I've exposed myself to all kinds of music over the past year, ranging from mainstream pop to experimental rock. However, since my (official) move to Nashville in late August, I've probably warmed up to country music the most. Looking at this year's Billboard Year-End Hot Country Songs Chart, there were actually enough songs that I liked for me to make a favorites list for this. So I figured: Why not?
10. Old Dominion - "Break Up With Him"
Writers: Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi
Year-End Position: #11
Hot Country Peak: #3
While this song and Old Dominion in general aren't anything special, this is still a pretty fun song. Old Dominion take a page from Sam Hunt's book by sing-speaking to a girl telling him to break up with the guy she's dating, trying to convince him that she's probably not really in love with him and should break up with him. It reminds me a little bit of "You Can't Do That" or "You're Going to Lose That Girl" by the Beatles.
Year-End Position: #11
Hot Country Peak: #3
While this song and Old Dominion in general aren't anything special, this is still a pretty fun song. Old Dominion take a page from Sam Hunt's book by sing-speaking to a girl telling him to break up with the guy she's dating, trying to convince him that she's probably not really in love with him and should break up with him. It reminds me a little bit of "You Can't Do That" or "You're Going to Lose That Girl" by the Beatles.
9. Frankie Ballard - "Young & Crazy"
Writers: Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
Year-End Position: #44
Hot Country Peak: #8
Frankie Ballard is a young gun from Michigan who now lives in Nashville, who started to gain attention in early 2014 for his then-new album Sunshine & Whiskey. While the album hasn't sold very well, the singles from the album have done very well; the album's first single "Helluva Life" as well as the title track have both gone gold in the United States, and also reached #1 on the Hot Country Airplay chart. This newer single, "Young & Crazy" is a rocker that's about taking time to appreciate life and making mistakes as a youngster, so that you can have great stories to tell to your grandkids when you get older. "How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise / If I ain't ever young and crazy?"
Year-End Position: #44
Hot Country Peak: #8
Frankie Ballard is a young gun from Michigan who now lives in Nashville, who started to gain attention in early 2014 for his then-new album Sunshine & Whiskey. While the album hasn't sold very well, the singles from the album have done very well; the album's first single "Helluva Life" as well as the title track have both gone gold in the United States, and also reached #1 on the Hot Country Airplay chart. This newer single, "Young & Crazy" is a rocker that's about taking time to appreciate life and making mistakes as a youngster, so that you can have great stories to tell to your grandkids when you get older. "How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise / If I ain't ever young and crazy?"
8. Little Big Town - "Girl Crush"
Writers: Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose
Year-End Position: #2
Hot Country Peak: #1
While this song's title is a sort of musical clickbait, Little Big Town's song "Girl Crush" is a wonderful example of a popular country artist taking classic influences for a newer song. While there was a bit of nepotism behind the song gaining as much popularity as it did, it's still a wonderful song. It sounds like something Dolly Parton may have recorded after recording "Jolene".
Year-End Position: #2
Hot Country Peak: #1
While this song's title is a sort of musical clickbait, Little Big Town's song "Girl Crush" is a wonderful example of a popular country artist taking classic influences for a newer song. While there was a bit of nepotism behind the song gaining as much popularity as it did, it's still a wonderful song. It sounds like something Dolly Parton may have recorded after recording "Jolene".
7. Lady Antebellum - "Long Stretch Of Love"
Writers: Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Josh Kear
Year-End Position: #79
Hot Country Peak: #23
I really hate that this song didn't get the attention it deserves, as it's one of Lady Antebellum's best songs, and in my opinion, the best song on 747. It's a rocker that is about as rockin' as it gets. As usual, the group's harmonies are awesome and the songwriting is as good as I would expect from Lady A and Josh Kear.
Year-End Position: #79
Hot Country Peak: #23
I really hate that this song didn't get the attention it deserves, as it's one of Lady Antebellum's best songs, and in my opinion, the best song on 747. It's a rocker that is about as rockin' as it gets. As usual, the group's harmonies are awesome and the songwriting is as good as I would expect from Lady A and Josh Kear.
