"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
Single by Big & Rich
from the album Horse of a Different Color
ReleasedApril 19, 2004
Recorded2003
Genre
Length
  • 3:20 (album version)
  • 4:25 (dance mix)
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Big Kenny, John Rich
Producer(s)Paul Worley, Big Kenny, John Rich
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. The song also appears in the May 16th 2013 episode of The Office (U.S.) as the song Meredith's son Jake strips to.

Content

The 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. The video caused damage to the bridge including dents and scuff marks, which cost $23,000 in repairs.[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 million copies as of April 2013.[4]

Personnel

From Horse of a Different Color liner notes.[5]

Charts and certifications


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. 1 2 Paul Grein (April 17, 2013). "Week Ending April 14, 2013. Songs: PSY Gallops Back". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ Horse of a Different Color (CD). Big & Rich. Warner Bros. Records. 2004. 48520.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ "Every ARIA Top 100 Single in 2004".
  7. ↑ "Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2020[6].
  8. ↑ "Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Big Rich Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Big Rich Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Best of 2004: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Big & Rich – Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)". Music Canada.
  13. ↑ "American single certifications – Big & Rich – Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy". Recording Industry Association of America.
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