Toes (Zac Brown Band song)

Last updated
"Toes"
Single by Zac Brown Band
from the album The Foundation
ReleasedJuly 6, 2009 (2009-07-06)
Genre Country
Length4:21(Album Version)
3:53 (Single Edit)
Label Atlantic/Home Grown/Big Picture
Songwriter(s) Zac Brown
Wyatt Durrette
John Driskell Hopkins
Shawn Mullins
Producer(s) Zac Brown
Keith Stegall
Zac Brown Band singles chronology
"Whatever It Is"
(2009)		"Toes"
(2009)		"Highway 20 Ride"
(2009)
Music video
"Toes" on YouTube

"Toes" is a song recorded by the Zac Brown Band, an American country music band. Lead singer Zac Brown and bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins co-wrote the song with Shawn Mullins and Wyatt Durrette. It was released in July 2009 as the third single from the band's 2008 major-label debut studio album The Foundation . The song became their second number one hit and their third Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in November 2009.

Contents

Content

Zac Brown wrote this song with Wyatt Durette (with whom he co-wrote the band's first two singles, "Chicken Fried" and "Whatever It Is") along with the band's bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins and musician Shawn Mullins. [1] According to Brown, Durette phoned him at six o'clock one morning during his 30th birthday vacation in Key West, and provided him with the idea for the song. [1]

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 the copious alcoholic drinks that he consumes. In the final pre-chorus, the narrator runs out of money, returns home and continues to relax there. [2]

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. [3]

Music video

According to Brown, the song's music video includes a central character named "Flody Boatwood" and several cameo appearances, [1] including Kid Rock. The video was directed by Darren Doane, and released July 7, 2009. Portions of the music video were shot at Daniel's Grocery off of Pilgrim Mill Road in Forsyth County, Georgia, and on Lake Lanier.

Critical reception

The song has been met with positive critical reception, usually with comparisons to the musical styles of Jimmy Buffett. 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." [4] Pierce Greenberg of Engine 145 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." [2] 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. [5] Billboard critic Ken Tucker said that it was a "tropical treat" in Buffett's tradition, [6] 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." [7]

Commercial success

Toes became the band's third (consecutive) single to reach the Top 5 on U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and their second to reach number one. The song also became the band's third consecutive single to peak in the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on February 22, 2010, [8] and by May 2015, sales had reached over 3 million copies in the United States. [9] As of July 2015, the song has sold 3,024,000 copies in the U.S. [10]

Charts and certifications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Annie</span> 2013 single by Zac Brown Band

"Sweet Annie" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released in August 2013 as the fourth single from the group's third major-label album, Uncaged. The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Sonia Leigh, and John Pierce. As of March 12, 2014 the single has sold 439,000 copies in the United States and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>Uncaged</i> 2012 studio album by Zac Brown Band

Uncaged is the third studio album by Zac Brown Band. It was released on July 10, 2012. The album's lead single, "The Wind" was released on June 6, 2012. The album received widely positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. At the 2013 Grammy Awards, it won the award for Best Country Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knee Deep</span> 2011 single by Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett

For the Funkadelic song, see Knee Deep. For the video game, see Knee Deep.

<i>The Foundation</i> (Zac Brown Band album) 2008 studio album by Zac Brown Band

The Foundation is the first major-label studio album by American country music band Zac Brown 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 two labels. The financing for the album was provided by Atlanta, GA entrepreneur Braden Copeland through his investment company Braden Copeland Ventures, LLC. On December 2, 2009, the album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. and also earned the band the Grammy Award for Best New Artist on January 31. The album also has been nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards "Album of the Year" award. As of September 2015, the album has sold 3.4 million copies in the US. It is the only album to feature Joel Williams, who left the band prior to its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Alright</span> 2014 single by Zac Brown Band

"All Alright" is a song recorded by the American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released on April 28, 2014, and is the first single from the band's second extended play, The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway 20 Ride</span> 2009 single by Zac Brown Band

"Highway 20 Ride" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band, written by lead singer Zac Brown and Wyatt Durrette. The song was released in November 2009 as the fourth single from the band's 2009 album The Foundation. It is the band's third Number One on the U.S. country singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free (Zac Brown Band song)</span> 2010 single by Zac Brown Band

"Free" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band for their 2008 album The Foundation. On April 12, 2010, it was released as the fifth and final single from the album. It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts at number 54 for the week of May 1, 2010. The song was nominated for the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and the Best Country Song at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Driskell Hopkins</span> Musical artist

John Driskell Hopkins is best known for his role as a founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the Grammy Award-winning group Zac Brown Band. Hopkins co-wrote, with Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette, and Shawn Mullins, the Zac Brown Band's third single, "Toes", from their 2008 major-label debut The Foundation. It was the second number-one single for the band.

