Kenny Chesney's New Video Is a Brave Political Manifesto

From Esquire

In an interview shortly after the 2008 election, noted sexy tractor enthusiast Kenny Chesney said, "My fans get enough politics on TV everyday. I want them to think for themselves. I don't wan't them to listen to me." In other words, Chesney's fans (some of whom are known to get drunk, soil themselves, and get arrested in mass numbers) want to hear lyrics promoting American values. They want alcohol, heavy machinery, Jesus, and women wearing tight jeans rather than American politics. And Chesney's political neutrality is not a bad stance to have. He didn't have 14 of his16 albums be certified gold or higher by challenging his listener's beliefs or values. That said, Chesney admitted to voting for John McCain in 2008, and as a whole, you wouldn't be wrong for assuming that most country fans are red blooded Republicans.

After more than two decades, 16 albums, 60 singles, and 47 music videos, Chesney has had enough sitting on the sidelines of American discourse. He's released the video for "Noise," which bravely takes on everything from computer passwords, heroin, and Donald Trump. Chesney tells Rolling Stone that the video is "about the relentless onslaught of sound, everyone wanting to be heard and this idea of everyone turning it up a little louder than the other person. We have so much thrown at us all at once that we don't really hear anything. It's all so loud that it just becomes white noise in your brain." It's a bold statement: Things are bad and it's bad hearing about these bad things. Here are some of the bad things Chesney would rather ignore:

Creating passwords

Dolphins playing with hula-hoops

Very relevant celebrity Paris Hilton

Random dudes pouring milk on their heads

Donald Trump?

While as a whole this video takes a hardly provocative stand against modern society in general, it's important to point out the very brief clip of Donald Trump. This is a clear non-endorsement of Trump-currently the only remaining Republican in the presidential race. Sure, it also includes a clip of President Obama, but Hillary Clinton is noticeably absent from this video. Should we take that as a Clinton endorsement? Maybe. But take note: If Donald Trump has lost Kenny Chesney, he's lost the Republican base.