIVIDE US MORE
CUSSIN' EACH OTHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR
AIN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT ?
HEY I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
I GOT MY FAMILY AND MY CHURCH AND FLAG...
NOW I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
Brought to you by ~ Honky Tonkers for Truth
A group of Nashville music industry professionals, calling themselves the Honky Tonkers for Truth, decided it was time that a country song take issue with Presidential policy, (much like Darryl Worley's, Have You Forgotten and Toby Keith's, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue speak in favor of it). They had no problem finding a hit-songwriter, a professional studio, and top-drawer session players and engineers, all who were willing to donate their talents and services and, to stand up and be counted as country music's "other voice."
What they had in a matter of days was, Takin' My Country Back, penned by David Kent (Austin by Blake Shelton and other country hits), a stone-cold country song clearly criticizing the President's record. With just a "demo vocal" of the song, they went directly to the top: Tim Dubois (President, Universal South Records); Mike Dungan (President, Capitol Records); Don Cook (Producer, Brooks & Dunn); Garth Fundis (Producer, Trisha Yearwood) for starters. Without exception, these Music Row executives loved the song. What the Honky Tonkers for Truth had on their hands was a hit...almost.
What they didn't have was a "brand name" singer willing to put his/her career on the line by singing a song with a critical message. The Honky Tonkers for Truth are comprised of successful songwriters, publishers, producers, musicians, and attorneys. Even with their combined contacts, the best they could get from the "star" country artists they queried (all self-proclaimed Democrats) was a "maybe" and then, when their managers caught wind of it, "Sorry...and good luck.
Enter, Tony Stampley, one of Nashville's most respected session singers and son of country legend, Joe Stampley. Tony's stellar performance of Takin My Country Back and his willingness, rather, his passion and enthusiasm, to be a part of country music's "other voice" inspired the Honky Tonkers for Truth to take the song directly to the world via radio, the internet, and any other means possible. Examples:
1) The lyrics of Takin' My Country Back were broadcast on the JumboTron at the Gaylord Entertainment Center as the song played to 8,000 concerned Nashville citizens who came to hear speaker/activist/filmmaker, Michael Moore, the night of October 9, 2004.
2) Acclaimed Nashville journalist/reviewer, Robert K. Oermann, wrote in Music Row Magazine (10/8/04), "The war, the economy, tax cuts for the rich, sending jobs overseas...it's all here in one cleverly written package. Yes, it's topical. But it's also a real good country record."
3) Journalist, Neil Haislop, who provides the Nashville Update for GAC (Great American Country) television network wrote, "The Honky Tonkers for Truth, a grassroots Nashville-based organization, who support the troops overseas and love this country, have released a country track that expresses their sentiments for a change in Washington."
4) At this writing, the website: www.TakinMyCountryBack.com has been up for eight days. It's had 90,000 hits to date.
5) 30 and 60 second radio spots featuring the song "Takin' My Country Back" begin today on selected country radio stations.
The Honky Tonkers for Truth support our troops overseas, believe in family, faith and freedom, and deeply love this country. What we disagree with is, the image and the misconception that all people in the country music industry support the current administration. For those who differ with our opinion, we respect your right to speak freely, defend your position, and express yourself because, we believe in the rights provided to ALL of us by The First Amendment. So far, there has been nothing on country radio to reflect our sentiment and, there are millions of country music lovers who feel the same way we do. All we're asking for is EQUAL TIME on the airwaves.
You can listen to the song here...(lyrics are below):
www.takinmycountryback.com/files.htm
TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
COUNTRY MUSIC'S GOT MAMAS AND DADDYS
WE GOT BAR ROOMS AND OLD HEARTBREAK SONGS
BUT I 'M HERE TODAY TO STAND UP AND SAY
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY HOME SWEET HOME
WHAT'S LEFT, WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG... AND
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU TOOK OUR JOBS AND SENT ‘EM OVERSEAS
NOW WE OWE BILLIONS TO THE RED CHINESE
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
SO I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
WE HAD A BUNDLE IN THE TREASURY DRAWER
MORE THAN THERE HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE
BUT EVERY DAY WE'RE DROWNIN' DEEPER IN DEBT
MAYBE FOUR YEARS SHOULD BE ALL YOU GET
THEN YOU GAVE TAX BREAKS TO THE MILLIONAIRES
AND TRIED TO MAKE THE WORKIN’ MAN PAY
BUT YOU CAN’T TAX A MAN WHEN HIS JOBS NOT THERE
NOW LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY…HEY
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU GOT TOO MANY FANCY FRIENDS FOR ME
THE SAUDIS TREAT YOU LIKE YOU'RE ROYALTY
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
NOW I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE HOT
'CAUSE BIN LADEN NEVER DID GET CAUGHT
SO YOU SAID WE HAD SADDAM TO BLAME
TRIED TO TELL US IT WAS ALL THE SAME
BUT NOW THE YEARS ROLL BY AND OUR KIDS KEEP DYIN'
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO BRING 'EM HOME
AND THOSE W.M.D. YOU PROMISED ON T.V.
HEY ADMIT IT, YOU FIGURED IT WRONG... SO I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
NOW YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU KNOW WHO I AM
I'M YOUR EVERYDAY WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
RAISE KIDS AND PRAY HARD COMMON MAN....
AND LORD KNOWS I LOVE THIS LAND...THAT'S WHY
I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU SAY "UNITE" BUT YOU DIVIDE US MORE
CUSSIN' EACH OTHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR
AIN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT ?
HEY I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
I GOT MY FAMILY AND MY CHURCH AND FLAG...
NOW I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
Brought to you by ~ Honky Tonkers for Truth
Well, better late then never, so good for them. 
surprised they didn't ask them, but then this doesn't sound like it was written foir their vocals. Face it, we may like the music, but the vast majority of our favorites, we probably don't agree with them politically. 
