Released August 20, 2001 Recorded 2000 Length 3:04 | Format CD single Genre Country, country rap Label DreamWorks | |
"I Wanna Talk About Me" is a song written by Bobby Braddock and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in August 2001 as the second single from Keith's album Pull My Chain. The song was his seventh Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.
Contents
Background
Keith told Billboard magazine that he knew he would get "banged a little" for cutting the song. "They're going to call it a rap, [although] there ain't nobody doing rap who would call it a rap."
Content
Like Keith's 1998 single "Getcha Some", "I Wanna Talk About Me" is cited as an example of country-rap, due to the use of a strong beat and rhythmically spoken lyrics. Songwriter Bobby Braddock ("He Stopped Loving Her Today") was inspired to write a song in that style after hearing "Getcha Some" and pitched it to Keith. "I Wanna Talk About Me" tells of a male's frustration in his inability to converse with his partner, who wants to talk about herself. In the chorus, the singer states "I like talking about you, you, you, you, usually / But occasionally / I wanna talk about me". A musical strength of the song is its use of a I-V-vi-IV arpeggio played in a punchy rhythm.
Blake Shelton was originally slated to record the song. However, his label turned it down, as they thought it would be too risky of a debut single.
Critical reception
Ray Waddell, of Billboard magazine in his review of the album, said that a lot of men will be able to relate to the song, "which Keith manages to sell through sheer force of personality."
Music video
The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and shows Keith following a girl around while she talks about different things that interest her. It was released in August 2001.
Chart performance
"I Wanna Talk About Me" debuted at number 51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 25, 2001.