This week, we're looking at some recently featured singles from past recaps, these singles are all songs that are in various states of success on the charts.
Maggie Rose - “I Ain’t Your Mama”
Signed to the newly formed RPM Record label, Maggie Rose used to be known as Margaret Durante for a couple of other singles while with R&J Records. The name change is an organic one as it’s what she’s called by her family. Like “Take Ya Back” above, “I Ain’t Your Mama” is a catchy tune. The melody is a smokin’ little track that is full of all kinds of spirited fills backing up Maggie Rose’s attitude and charm-filled vocal. It’s a clear contemporary track but Legendary producer James Stroud keeps the song grounded in country music.
Listen to “I Ain’t Your Mama” here
Taylor Swift - "We Will Never Ever Be Together"
Written with the Swedish God of pop, Max Martin (along with younger associate Shellback), there's no way that this song would ever come off sounding like a Patsy Cline or even Reba McEntire's "Turn On The Radio." Yes, anything by Patsy and most of Reba's 'pop/country' songs sound downright old-timey compared to Taylor Swift's latest single. That being said, I still can't seem to shake the pop hooks and melody from my head. This is what makes a good song, with 'good' being a relative term saved for songs that are effective at getting them hooked in your brain. So, clearly, "We Will Never Ever Be Together" is the kind of song that we all love to hate and hate to admit that we love. That's a main reason it is on pace to shatter all digital single sales records for female and country music artists while having a slight outside shot at the all-time record held by FloRida.
Listen to "We Will Never Ever Be Together" here
Justin Moore - "Til My Last Day"
There certainly is an appeal to Justin Moore when he releases songs like “Bait A Hook” and “Backwoods” but let’s be honest here. Justin Moore’s much better when he sings songs like #1 hits “Small Town USA,” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and “Til’ My Last Day,” easily one of the best tracks off of his nearly Gold sophomore album Outlaws Like Me. “Til’ My Last Day” is an up-tempo ballad which finds the Arkansan’s natural twang guiding a sweetly romantic song that just sounds good coming out of the radio speakers. I get that Justin Moore loves to show his ‘redneck side’ and that certainly has its appeal in concert but for radio hits, I hope to hear more of songs like “Til’ My Last Day” and less of the ‘bravado’. And given the success of “Small Town USA” and “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” so does radio and, most importantly, a majority of the fans.
Edens Edge - "Too Good To Be True"
This talented trio spent most of 2011 climbing the charts with Top 20 debut single “Amen” and while that song would’ve gotten into the Top 10 in a perfect world, it’s not a perfect world and it’s very hard for any new act to breakthrough. Hoping to become 2012’s The Band Perry, Eden’s Edge has sent this moody, vibe-y throwback sounding tune to country radio and it’s hard to see any way in which country radio resists playing this tune. It’s definitely ‘pop-leaning’ in terms of lyrical tempo and ‘classic’ melody structures but lead singer Hannah Blaylock’s twang is too natural to suggest that she could sing anything but country and Dean Berner and Cherrill Green’s acoustic instruments help keep the song grounded in the rootsy sound required to remain country these days. This is a hit.
Toby Keith - "I Like Women Who Drink Beer"
This song is simply Toby Keith at his best with a simple and direct lyric that finds Toby singing about the difficulties of being a blue collar guy married to a high-society woman and how he feels better outside of the 'high rise life' and how he doesn't need need all of the things the woman with all her money has. Instead, all he needs is a down-home woman and that he knows what he likes, girls who drink beer.
Listen to "I Like Girls That Drink Beer" here
Eric Church - "Creepin'"
Lyrically sharp with strong turns of phrase everywhere, "Creepin'" has a melody to it that will certainly appeal to anyone who has enjoyed past Eric Church rockers and tracks from his past records. Jay Joyce keeps the production tight and as usual there are some interesting uses to the instruments before EC gets in full-on rock star. There may be some out there who don't like the song for the 'stalker' vibe they may think it's about but what the song is really about is a guy who cannot shake the heartbreak he has, no matter how much he tries, thus it's just 'Creepin'.'
Chase Rice - "How She Rolls"
Chase Rice' lead single (listen here) from Dirt Road Communion, "How She Rolls" finds the just-signed-to-CAA artist showcasing his strong songwriting skills which marry nicely with the production from Chad Carlson. It's a tight, radio ready mix that is strong and perfect in the modern country music pocket. Chase is a natural and charming artist in the Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley mold with a playful side that is more 'rock-n-roll' than awe-shucks country boy next door and showcases all of that here.
The Lost Trailers - "American Beauty"
A great sounding song, "American Beauty" is nonetheless a song that feels like an interpolation of Jason Mraz's mega pop hit "I'm Yours." The melodies are quite similar. Written by Mason Douglas, Josh Osborne and Matt Jenkins, "American Beauty" is catchy, up tempo modern country pop done right. The strong melody, along with the catchy lyrics allow the song to breeze past our ears in a way that makes it entirely listenable and a song that can get into your head.
Florida Georgia Line - "Cruise"
With well over 100,000 singles sold leading FGL to a major record deal with Republic Nashville, "Cruise" is certainly in its way to breaking out at country radio. "Cruise" is catchy as all get out and the singers are two of the nicest, most-hardworking artists I've met in Nashville. Their sound is wholly contemporary and the thump-y twangy telecasters are married to a modern production sound from Joey Moi and it all ads up into a winning combination. There's just no way this song isn't a hit and that's exactly what I thought when I first heard it this spring when Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard were still indie.
Kip Moore - "Beer Money"
Word was that "Drive Me Crazy" was going to be the follow-up to Kip's breakthrough #1 hit "Somethin' 'Bout A Truck" and while that is a strong song, "Beer Money" is the perfect follow-up to the single. It extends the 'spending time with the one you love by your side' theme and is another strong mood-setting, sing-a-long ready country/rocker. Moore's vocals remain a unique attraction to his brand of country music as they bring an easy identifier that you're listening to a Kip Moore record and not just another music row concoction. This one should easily be both a radio and digital single hit for Moore throughout the Summer of 2012.
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