Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
Single by Big & Rich
from the album Horse of a Different Color
Released April 19, 2004
Format Music download
Recorded 2003
Genre
Length 3:20 (album version)
4:25 (dance mix)
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Big Kenny
John Rich
Producer(s) Paul Worley, Big Kenny, John Rich
Certification Gold (Music Canada)
Platinum (RIAA)
Big & Rich singles chronology
"Wild West Show"
(2004)		 "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
(2004)		 "Holy Water"
(2004)

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" is a song written and recorded by American country music duo Big & Rich. It was released in April 2004 as the second single from their debut album Horse of a Different Color. It reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard US Country chart. The song received wide exposure when ESPN featured the song in commercials for its coverage of the 2004 World Series of Poker. It was also featured in the Boston Legal episode 'Death Be Not Proud'.

Big & Rich also released a remixed dance version of the song which appeared on their compilation Big & Rich's Super Galactic Fan Pak. They performed this remixed version at the CMT Video Music Awards in 2005. The song was also featured in a Chevrolet commercial that was aired during Super Bowl XLI and the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Country, as well as in the 2012 film Magic Mike.

Summary

This song is a fusion of country rock and country rap. The first two verses detail "Big" Kenny Alphin and John Rich's arrival into Nashville, going into a bar, "passing out hundred-dollar bills" and, "buying the bar a double round of Crown." They vow that Nashville is "never gonna be the same." They ride around Nashville on horses, while everyone else says to "save a horse" and "ride a cowboy."

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed in Nashville during the summer of 2004. Big & Rich, other members of the MuzikMafia, including Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy, as well as dancers, marching bands, and other groups of people, parade on the Shelby Street Bridge in Nashville. It was directed by David Hogan.[1]

One World Gear controversy

In April 2007, the song was parodied by t-shirt manufacturer One World Gear, who began to offer a series of products on CafePress.com featuring snowclones of the slogan "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy", in which the word "cowboy" was replaced with the name of any one of 177 different nationalities, including "American". The version of the t-shirt featuring the slogan "Save a Horse, Ride a Taiwanese" was singled out as "racially discriminatory" and "insulting to Taiwan" by Taiwanese and Hong Kong media.[2][3]

Chart performance

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" debuted at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 24, 2004. It has sold 2,087,000 copies as of April 2013.[4]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Germany (Media Control Charts)[5] 87
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 56
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 11

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Gold 40,000^
United States (RIAA)[9] Platinum 2,087,000[4]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 54

References

  1. ↑ "Shoot of Popular Country Music Video Damaged Nashville Landmark". NewsChannel 5, WTVF Nashville. September 17, 2004.
  2. ↑ "「騎台灣人」性暗示侮辱　美國網站賣歧視T恤 ("Ride a Taiwanese" insulting sexual implication - American website sells discriminatory t-shirt)". Eastern Television. 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  3. ↑ Pang, Hau-wai (2007-04-11). "美售「騎台灣人」T恤 (Americans selling "Ride a Taiwanese" T-shirts)". Ming Pao. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Paul Grein (April 17, 2013). "Week Ending April 14, 2013. Songs: PSY Gallops Back". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Big & Rich Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Big & Rich. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Big & Rich Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Big & Rich. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)". Music Canada.
  9. ↑ "American single certifications – Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  10. ↑ "Best of 2004: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2012.

External links