Hot Country Songs -- June 2, 2007
It's been too long since I've posted. Rather than bore you with my life (which I'll do if you ask me to in a comment to this post -- a lot has happened), I'm going to do something that might become a regular feature: my thoughts on the current top 25 in country music, as listed by Billboard.
25. I Got More -- Cole Deggs and the Lonesome
I'll admit, I'm not too familiar with this song. I've only heard it a couple of times. But it seems like a promising debut for Cold Eggs ... I mean, Cole Deggs.
24. All My Friends Say -- Luke Bryan
This is a fun, rocking song. It probably won't get much higher than this, though being on a major label (Capitol) will help him. That's a sad statement on the status of country radio (Steve Holy's "Come On Rain" and Heartland's "Built To Last" should have had more play than they did), but that's another point for another time.
23. A Little More You -- Little Big Town
I like the song, don't get me wrong. But "Good As Gone" lived too shortly on the charts, and was a better song than this. That's a sad statement on the status of country radio and its treatment of female vocalists who aren't Carrie Underwood or Jennifer Nettles, but that's another point for another time.
22. Guys Like Me -- Eric Church
A good third effort from him. I still like "How Bout You" best from him, however.
21. Tough -- Craig Morgan
I'm conflicted on this song. The first verse can be a statement to the toughness of women in general, and could be used as a theme by anyone toward a special woman in their life. But the second verse really restricts that; don't get me wrong, I like the cancer survivor twist, but it really limits who we can apply the song towards.
20. I Wonder -- Kellie Pickler
This song is decent due to its old-school feel, though I have a feeling she won't be accepted into country music for a while after being a middle-of-the-road Idol aspirant.
19. These Are My People -- Rodney Atkins
They made a wise choice making this the third single from If You're Going Through Hell as it really doesn't have a lasting appeal like his first two singles had. I hope they delay his next album long enough to come out with "Invisibly Shaken" after this, as that's the best song on the album. A side note, the song loses a lot rhythmically and poetically when "busting our asses" becomes "busting our backs."
18. A Different World -- Bucky Covington
He's been ridiculed or loved by country music, depending on where you turn; there's little middle ground. And while it's a little bit strange for a 20-something to be talking about his childhood in the 1950s, it's better-delivered and musically more appealing than a lot of music out today.
17. I Need You -- Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
Finally, a song where both are credited and both do something on the record, although surprisingly they never actually sing together. It's not as good of a song as "Last Dollar," however, and this song's presence on the charts will likely hurt Faith's "Lost" from making a dent on the charts. (That and "Lost" is more of an R&B/AC song anyway.)
16. Teardrops On My Guitar -- Taylor Swift
A strange censorship has occurred to this song on some stations, as I guess a 16-year-old isn't allowed to say "damn." It's too similar to "Tim McGraw" to have lasting appeal, however.
15. Johnny Cash -- Jason Aldean
Another instance of strange censorship, as I've heard three different versions of this song: "Screw you, man," versus "I'm outta here, man," and "The Man in Black gonna rock your ass again" or nothing at all, getting played in various permutations depending on the station. It's not really a good song, however; the John Rich element is evident in the semi-rapped verses and hard-rockish sound. "Why" was ten times better than this.
14. Startin' With Me -- Jake Owen
After being on the charts for over eight months, it's time to find a new single. It's not bad, but its constant "This is why my life sucks" element gets old by the second verse.
13. Don't Make Me -- Blake Shelton
Another song on the charts for over half a calendar year, it's a shame that this struggles to get airplay while "Some Beach" and "The Baby" go to #1. His best song is still "Ol' Red."
12. Lost In This Moment -- Big & Rich
I usually don't like wedding songs from country artists, but this song is just so well done that I just love it to death. While "Never Mind Me" should have gone much higher than #34 (and should have flourished on AC radio), this song is now probably my third favorite Big & Rich song (behind that and "Wild West Show"), and since they're one of my favorite groups that's saying a lot. This song is playing at my wedding, if and when that occurs.
11. I Told You So -- Keith Urban
This song is awesome simply because of the Irish feel to the orchestration, and the almost marching band-ish percussion. You know, for an artist whose music I almost universally despise, I might have to change my tune after this and "Stupid Boy." That doesn't excuse the abomination that was "Once In A Lifetime," however.
10. Lucky Man -- Montgomery Gentry
This has been done before, both melodically and content-wise, by basically every other country artist. To be blunt, where did this act's balls go?
9. Wrapped -- George Strait
He could sing the Oscar Mayer jingle and have it go to #1. He hasn't taken a chance in years, but his songs are almost always worthy of being considered the best there is ("She Let Herself Go" the most recent exception).
