In this batch, chart-topping hits from Chad Brock, Mickey Gilley, and Keith Urban.
#770
Keith Urban, “Long Hot Summer”
#1 | 2011
JK: Significantly diminished returns on the material he did so well a decade prior. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
KJC: Am I the only one who thinks this starts off like a countrified “Jessie’s Girl?” It certainly gets less interesting as it progresses. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
#769
Mickey Gilley, “Room Full of Roses”
#1 | 1974
KJC: Mickey Gilley has seventeen #1 hits, and there are three of them on this list. This is the best of those three, and I still wouldn’t have it quite this high. Too High
JK: I’ll admit that I’m not very familiar with Gilley; this single wouldn’t have been on my radar to include on a list like this, but I’m not mad that it’s here. I wouldn’t have it ahead of several entries we’ve already seen, though. Too High
#768
Luke Bryan, “That’s My Kind of Night”
#1 | 2013
JK: Once he landed on his bro-country prototype with “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” he started repeating himself almost instantly. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
KJC: It’s such a waste to have a singer with such a deep twang not even use it. I winced when he name dropped T-Pain just so he could rhyme it with rain. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
#767
Anne Murray, “Daydream Believer”
#3 | 1980
KJC: She sings this beautifully, but I am stunned that this cover and one other track are all that this list deemed worthy of inclusion from the catalog of one of the biggest female artists of her era. Not even the song that won Single of the Year is on this list. So Wrong (This Song)
JK: A fine rendition of one of the most beautiful songs in the pop canon. My least cool musical opinion: The best version of this song was an album track on Susan Boyle’s debut. I don’t see this as an especially impactful country single; of her pop covers, I’d go to bat for “Danny’s Song,” instead. So Wrong (This Song)
#766
Chad Brock, “Yes!”
#1 | 2000
JK: I cannot with this single. I know it was a massive radio hit, but its lyrics have the sophistication of a not-particularly-gifted second grader’s attempt at writing dialogue for a short story. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
KJC: Didn’t I name this the worst single of the 2000s? Why, Yes! Yes! I did. Trade it out for “Ordinary Life” and then drop it 200 slots. So Wrong (This Song)
#765
Garth Brooks, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”
#8 | 1989
KJC: It is no exaggeration to say that the breakthrough single of almost every big artist that broke through from like, 1986-1992, is good enough to be on this list. This is only the third best single from his debut album, and it’s still a classic. Too Low
JK: One of Garth’s finest singles, full-stop. And what a blessing that he got to this lyric before he started over-singing everything. Too Low
#764
George Jones, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)”
#8 | 1981
JK: Another example of what this list could and should have been. Praise the Lord. About Right
KJC: They didn’t go lazy with Jones and just pick his biggest chart hits. The first verse might be the most haunting and vivid portrayal of alcoholism in country music history. About Right
#763
Carrie Underwood, “Good Girl”
#1 | 2012
KJC: I have no problem with all of the Blown Away singles being on this list. However, this should be the lowest ranked of the four. Too High
JK: Underwood affects a ridiculous growl on a flat-out stupid song that is in no way worth the effort. That they ranked this ahead of “Blown Away” is laughable. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)
#762
Emmylou Harris, “Save the Last Dance For Me”
#4 | 1979
JK: I really do not understand the logic of their choices for Harris. This cover is lovely, of course, but it’s hardly one of her signature or most significant recordings. I’d trade this out for “Easy From Now On” or the non-hit “Thanks to You.” So Wrong (This Song)
KJC: As much as I love this cover, it’s not even as interesting to me as the synth-drenched Dolly Parton take from a couple of years later. The correct single for inclusion from this album is “Beneath Still Waters,” which was a #1 hit to boot. So Wrong (This Song)
#761
Alan Jackson, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”
#1 | 2001
KJC: What Jackson achieved with this record was capturing a specific moment of national unity that faded fairly quickly, which was documented just as well by the jingoistic anthems that followed in its wake. In retrospect, his conclusion that “faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us, and the greatest is love” seems hopelessly quaint. Or fearlessly radical. Too Low
JK: The sincerity of Jackson’s effort to tackle real calamity with grace and empathy is more admirable than was his execution of that effort. The song should be included for its cultural impact, but it simply isn’t his best work. Too High
Re. “Daydream Believer”: It may only be of passing interest, but this song was written by John Stewart, who had been a member of the Kingston Trio from 1961 until the folk group’s disbandment in 1967, and whose 1969 album California Bloodlines is considered something of a forerunner of the Americana Sound. Stewart is best remembered for the 1979 FM radio hit “Gold”. Meanwhile, Anne Murray’s version of the song (a #1 hit for the Monkees in late 1967) was also a sizable pop hit for her.
