2012 – Page 9 – Country Universe

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Grown Men Don’t Cry”

August 6, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 14

2001 | Peak: #1

This is one of Tim McGraw’s most polarizing singles, with perhaps more falling down on the “hate it” than the “love it” side of things.

I love it. I really do. Part of that love is from a combination of the vivid imagery and McGraw’s plaintive vocal performance.

Single Review: Randy Rogers Band, "One More Sad Song"

August 5, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 13

One more bad song, really.

I get that all those eighties hair bands had the big guitars come in at the chorus when they tackled the ballads. I also realize that for them, impassioned yelling was how a rocker showed he truly felt what he was singing.

Retro Single Review: Shania Twain, "Thank You Baby! (For Makin' Someday Come So Soon)"

August 3, 2012 Ben Foster 9

2003 | #11 (U.K.), #17 (Austria), #20 (Germany)

The song with the ridiculously long title was released as the fourth international single from Up! It performed respectably in some markets, but did not match the success of the previous singles from the project.

It also reaffirmed Twain’s affinity for parentheses, which apparently ranked as her second-favorite punctuation mark behind only the exclamation point.

Retro Single Review: George Strait, "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')"

August 2, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 7

1988 | Peak: #1

Strait’s fifteenth #1 single, and eighth in a row, was a cover of a #2 Faron Young hit from 1954.

100 Greatest Men: #41. Ronnie Milsap

August 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 10

100 Greatest Men: The Complete List

A first class musician with R&B roots, Ronnie Milsap brought contemporary pop sophistication to the country music of his time, and it made him a superstar.

Country Universe Turns Eight: An Introduction

July 31, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 12

Way back in July 2004, Country Universe went live on its original Blogspot home. This month marks its eighth anniversary. Today, our writers are sharing their thoughts about the site and some of their favorite posts from the past eight years.

Country Universe Turns Eight: Jonathan's View

July 31, 2012 Jonathan Keefe 2

I distinctly remember the google search that first led me to Country Universe back in early 2006. I was listening to Joy Lynn White’s “comeback” album, One More Time, and I was curious about the songwriter behind her mid-90s single “Wild Love,” the cassingle for which I had somehow misplaced.

Country Universe Turns Eight: Ben's Best

July 31, 2012 Ben Foster 4

The eight-year mark is definitely a noteworthy milestone in the transitory world of the internet. Country Universe’s longevity is both a substantial accomplishment –particularly on Kevin’s part – as well as a testament to the site’s enduring appeal.

Country Universe Turns Eight: Tara's Take

July 31, 2012 Tara Seetharam 5

How to define Country Universe? Thoughtful, authentic, accessible, open-minded – all qualities established long before I came on board. Eight years in, it’s still home to a rare breed of music criticism that knows no boundaries when it comes to what moves people. I treasure that.

Country Universe Turns Eight: Dan's Perspective

July 31, 2012 Dan Milliken 3

Like Jonathan, I first discovered Country Universe via random Google search. It was during my first semester at Belmont University in Nashville, and Carrie Underwood had just released Carnival Ride.