Tim McGraw's "Something Like That" Tops 2000s
If radio play is your benchmark for measuring a song's success, then Tim McGraw wins. "Something Like That" from 1999 was the most-played song on radio stations from Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 17, 2009. And not just country stations. All stations. So that song, about the barbeque stain on his white T-shirt and how she was killing him in that mini-skirt, was played more than Usher's "Yeah!", Train's "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" and Flo Rida's "Low." I have to say to look back at 10 years as a radio listener, McGraw's ranking kind of surprised me. I mean, that song left an undeniable and indelible mark in my head and I knew it by heart after three or four spins. And my heart won't forget something like that. But I would have thought for sure that the most-played song of the decade would have been from someone in the pop world.





Redmaz says:
“Something Like That”,,, IS from the POP world(and I’ve never even heard it)., The world of Pop Country. Can’t get much more Pop than McGraw as far as Country is concerned(well I guess now days you can), but He has no impact at all in any Country Music outside of the Pop world. Also your comment on, “all stations”, is wrong too. McGraw has NEVER been played on any Americana/Roots radio. So if it’s true this song was the most played on radio stations,.it was on Pop radio. Specifically, Pop Country radio. Some research on your part would’ve proven this, but obviously that’s out of the question..
lorendasue says:
I still hear this song every once in a while on the country radio station I listen to - WKDF.
Faye says:
I am confused on these chart lists of the past decade, especially when Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” was honored by BMI for being played over 3 million times on radio since it’s debut in 2002. So why would this song not be the most played song (I guess since it was mainly only played on country radio it does not count as Tim McGraw’s does since Keith does not get the credit on the Pop side since he mainly plays on country….and that’s what he is and what he strives to be…not a crossover pop star like so many in country today!) At least Billboard named “Somebody Like You” as the #1 COUNTRY song of the decade! Way to go Keith!
Peacock Queen says:
Tim is a good ambassador for country music, even if his music is also played on pop radio. I congratulate Tim on his success, and wish him nothing but the best. I believe Tim is a really good person at heart, and I think it is nice to see someone who struggled so much in their youth become such a fine person in adulthood, love their spouse as much as he does (and will say so without a moment’s hesitation), cherish his kids, and work hard to be successful. Tim doesn’t whine about the abuse and rejection he suffered as a child, instead he talks about how it made him the honest, dependible, strong and faithful person he is today. Tim is not only a good ambassador for country music, but in my opinion, he is a good role model for our young people. So congrats on his “top” song. He deserves it.
8charlotte says:
Peacock Queen,I agree with you 100%.I am not a huge Tim fan,but I do like a lot of his songs and I love the way he respects Faith and his so much in love with her and his children are a treasure to him.It does not get any better than that.
Redmaz says:
This is quite shocking. I mean I understand most people here, but you seem like an educated person. Why the musical education block?
elaine says:
Something Like That was NOT played on Pop radio it was 100% country radio only. Please to talk about Keith, his music is way more pop than Tim’s music anyday of the week.
Tim Mcgraw was also the Top selling artist in all of country music for the decade, he sold more of his music than any other country star, he was #3 in sales in ALL of music. Toby was #2 in sales in country and #4 in all of music. Kenny was #3 in country and #6 in all of music. Keith was not even in the Top in all of music in sales and neither was Brad.
elaine says:
These are the TOP 20 Best Selling Artist of the decade in all of music. These 20 artists sold more music this decade than any other artist. The #1 artist on this list SOLD 31,127,000 albums. The #20 artist on this list sold, 17,579,000 albums. Any artist not this list in country sold less this decade than 17,579,000.
1. Eminem
2. The Beatles
3. Tim McGraw
4. Toby Keith
5. Britney Spears
6. Kenny Chesney
7. Nelly
8. Linkin Park
9. Creed
10. Jay-Z
11. Nickelback
12. Josh Groban
13. Rascal Flatts
14. Metallica
15. Alan Jackson
16. *NSYNC
17. Dixie Chicks
18. Johnny Cash
19. Kid Rock
20. Celine Dion
elaine says:
As for playing on pop radio. Taylor, Carrie, Keith, Rascal Flatts are played way more on pop radio than. Other than the song he did with Nelly, the ONLY songs of Tim that got pop radio play was Live Like You Were Dying and It’s Your Love. They got it naturally, no pop remixes.
Peacock Queen says:
Elaine,
Good job! I don’t follow the charts, I just like what I like and I listen to it and I don’t care whose where on what chart, but I always admire my fellow bloggers who can come on here, state an opinion, and then back it up with stats. It’s nice to see that!
