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The Examiner's Top 10 Country Songs of 2012
Quote:
Best of 2012: Top 10 Country songs, from The Band Perry to Miranda Lambert
December 24, 2012
By: Jason Scott
Country music stirred up hurricane-force winds this year with some of the most risk-taking releases, ranging from emotional ballads to cloudy and edgy production. From Hunter Hayes hitting his sweet spot ("Wanted") to newcomer Kacey Musgraves making waves in the industry, 2012 proved to be a remarkable year for the genre.
Also, heavy hitters Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood dropped some of their best work to-date, reaffirming their place as a mainstay in the industry. Also, crooner Gary Allan returned to the charts after a five-year hiatus, and The Band Perry released a whopper of a song.
10. "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes - A musician to the core, Hayes demonstrates his agility with material and craftsmanship with a piano on this stirring ballad.
9. "Why Ya Wanna" by Jana Kramer - With a small pool of female singers to draw from, Kramer might be the next one to take the "Queen of Country" title. It all started with this simple, yet effectively delicious song.
8. "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)" by Gary Allan - Perhaps the comeback story of the year? The song only sits in the Top 20, but he made a grand return on this rather poignant and stormy ode.
7. "Springsteen" by Eric Church - Feeding into the stem of nostalgia, Church tapped into small town life, something almost every Country music listener can identify with.
6. "Tornado" by Little Big Town - If you notice, their summer smash "Pontoon" did not make this list. Rather, one of their most career-changing tracks did. "Tornado" is edgy, without being overbearing, and enough of a risk to let the industry know they aren't going anywhere any time soon.
5. "Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry - This trio continues to demonstrate their desire for inventive songs with dark story lines. In the vein of their crossover hit "If I Die Young," this song takes love to the crevice and back again in a twisted grave-digging tale.
4. "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice - With a misleading title, