We've hit the Top 20 on our 'best of 2009' list and rather than keep you waiting for daily run-downs, we've kept everything short and sweet, just to give you a quick blurb about why we like the songs. Feel free to leave a comment if you so desire.
20. Houston County – “I Can’t Make It Rain”
Soft, tender and lyrically interesting, “I Can’t Make It Rain” was a late contender for this list and while it’s barely scratched the Top 50 singles charts, the song managed to sneak into this list. The trio’s debut single is as haunting as it is tender as it describes a man who’s done all he can do to try and please the woman of his life but it’s still not good enough for the woman. Hopefully the single doesn’t find a similar resistance from country radio as it is certainly worth hearing over and over again. – Matt Bjorke
You can support Houston County by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
19. George Strait – “Living For The Night”
George Strait as a co-writer, you say? Impossible. Well, it happened, and his son even helped, as did the seemingly infallible Dean Dillon. The result? "Living for the Night," the first single off Strait's excellent Twang album. It's not just an indication of Strait's songwriting prowess, but also proof that he can hold his own on the slow, sad songs — indeed, the narrator in "Night" seems so let-down by his broken heart that he barely has the will to live. Either way, it's a song that reminds us that, even though he's closing in on his 30th year as a major-label artist, Strait still has a lot of life left in his career, along with the occasional surprise such as "Night." – Bobby Peacock
Click here to watch the video.
You can support George Strait by purchasing this song at Amazon | iTunes.
18. Juliana – Emma Jacob
Unknown to fans who are treated to only the Top 20, Emma Jacob’s first single for Black River Music was an unexpected surprise. While she’d released singles as an independent artist before this one, the teenaged singer showed with “Juliana” that she had the goods to not only sing a melody but a strong, inspirational one too. “Juliana” is an important song for teen and tween (and some twentysomething) girls to hear as it reminds them that they don’t have to look like Barbie dolls to be loved or like themselves. Beauty is not only ‘skin deep.’ The track is on Emma Jacob’s debut album 2,232 Miles. – Marc Erickson
You can support Emma Jacob by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
17. Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song) – Toby Keith
Causing much debate among Roughstock readers, “Cryin’ For Me” does feel to us as authentic a tribute song as you’ll find in today’s country music. Even a tough guy like Toby Keith is able to admit that he’s crying over the loss of somebody he loved dearly, his good friend Wayman Tisdale. The song never veers from genuine emotions and while there are some who think that a tribute shouldn’t be about the man who is singin’ the song, in this case it works. Because, we are all crying when we lose the ones we love and while it may be because they’re gone, it’s also our way to help ourselves get over the grief of that loss. – Matt Bjorke
Click here to watch the video.
You can support Toby Keith by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
16. Believers – Joe Nichols
Here’s a song that certainly hit home for the singer as he needed a plethora of believers while he was going through his own personal struggles with addiction. The song, which managed to scrape the 25, wears its faith on its sleeve and that certainly fits well within in the confines of contemporary country music. The melody is nothing but country (even if it’s of the contemporary variety) and Joe Nichols’ delivery of the lyrics recalls the greats like Haggard and Strait.
Click here to watch the video.
You can support Joe Nichols by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
Well, that's the first part of our four-part countdown of 2009's Top 20 singles. What are your thoughts? Would any of these songs been on your lists? We'd love to hear from you.
You can check out the rest of the countdown by clicking the links below:
The Best 40 Singles of 2009: 40-31
The Best 40 Singles of 2009: 30-21
The Best 40 Singles of 2009: 15-11
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