<i>You Get What You Give</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Zac Brown Band

You Get What You Give is the second studio album by the Zac Brown Band. It was released on September 21, 2010. As of September 2015, the album has sold 1.9 million copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Brown Band discography</span>

American country music band Zac Brown Band has released seven studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums, and twenty-nine singles. Fourteen of those singles reached number one on either the US Billboard Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay chart, while one reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump Right In</span> 2013 single by Zac Brown Band

"Jump Right In" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released in February 2013 as the third single from the group's third major-label album, Uncaged. The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, and Jason Mraz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Am I the Only One (Dierks Bentley song)</span> 2011 single by Dierks Bentley

"Am I the Only One" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in March 2011 as the sixteenth single release of his career and the first from his 2012 album Home. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wind (Zac Brown Band song)</span> 2012 single by Zac Brown Band

"The Wind" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released in June 2012 as the first single from the group's third major-label album, Uncaged, which was released on July 10. The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowrey.

"Goodbye in Her Eyes" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released in October 2012 as the second single from the group's third major-label album, Uncaged. The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins and Sonia Leigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homegrown (song)</span> 2015 single by Zac Brown Band

"Homegrown" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released on January 12, 2015 and is the first single from the band's fourth studio album Jekyll + Hyde, released on April 28, 2015. The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette and Niko Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loving You Easy</span> 2015 single by Zac Brown Band

"Loving You Easy" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released as the third single from the band's fourth studio album, Jekyll + Hyde, on May 4, 2015. The song was written by Zac Brown, Al Anderson and Niko Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Drug</span> 2015 single by Zac Brown Band

"Beautiful Drug" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album, Jekyll + Hyde, on September 21, 2015. The song was written by Zac Brown and Niko Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castaway (Zac Brown Band song)</span> 2016 single by Zac Brown Band

"Castaway" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released as the sixth single from the band's fourth studio album, Jekyll + Hyde, on April 25, 2016. The song was written by Zac Brown, Coy Bowles, John Driskell Hopkins, Wyatt Durrette and Niko Moon.

<i>Welcome Home</i> (Zac Brown Band album) 2017 studio album by Zac Brown Band

Welcome Home is the fifth studio album by American country music band Zac Brown Band. It was released on May 12, 2017, via Elektra Records. The album features the singles "My Old Man" and "Roots" which charted on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. Dave Cobb is the album's producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Jones</span> American singer-songwriter

Caroline Jones is an American country music singer, songwriter and radio host. Jones has released a number of albums, the most successful one being Bare Feet. Her most recent album, Antipodes, was released on November 12, 2021. She became an official member of the Zac Brown Band in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Graff, Gary (2009-05-28). "Zac Brown Band builds solid "Foundation"". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. 1 2 Greenberg, Pierce (2008-11-20). "The Foundation review". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Ho, Rodney (September 2, 2009). "Zac Brown Band's 'Toes' challenges radio programmers with lyrics". Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ Deming, Mark. "The Foundation review". Allmusic . Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  5. ↑ Sam Gazdziak (2009-08-10). "Zac Brown Band — "Toes"" . Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  6. ↑ Tucker, Ken (2008-11-22). "Music reviews". Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
  7. ↑ Peacock, Bobby (2009-07-19). "Zac Brown Band — "Toes"". Roughstock. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  8. 1 2 "American single certifications – Zac Brown Band – Toes". Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. ↑ Matt Bjorke (May 28, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of May 27, 2015".
  10. 1 2 Matt Bjorke (July 13, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: July 13, 2015". Roughstock.
  11. ↑ "Zac Brown Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Zac Brown Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Zac Brown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Zac Brown Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Best of 2009: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Zac Brown Band – Toes". Music Canada.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.