Anyone with ears can attest to the brilliance that is Matthew Shafer’s voice.
Shafer, or Uncle Kracker for you simpletons, was fresh and unknown until that day that will forever be remembered in history, the day on which he released what is now considered the greatest album to ever be heard. June 30th of the year 2000 marked the world’s first impression of Uncle Kracker with the instant classic, Double Wide.
Double Wide peaked at Number 7 on the Billboard Top 200, but will forever be remembered as Number 1 to his musical nieces and nephews. With a lineup consisting of no one that matters other than Kid Rock and our avuncular caucasian hero himself, they slowly rapped/rocked their way into our ears, and straight through to our hearts.
Uncle Kracker's music: so good its soundwaves are visible
Album highlight, “Follow Me,” was my idea of the ideal smooth-talker’s anthem. The song, which has undertones of excessive drug use and cheating on a spouse, was the big hit of the summer and was the first three tracks on my summer 2001 mixtape. Seven-year-old Jonathan learned every single word and would recite them upon request or any time he felt like it.
“Follow me everything is alright,
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night,
And if you want to leave I can guarantee,
You won’t find nobody else like me.”
Beautiful. Just hearing it now gives me shivers. Cockiness with just the slightest tone of comfort. That is exactly how I wanted Michelle Duncan in my 3rd grade class to feel as I sat her down and stared into her eyes, mouthing along the words to the song. Was she uncomfortable? No, she loved it. Besides, all the weird undertones (or blatant tones) went right over our heads.
We all thought the song was comparable to things like “I Want it That Way” or other classic Backstreet Boys hits like, “I’ll Be the One” or “I Need You Tonight.” We didn’t want to know what types of drugs Kid Rock and Uncle K were lighting up to when they were recording it, all we cared about was that little three minutes and thirty-five seconds we could share while she sat on the swing at recess listening to the song through my portable CD player. (Remember those?) Luckily for her, once the song ended, she got to enjoy it two more times.
Michelle wasn’t the only one that got the “Follow Me” love. Rembold family, remember our American Idol night? Remember how I made it through four rounds singing the same song every time? The reason I get so specific with these examples is because I know everyone shares one thing in life: We all love Uncle Kracker, specifically “Follow Me.” The names and faces are different, but the experiences are universal.
Is he the strongest performer? Absolutely. Do his lyrics imply that he cheated on his wife (who was his childhood sweetheart) while he was probably coked out of his mind? Definitely. Does that mean we can’t enjoy this masterpiece that is the defining song of the 2000s? The biggest no. There isn’t a day that goes by without me humming along to the iconic guitar riff. Dun-dun dun dun dun dun dun dun, dun dun, dun-dun dun dun dun dun dun dun. duun dun. So great.