Format CD Length 5:01 | Recorded 2002 Label Polydor | |
Released 29 July 2002 (2002-07-29) Writer(s) George Michael
Philip Oakey
Ian Burden | ||
"Shoot the Dog" is a single by British singer George Michael, released as the second single from his album, Patience, though released a year and a half prior to the album. The song is a song which is anti George W. Bush. Released on 29 July 2002, it peaked at number one in Denmark and number 12 in the United Kingdom. The music video for the song is completely animated.
Contents
The single marked twenty years since the release of Wham!'s first single, "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", another politically charged song written by Michael. "Shoot the Dog" samples The Human League song, "Love Action (I Believe in Love)". "Shoot the Dog" also samples the song "Be Near Me" by pop group ABC, as well as Michael's own song "Fastlove" (1996).
Before being internationally released, it was shown before the animated movie Ice Age.
Music video
The music video featured animation provided by the satirical British cartoon series 2DTV.
The video starts in the White House where president George W. Bush is given an explanation about the current state of affairs in the world. Bush (depicted behaving like a naïve child) hasn't understood a word of it, so a general re-explains everything with the use of a hand puppet. Then the song starts and George Michael enters the White House, leaving a men's toilet (in reference to the April 1998 scandal when Michael was caught during a lewd act in a toilet). He, Bush and the general start dancing to the music before Michael leaves the scenery.
In the next scene, Michael leaves his house (dressed like Homer Simpson) and is bullied by his neighbour and his dog. Back home that night, the neighbour goes on tormenting him by playing loud music, which irritates George Michael and his family members (who are all clones of himself, and are dressed like The Simpsons). Then Michael–Homer chases the dog with a water gun, only to be shot himself. Three drag queen versions of Michael (of which one of them looks like Marge Simpson) start dancing to the music, only to be bothered by Geri Halliwell.
Then George Michael (as himself) walks to the White House lawn where President Bush throws a ball so his dog can fetch it. British Prime Minister Tony Blair chases and returns the ball instead, cuddled by Bush in reward. Michael continues his walk and enters Iraq where he accidentally steps on a missile, launched to England, while Saddam Hussein praises the act. Michael rides the missile (possibly in homage to Major Kong's final scene in Dr Strangelove), until it crashes in Blair's bedroom where Cherie Blair tries to get his attention, but Blair is only interested in Bush, who suddenly crawls into their bed.
In the next scene, three versions of George Michael dance next to each other (all are references to other musical periods of his professional career). Back on the White House lawn Blair tries to catch another ball thrown by Bush, but it changes into a missile which then crashes into the Michaels/Simpsons' house. There Blair watches television with the family. Trevor McDonald announces a world war, but shrugs his shoulders not knowing what to do. Blair changes the channel to the Golden Jubilee, where Elizabeth II and Prince Charles are seen greeting people from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Now with a hairstyle similar to Phil Oakey, Michael jumps on the balcony and starts dancing with the Queen and one of her dogs. Prince Charles tries to do the same but moves completely out of rhythm. Then the Queen's crown falls of her head and lands on Charles' head. He is excited, but then bitten in his behind by the dog.
Meanwhile, Michael jumps to two large groups of soldiers. He sticks flowers into their guns (a reference to the famous picture of hippie protesters by Bernie Boston) and then strips to his underwear before jumping on Cherie Blair's bed. She quickly changes the channel of the television set she's watching, and the scene changes to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with David Beckham and Paul Scholes playing soccer. Tony Blair appears in American football attire, and changes the football into an American football before leaving the stadium. Pierluigi Collina gives him a red card, while David Seaman starts crying with laughter.
While Michael seduces Cherie, Tony Blair uses Great Britain as a speedboat to annex his country to the United States. In the final scene, Michael dances in a cowboy outfit, joined by Bush and Blair, before the two politicians leave the scene together. Then other clones of Michael jump in to join him, until they all resemble the Village People. Bush and Blair re enter the scene dancing the tango together, and the song ends.
Back in the White House, President Bush liked the song so much, that he asks his general to repeat everything. The general is not pleased.
Formats and track listings
United Kingdom CD single
- "Shoot the Dog" (Explicit Album Version) – 5:03
- "Shoot the Dog" (Moogymen Mix) – 7:19
United Kingdom Enhanced CD single
- "Shoot the Dog" (Explicit Album Version) – 5:03
- "Shoot the Dog" (Moogymen Mix) – 7:19
- "Shoot the Dog" (Alex Kid Shoot The Radio Remix) – 3:57
- "Shoot the Dog" (Video) – 5:31
United Kingdom DVD single
- "Shoot the Dog" – 5:35
- "Freeek!" – 4:33