TRAINWRECKORDS: Kid Rock's "Bad Reputation"

Todd, I know you're on record of hating getting political, but don’t sweat it. Look at it this way - politics and music are one of the all-time classic combinations. Avoiding politics in your line of work is effectively impossible. I understand you don’t want to alienate anyone who’d otherwise enjoy your comedy, and that’s a noble goal, but really you didn’t bring these politics into the conversation - Kid Rock did. Any attempt to address Kid Rock without addressing what he’s become, without addressing all the… everything, would just be incomplete past the point of dishonesty. You wouldn’t be able to do that, and so here we stand. I’m sorry it’s uncomfortable, I’m sorry you’re unhappy having to do it, I hope your next episode is as apolitical as you could hope for, but here you made the right choice.

Kid Rock shouldn't be shitting himself at 50. He's old but not that old.

Todd’s line about Fred Durst in the Crown Royale TW - “a boy” - applies to Kid Rock as well. Just remember Bob Seger at 50 for a comparison.

I can’t believe you didn’t expose more people to the insanity that is Never Enough

YYYEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!! FINALLY!

Honestly, I don't get why you leftist Americans don't like Joe Biden a lot more. Bernie Sanders called him the "most progressive US president since FDR", and I believe he might be right on that (maybe disregarding LBJ). The build back better act did a lot to expand renewable energies for the USA. The stimulus checks during covid helped a lot of people stay out of poverty. The Inflation Reduction act forced Big Pharma to negotiate the prices of its medications with Medicare (and they hate that, they're still trying to get the courts to kill that part of the bill) and limited out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients, both of which will save elderly Americans billions of dollars overall. And he did all of that while never having a comfortable majority in Congress (unlike most of his predecessors). Meanwhile, I am sitting over here in Europe with a government calling itself "liberal-progressive" while slashing every single social policy item off their legislative agenda in favor of slashing the budget at all cost, Reagan style. That led to a party run by actual Nazis becoming massively stronger, because their opponents simply aren't getting things done. Joe Biden actually gets things done for poor Americans, and I wish we had someone like that.

One of the funniest things to come out around this era is when, either Don't Tell Me How To Live or We The People came out, Weird Al Yankovic thanked people for the compliments he got for his recent Kid Rock parody, only to clarify it was actually Kid Rock. One way you can tell in particular: with all the F-bombs in these songs, since Weird Al doesn't swear, like, at all.

Kid Rock sounds like he’s always about 5 seconds away from asking if I got my WOKE HAIRCUT at THE LIBERAL STORE

I was waiting for you to mention how he was supposedly kicked out of his own bar in Nashville when he was complaining about Nashville being filled with assholes. I was there the day it happened and I remember everyone talking about it

not to paraphrase Aaron Lewis, but am I the only one who can't stand All Summer Long? I fully acknowledge it's because of overplay, but I cannot emphasize enough how much I heard that song in Summer 08, especially for something that peaked at just 23 on the Hot 100 and 85 on the Year-End Chart

Having a rough time after moving to a new country and this has been a lovely little light in my week, thank you Todd <3

Setting the timer for Katy Perry to make the first double entry into Trainwreckords

„At least you should know what _you_ think“ is a great line. Also didn‘t expect a reference for Messrs Meine, Schenker et all in a Todd video!

This the anti-Witness.

IT'S NEVER ENOOOOOUGH MONEY IN THE BANK

My shameful confession is that I find Don't Tell Me What To Do hilarious. It's so over-the-top ridiculous and the only response I have is "Grandpa... Millennials are middle-aged now."

Wow, the rage is palpable in this one.

very funny that he calls a song 'bad reputation' yet the hook is clearly ripping off a different joan jett song.

I know sexism in Kid Rock songs is not new not particularly noteworthy but “all these underage whores” is another level.

I was surpised not to see a mention that the synth opening to 'Don't tell me what to do' is a blatant ripoff of the bassline from the ending of The Chain, with the final note changed.

I am so impressed with the amount of research and context that goes into your videos. This is another excellent one.

1) This honestly feels more like something that'd be created for a Wag the Dog-style parody than music meant to be listened to and enjoyed in the real world. 2) Playing in a Kid Rock cover band in a Kid Rock-themed restaurant in Nashville. My God, what'd you do to end up on that level of hell? 3) I don't want to go too far on a tangent here, but a big part of Biden's appeal is that he's boring, lame, and doesn't force us to spend every second being painfully aware of who the president is. In a rational world, the "let's put aside divisiveness and come together" talk would have worked after 2020, but since the Fuck Your Feelings crowd refuses to let Orange Jesus go, here we are...

