I know Toby Keith has a thing with being ironic, and it's obviously intended to be ironic and funny, but some things just shouldn't be joked about. I really had to force myself to keep watching until the end. How can anyone enjoy Keith's music while watching this? I want to know who's out there thinking "oh, yeah, no, tying your girlfriend up and threatening her is totally normal. Let's just sit back and enjoy the music..."

But see! Even though he tried, he DIDN'T bury her alive! And sure he acted like he was going to hit her with the shovel, but he didn't! So it's okay! Ha ha! How funny!

Except not.

Isn't Toby Keith the "we'll put a boot in your ass" you damn dirty Arabs and I hate those Commie Dixie Chicks guy? Because if so, I'm really not surprised. Disgusted, but not surprised.

Oh man, I had a hard time sitting through that because I thought Toby Keith is just enough of a dick that there would be no 'ironic' ending. So I was slightly relieved when it ended. I'm trying to imagine how the pitch for this video went... "so I'm going to pretend like I'm going to kill her in a bunch of different ways, then I'll spew some degrading shit at her about her cooking and her mother, but then, here's the kicker, it'll be so FUNNY at the end. Get it???" No, we don't get it.

Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

I figured there would be some odd twist at the end to make this video "okay" to the country music crowd and there was, but before he ended up burying himself that was some twisted shit. I kept thinking that this was his answer to the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" video but he couldn't go all the way because he hadn't set it up that she was a lying cheat (the only real excuse to kill your female loved one in country music). The entire time I kept thinking, "What did she do?" and it turns out nothing, she just talked a lot and she wasn't tied up really. One more reason I don't listen to most country.

Huh. I didn't see misogyny the first time. I saw a country satirical twist on "The Cask of Amontillado." Guy hates her, wants revenge - bricks her in. Except since it's country and stupid, it has a twist at the end - the vengeful narrator was an idiot and made the wall from the wrong side.

Guess I'm stupid. :-(

Norbizness, that is a really disturbing video. Thanks for the link.

Re: this video -- Not only was this all about physical abuse of women, I thought there were clear overtones of rape fantasy. I.e., this sweet young thing, tied up, frightened but somehow turned on, breasts heaving...

Gross.

Fun fact: Keith is actually a lifelong registered Democrat. He self-identifies as a Dixiecrat, and I'm not sure he grasps the full implications of that.

Most of the video was too cartoonish to be really terrifying, but the "You know how my temper gets," "I still love you baby" at the end seemed too icky real.

Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone.

There is a major difference between the intent of these two songs, maybe not the impact but certainly the intent.

Keith is trying to be funny and fails miserably because domestic violence is not funny. I still love you and you know how my temper gets are the excuses that abusers use.

Cash's song and video are a means to tell a story. A story of a man who abused and killed the woman he loved. He did this with most of his songs. This is not to say that the song is okeedokee but I just wanted to point out the differences.

Also, if I may add, Cash had more talent in a single nose hair than Toby Keith has in both his whole body, and in the 500 foot radius surrounding it.

Hey, I'm no fan of that ultrapatriotic, talentless horseface either, but I'm certainly not going to start eliminating blues, C & W, and classic rock songs from my music library based on an objective misogyny filter.

Even granting that, norbiz, that doesn't mean we still don't have an obligation to call bullshit when we see it.

I do think there is some difference too, in that, if Cash had made a music video, do you think he would have just condoned what happened in his story? Cuz personally I think he would have put in there somewhere, through something in the video, that it wasn't ok... But I could be wrong.

It reminds me of that awful Fred Durst music video starring Thora Birch tied to a chair. I think that song was called "Eat You Alive."

Toby Keith looks like such a gross pervert in this video. He looks like your friend's creepy stepdad. You know what I'm talking about.

I loathe Toby Keith. Besides the stupid "boot in the ass" song, check out the lyrics to "How Do You Like Me Now"? He goes through all the nasty things he does to a girl in high school because she doesn't like him back and doesn't notice him; another great example of his lyric's misogyny. He's gross. I don't really listen to country, but is this standard fare?

Andie, when I think of that "Boot in the Ass" song, I always remember the commentary about it on VH1's 100 Most Awesomely Bad Songs.

Do you know the format? They play a clip of the music video, and then they have other musicians and comedians and minor celebrities making funnies about it.

Anyway, the most hilarious comment about this one was something like, "'We'll put a boot in your ass; it's the American way'? Nooo, the American way is to make you think the boot is cool so we can sell it to you for $100." Pretty witty commentary on cultural imperialism, I thought.

