Hey all you cool cats and kittens. I know two cat related titles in a row would usually be a faux pas, but in this climate, cats are all the rage. If you don't know what I am referring to, take a hot minute, binge Tiger King on Netflix, and then get back to me (SPOILERS AHEAD). For those of you who have also recently embarked on this incredible, wonderful, bizarre, and tragic journey, welcome, I hope you have some sanity left. I certainly don't. The combination of quarantine and Tiger King has got me questioning what is even real in the world.
I don't normally root for the snitches, just a personal principle. But this one time, I hope Joe is ultimately successful in turning the whole wild zoo and illegal animal trade world upside down from his prison cell, or maybe he would be turning it right-side up? However, my personal reason for this is not just to save all those poor animals (I'm not that noble) but so that Joe can return to what he does best. Making bangers. So before we get too distracted with "did Carole do it" or "how many wives does Doc Antle really have," let's get down to the nitty gritty, the reason why you are all here. The music.
You know what the crazy thing is. There is much, much, much worse music out there than what Joe Exotic* and his team has released. And if I'm being honest, I was shocked when I first heard his country jams. Yes, there are lots of effects layered in there, but honestly, Joe has the voice of a country angel. And the funny thing to me is, some of the thematic elements of his songs, aren't that out there as far as country music goes. Let's dive in.
Let's start with the most popular, and likely Joe's best song. "Here Kitty Kitty" actually tells a cohesive story, while at the same, gives us a song that's well produced and really damn catchy. I honestly can't get it out of my head. Maybe Joe's eccentricity is what makes him a good song writer. The hook is genius, and I don't know who actually came up with it, but Billie Eilish should probably be contacting them to produce her next album.
"I Saw A Tiger" is less of a great song in a lot of ways. Production quality and backing track are the major drawbacks. But this song goes a long way in showcasing how smooth Joe's voice really is. I'll tell you one thing, I would never have guessed that he could sing like this. And the lyrics are actually kind of deep, not only drawing attention to the plight of the animals he has come to love, but also as a metaphor for his inner struggles and the way he views himself.
You may say I am reading too much into this, and you may be right, but I'd argue you're not. If you remove the whole craziness of the show and the under budget music video, you could actually convince me that this was a song for real.
Here's the thing I noticed as the show went on, and maybe some of you did too: we all know that Joe was putting on this image to sell. But the more I watched, the more I realized that it was just that. His bravado and showboating were Joe trying to sell himself and his park. There are moments, few and far between because the camera was always rolling, that we saw some genuine introspection on his part. These moments made me sad because it humanized him, and made me view him as a real person, instead of just this larger than life character.
Think what you want about Joe or his lifestyle, but he is just another guy trying to make his way in the world and got caught up in a lot of craziness. I like to think "This is My Life" is Joe taking stock of his life and actions, and what it cost him. Again, if you didn't know this was some crazy character from a reality TV documentary, you would probably think it was a pretty good song, and for that, you have to give him credit. The Beatles wrote great songs while on drugs, and maybe that's the case here too.
I understand if you disagree, you'd just be wrong. These songs are the very definition of country classics (at least for someone who isn't huge fan of country). If Joe somehow gets out prison, he certainly could have a career in music. Fingers crossed we even get a prison album, but not likely. I for one hope that this isn't the last we have seen or heard of Joe Exotic, and I await the day when he drops another banger. *Exotic Joe did not actually write or sing any of these songs.*
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