Redmaz says:
elaine, as most people here, you seem to be VERY confused as to what Pop music is. Pop is not an individual genre of music. Pop is an industry consisting of MANY genres of music including Country. It’s called “Pop Country” You’re claiming this song was only played on Country radio, so please show me where it was played on Roots Country radio, and I will not only retract my statement, but I will also apologize, and no longer post on this blogsite. All your stats and sales figures are well and good, but none of them change what genre of music they are in. Out of the 20 acts you listed only two are Americana/Roots artists. The rest are all Pop acts. You actually proved this by listing acts in almost all genres of Pop Music. Country, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Rap, Adult Contemporary etc. So I would like to thank you for helping me prove these facts.
John L. says:
Even though Redmaz can be bold, and somewhat overbearing at times he/she is absolutely correct. Only Pop acts can generate those type of sales figures and radio spins. I too believe that it should be common knowledge that a genre of music called pop country, and pop country radio exists. Because quite simply it does. Plain common sense dictates that there is more than one type(genre)of pop music.
elaine says:
So that must mean George Strait is pop and Alan Jackson since they have generated them kinda sales. Guess you haven’t listen to Tim’s new album it is more country than even George’s latest.
Sorry to burst your bubble but Something Like That was NEVER played on AC or POP radio. Its spins came ALL from country stations. In fact the ONLY songs from Tim’s almsot 20 year career that have been played on POP radio is Live Like You Were Dying, It’s Your Love and the song with Nelly. THAT IS IT.
Unlike artist like Carrie, Taylor and Rascal Flatts and Keith that are played on AC/POP all the time.
solongsowrong says:
You really don’t understand anyones posts, do you elaine? Go back and re-read them, carefully this time. No one is disputing that McGraw, or even Strait and Jackson, are Country. What is being said is that they are Pop Country, and played on commercialized Pop Country radio in a Pop Country format. As Red has explained, Pop consists of many formats, among them Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Rap, Adult Contemporary, and yes, even Country.
It really doesn’t matter to me how many spins any of these artists have, because I listen to Americana/Roots Country, and non of these Country artists mentioned except for the Dixie Chicks and Johnny Cash, are ever played on Roots Country radio. They get ZERO spins in that format. Look on the Roots Country charts, you will not see McGraw’s name mentioned at all. Commom sense will tell you, if he’s not Roots Country, he must be Pop Country. Now look at the Pop Country charts… you will see McGraw listed.
A simple search on the phrase Pop Country, will tell you everything that has been stated here, including a list of Country artists that are Pop…. And yes, Tim McGraw is there.
Redmaz says:
Thanks John L. I appreciate that. I don’t really understand why basic music fundamentals are so diffficult for so many to understand, and solonsowrong is absolutely correct also.,,
Hi elaine,, yes!, that’s correct. Both Strait and Jackson are/were two of the biggest Pop Country acts there have been, and I believe Strait has more #1 Pop Country hits than anyone. In contrast, he hasn’t had any Roots Country hits. You seem to be still confusing Pop Music as being an individual genre music, which it is not. Pop Music, no matter the genre, whether it be Country, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Rap, Adult Contemporary etc is music with general appeal to the masses that is overproduced and overplayed on commercial radio for profit. In musical terms it is essentially conservative in that it attemps to resonate with a large segment of it’s target demographics. So when you say McGraws CD sounds more “Country” than Straits, it really doesn’t matter. That part is only your opinion as opposed to my stating a fact, and the fact is…something like that sung by Tim McGraw was NEVER played on Americana/Roots radio. It was played on the same radio stations where all the other Pop Country acts you listed were. Maybe if you did some research on your own and learned more about the history of Pop Music involving Country Music(Countrypolitan/The Nashville Sound, producers Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, etc), and today’s cutting edge Americana/Roots Music that would help. I’ll be glad to help too. I am curious as to how much you know about today’s Americana/Roots Music scene too? From my observations that’s usually the telltale sign as to how much a person knows about music. Thanks
I can explain this to you until I’m blue in the face(something I’m willing to do by the way), but until YOU take the inititive and learn something about basic music fundamentals, you like so many others may never understand, and in that case there is no way I can carry on an intelligent conversation with you about music, but I suppose I will still try. It’s what I do.
Camilla says:
Congratulations Tim & the DHD’s. I know I have enjoyed many, many hours of listenting pleasure as well as great concerts this past decade. Wishing you the best in the next . . . and I’ll sure be there enjoying everything yet to come.
Redmaz says:
You’re welcome elaine and Peacock Queen. I’m Glad I could help you.
Bonnie says:
I am a BIG Tim McGraw fan. I just wanted the opportunity to tell him that if possible. I’m old enough to be his Grandmother but I know my Country Music and since he came on the scene, he’s been my favorite. I haven’t seen his new movie yet, but I will. I think he’s Fantastic! Love you, Tim