The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121

December 16, 2009 Dan Milliken Decade in Review 27

The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121

#140
“Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
Bon Jovi featuring Jennifer Nettles
2005
Peak: #1

Packed as country music has been lately with rocked-up little singalongs, perhaps it was only natural that one of the leading bands in rocked-up little singalongs should cross over for a bit to show everybody how it’s done. It was newcomer Nettles, though, who stole this show, driving Bon Jovi’s ditty home with an infectiously joyful performance. – Dan Milliken

139 Johnny Cash V

#139
“God’s Gonna Cut You Down”
Johnny Cash
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The arrangement is cool enough, but it’s Cash’s stoic, slicing vocal performance that makes his version of this song so memorable. – Tara Seetharam

138 Vince Next Big

#138
“Young Man’s Town”
Vince Gill
2003
Peak: #44

Vince Gill, one of the most gracious and graceful artists in country music, is surely qualified to sing this gentle warning to his fellow artists who are being replaced by younger faces. He humbly advises, “Just teach ’em what you know an’ pass it on down.” There’s no doubt that this song was just as much for him as it was for others. – Leeann Ward

137 Brooks Dunn Deluxe

#137
“Believe”
Brooks & Dunn
2005
Peak: #8

This song is no doubt a bit much for some, but that’s kind of what makes it work. It’s a shameless, deep profession of faith, brought to life by a simple yet profound story. – TS

136 Gretchen Here

#136
“When I Think About Cheatin'”
Gretchen Wilson
2005
Peak: #4

I love me some “Redneck Woman” bravado, but Wilson is most effective at traditional ballads like this one, on which she aptly blends tenderness and tenacity. – TS

177 Sara Fine

#135
“Coalmine”
Sara Evans
2006
Peak: #37

Released at an unfortunate time, “Coalmine” likely never reached its potential as a radio hit. An unshakably fun song, it did not focus on the trials of coalmines, but rather the steamy relationship of a hardworking coalmine worker: “Gonna keep him busy ‘til it’s time/That he goes back to that coalmine.” – LW

135 Tim McGraw Live

#134
“Drugs or Jesus”
Tim McGraw
2005
Peak: #14

McGraw rejects society’s tendency to judge and divide people solely by the face of their conduct, making the provocative observation that we use drugs and religion to address the same core needs. – DM

134 Dolly Halos

#133
“Hello God”
Dolly Parton
2002
Peak: #60

A pleading, conflicted, beautifully honest prayer of a song. – TS

Dixie Chicks Home high quality

#132
“Landslide”
Dixie Chicks
2002
Peak: #2

Amazing how a Fleetwood Mac cover provides one of the purest country moments on a pretty pure country album to start with. As a vocal group, I don’t think they ever sounded better than they do on this track. – Kevin Coyne

131 Lonestar Greatest Hits

#131
“Walking in Memphis”
Lonestar
2003
Peak: #8

Speaking of surprisingly great covers of pop songs, Richie McDonald’s performance of this Marc Cohn hit is so commanding and soulful that it makes the original – which was already solid – sound like a demo. Arguably Lonestar’s finest moment. – DM

188 Sara Restless

#130
“Backseat of a Greyhound Bus”
Sara Evans
2003
Peak: #16

Redemption comes not from the forgiveness of the judgmental town that has banished this single mom-to-be, but from the pure and selfless love that she has for her newborn child. – KC

129 Faith Hill Breathe hi res

#129
“If My Heart Had Wings”
Faith Hill
2001
Peak: #3

One of those rare country songs that demands you turn the radio up and roll the windows down. Unless it’s winter. Then just rock out with the windows closed. – KC

128 George Strait Just

#128
“Give It Away”
George Strait
2006
Peak: #1

Jamey Johnson wrote it, but George Strait sings the fire out of it. Instead of quibbling over who gets what, the woman just says, “give it away.” She’s so done with their relationship that she has no use for anything connected with it. Now, that’s a bitter ending if there ever was one. – LW

127 Brooks Dunn Red Dirt

#127
“Red Dirt Road”
Brooks & Dunn
2003
Peak: #1

Want to make your nostalgic country-rock song stick out from the pack? Two tips: 1) Fill it with memorable details that tell an actual story – bonus points if you can rhyme a main character’s name with “blackberries.” 2) Have Ronnie Dunn sing it. – DM

126 Craig Morgan Little

#126
“Tough”
Craig Morgan
2007
Peak: #11

I come from a family of matriarchs who are far stronger than the men who put up the appearances of being tough. I’ve seen this exact scenario play out more than once, and it’s spot-on. – KC

125 Kenny Sun Goes

#125
“I Go Back”
Kenny Chesney
2004
Peak: #2

A Chesney-style reminder that one of music’s best and most powerful qualities is its reminiscent, transcendental nature. – TS

124 Kid Rock Cocky

#124
“Picture”
Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow
2002
Peak: #21

Kid Rock does such a good job of writing a pure country song that it sounds like a cover of a classic than a Kid Rock original. – LW

123 Rodney Outsider

#123
“Dancin’ Circles ‘Round the Sun (Epictetus Speaks)”
Rodney Crowell
2005
Peak: Did not chart

Who needs self-help books when you can just listen to Rodney Crowell? The bouncy “Dancin’ Circles ‘Round the Sun” is surely a more fun way to get your positive fix. – LW

Kenny Lucky

#122
“Down the Road”
Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
2008
Peak: #1

I don’t know if it’s the layered textures of Chesney’s and McAnally’s voices, or the way each artist is a poignant storyteller in his own right, or the simplistic, bittersweet story of giving a child away – but something about this song touches me deep inside. – TS

121 John Anderson Easy

#121
“A Woman Knows”
John Anderson
2007
Peak: Did not chart

“A Woman Knows” is a first-rate cheating song. While everything seems perfect on the surface, Anderson suggests that a woman knows when it’s not quite right. He sings this song as a man who knows it just as well as the woman.

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