Democrat schmemocrat. He's still a hate-spewing, pro-war misogynist. Plus, I heart the Dixie Chicks, so FUTK.

ps. everybody should see "Shut up and Sing" if you haven't already.

pps. In my attempts to find out how to spell misogynist via the google, I stumbled across this (IMHO) rather funny blog entry...

http://www.thechaff.com/2007/03/21/mysogynist-to-english-dictionary/

I really liked it how she's really scared 'cause she thinks she's about to be killed by her partner but she's still really sexy and beautiful, all parted lips and big eyes and visible bra etc etc.
So Hottt!!
[snark/]

My favorite comment on the Boot in your Ass song is courtesy TDS/Jon Stewart: "Yes, here in the good old USA we like sticking things in people's asses! Namely boots!"

My favorite comment on the Boot in your Ass song is courtesy TDS/Jon Stewart: "Yes, here in the good old USA we like sticking things in people's asses! Namely boots!"

Country.

As a women's studies student I have done most of my research on misogyny and violence in hip hop. During this process, I had heard that country music videos are not far behind hip hop with misogynistic and violent themes of their own. I never put much thought into it until now. This video was horrifying. Sure the very end was ironic, but how many times does the end of a video get cut off and how many people don't watch it until the end. And that aside, why is domestic violence (or the ‘humorous’ threat of it) even remotely entertaining? As Kattyben said, the way he begged her forgiveness at the end was just a bit too real to be a joke.

As a women's studies student I have done most of my research on misogyny and violence in hip hop. During this process, I had heard that country music videos are not far behind hip hop with misogynistic and violent themes of their own. I never put much thought into it until now. This video was horrifying. Sure the very end was ironic, but how many times does the end of a video get cut off and how many people don't watch it until the end. And that aside, why is domestic violence (or the ‘humorous’ threat of it) even remotely entertaining? As Kattyben said, the way he begged her forgiveness at the end was just a bit too real to be a joke.

Sorry for the double post. Stupid old computer!

Um, isn't this the same guy who put out that awful song after 9/11 with the lyrics 'we lift up our glasses against evil forces. whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.'? And why are we taking anything that this man says or does seriously?

He wishes.

Oh. my. god. I know that I say this a LOT, but I really mean it when I say that that is one of the most offensive things I've ever seen. I'm seriously pissed off right now.

And I agree with Kattyben that the woman is freakishly "turned on", apparently against her better judgment. Disgusting.

Cortney, to give credit where it's due, that wasn't my comment; it was blucas!'s.

I love how he calls out, "can't you take a joke?!?" at the end.
Come on, baby, you're just too uptight, you have no sense of humor. What are you, a feminist or something?
IT WAS JUST A SHOVEL!

I also recognized the allusion to Cask of the Amontillado, but even a hundred + years ago when Poe wrote his story, it was considered a gruesome a horrible way to kill someone. Perhaps Keith considered that it wouldn't be as gruesome for modern audiences if he simply took out his rage on a second class citizen like a woman?

Also, why did this woman seem to smile so demurely when he said something like "You know you've got a big mouth"? Oh, a woman who talks--such a novelty, but how annoying! Whatever, dude.

It supprised me that this is posted since the other day in my colleges lobby this song was shown on the tv. Both of us (another female) were thinking how awful it was, and did not watch all of it. It was weird though because my friend figured since he did not really hurt her and only gestured that it was not that bad.Thats not the point though, the media is showing that it is almost normal to act in such ways to women.

So, I think we've established that this video doesn't work. Here's one that does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRf9AJSbHy4

I really think I'm going to throw up. That was just revolting.

/de-lurking

Does anyone else think that Toby Keith looks a little like Buck (the hospital orderly/rapist) from Kill Bill?

Seriously, thanks to Knicole for the Dixie Chicks link. I, for one, and proud to say that the Dixie Chicks are actually from Texas.

Does anyone else think that Toby Keith looks a little like Buck (the hospital orderly/rapist) from Kill Bill?

Yes! He just needs a "Pussy Wagon" to make it complete.

Another powerful Dixie Chicks video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwc5YSAc-7g

I love the comparison of today's society to the Southern Victorianism. I've always thought so.

I usually love horror movies, they're kind of fun sometimes when you have nothing better to do... but THIS?? I hoenstly don't even understand the idea behind the video?? What was he trying to accomplish by pretending that he's going to burry a woman alive?? Does he think that women find "tough" men like that attractive??? Jeez! I honestly think it's as perverted as it gets... Waw! But not just for Toby but whoever actually produced the video for him and whoever that girl in the movie was. It reminded me actually of OJ Simpson's book about how he would have killed his wife if he did it... I couldnt even watch the whole thin I had to stop in the middle!

I suspected they would insert an attempt to redeem it in the end, and they did. But hello?! That whole stereotype of Man-as-dumb-oaf-who-must-be-tempered-by-a-woman isn't serving anyone, either.

I left a detailed comment about this last night, but I guess the comment monster ate it. I am determined enough to leave it again.

