The Country Songs That Made My Decade
If you immersed yourself in country music like I did for the past 10 years, you undoubtedly got a lot out of it. There were some really solid albums that came out of the decade. But I'm a song girl, so when I do my reflecting, I think about the singles that stood out to me. Billboard put together their official list of the Top 100 songs from December of 1999 through November 2009, based on radio airplay. In addition to the country categories, there are all kinds of music on the lists, from one-hit wonders to the songs from the artists who dominated the decade. There are songs I loved about country life, like "Where I Come From," "Chicken Fried" and "Suds in the Bucket." Then sexy stuff like "A Real Good Man," "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Nothing On but the Radio." But what I've come to realize is that the songs that I loved the most are the sappy, sentimental ones.
That could be because this was the decade when I was having babies, teaching toddlers to walk, sending kids off to first grade and then in an instant, a teenager off to high school. I had a friend die. Both parents died. A sister got sick, got well, then got sick again. Maybe my next decade won't have as much emotion to it, but for now, these are my decade's personal favorites:
"There Goes My Life," Kenny Chesney
"Without You," Dixie Chicks
"Blessed," Martina McBride
"My List," Toby Keith
"Drive," Alan Jackson
"I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Joe says:
Country music seemed to explode from 1998-2004…
You had Kenny Chesney, Phil Vassar, Dixie Chicks, Toby Keith, Tim Mcgraw, Faith Hill, Trick Pony, Steve Holy, Lonestar, Tracy Byrd, and so many others making a huge splash on the charts.
D says:
I personally feel some of the best country was out from about 1993-1998
Redmaz says:
To Joe and D, are you referring to Pop Country? Roots Country, Alt.Country? etc. Just trying to figure out what type of Country Music you’re talking about, so your posting would make more sense..
Redmaz says:
Correction…I see that Joe is talking about Pop music, so my question is really for D. thanks
merlefan49 says:
Let’s see to name a few
Tired and Troubled Soldier’s Billy Don Burns
Committed To Park View Porter Wagoner
The Man Comes Around Johnny Cash
I’m a man of Constant Sorrow Dan Tyminski Aka The Soggy Bottom Boys
Look at Miss Ohio Gillian Welch
50 miles of elbow room Volatile Baby
Sam says:
Country definatly exploded in the 1999 to 2004 era. Surged again from 2006-2008.
Michael says:
Alison, you’ve immersed yourself in country music for the last 10 years???? Would neber know it from your blogs. You sound like a novice, who is more interested in pop culture than music.
Traditional says:
Ditto Michael…It’s time for a change all around
dody says:
you really should go back to your music. the photos of u and miss tenn dont look none to happy maybe marriage should wait. she difinely needs a attitude adjustment. not your type stick with music a year or two more. why quit when you are on top