Toes (song)
Encyclopedia
"Toes" is the title of a song recorded by the Zac Brown Band
, an American country music
band. Lead singer Zac Brown and bass guitar
ist John Driskell Hopkins co-wrote the song with Shawn Mullins
and Wyatt Durette. It is the third single from Zac Brown Band's 2008 debut album The Foundation
, as well as the third top ten country hit and second number one for the band.
" and "Whatever It Is
") along with the band's bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins and musician Shawn Mullins
. According to Brown, Durette called him at six o'clock one morning during his 30th birthday vacation in Key West
, and provided him with the idea for the song.
In the song, the male narrator describes a relaxing trip to Mexico
from Georgia
, or "G-A." Throughout the verses, he tells of the "pretty señoritas" and "muchachas" that he encounters, as well as multiple alcoholic drinks that he consumes. In the final prechorus, the narrator returns home and continues to relax there.
includes a central character named "Floaty Boatwood" and several cameo appearance
s. including Kid Rock
. This video is directed by Darren Doane
. It was released July 7, 2009.
. Mark Deming, in his Allmusic review of the album, compared "Toes" and "Where the Boat Leaves From" to Buffett's material, saying that both songs were "devoted to the joys of getting buzzed
and playing music in some seaside locale with good weather." Pierce Greenberg of The 9513 also compared it to "Where the Boat Leaves From," saying that "Toes" had a "more refreshing look at the same 'let’s get away to the beach' theme" and "one fiesta of a chorus." On the same site, Sam Gazdziak gave the song a thumbs-up, saying that it had "[a] more realistic scenario" in comparison to Kenny Chesney
's Buffett-influenced songs. Billboard
critic Ken Tucker said that it was a "tropical treat" in Buffett's tradition, and Bobby Peacock of Roughstock said that it "may just be one of the best summer songs to hit country radio in quite some time."
Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is an American country music, southern rock, and folk band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown , Jimmy De Martini , John Driskell Hopkins , Coy Bowles , Chris Fryar and Clay Cook...
, an American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band. Lead singer Zac Brown and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist John Driskell Hopkins co-wrote the song with Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music. He is best known for the 1998 single, "Lullaby", which hit number one on the Adult Top 40 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.-Career:Mullins was born in...
and Wyatt Durette. It is the third single from Zac Brown Band's 2008 debut album The Foundation
The Foundation (Zac Brown Band album)
The Foundation is the first major-label studio album by the Zac Brown Band, an American country music band. It was released on November 18, 2008. Originally slated for release on the Home Grown label and Big Picture Records, the album is distributed by Atlantic Nashville in association with those...
, as well as the third top ten country hit and second number one for the band.
Content
Zac Brown wrote "Toes" with Wyatt Durette (with whom he co-wrote the band's first two singles, "Chicken FriedChicken Fried
"Chicken Fried" is the title of a song which has been recorded by two different bands. The first version was recorded in 2003 by the Zac Brown Band, whose frontman Zac Brown wrote it, for the 2005 album Home Grown. A second version was then released in 2006 by The Lost Trailers, whose version was...
" and "Whatever It Is
Whatever It Is
"Whatever It Is" a song by the Zac Brown Band, an American country music group. It is the second single release from the 2008 album The Foundation and the band's second Top 3 hit on the Billboard country singles charts...
") along with the band's bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins and musician Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music. He is best known for the 1998 single, "Lullaby", which hit number one on the Adult Top 40 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.-Career:Mullins was born in...
. According to Brown, Durette called him at six o'clock one morning during his 30th birthday vacation in Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, and provided him with the idea for the song.
In the song, the male narrator describes a relaxing trip to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, or "G-A." Throughout the verses, he tells of the "pretty señoritas" and "muchachas" that he encounters, as well as multiple alcoholic drinks that he consumes. In the final prechorus, the narrator returns home and continues to relax there.
Edits
The version released to most radio stations replaces the line "I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand" from the chorus with "[…]toes in the sand" and edits out the line "roll a big fat one" from a later chorus. These edits were met with different responses from those involved with the creation of the song. Durette said, "If people like the song, they are going to buy it and they end up with the real version. So while it’s not the greatest, it’s not the end of the world either," while Brown said that he would rather have the song not played at all than have an edited version played.Music video
According to Brown, the song's music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
includes a central character named "Floaty Boatwood" and several cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s. including Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
. This video is directed by Darren Doane
Darren Doane
Darren Doane is a Christian filmmaker and music video director. In 2007, Darren formed a new commercial, music video and branded content production company called LEVEL4 with Executive Producer Josh Karchmer...
. It was released July 7, 2009.
Critical reception
The song has been met with positive critical reception, usually with comparisons to the musical styles of Jimmy BuffettJimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
. Mark Deming, in his Allmusic review of the album, compared "Toes" and "Where the Boat Leaves From" to Buffett's material, saying that both songs were "devoted to the joys of getting buzzed
Drunkenness
Alcohol intoxication is a physiological state that occurs when a person has a high level of ethanol in his or her blood....
and playing music in some seaside locale with good weather." Pierce Greenberg of The 9513 also compared it to "Where the Boat Leaves From," saying that "Toes" had a "more refreshing look at the same 'let’s get away to the beach' theme" and "one fiesta of a chorus." On the same site, Sam Gazdziak gave the song a thumbs-up, saying that it had "[a] more realistic scenario" in comparison to Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
's Buffett-influenced songs. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
critic Ken Tucker said that it was a "tropical treat" in Buffett's tradition, and Bobby Peacock of Roughstock said that it "may just be one of the best summer songs to hit country radio in quite some time."
Chart performance
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|