8. Stand -- Rascal Flatts
Every song from Me And My Gang released has been worse than the one before it. "What Hurts The Most" was a great song, if more pop than country. "Me And My Gang" was nothing more than a "Comin' To Your City" ripoff, and "My Wish" and this are practically the same song, neither of which do anything for me.
7. Settlin' -- Sugarland
I disliked Jennifer Nettles' voice on "Baby Girl" and "Something More," found it passable in "(Just Might) Make Me Believe," and loved "Down In Mississippi (Up To No Good)." The second album's singles were definitely an improvement in her voice, with "Want To" and "Settlin'," so I was ready to say I actually liked her voice. Then they released "Everyday America" as their next single. Ew.
6. Find Out Who Your Friends Are -- Tracy Lawrence
This is misleading, as the reason this song is so high is because the version with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney is getting all of the airplay. Which is too bad, as the version with just Tracy is a lot better than the ones with his friends. But Tracy Lawrence alone doesn't get airplay anymore, unless it's one of his waltzes from the 1990s.
5. A Woman's Love -- Alan Jackson
I'm glad he's back up high in the charts, though I wish it could have been with "Like Red On A Rose" or "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues." But oh well, apparently this is why I'm not working in country radio, as my tastes don't match theirs.
4. Ticks -- Brad Paisley
He has a great sense of humor, and it shines in this song. Some people are grossed out by the nature of the pickup line, but I find it funny and a good bad pickup line for someone not very well-versed in the world of pickup lines to use, which I assume is what he intended for the character in the song.
3. High Maintenance Woman -- Toby Keith
"Crash Here Tonight" was a better song, and it peaked at #15. Shows what I know. I'm a little concerned as to Toby's creativity, as "A Little Too Late" lifted a couple of lines from Mark Chesnutt's "Little Too Late," and now a quick search on iTunes shows that this idea for high maintenance woman/maintenance man was used five years earlier by a no-name country singer.
2. Moments -- Emerson Drive
This song is the 2007 version of "If You're Going Through Hell" in terms of chart progression, which is ironic since the same songwriters wrote both songs. This is easily the best song of 2007, however, and I hope that when it hits #1 it stays there for a long time.
1. Good Directions -- Billy Currington
I never really liked Billy Currington's music until hearing this song, and I'm happy for him it's now a multi-week #1 song. Musically, it's the type of song that usually peaks at about #15, so it's amazing it's been this successful. It's catchy, too.
There. That's my thoughts for the week of June 2, 2007.
25. I Got More -- Cole Deggs and the Lonesome
I'll admit, I'm not too familiar with this song. I've only heard it a couple of times. But it seems like a promising debut for Cold Eggs ... I mean, Cole Deggs.
24. All My Friends Say -- Luke Bryan
This is a fun, rocking song. It probably won't get much higher than this, though being on a major label (Capitol) will help him. That's a sad statement on the status of country radio (Steve Holy's "Come On Rain" and Heartland's "Built To Last" should have had more play than they did), but that's another point for another time.
23. A Little More You -- Little Big Town
I like the song, don't get me wrong. But "Good As Gone" lived too shortly on the charts, and was a better song than this. That's a sad statement on the status of country radio and its treatment of female vocalists who aren't Carrie Underwood or Jennifer Nettles, but that's another point for another time.
22. Guys Like Me -- Eric Church
A good third effort from him. I still like "How Bout You" best from him, however.
21. Tough -- Craig Morgan
I'm conflicted on this song. The first verse can be a statement to the toughness of women in general, and could be used as a theme by anyone toward a special woman in their life. But the second verse really restricts that; don't get me wrong, I like the cancer survivor twist, but it really limits who we can apply the song towards.
20. I Wonder -- Kellie Pickler
This song is decent due to its old-school feel, though I have a feeling she won't be accepted into country music for a while after being a middle-of-the-road Idol aspirant.
19. These Are My People -- Rodney Atkins
They made a wise choice making this the third single from If You're Going Through Hell as it really doesn't have a lasting appeal like his first two singles had. I hope they delay his next album long enough to come out with "Invisibly Shaken" after this, as that's the best song on the album. A side note, the song loses a lot rhythmically and poetically when "busting our asses" becomes "busting our backs."
18. A Different World -- Bucky Covington
He's been ridiculed or loved by country music, depending on where you turn; there's little middle ground. And while it's a little bit strange for a 20-something to be talking about his childhood in the 1950s, it's better-delivered and musically more appealing than a lot of music out today.
17. I Need You -- Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
Finally, a song where both are credited and both do something on the record, although surprisingly they never actually sing together. It's not as good of a song as "Last Dollar," however, and this song's presence on the charts will likely hurt Faith's "Lost" from making a dent on the charts. (That and "Lost" is more of an R&B/AC song anyway.)