Another excellent video Todd.

Hi, I'm a Brit but don't hold that against me! I don't much care for Todd's musical tastes - I'm a tad more perhaps esoteric - Mutemath, Adult Jazz, Christine and the Queens (who's last album was terrific), Diiv, I Am Kloot et al but I watch, and donate, because for me Todd is a funny fucker and his narratives and presentation is fantastic. Keep going fella! Just to add, Kid Rock is a c-nt!

i've never been so happy to get the notifcation that another $10.52 was paid to patreon <3

I appreciate the evolution of this series from just 'this is the bad album' to 'this is all the cultural context surrounding the bad album'. Makes these videos feel so much fuller, like they earn their runtime. ...At the same time I love when Todd just suspends his video essay-ness and throws tomatoes for a bit.

Okay, could someone please explain to me what's wrong with Bob Seiger's 'Shakedown'? Now, I'm not a huge Seiger fan, and of all his big singles it's probably my favorite, but I keep hearing it's one of his worst songs like it's a known fact and I'd like to know exactly why if anybody has any idea.

26:40 Are you sure it isn't "fight like a G"? It would make more sense, it rhymes better, and I can't hear a 'p' at the end (but I'm terrible at making out lyrics). Jeeps *were* originally WWII military vehicles, though they were more famous for killing their joyriding passengers than the enemy. 17:26 There was the old late-'60s/early-'70s peak of assertively anti-left music: "Okie From Muskogee", "The Ballad of the Green Berets", and much more notoriously "The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley". 19:02 It sounds like the dilemma of the guy who is (or at least was, in 2021) perfectly happy to move on from Trump to something more normal, someone who possibly never loved much of Trump's worst in the first place, but who isn't willing to betray or break from the Red Tribe, and who personally is unwilling to be seen to admit that he did anything wrong in supporting Trump. That would explain the confrontational parts being more "fuck me? No, fuck YOU" than anything substantive. [edited to add:] 23:10 I assume that "Bad Reputation" is partly about the reaction to his 2017 "wheels up" social-media post https://x.com/KidRock/status/891770708350644224 https://www.facebook.com/kidrock/photos/a.481255485048/10155379037905049 , in which he posted a photo of himself in his private jet with several err party girls. It doesn't seem to have quite made the mainstream news but it did get a lot of flak on social media, partly because ... oh God that's right, isn't it? I'd forgotten this bit! ... he was mulling a run for the US Senate at the time.

FUCK ALL YOU HOES DETROIT 'TILL I DIE, MOTHERFUCKER

"Wow harsh burn for the people there." GOLD

I've been keeping up an ultimate "Worst Lines of Trainwreckords" list that includes such examples as "peñius colada", "modren man", and most recently, Justin Timberlake being ““dirty””, aka stupid with "No, this ain't the clean version". If you are reading this, have the time, have watched this new episode, and think you know what the worst line of lyrics from the covered album is that is in this episode, I would appreciate leaving a reply with your opinion. I want to get an accurate consensus.

I got really into country music this year and it's been difficult grappling with how much less hated Trump is in that world.

"A liar would pander more successfully and an honest man would be more relatable, but a poser just gains no respect." Now that's a quote right there. Also, come on Todd, nothing about Never Enough, one of the songs of all time?

At first I was confused that Todd didn't know who Monster Truck are, but then I remembered they're Canadian so they get legally mandated radio play here, so I really shouldn't be surprised that that don't have much of a footprint in the US Also on behalf of all of Canada I apologize for inflicting *THAT* on you XD

As someone who always disliked Kid Rock even back when he was actually considered "cool", I guess I feel . . . okay, I was going to say "vindicated", but to be honest, I don't feel any kind of way about this. Granted I was already out of high school by the time "Bawitdaba" hit, but I always found him utterly ignorable. He made blandly noisy, tuneless music about partying, but it was never a party I wanted to be at because he just looked like he smelled of unwashed scrotum 24/7. I was vaguely aware that he was still around and that he was a vocal Trump supporter, but otherwise he hasn't really been on my radar in twenty years, and I can see that I haven't been missing out on anything. To me, Kid Rock just always was and always will be a mediocrity.