Is this typical for country music? No, even considering there are songs about killing unfaithful women. But is this typical for Toby Keith, oh, you ain't kidding. He's a truly, truly misygonistic bastard. Why...

Someone else mentioned How Do You Like Me Now where Toby not only giggles like a school girl over a former classmate's emotional pain but also rhapsodizes over how, in high school, she didn't like him so he wrote her number on the football field with "call for a good time." Gosh, Tob, can't imagine why she might not like you.

And then there's the classic, I Wanna Talk About Me, wherein bitches just don't know how to shut their mouths and Toby yuks it up as a pimp.

It's followed by the feel good Who's Your Daddy wherein Toby the Charmer assures the woman that I got the money if you've got the honey...assuming she calls him Daddy, that is.

And let's not forget his newest classic, Runnin' Block, where Brave Toby suffers the ultimate humiliation: talking to a FAT CHICK so a friend can get some play. (gasp) I tried to drink her skinny/
but she's still about 215. Not 215, Tobster! Then she'd be just about your size! (make sure you keep reading until you get to the "big ol' jelly roll" line.)

These are just some of his POPULAR songs. The stuff radio PLAYS. I don't even know them all and I am sure there's many more, even more insulting, but *this* is the stuff that gets him glorified.

But, regardless of if he's a registered Democrat who loves Russ Feingold, the fact remains he's a misygonist asshole who also wrote, let's not forget, the charming Taliban Song on the HIL-ariously named Shock 'n Y'all.

So, yeah, although I'm not the biggest fan of the Dixie Chicks? It cannot be said loudly enough: FUTK!!

you know, I used to really like toby keith, but recently, he's started really creeping me out...

We also have to ask ourselves, if she wasn't tied up, why did she sit there so long and listen to his bs? I guess because he had to block himself in. How stupid....seriously.

At least Carrie Underwood takes out her anger on the cheater's car in "Before He Cheats". Imagine her tying him up in the basement....

Very "Cask of Amontillado." I was actually a little surprised at the nod to a classic literary writer, seeing how Toby-boy has always seemed to be such a class act *snerk*

That video=creepy. as. hell. I did appreciate the ending. He was *portraying* a creepy guy who got the come-uppance he deserved.

It was too much of a creepshow to be redeemed by the ending, though.

Uhm...
With the whole violent aspect aside, the video just doesn't go well with the song at all. It's just bad and awkward.

creepshow. it almost had that twin peaks desperate housewives campy creepiness but he was serious.

That was intensely creepy. I watched with the sound off, and it makes all the things that are massively wrong with the woman's body language (how she looks turned on and such) which only gets creepier when you look at his expressions, which are pretty scary.

What's really creepy is the grin on his face the whole time, like he *really* enjoys terrorising his girlfriend. Ergh.

FYI, the woman in the video is Billie #2 from "Days of our Lives" and also "Emmanuelle" from the Skinemax-centric "Emmanuelle in Space." My husband pointed that out before vomiting.

Toby Keith has always been vile...speaking as an actaual Southerner. I started listening to country music in the mid-90s because I became so sick of "Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2" It was kinda pure still at that time. My sister, the neocon (who always made fun of me for listening to Patsy, and Loretta, and Willie, etc.) has become an even bigger country fan than I ever was. She loved the Dixie Chick pre-comment (at a time when I was sick of them....overplay.) She even likes "Not ready to make nice" but I suspect she's never listened to the lyrics.

I was in High School in the mid-80s. I loved Heavy Metal. But I never thought videos xcould be more misogynistic than those. Contemporary rap proved me wrong. But I'd much rather their classification than that of Toby Keith. Using women for consensual sex is hardly the same a trying, in vain, to make attempted murder of one's girlfriend funny.

While Toby Keith sucks, his "music" sucks harder. Our reddist of red county music stations has been playing "Not Ready to Make Nice" quite often. I hoope this is an indicator of my part of "red country."

I thought that might be Billie #2, but I wasn't sure!!!

[Okay, now I'm going to hide and try to forget that I ever admitted to watching Days of Our Lives in public.]

I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up over this video. Its just that..a video. Its not real life, nor was it meant to depict anything to do with real life. I mean, seriously, think about it...if it was a woman tying a man up, no one would be saying a thing about it...everyone would be laughing. I think Toby Keith is a great singer and writer, and just because he stands up for his beliefs and supports the war, doesnt give anyone the right to ridicule him. Let the man sing his songs in peace.

I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up over this video. Its just that..a video. Its not real life, nor was it meant to depict anything to do with real life. I mean, seriously, think about it...if it was a woman tying a man up, no one would be saying a thing about it...everyone would be laughing. I think Toby Keith is a great singer and writer, and just because he stands up for his beliefs and supports the war, doesnt give anyone the right to ridicule him. Let the man sing his songs in peace.