Have you ever heard the saying, “you can do anything, but not everything?” Joe Exotic hasn’t.
Exotic (a stage name for Joseph Maldonado-Passage) has managed to own a big-cat zoo in Oklahoma, run a presidential and gubernational campaign, produce multiple country albums, be the star of a hit docuseries, and be sentenced to 22 years in prison for animal abuse and murder-for-hire. Hannah Montana is jealous of how many worlds he gets the best of.
If you haven’t seen “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” yet, there’s no way to describe it other than crazy. Throughout the docuseries, there are segments of Exotic singing in music videos–or so we think. It turns out Exotic’s not the true renaissance man we thought; he isn’t really singing or playing guitar in his music videos. In fact, he didn’t write the songs either. Exotic paid a group called The Clinton Johnson Band to write the songs for him, and he just recorded videos lip-syncing them.
I’ll admit, finding out he’s a phony singer doesn’t take away from the experience—it just adds more shock-value to his whole personality. He might even have a promising future in the lip-syncing drag queen industry when he’s released from prison. After all, Exotic did say he wanted to start completely over.
Exotic has five CDs available for purchase on Amazon, but they seem as sketchy as Carole Baskin’s meat grinder. They’re each $10, but I’ve read Exotic only has two or three albums. Since there are no track lists available anywhere, you don’t know if you’re paying $10 for a whole album or a single song.
Only a few of his songs are available on Spotify, but you’re able to find most of the songs and his music videos on his YouTube channel, “JoeExoticTV.”
Perhaps the most famous of them, with over 3.7 million views, is “Here Kitty Kitty.” The music video stars a scary-accurate look-alike of Carole Baskin, Exotic’s arch nemesis who owns Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. In the docuseries, it’s revealed that Baskin’s husband mysteriously disappeared in 1997. While many speculate Baskin had a hand in the disappearance, the case remains unsolved, as there is technically no proof Baskin is at fault. “Here Kitty Kitty” is Exotic’s theory on the incident: Baskin fed her husband to the Tigers.
While the Baskin look-alike happily feeds mystery meat to the tigers from a tray with a severed mannequin head, Exotic sings in the background wearing an equally mysterious black suit and hat. While Exotic isn’t actually singing, there is no doubt he’s committed to the theatrics. Having grown up in the Florida heat, I know for a fact the only way Exotic could wear a full suit of multiple black layers in the blazing sun is sheer dedication to his craft. For a song about feeding humans to tigers, the vocals are strangely calm and relaxing.
“I Saw a Tiger” is a heartfelt ballad about how Exotic’s life changed when he realized his love for big cats. The song urges hunters to lay down their guns so tigers can roam the jungle, and yes, it is ironic because Exotic keeps his tigers in cages. The music video cuts back and forth between Exotic cuddling with tiger cubs in an open field to him playing guitar on top of a flashing police car. The supposedly sweet song progressively becomes politically charged, as Exotic expresses his contempt for laws that ban privately owning big cats. I watched the entire docuseries, but for some reason, Exotic reminds me of Guy Fieri in this video. I think it’s the blonde hair and the beard. Dare I say, the song’s soothing vocals are taking us to Flavortown.
No, I daren’t. Forget I said it. Anyways!
What’s a country album without a love song? In “My First Love,” Exotic ironically pays tribute to his second husband. It’s important to note that “first love” doesn’t mean “only love,” as Exotic is an open polygamist. He even married two men at once in the same wedding ceremony. Talk about multitasking! “I Can’t Believe This Feeling” is another love song with a similar message but this time, with a more up-beat, pop feeling.
Exotic’s most recent song appeared on Spotify March 30 and is called “Make America Exotic Again.” This is the only song where Exotic actually voices the vocals himself. The song starts with a nice beat, and features a collaboration with the phone operator who sings, “Hello, this is a pre-paid collect call from Joe Exotic, an inmate at Florida Correctional Institution / This call is subject to recording and monitoring / You may start the conversation now.” I’m not going to lie, she was pretty monotone. Exotic could find better duet partners. Exotic then proceeds to freestyle over the beat with so many f-bombs, you’d think he’s stocking them up for quarantine. This song completely abandons the country genre and is straight up electric-pop. New cell, new sound—am I right folks? If Exotic has anything, whether in his albums or in general, it’s an impressive range!
Excellent article! I watched the documentary for its entertainment value only and had assumed there would be no more. I so appreciate the writer’s additional chapter of the saga. Well done!