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A Country Music Conversation: Sirius Top 1000 Country Songs of All Time, #550-#541

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Eight of these ten songs went all the way to #1, but few of them warrant inclusion on this list.

 

#550

Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”

#1 | 2010

JK: I appreciate how Evans’ performance reflects her narrator’s growing confidence, but I’ve always found the melody on this single awkward and the production overwrought. It wasn’t a hit because of some unfortunate timing, but I’d swap this out for “Coalmine.” So Wrong (This Song)

KJC:  This one took time to grow on me, but it became one of my favorite Sara Evans singles over time.  A little high, but a keeper.  Too High

ZK: I’m happy she made a comeback, but all this sappy motivational song is missing is the Martina McBride performance. So Wrong (This Song)

 

#549

Sylvia, “Nobody”

#1 | 1982

KJC:  A borderline novelty record that crossed over during that small window of time when early 80’s AC was indistinguishable from early 80’s country.  These are the hits that you use to start off the list. You don’t save them for this close to the top half.  Too High

JK: Sylvia’s a pleasant enough vocalist, but, God, I have always hated this record, and it’s aged even worse than most of the badly-dated hits of its era. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

ZK: “Nobody” wanted this song this high on the list … or on it all, for that matter. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

 

#548

Blake Shelton, “Over”

#1 | 2012

JK: Repetitive and ungodly dull, like a meta-commentary on Shelton’s career. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

KJC:   Please make it stop.  So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

ZK: One of his most pointless records, and that’s saying something. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

 

#547

Hank Williams, “Mind Your Own Business”

#5 | 1949

KJC: I’m not going to argue against a Hank Williams hit being on this list, because Hank Williams. But again, Too High

JK: A fine inclusion with a bafflingly high ranking. Too High

ZK: I could never argue with too much Hank Williams on a list like this, but this is just … fine? Too High

 

#546

Easton Corbin, “A Little More Country Than That”

#1 | 2009

JK: Ah, the late aughts run when rote “list songs” like this were among the genre’s biggest sins. This was one of the less egregious examples of that trend, but I’d still say So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong).

KJC:  A charming traditional country identity song that would’ve been wonderful to hear 300 entries ago.  Too High 

ZK: Like with “All Over The Road,” Corbin’s charm as a performer saves an otherwise bad lyric. So Wrong (This Song)

 

#545

Kenny Chesney, “She’s Got it All”

#1 | 1997

KJC: Chesney has enough hits that filler like this doesn’t need to be on here.  So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

JK: When country radio started phasing out men who could really and truly sing. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

ZK: She’s got it all; this song’s got nothing. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

 

#544

Willie Nelson, “All of Me”

#3 | 1978

JK: I’m not going to quibble with anything from Stardust. About Right

KJC:   A surprisingly jaunty take on a classic, “All of Me” is among the many highlights of Willie’s landmark Stardust set. But again, I’m going to say Too High.

ZK: Like Kevin said earlier, on a list measuring quality and influence, you use songs like this to start off the list, especially when matched against the rest of Nelson’s discography. Too High   

 

#543

George Strait, “Heartland”

#1 | 1993

KJC:  The cinematic purpose of this song was to mock the bombastic arena sounds that were seeping into country music at the time.  Strait’s too strong a singer for this to sound bad, but it’s hardly a highlight of his illustrious career.  So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

JK: Strait’s “stand there and sing” artistry works well for his recording career but made him the wrong choice for something like Pure Country. He sings this fine, of course, but why. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

ZK: Truthfully, I enjoy hearing a Strait with a tighter production muscle, but this is loud simply for the sake of being loud. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

 

#542

Rascal Flatts, “My Wish”

#1 | 2006

JK: Considering their catalogue, it’s really saying something that this is among their absolute worst. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

KJC:  Flat out terrible. Flatts out terrible?  So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

ZK: Ah, motivational Rascal Flatts – Country music’s favorite punching bag in the 2000s. So Wrong (Doesn’t Belong)

 

#541

Johnny Cash, “Ballad of a Teenage Queen”

#1 | 1958

KJC:   Johnny Cash made a teeny bopper record? With a ridiculous plotline? And it spent 10 weeks at #1? More than any other Cash single? And it’s way Too High?

JK: I mean… It’s completely absurd, but I’m also not mad at it. I’d have it in the 1000-950 range, though. Too High

ZK: It was a dark time for country music. So Wrong (This Song)

Previous: #560-#551 | Next:  #540-#531


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