"Chicken Fried" and a Few of My Favorite Things
Sometimes I like to rewrite the songs I hear on the radio and make them my own. I insert my own words to create silly little songs about how I'm feeling or maybe my day. I even have one for my cat, Hank. Most recently, having heard Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" continuously on the radio and watching their live version on Unplugged at Studio 330, I decided to make up my own words to that song too. Though I hardly think there's a one of us who doesn't enjoy all of the things in this song -- beer on Friday night, pecan pie, homemade wine and that favorite pair of jeans -- it made me think of my own simple pleasures in life. So, here are a few mine to be hummed to "Chicken Fried."
You know I like my old black hair tie
To pull back my hair when it's in my eyes
Or my snowman lamp that shines just right
Not too much liiiiiight
Well, I've seen Dolly Parton live
Can appreciate a honky tonk dive
Love my cat but he's cross-eyed
Even though he biiiiiiiites
Your turn, readers ....
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RedMaZ says:
You hear ZBB Chicken Fried continuously on the radio? Really? I haven’t heard that song in years.
lizisawesome says:
What in the world are you talking about redmaz? Chicken Fried hasn’t been out that long right? ZBB has been around for a little while without much success until now with Chicken Fried. Please tell if I’m wrong if I am. And yeah, that song is on the radio all the time. It was even #1 a couple weeks ago I think.
RedMaZ says:
Chicken Fried was on the 2005 CD “Home Grown”. That’s when I heard it.
countryiscool says:
I hear Chicken Fried on our local station alot too. If it’s the same song, why did it take so long for them to release it as a single? It seems to be doing well.
RedMaZ says:
I have no idea, and honestly don’t care. I don’t listen to Commercial radio, so I don’t care what they play, or how long it takes to get there, and I certainly don’t sit around waiting for the music to come to me.
hotelmotel says:
“Chicken Fried” is blatant pandering (hey: lets sing about how we love the military, god, family - especially mom- and beer!) Inane, mind-numbing lyrics that offer nothing other than a semi- catchy rhyme.
Anyone who wants to mock country music and the people who listen to it could find no better evidence than “Chicken Fried.”
RedMaZ says:
…and yet a Pop Country hit!
Kevin says:
Maybe the things that are talked about in “Chicken Fried” are things that are in alot of country songs, but if thats the way you feel and the things you love then those are the things you should write songs about….even if it is already in alot of songs.
countryiscool says:
ANYthing you can write in a ANY song of ANY genre is recycled
material. As King Sol says, “there is nothing “new” under the sun.”
hotelmotel says:
There may be nothing new under the sun (though I doubt that’s true), but there are intelligent and creative ways of expressing ideas, old or new, and there are mindless ways of expressing ideas, old or new. “Chicken Fried” falls in the latter category.
It mindlessly lists some things that the stereotypical country music lover allegedly likes. Why are we supposed to care that Zac Brown likes these things? Why does he like these things? He sure doesn’t tell us. There is no story, no substance of any kind.
This song is aimed at the most undemanding listener - the one who will say, “hey, I like fried chicken too. And I like the radio too.” Gee this song is about me. I must like this song too.
Absolutely terrible and pandering song.
Doctor Donna says:
Someone has to say why he likes cold beer, the radio turned up, a pair of jeans that fit great, etc.? Do you seriously require an explanation?
sarah says:
“Chicken Fried” sucks horribly. I change the radio channel every time it comes on. What I don’t see is how people can even stand to listen to it. Country is going down the drain.
Susie says:
I love Larry The Cable Guy, but his latest Christmas Album and Special made me think twice. Some of the stuff was funny, but I DIDN’T APPRECIATE His Story his Gradpa used to tell him about his rendintion of the Bethlehm Story. The birth of Jesus is not something we should make fun of or mis-represent. Christmas is a special time that we should respect and be thankful for the birth of Jesus. Our world has left Jesus out of Christmas, our families and our Country. Now is not the time to make fun of his birth. I was very disappointed in Larry The Cable Guy. I purchased the CD first and since this part was at the first of the CD, I wouldn’t listen to it. I gave it away. When I started watching the special my husband told me it was the same as the CD, but I watched the firt part anyway, then I went about doing Christmas Decorations. That is when I heard the story and went to the computer to give my opinion. My God Bless All and Merry Christmas and remember JESUS IS THE REASON OF THE SEASON, not a joke…..
Big AJ fan says:
Susie why is your problem with Larry the Cable Guy being mentioned on a blog about ZZB and Chicken Fried? I’m baffled.
sunkie says:
I needed that!!!!!! I can always count on a chuckle from your blogs Whtiney. The song I agree is one that you can change the lyrics to and fit your own ideas into the song. When I read about your cat and being cross eyed, well it fit your writing style and that is when the ole’ chuckle came out of me. Thanks for the laugh, when all around us is gloom. This is the reason for me tuning into your blogs.
Rachel says:
Chicken Fried is catchy…a feel good song. My husband and I love it!
EmerysMom says:
My 1 year old son and I like Country Fried. He dances to it and it makes me smile. So what if he list the things he likes, at least he likes something. It seems to me to many of you have no problem listing things you do not like. Life is to short to be so negative. Listen to each song like it could be the last one you hear. I learned that from my grandma before she passed away. We both loved country music. When I hear a song I think she might have liked it is hard for me to not cry, because she can not hear it. She would have liked Country Fried.
Tom says:
This song is really awful.
Especially the attempt to honor the military, and the ones who have died, by stating that they have defended such things as Fried Chicken.
This ’song’ is an absolute disgrace, which, in my opinion, is disrespectful to our armed forces, who deserve to be recognized for their real sacrifices, and not for some cartoonish rhyme.
Candis Lynn says:
Love this song, love this band. For the cynical commenters on this post… really? Why bash someone’s self-expression, just because the idea is not new or too simple for your liking?
So many people who have much, take these little things for granted and are not as thankful as they should be. This song is a great reminder to be thankful for all the blessings in life, no matter how small. And try telling someone who scrounges for food in a Calcutta garbage heap that fried chicken is not a blessing.
The military reference is one that I am proud to sing along with. The touch of a loved one, blue jeans that “fit just right”, and homemade wine are part of what this song writer loves about life. They are also only possible to experience because we are a free nation, a free people, a free country… because of the sacrifice that men and women of the military have made to keep it so.
Please, try and enjoy life a little more instead of seeking out new ways to put people down. Even if it means you actually have to be thankful for the so-called “little” things.