16. Teardrops On My Guitar -- Taylor Swift
A strange censorship has occurred to this song on some stations, as I guess a 16-year-old isn't allowed to say "damn." It's too similar to "Tim McGraw" to have lasting appeal, however.
15. Johnny Cash -- Jason Aldean
Another instance of strange censorship, as I've heard three different versions of this song: "Screw you, man," versus "I'm outta here, man," and "The Man in Black gonna rock your ass again" or nothing at all, getting played in various permutations depending on the station. It's not really a good song, however; the John Rich element is evident in the semi-rapped verses and hard-rockish sound. "Why" was ten times better than this.
14. Startin' With Me -- Jake Owen
After being on the charts for over eight months, it's time to find a new single. It's not bad, but its constant "This is why my life sucks" element gets old by the second verse.
13. Don't Make Me -- Blake Shelton
Another song on the charts for over half a calendar year, it's a shame that this struggles to get airplay while "Some Beach" and "The Baby" go to #1. His best song is still "Ol' Red."
12. Lost In This Moment -- Big & Rich
I usually don't like wedding songs from country artists, but this song is just so well done that I just love it to death. While "Never Mind Me" should have gone much higher than #34 (and should have flourished on AC radio), this song is now probably my third favorite Big & Rich song (behind that and "Wild West Show"), and since they're one of my favorite groups that's saying a lot. This song is playing at my wedding, if and when that occurs.
11. I Told You So -- Keith Urban
This song is awesome simply because of the Irish feel to the orchestration, and the almost marching band-ish percussion. You know, for an artist whose music I almost universally despise, I might have to change my tune after this and "Stupid Boy." That doesn't excuse the abomination that was "Once In A Lifetime," however.
10. Lucky Man -- Montgomery Gentry
This has been done before, both melodically and content-wise, by basically every other country artist. To be blunt, where did this act's balls go?
9. Wrapped -- George Strait
He could sing the Oscar Mayer jingle and have it go to #1. He hasn't taken a chance in years, but his songs are almost always worthy of being considered the best there is ("She Let Herself Go" the most recent exception).
8. Stand -- Rascal Flatts
Every song from Me And My Gang released has been worse than the one before it. "What Hurts The Most" was a great song, if more pop than country. "Me And My Gang" was nothing more than a "Comin' To Your City" ripoff, and "My Wish" and this are practically the same song, neither of which do anything for me.
7. Settlin' -- Sugarland
I disliked Jennifer Nettles' voice on "Baby Girl" and "Something More," found it passable in "(Just Might) Make Me Believe," and loved "Down In Mississippi (Up To No Good)." The second album's singles were definitely an improvement in her voice, with "Want To" and "Settlin'," so I was ready to say I actually liked her voice. Then they released "Everyday America" as their next single. Ew.
6. Find Out Who Your Friends Are -- Tracy Lawrence
This is misleading, as the reason this song is so high is because the version with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney is getting all of the airplay. Which is too bad, as the version with just Tracy is a lot better than the ones with his friends. But Tracy Lawrence alone doesn't get airplay anymore, unless it's one of his waltzes from the 1990s.
5. A Woman's Love -- Alan Jackson
I'm glad he's back up high in the charts, though I wish it could have been with "Like Red On A Rose" or "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues." But oh well, apparently this is why I'm not working in country radio, as my tastes don't match theirs.
4. Ticks -- Brad Paisley
He has a great sense of humor, and it shines in this song. Some people are grossed out by the nature of the pickup line, but I find it funny and a good bad pickup line for someone not very well-versed in the world of pickup lines to use, which I assume is what he intended for the character in the song.
3. High Maintenance Woman -- Toby Keith
"Crash Here Tonight" was a better song, and it peaked at #15. Shows what I know. I'm a little concerned as to Toby's creativity, as "A Little Too Late" lifted a couple of lines from Mark Chesnutt's "Little Too Late," and now a quick search on iTunes shows that this idea for high maintenance woman/maintenance man was used five years earlier by a no-name country singer.
2. Moments -- Emerson Drive
This song is the 2007 version of "If You're Going Through Hell" in terms of chart progression, which is ironic since the same songwriters wrote both songs. This is easily the best song of 2007, however, and I hope that when it hits #1 it stays there for a long time.
1. Good Directions -- Billy Currington
I never really liked Billy Currington's music until hearing this song, and I'm happy for him it's now a multi-week #1 song. Musically, it's the type of song that usually peaks at about #15, so it's amazing it's been this successful. It's catchy, too.
There. That's my thoughts for the week of June 2, 2007.