"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. The song was written in late 2001, and was inspired by Keith's father's death in March 2001, as well as the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States later that year. It was released in May 2002 as the lead single from the album, Unleashed.
At first, Keith refused to record the song and only sang it live at his concerts for military personnel. The reaction, however, was so strong that the Commandant of the Marine CorpsJames L. Jones told Keith it was his duty as an American citizen to record the song. "It's your job as a singer to lift the morale of the troops," Jones said to Keith. "If you want to serve, that is what you can do."[1][2]
In a November 2003 interview with CBS, Keith gave his take on the song: "It wasn't written for everybody. And when you write something from your heart – I had a dad that was a veteran, taught me how precious our freedom is – I was so angry when we were attacked here on American soil that it leaked out of me. You know, some people wept when they heard it. Some people got goose bumps. Some people were emotionally moved. Some cheered, turned their fists in the air."[3]
Controversy
ABC invited Keith to sing "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" on a patriotic special it produced in 2002; however, the host of the show, Canadian-born newsman Peter Jennings, requested Keith soften the lyrics of the song or choose another song to sing. Keith refused both requests and did not appear on the special. The rift gave the song a considerable amount of publicity, which led to many national interviews and public performances of the song. During an interview with 60 Minutes, Keith spoke about his public comments about Jennings, saying "I thought it was hilarious. My statement was, 'Isn't he Canadian?' to a bunch of press. They laughed and then I said, 'Well, I bet Dan Rather wouldn't kick me off his show,'" says Keith."[4] Responding to criticisms of the network decision, a representative for ABC stated that because Keith was performing in Utah when the show would broadcast, Keith could be on the program only as the opening act, and that the song was "angry" and "not the kind of tone the producers wanted to use to begin this three-hour celebration."[5]
Commercial performance
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" debuted at number 41 on the U.S. BillboardHot Country Songs for the week of May 25, 2002, peaked at Number One for the week of July 20, 2002. Following Keith's death on February 5, 2024, the single would re-enter the Hot Country Songs chart at number 15 on the chart week dated February 17, 2024, and was one of five Toby Keith songs to re-enter the chart that week. The single reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming his biggest solo hit on that chart at the time.
The single was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 3, 2006, Platinum on March 27, 2012, and four-times Platinum on September 18, 2023. It is his highest certified single in the United States, with over 70 million views on popular streaming platforms.[citation needed] The song has sold 1,607,000 digital copies in the U.S. as of July 2019.[6]
Track listing
CD single
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" – 3:16
"Live Introduction by Toby of Single" – 1:30
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
2002 weekly chart performance for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)"
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
References
↑"How do you like him now? Toby Keith blasts Peter Jennings and the Dixie Chicks, talks about the pleasures of burping and defends his hit song 'The Angry American'." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 6, 2002.
