The first studio album by Zac Brown
Band, “The Foundation,” was aptly titled as it provided their mainstream
introduction to the public, thrusting them into fame. “Chicken Fried” and
“Toes” were the hit singles off of this album, both being nominated for the
single of the year in 2009 and 2010 respectively. This album introduced the
band’s signature eclectic style, featuring instruments such as the fiddle,
banjo, and ukulele. The sound of the tracks on “The Foundation” do not seem to
follow a certain style, instead mixing soft and slow singer/songwriter type
tracks together with upbeat, catchy ones that were written to be number-one hits
played on the radio. However the album does seem to follow an overall theme of
good ol’ southern living. One major concept in this album is the South being of
this “other” identity from the rest of America. There are many stereotypes that
come to mind when one thinks of a traditional Southerner. Some of these are
negative, such as the idea of how hillbillies and rednecks act, but likewise
there are many positive ones such as how Southerners have the tendency to act
more hospitable and friendly. Southerners also have their own specific customs
that are not present in the rest of the United States, such as the food that is
eaten here, and specific phrases that are commonly said. Zac Brown Band writing
about this Southern identity is rightly so, considering the band is based in
Atlanta, Georgia. Southern culture and life is a common theme throughout many
country albums, but Zac Brown Band adds their own spin to it based on their
personal experiences growing up in the South. That is why this album became so
popular, going triple-platinum, since many people can relate to this way of
life; and even if they can’t, they’re able to get a pretty good understanding
on what it means to be a Southerner.
“Toes”
starts of the album with an island-y feel, interspersed with Spanish lyrics. It
describes a man going on vacation with his, “toes in the water, ass in the sand,”
until he has to go back home where he is still able to put his “ass in a lawn
chair, toes in the clay.” This track lays out the idea that even though it is
nice to get away from what can become the monotony of everyday life, it is good
to have a nice, familiar place to come home to. Southerners are known for
having a slower pace of life. This includes the common image of a southerner
sitting out on their front porch, not in much of a hurry. In an article that I
read by Orville Burton, a professor of history, he mentions how when he tells stories to his
northern friends they want him to get to the point more quickly. Whereas
southerners like to tell long, drawn-out stories and overall take everyday
tasks slower. “Toes” is a slower-paced song that mirrors this type of southern
living. It mainly features guitars and banjos until it reaches the chorus, in
which it sounds more like a typical mariachi band. This track seems at first
like a typical feel-good summer song, but the Hispanic twist allows cultures to
be merged together to give this track a refreshing feel, since it is something
that would not be normally expected out of a typical country song.
“Free”
is a smooth, slow, and steady track about two lovers with all the freedom they
could ever want, traveling across America. It resonates with the American
identity of living in a free land and having all the opportunities one can
dream of. The acoustic guitar and violin are the most prominent in this track,
keeping with the peaceful vibe. Americans in general are very proud of their
culture and the land they live on, and Southerners are no different. Actually,
Southerners are known for being exceptionally patriotic. This is especially
true in the area of military support, in which Southerners tend to be behind to
a great extent, so that this freedom that we appreciate so much may continue to
remain ours. “Free” also follows the theme presented in “Toes” of feeling at
home in backwoods areas of the South. In the song the two people, “drive until
the city lights dissolve into a country sky,” where they “lay underneath the
harvest moon.” In these areas of the country, one can feel at ease and calm
away from the rush of the city life. There’s just something about a warm summer
night in the South that provides ease from the sweltering heat, making it a
peaceful, calming experience Southerners understand well.
Then
there’s “Chicken Fried,” an upbeat and traditionally country song about the
everyday necessities of southern living. “Cold beer on a Friday night, a pair
of jeans that fit just right, and the radio on,” for example. The banjo being
primarily featured add to the country feel. “Chicken Fried” is a toe-tapping
song that you basically have to sing along to when it comes on. Even though it
may seem a bit unoriginal, it is catchy, and that is what it was meant to be.
Honestly, I do not believe that there is a song that is more country or
includes more of southern values that this one does. I mean come on, it
mentions traditional southern comfort food, hospitality and family, and even
throws in a salute to the military at the end. This song is impossible not to
love. The “other” southern identity is described here in that southerners overall
seem friendlier, more willing to help out those in need, or just more likely strike up a conversation with neighbors. Zac
Brown Band mentions this when talking about a house that is, “filled with love
that's grown in southern ground.” Family is another essential part of Southern
living, when especially in rural areas, families will grow up in very close
proximity to each other. Getting together for a Southern cooked dinner filled
with comfort food is a must with the family. “Chicken Fried” is the song that
you would put on during one of these cook-outs. Its theme of country living is
very relatable and includes everything near and dear to the heart of us
Southerners.
“Different
Kind of Fine” is a track that talks about a girl who is not the traditional
beauty queen type. Instead, she is a country girl that is a, “lawyer's queen, a
trucker's dream [with] a baseball hat fit for a queen.” Southern culture has
changed historically in that the traditional southern belle was required to fit
the part when seen out in public, and act in a mannerly and obedient way. Now,
country songs commonly talk about girls that are free-spirited with a wild side.
As this one states, “she make 'em wonder which way to go, make a man change his
mind.” Not even that long ago in the South women were not supposed to question
their man’s decisions. Southerners hold traditional values near and dear to
their hearts, but some of these very much need to be challenged. Feminism is a
movement that has been mentioned more and more in country music, and now it is
seen as an attractive attribute for a Southern woman to be strong-willed and
able to hold her own.
“The
Foundation” ends on a fun and humorous song, “Sic ‘Em on a Chicken.” It’s
basically about chicken hunting with the family dog. It’s a silly song, and not
supposed to be serious, but it does seem to paint southerners as hillbillies.
This is presented especially at the beginning when there is a man’s voice
“hee-hawing” throughout the introduction. Southerners are stereotyped a lot of
times as being dumb rednecks, and this song perpetrates this idea. However, Zac
Brown Band is from the South themselves, so I do not believe they are purposely
trying to put Southerners down. It’s more of just a joke, and the song overall
is meant to be laughed at. The band is basically taking the Southern “other”
identity to an extreme to parody it.
The
South as being this “other” identity is presented throughout “The Foundation.”
Southern culture and its practices go back hundreds of years. However, many
aspects of it have changed greatly since, and Zac Brown Band incorporates this
idea throughout the album. The fact that the band grew up in Georgia allowed
them to pull from their own personal experiences to create a genuine sounding
album filled with aspects of Southern living. The sonic elements of their album
also represent this by the heavy use of the acoustic guitar, banjo, and fiddle.
Their country accents add a legitimacy to their tracks such as “Chicken Fried”
in which Southern customs are the major theme. “The Foundation” set the stage
for their later work, while introducing them to the mainstream. They are now a
very popular band with their own unique sound that can be easily recognized.
Southern culture remains a major part of their identity, and is integrated in
some way throughout all of their albums. It is obvious that the Zac Brown Band
appreciates their roots and good ol’ Southern living in general. This allows
them to put their own spin on country music so that they are able to carve out
a unique space in this vast musical genre.
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