There were so many great songs this year that
it was hard to choose just 13. But all of these songs have gotten more than
their fair share of airtime on the radio and are undisputed fan favorites. Here
is my list of the top 13 country singles of 2013:
13) Don’t Ya – Brett Eldredge
“Don't lie, you've got it
all figured out. That smile, has got me spinnin' around. Don't even try actin'
like it ain't no thing”
This song was undoubtedly one of the most
popular songs of the summer. You couldn’t turn on your local radio station
without hearing it in the first ten minutes. “Don’t Ya” is enjoyable to listen
to and the repeat of “closer, closer”/ “don’t ya, don’t ya” in the chorus makes
it incredibly infectious. It is a charmingly, seductive tune that is fun,
without being gimmicky or “trying too hard”.
12) That’s My Kind Of Night – Luke Bryan
“All
them other boys wanna wind you up and take you downtown. But you look like the
kind that likes to take it way out”
This song has gotten a lot of criticism
for being too poppy, and too cliché, and maybe it is but this song is also fun
as hell! Music doesn’t always have to be serious and meaningful, sometimes its
important to let loose and have a good time, and this song is the perfect
soundtrack for that. This song fits Bryan’s voice perfectly and is reminiscent
of his other incredibly fun hit “Country Girl”. You just can’t fight how catchy
the song is, and the instant it comes on you know you’re going to have a good
time.
11) Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves
“When
the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint, or don't. Just
follow your arrow wherever it points”
As I have
said in my previous review of Musgraves’ album, this is a groundbreaking song.
It deals with difficult and controversial issues in a playful way, while still
sending a serious message. This song is a completely new message for country
music, and it is refreshing to hear. You have got to admire Musgraves for
telling it like it is when no one else will. "Follow Your Arrow" has a wonderfully positive meaning, which is what lands it on my list of top country songs.
10) We Were Us – Keith Urban feat. Miranda
Lambert
“When a road was a road I could roll on
through without wishin that empty seat was you. Money was gas, dreams were dust,
love was fast and we were us”
Lambert and Urban have undeniable musical
chemistry. Both their voices have incredibly unique tones, which meld together
perfectly and make this a one of a kind song. It is an energetic, fast moving
song, not dissimilar to pressing the gas pedal to the floor of your car and
flying down the highway. The song and lyrics move so fast that it risks
becoming a mess, but Lambert and Urban execute each line with the precision and control of a professional NASCAR driver. “We
Were Us” is an up-tempo, pop-infused version of Eric Church’s hit “Springsteen”.
Don’t we all love a song that makes us nostalgic for our younger, simpler days?
Photo courtesy of Naples News
9) Better Dig Two – The Band Perry
“So if the ties that bind ever do come
loose, tie 'em in a knot like a hangman's noose. Cause I'll go to heaven or
I'll go to hell before I'll see you with someone else”
The Band Perry comes back on their
sophomore album stronger and edgier than we’ve ever heard them. This was their
first single off of “Pioneer” and it was an excellent taste of what their album
would sound like, and how they’ve matured in their music. It is not a sweet or romantic
song like their previous “All Your Life” and “If I Die Young” but rather
it is a darker, more twisted side of romance that we don’t often seen portrayed
in country music. Kimberly’s dynamic and unique voice brings this song to the
next level. "Better Dig Two" is very modern but it still sounds country, which is a
very difficult accomplishment in today's music.
8) Runnin’ Outta Moonlight – Randy Houser
“Come on baby, don't you keep me waitin',
I gotta go, I've got a reservation. Tailgate for two underneath the stars. Kiss
on your lips when you're in my arms”
We have heard many different variations
of this song over the years. It is the stereotypical “sitting under the stars”
song, but with Houser’s wonderfully rich vocals this songs sounds fresh and
new. “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” is a better, and more fun version of Luke
Bryan’s ‘I Don’t Want This Night To End”. While similar in storyline, Houser’s
song is more up-tempo and infectious than Bryan’s, making it number eight on
the list.
7) Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
“Can’t get revenge and keep a spotless
reputation. Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make. My mama came from a
softer generation where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little
face”
This song sounds fun and airy on the
surface, but when you listen further it is deceptively deep. It is a song that
deals with the struggle of how you are expected to act during a break up and
how you want to act. Lambert’s voice and performance are what bring this song
to life. Her dynamic and powerful drawl give the song that extra little
“something” that it’d be missing if another artist were singing this song.
“Mama’s Broken Heart” is reminiscent of Lambert’s earlier kick-ass, powerhouse
songs like “Keronsene” and “Gunpowder and Lead”.
6) Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
“Baby, if I had to choose my best day
ever, my finest hour, my wildest dream come true, mine would be you”
One of the most touching songs on country
radio this year, “Mine Would Be You” had everyone thinking back to what theirs would be. Blake Shelton has proven that he is capable of singing any type of
song, but his talent is best served when he is singing a power ballad such as
this one. The twist at the end of the song where it goes from being a love song
to a song of heartbreak is surprising, and keeps this song from being a
cookie-cutter love song.
5) I Want Crazy – Hunter Hayes
“But I don't want ‘good’ and I don't want
‘good enough’, I want ‘can't sleep, can't breathe without your love’”
Hunter
Hayes is country music’s boy next door. His boyish good looks and sweet
demeanor make him the perfect artist to sing these borderline sickly sweet love
songs. But rather than being cringe worthy, this song is heartwarming and fun.
Hayes has a very nice country twang to his voice that keeps this song from
being predominately a pop song. “I Want Crazy” perfectly describes the
beginning stages of relationships, when everything is new, exciting and
well…crazy! Hayes debuted this song at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April
and it rapidly climbed the charts after that, making it one of the most popular
songs of the year.
Photo courtesy of Taste of Country
4) I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
“And momma asked me this morning if I’d
been by your grave, but that flag and stone ain’t where I feel you anyway”
This is a song that can touch the lives
of so many grieving people, regardless of how they lost their loved ones. It is
clearly a very special song, and Brice was the perfect man to sing it. His
voice is the ideal combination of strong and vulnerable, allowing the song to
reach through the speakers and grab hold of your heart. You feel as if Brice's life depends on every word that he is singing, and it is evident that he put
everything he had into this song in order to make it as moving as possible. The
lyrics are poignant enough on their own, but Brice gives the song a much-needed push,
tipping the scale from touching to heartbreakingly beautiful.
3) Hey Pretty Girl – Kip Moore
“Life's a long and winding ride, better
have the right one by your side. And happiness don't drag its feet, time moves
faster than you think”
“Hey Pretty Girl” tells the love story of a
man and a woman from the moment they meet through the end of their lives
together. It is the simplicity with which the story is told that makes it so beautiful.
There is no flashy guitar or drums to over power the lyrics. It is just an
uncomplicated melody and Moore’s mesmerizingly raspy voice. The song has a very
intimate feel. The vulnerable way in which Moore performs sounds as if
he is singing the song directly to you. “Hey Pretty Girl” is a nice change of
pace from his previous “Something ‘Bout A Truck” and “Beer Money” where Moore
relied more on cute hooks and catchy lyrics than his actual talent. This song
was easily one of the most popular of the year, and climbed to the top of many
country radio charts around the country.
2) Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
“So rock me momma like a wagon wheel. Rock
me momma any way you feel”
Could you go anywhere this year without
hearing that famous chorus? It seemed like the song was absolutely everywhere,
and that was just fine with me! Rucker took a classic song that has been remade
many, many times and put his own unique spin on it. He has an extremely unique
and recognizable voice, and after hearing him sing his rendition of “Wagon
Wheel” it was a wonder that the song wasn’t written for him. “Wagon Wheel” and Darius Rucker fit together as naturally
as sweet tea and the south. The song is so smooth and catchy that before you
know it you’re smiling and swaying along to the music.
1) Cruise – Florida Georgia Line
“In
this brand new Chevy with a lift kit would look a hell of a lot better with you
up in it. So baby you a song, you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise”
There is no question that “Cruise” is the
most popular song of 2013, despite the fact that it debuted as Florida Georgia
Line’s first single in 2012. In April of this year it was dubbed “the best
selling song by a country duo in digital history”. The song is more than a year
old, and you would think that fans would be getting sick of it, but it is still
getting lots of radio play. Not to mention the remix that was done with Nelly,
demonstrates just how big of a hit “Cruise” is. Very rarely does country music
have crossover hits with hip-hop and pop charts, but “Cruise” could not be
contained. It is not only country music’s most popular song of the year, but it
is also one of the most popular songs of the year, in any genre.
Photo courtesy of Washington Post
~ Honorable
Mention ~
·
Boy’s
Round Here – Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
·
Get
Your Shine On – Florida Georgia Line
·
Night
Train – Jason Aldean
·
Highway
Don’t Care – Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
·
See
You Again – Carrie Underwood
·
Aw
Naw – Chris Young
·
Carolina
– Parmalee
·
Days
of Gold – Jake Owen
·
Jump
Right In – Zac Brown Band
·
Done
– The Band Perry
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