6. Miranda Lambert - "Little Red Wagon"
Writers: Audra Mae, Joe Ginsburg
Year-End Position: #60
Hot Country Peak: #5
With Miranda Lambert's 2014 album Platinum, she continued to be one of modern country music's most popular and acclaimed artists. While her song "Something Bad" with Carrie Underwood is also awesome, the third single from the album, "Little Red Wagon" is probably my favorite of the singles. It's sassy and it rocks, and also contains the line "And I play guitar / And I go on the road / And I do all the sh*t you wanna do".
Year-End Position: #60
Hot Country Peak: #5
With Miranda Lambert's 2014 album Platinum, she continued to be one of modern country music's most popular and acclaimed artists. While her song "Something Bad" with Carrie Underwood is also awesome, the third single from the album, "Little Red Wagon" is probably my favorite of the singles. It's sassy and it rocks, and also contains the line "And I play guitar / And I go on the road / And I do all the sh*t you wanna do".
5. Maddie & Tae - "Girl In A Country Song"
Writers: Taylor Dye, Madison Marlow, Aaron Scherz
Year-End Position: #77
Hot Country Peak: #3
I didn't really get a chance to talk about this song last year... seeing as I really just listened to it earlier this year. However, it's really quite something that a song that was released in July 2014 is on the Year-End Chart for 2015, and for a good reason. It's a truly great song, with Maddie & Tae singing about their frustrations with how women are perceived in country songs, even going as far as to hilariously call them out by referencing certain songs ("And to you it ain't 'pretty little thing', 'hottie' or 'baby' / Yeah it's drivin' me red-red-red-red-red-red-redneck crazy"). Stuff like that has made Maddie & Tae one of the most exciting new country groups of the year.
Year-End Position: #77
Hot Country Peak: #3
I didn't really get a chance to talk about this song last year... seeing as I really just listened to it earlier this year. However, it's really quite something that a song that was released in July 2014 is on the Year-End Chart for 2015, and for a good reason. It's a truly great song, with Maddie & Tae singing about their frustrations with how women are perceived in country songs, even going as far as to hilariously call them out by referencing certain songs ("And to you it ain't 'pretty little thing', 'hottie' or 'baby' / Yeah it's drivin' me red-red-red-red-red-red-redneck crazy"). Stuff like that has made Maddie & Tae one of the most exciting new country groups of the year.
4. Chris Stapleton - "Tennessee Whiskey"
ORIGINALLY PERFORMED BY GEORGE JONES
Writers: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove
Year-End Position: #89
Hot Country Peak: #1
As I've noted, this song was originally performed by legend George Jones. At last month's CMAs in Nashville, this song was given new life when Chris Stapleton performed it with Justin Timberlake. As a result, sales of Stapleton's album Traveller nearly quadrupled, shooting the album to #1 where it stayed for two weeks. It also caused this cover to enter the Billboard Top 40 at #20, giving Stapleton his first-ever Top 40 hit. It's truly amazing what one little performance can do for an artist's career.
I feel like I should talk a little bit about the song itself, right? Well... it's awesome.
Writers: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove
Year-End Position: #89
Hot Country Peak: #1
As I've noted, this song was originally performed by legend George Jones. At last month's CMAs in Nashville, this song was given new life when Chris Stapleton performed it with Justin Timberlake. As a result, sales of Stapleton's album Traveller nearly quadrupled, shooting the album to #1 where it stayed for two weeks. It also caused this cover to enter the Billboard Top 40 at #20, giving Stapleton his first-ever Top 40 hit. It's truly amazing what one little performance can do for an artist's career.
I feel like I should talk a little bit about the song itself, right? Well... it's awesome.
3. Sam Hunt - "Leave the Night On"
Writers: Sam Hunt, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally
Year-End Position: #85
Hot Country Peak: #1
For some reason, this is another song I didn't talk about in last year's Favorite Pop Songs list. But now that I've warmed up to Sam Hunt more and have had chances to see him perform his songs live, I can't think of a better opportunity to talk about him and his songs.