Mostly Meh, except for Alan’s song, which is at least a few hundred spots too low. “Where Were You…” is going to be a round for a LONG time, even long after everyone who as alive on that day has died. It’s a timeless message: “However you dealt with the great tragedy is ok. We’re all in this together.”
“Long Hot Summer” is one of the better summer songs that came out ever since country radio and mainstream country started pretending that Summer is the only season that exists. Still. it’s one of Keith’s more “meh” singles for me.
Sad to hear than only three Mickey Gilley songs made the list. Love his voice. Even though his 70’s stuff was more traditional country, I actually prefer his 80’s stuff that came out after his popularity from Urban Cowboy. Hope I see at least one of those on here.
I really love Anne Murray’s cover of “Daydream Believer,” along with most of her other singles from the late 70’s and 80’s. Another one of my favorite artists from that era.
I know most of y’all on here hate “Yes!,” but I just can’t help it. I’ve always liked it. Maybe part of it now is simply nostalgia and that it just sounds much better to my ears compared to what radio has mostly played for the last several years. I’ve always liked Chad’s voice too, and think he’s underrated. I agree with Kevin that “Ordinary Life” is his best song.
The inclusion of “That’s My Kind Of Night,” just reminds me once again that there are WAY too many bros and bro-country songs on this list.
Agree that “Much Too Young” is too low. Classic debut single. Still love his debut album, too.
Emmylou’s cover of “Save The Last Dance” is so pretty, and I especially love the mandolin. I have no problem with it being on the list, but like Kevin I also love the synth pop arrangement of Dolly’s version.
I still remember the goosebumps I felt when I saw Alan’s performance of “Where Were You” on the CMA’s for the first time. I still feel the same whenever I go back and watch the clip of that same performance. This was, by far, the best of all the songs that dealt with the 9/11 tragedy around that time, imo.
I like Anne Murray’s take on “Daydream Believer” but it’s not even close to being my favorite song of hers. Love “Stranger in My Place”, “Son of a Rotten Gambler” , “A little Good News”, “Wrong End of the Rainbow”, “Raining in My Heart”, “Blue Finger Lou”, “Bidin’ My Time”, “Please Don’t Sell Nova Scotia”, “The Call”, “Yucatan Cafe”, etc., plus almost all of her big hits that I haven’t mentioned.
Garth’s “Much Too Young” is great. I think his best music is found on his first 3 albums.
I can relate to AJ’s “Where Were You” since i was sitting at my desk on the 4th floor of 6WTC when the first plane hit tower #1. I got up from my desk and started heading for the door, following others who also instinctively knew to get out. I didn’t stop to get anything out of my desk. All of my co-workers made it out safely so we had a lot to be thankful for. I wish that all the 9/11 victims had been as lucky.
“Where Were You” is loathsome. All that post-9/11 energy spent on the Chicks v. Toby when this dumb ass song should have been their collective target. Though, dammit, it does hit some very direct targets.
“Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”: for any other artist, this would be THE career song. But it was too close in time to “The Dance” (pablum) and “Friends In Low Places” (all time greatness) to escape gravitational pull.