Shuttin' Detroit Down

"Shuttin' Detroit Down" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer John Rich, one half of the duo Big & Rich. The song addresses the issue of the government bailouts of financial institutions, and has received heavy rotation on Michigan radio stations, as well as others around the country. Rich recorded and released the song in January 2009, and it appears on his second solo album, Son of a Preacher Man. The album was released on March 24, 2009 on Warner Bros. Records Nashville, the same label to which Big & Rich is signed.

"Shuttin' Detroit Down"
Single by John Rich
from the album Son of a Preacher Man
ReleasedJanuary 28, 2009 (2009-01-28)[1]
RecordedJanuary 2009
GenreCountry
Length4:01
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)John Anderson
John Rich[2]
Producer(s)John Rich
John Rich singles chronology
"Another You"
(2009)		 "Shuttin' Detroit Down"
(2009)		 "The Good Lord and the Man"
(2009)
Music video
"Shuttin' Detroit Down" at CMT.com

Content

"Shuttin' Detroit Down" is a song which addresses the automotive industry crisis of 2008-2009, with a focus on the bailouts of financial institutions.[3] Rich wrote the song in one hour along with country singer John Anderson, after watching the news.[1][4] Anderson also recorded it on his 2009 album Bigger Hands.[5]

Promotion

Rich promoted the song at several radio stations in the state of Michigan, including WBCT in Grand Rapids, and both WDTW-FM, who no longer carries a country format, and WYCD in Detroit. According to the Grand Rapids Press, WDTW put the song into hourly rotation after its release and used it as its last song under its country format,[1] and both Detroit country stations received several requests for the song upon its release.[4] According to personnel at WYCD and WBCT, the song has been the subject of several phone calls and e-mails.[3] A video of him performing the song at a New Jersey radio station has received more than 450,000 hits on YouTube.

Critical reception

The song has received mixed reception from the media. Jon Caramanica, writing for the New York Times, said that the song "reflects not only Mr. Rich’s songwriting gifts[…] but also his acumen in gauging and channeling the mood of the country, aggressively striking a note of conservative populism rarely seen in any genre of pop since country music’s response to Sept. 11."[6] Country Standard Time critic Jeffrey B. Remz considered the song "ultra-timely" and said that Rich "gets his message across with a lot of twang."[7]

Jim Malec, reviewing it for The 9513, gave it a "thumbs down" rating. He criticized the lyric for "spend[ing] most of its time attacking bankers" and otherwise being unsubstantial. He called Rich's voice "serviceable" and said that the melody and production were "engaging."[8] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in his review of Son of a Preacher Man, said that the lyrics were the "lowest common denominator, pandering to an audience he's already won."[9]

Music video

A music video was issued for "Shuttin' Detroit Down," and it has aired on CMT and Great American Country. The video stars Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Rourke as workers at an automobile assembly plant affected by layoffs. The video was directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions.

Chart performance

On the chart week of February 14, 2009, "Shuttin' Detroit Down" debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The song spent twelve weeks on that chart and peaked at number 12.

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 95
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 75

References
  1. Gonazlez, John (January 29, 2008). "Michigan's reality? John Rich's 'Shuttin' Detroit Down' hits home". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  2. Graff, Gary. "John Rich Wants To "Log-Jam" Legistlators With "Shuttin' Down Detroit"". Oakland Press. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
  3. Wallace, Amy (2008-02-02). "The Recession Has Its Anthem". Condé Nast Portfolio. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  4. McGraw, Bill (January 29, 2009). "John Rich's "Shuttin' Detroit Down" sizzling on country radio, Web". Motor City Journal. Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  5. "Bigger Hands". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  6. Caramanica, Jon (March 30, 2009). "John Rich's Protest From the Right Side of Country". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  7. Remz, Jeffrey B. "Son of a Preacher Man review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  8. Malec, Jim (February 2, 2009). "John Rich — "Shuttin' Detroit Down"". The 9513. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Son of a Preacher Man review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
  10. "John Rich Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "John Rich Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  12. "John Rich Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
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