LAUNCH (June 12th 2003)

Blake Shelton Takes Video Cue From Nirvana

Blake Shelton said the concept for his new video, "Heavy Liftin'," came from watching videos on MTV and VH-1. Shelton had one very definite idea for the video, which was filmed in Nashville. "When we sat down to talk about doing a video for 'Heavy Liftin',' the only thing I knew I wanted to do was some sort of a performance thing,” Shelton said. “There's some cool rock and pop videos that I've been seeing that got me thinking, 'Man, that'd be a cool country video!'"

Shelton was particularly inspired by one video he saw, which focused the clip on the song and not so much the artist. "I saw one that Nirvana did called, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ their biggest hit, I think. I thought, 'Man, that is just cool! That's just people in a room just into themselves,' you know? It has nothing to do with me, and that's what I wanted the cast on this video to do. I wanted them to be into themselves, not acting like they're excited that I'm there. I wanted them to be excited about the song."

"Heavy Liftin'" is currently airing on CMT (Country Music Television) and GAC (Great American Country).

The single continues to climb the country charts.

Shelton has been tapped as the opening act on Toby Keith's upcoming Shock 'N Y'all tour, which kicks off on Sunday (June 15), in Dearborn, Michigan.