Personally I was never a big Kanye fan even at the beginning so it wasn't hard for me to cut him out, I like a few songs here and there but I never felt a desire to listen to a full album of his all the way through and never felt like I was missing much.

Just wanted to point out that when Eminem did his whole participation trophies rant he wasn't actually being serious like Kid Rock was, that whole song was about his Slim Shady persona saying deliberately offensive things which Eminem himself does not actually believe in real life, it's sad how many people miss the point of that song.

Part of me feels like you missed the point on the whole "when Trump closes the border, he's racist!" I think in that context he's not talking about the southern border closures and everything he's said about it, he's talking about how back in February 2020 he restricted travel from China as COVID was starting to spread and the media called him racist for it I think, idk maybe I'm off base

that JFK and trump line made me legit go WHAT THE FUCK at my screen..... the last line to do that was the robin Williams line crazy town did

I actually did hear of Monster Truck(Dee Snider recommended them) and as someone who genuinely liked them it was really dissapointing to see them ruin their good name by giving Kid Rock permission to use their music in that piece of shit song, there were a lot of people who were really pissed at Monster Truck's vocalist Jon Harvey for co-singing Kid Rock's garbage lyrics and when others in the industry rightfully called him out for it he made some really pathetic mealy-mouthed and cowardly defenses of the collaboration. If anything their reputation took a bigger hit then Rock's did, he was already kind of a joke even before that song hit but people actually respected Monster Truck but they became persona non-grata to many people once they showed they were willing to align with a wackjob like Bob Ritchie.

i actually do remember First Kiss, heard that song quite a bit on my local rock station and I was excited by the direction of that album it seemed like he was aging gracefully, Sweet Southern Sugar there was a little bit of his resentment towards his detractors that showed up on songs like "Po Dunk" but for the most part it was easy enough to ignore, sad that he sold his soul to a movement that ultimately didn't seem to pay much attention to him.

Of all the Trainwreckords episodes, this one I find the hardest to sit through I wish I could look at the faces I was making when Todd was letting the music play

It’s amazing how dated this album sounds considering it only came out two years ago

Could I suggest you turn up the level on your commentary? I just started listening, and I turn up the volume to hear you and then a music sample will come on twice as loud.

Remember, folks. When people like Kid Rock say "peace, love, and understanding," they mean "Shut up, Libturd." Treat them accordingly.

I'm ashamed to admit it but I did laugh at the "I just shit my PANTS" lyric on that one song

(Commenting before I watch). I see we have abandoned the 'career killer' criteria entirely.

"Screw you whiny children and pronoun snowflakes! We all need to get along and celebrate the diversity of America!"

When you said ‘No YOU shut the fuck up!’ that was so cathartic.

Genuinely surprised you didn't mention and mock Never Enough, the song with the awful autotune. It's an easy target but still stands out for how hilariously terrible it is

The reveal of the album debuting at #124 and your reaction to it made me laugh so hard.

I like the tone you went with at the end, there's no other appropriate reaction than just "pathetic". Btw I apologize for the negative comment on the last video, I watched it again and I understood it a lot better.

Todd, I'm quite disappointed you didn't mention the autotuned pile of shit known as "Never Enough". It has to be heard to be believed.

Shakedown honest to god would fit on the 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog game soundtrack.

This is the perfect spiritual successor to your video on Aaron Lewis and I’m here for it. I think you nailed it perfectly. I remember a tweet(?) from you back when I was still on Twitter where you genuinely asked if Kid Rock riding the MAGA train was genuine or if it was just a costume, a marketing ploy. I had always wanted to hear you speak more on that and this video did that. This also felt similar to the Arrested Development or the Hootie episode, where you’re more or less trying to solve the mystery of why something like this exists to begin with (and failed), rather than just explain why and how it failed. This episode was a real surprise and I loved every minute of it. Hope vacation was good, Todd.

Mostly save that for fradulant content creators Dang- is that a shot at debate bros?

Huh. I'd have never guessed a Conservative rapper makes shitty music. Such a rarity, nowadays.

A little early for this one yeah? Not complaining but just curious is all.

Didn’t Fantano give this album a Not Good? Guess this is the first Trainwreckord of the 2020’s to be covered on the show.