Bumper Of My SUV Song By Chely Wright
There's this strange phenomenon in the music world called "politics"! (Surprise, surprise.)
But Chely Wright's newest single, "Bumper of My SUV" is void of all politics.
I find this to be true for a number of reasons. Allow me to explain...
Words From The Heart
First, the song "Bumper of My SUV" starts out simply as a statement from the heart -- put to music.
--> Watch the full-length video here
According to Chely, when she wrote this song, she had no agendas. No ulterior motives. The words just came to her in the exact way that the song describes... all stemming from an incident where she was driving her SUV through a well-to-do neighborhood in Nashville where she was "flipped off" by a woman driving a minivan.
There's something about the "purity" of that that you've just gotta love.
Climbing The Charts
Second, the song "Bumper of My SUV" has skyrocketed up the music charts in the past 3 weeks without ANY record-label promotion, without ANY major endorsements of any kind, and without ANY paybacks to the radio stations that have chosen to air it.
The point is this: The song is as popular as it is, NOT because it's a great Country song, or a great Pop song, or even a song that's well sung...
It's as popular as it is because it speaks the truth. And it's very "raw". From the words to the melody... it IS what it is.
And there's something very powerful about that. (It's VERY different from the way you typically get a song to just be PLAYED on the radio, much less to become a mega-hit such as this!)
It Just Took On A Life Of Its Own
The story about how this song came to be is quite interesting, because it took on a life of its own...
A week or so ago, I heard Chely Wright on a radio interview (103.3 WKDF in Nashville) where she explained that:
The song, "Bumper of My SUV" must touch a lot of people for it to be getting the airplay that it is, and the amount of personal requests that it's getting.
Go, Chely, Go!
Truth be told, I've never been one to talk up Chely Wright OR her music... And I don't particulary think that she sings this song very well at all.
But that's EXACTLY what makes this song different than most any other you'll hear on the radio today. I can appreciate this song for its honesty. The honesty in how it came to be. And, the honest feelings expressed within it -- that we all as Americans share, live, breathe ...and maybe even die for.
Does It Do The Same For You?
For me, this song represents the average American who's just trying to keep on keepin' on.
It reminds me of the fact that we're ALL getting through life every day by just doing whatever it is we've gotta do to get us to the next day. Most of us are living our own kind of low-key life. Never intending to hurt anyone's feelings. Rarely trying to push the envelope or make a scene. Just getting through life the best that we know how.
Then, when something such as the song implies ACTUALLY happens in our world, it just makes you think. About what's REALLY important in life.
I mostly appreciate this song for its genuineness. And for making me think about (and appreciate) the little things in life -- all those small details that often get overshadowed by the bigger moments.
this is the best song i have heard in a long time for the troops. i really think this should be number 1 it means alot to me. i have grandparets and uncle and my dad that served and they don't get much attention even the ones that came home from nam thank you it really touched my heart i think wmfs need to play it more since that is the station i listen to here. but i have found they are prejudice about what they play. i want to hear more of your music tina fome indy i may have to switch stations just to hear what i want
I hear some fellows say: "I'm not gonna join the military and go fight a war for some politician, but if war comes to the shores of America, I'll pick up a gun and fight". I find it hard to accept this cop-out, because they are spoiled and take too much for granted. Furthermore; it would inconvenience them too much. Besides, who would they sue if they get hurt.
I am a veteran and can agree with both sides of the comments posted. But for everyone who wants to know the whole story behind the song is a link for it.
http://www.cmt.com/videos/unplugged/chely-wright/62080/the-bumper-of-my-suv.jhtml
This is a great song. It has the feeling most of us have towatds our Marines. Each time I hear this song. I think of the four young men who are sering thier country. I am proud to know such young men..
I am the very proud mother of a Marine, serving our country in Iraq, his second deployment. I can appreciate Kimberly's anger, considering the sacrifice she and her husband are making; I don't agree that other people's opinions are "meaningless" just because they disagree with this war. I avoid discussing the politics of this war out of respect for our son and the thousands of others who are serving so selflessly.
And I agree with Eric ~ there are clearly class divisions in our country that probably form the basis for many of the "anti-war" sentiments. We live in an America where people can "choose" a position on the war today; they don't "have" to be inconvenienced by it if they don't choose to be.
The Americans of WWII didn't have that choice. Everybody in America knew someone who was involved in that conflict. People didn't enjoy the prosperity in their lives that we do today. Sacrifice was an intregal part of the American life; either as individuals, or on behalf of their neighbor.
I do believe that many Americans today, including William Arkin of the Washington Post, are extremely ignorant of how an all "volunteer" military works. The Americans who "volunteer" for our military do not have the ability to "choose" to walk away from a war if they disagree with it, or if it asks too much of them personally.
They made a commitment to abandon all personal freedoms in order to serve their country in whatever task they are told to perform; whether or not they necessarily agree with the mission itself.
The self-focused American of today really isn't capable of understanding that level of selflessness. I believe that is really the basis for Chely Wright's song. She understands it, because she comes from a family of Americans who have "chosen" to put their country above themselves. And for that, we owe them our utmost regard and respect, regardless of where we stand on our opinion of this war.
God Bless you James Hall for being a selfless American. We "all" benefit from what you are willing to give and "give up". You will be in our prayers as you begin your journey in the Corps!
I just heard the song today for the first time, it realy does have a lot of meaning. Being 18 i dont have a lot of knowlege in politics so i wont say any thing about that situation.
I will say that I recently enlisted into the USMC my self and i have had many people tell me that i am... well stupid puts it gently. It burns me to know i will be fighting for so many that hate and disagree with me. I also know that our country was founded on the basis of all kinds of freedom, and that includes the freedom to state your opinion on how "stupid" the military and war is. But it realy does my heart good to know there are people out there that appreciate what the military does for them. This song doing so well with out any "big help" tells me there are a lot more of those people out there. And i thank her for her opinion and everyone else's support.
I would like to say as a wife of a USMC that I'm very proud of her song for I have seen this in my own life. And for all those who are against this war it is my husband that gives you the right to voice your meaningless opionions. It is my husband that leaves his family to fight for your rights. It is my husband that spends endless nights in an unknown desert to give you the right to do as you will. it is my husband that gives us the freedom that we all cherish. so before you open your mouths think about those things. think about the men and women such as my husband that leave their families for months on end to give you the right to be free.
I would agree this song is 'heartfelt': it sounds like Chely is pretty fired up about her bumper sticker. So were a lot of folks in Washington State, where I saw yellow ribbon stickers everywhere (and first heard this song).
But I don't agree that it is so clear and innocent. I hear the clear tone of political and class divisions in this song.
In that, I find Chely quite presumptuous. Are we sure the finger is for the sticker? Could it be for a close right turn into traffic?
But that's nothing compared to the comment about hauling the kids to a 'private school'. With this line, Chely's stirring class resentments that do, of course exist -- sons and daughters from homes that can't afford private schools are many of those in Iraq. Plus, those of us who can afford private school live in the urban areas likely to be hit by terrorists, likely to have not supported the war, and likely to not like country music.
And that's just for starters ;)