Sure, this song is "bro-country" or "pop country", and yes, I am very well aware that there is debate over what genre Sam Hunt belongs in. To be quite honest, that doesn't really matter, because he's twangy enough for country and he ended up on the chart, so here I am talking about him. This song is a great tune. It has all the elements of a Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean song without all the stupid pandering that one of their songs brings. Sam Hunt is only going to grow stronger as a songwriter from here.
Year-End Position: #85
Hot Country Peak: #1
For some reason, this is another song I didn't talk about in last year's Favorite Pop Songs list. But now that I've warmed up to Sam Hunt more and have had chances to see him perform his songs live, I can't think of a better opportunity to talk about him and his songs.
Sure, this song is "bro-country" or "pop country", and yes, I am very well aware that there is debate over what genre Sam Hunt belongs in. To be quite honest, that doesn't really matter, because he's twangy enough for country and he ended up on the chart, so here I am talking about him. This song is a great tune. It has all the elements of a Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean song without all the stupid pandering that one of their songs brings. Sam Hunt is only going to grow stronger as a songwriter from here.
2. Cam - "Burning House"
Writers: Cam, Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson
Year-End Position: #19
Hot Country Peak: #4
"Burning House" is a song that seemingly came out of nowhere. This song is about Cam learning that an ex is going to be at a party she is attending, and later having a dream that he's stuck in a burning house and she has to go out and rescue him. It's a pretty sad song, and yet it just makes me so happy whenever I listen to it. Cam's lovely voice and songwriting make her stand out among her contemporaries. What else do I really need to say? Listen to it yourself if you haven't already!
Year-End Position: #19
Hot Country Peak: #4
"Burning House" is a song that seemingly came out of nowhere. This song is about Cam learning that an ex is going to be at a party she is attending, and later having a dream that he's stuck in a burning house and she has to go out and rescue him. It's a pretty sad song, and yet it just makes me so happy whenever I listen to it. Cam's lovely voice and songwriting make her stand out among her contemporaries. What else do I really need to say? Listen to it yourself if you haven't already!
1. Thomas Rhett - "Crash and Burn"
Writers: Chris Stapleton, Jesse Frasure
Year-End Position: #5
Hot Country Peak: #2
Country music is going in many different directions, and this song, which is far and above one of my favorite country songs of the year, is no exception. While Thomas Rhett is definitely in the bro-country camp, he has a lot of different influences, as last year's disco-flavored "Make Me Wanna" showed. This year, he's borrowing some elements of 60's and 70's R'n'B to make this awesome track.
"Crash and Burn" is just such a fun song that makes you want to roll down your windows on a sunny day and sing it at the top of your lungs. The great verses and massive chorus combined with the 60s-inspired music bring something that country music as a whole is starting to get more of: diversity.
Country fans as a whole have been resistant to their favorite genre going through changes and branching off into different directions, and I've never understood why. Sure, some artists jumped the shark by throwing in pointless verses from Nelly and Ludacris (*ahem*), but why is it bad that guys like Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett are bringing something new to the table and trying to keep the genre exciting? Maybe I'm just generalizing. I know that not all country fans are like that; I, for one, welcome this new change. I just don't think that everything needs to sound like George Strait, I guess.
Year-End Position: #5
Hot Country Peak: #2
Country music is going in many different directions, and this song, which is far and above one of my favorite country songs of the year, is no exception. While Thomas Rhett is definitely in the bro-country camp, he has a lot of different influences, as last year's disco-flavored "Make Me Wanna" showed. This year, he's borrowing some elements of 60's and 70's R'n'B to make this awesome track.
"Crash and Burn" is just such a fun song that makes you want to roll down your windows on a sunny day and sing it at the top of your lungs. The great verses and massive chorus combined with the 60s-inspired music bring something that country music as a whole is starting to get more of: diversity.
Country fans as a whole have been resistant to their favorite genre going through changes and branching off into different directions, and I've never understood why. Sure, some artists jumped the shark by throwing in pointless verses from Nelly and Ludacris (*ahem*), but why is it bad that guys like Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett are bringing something new to the table and trying to keep the genre exciting? Maybe I'm just generalizing. I know that not all country fans are like that; I, for one, welcome this new change. I just don't think that everything needs to sound like George Strait, I guess.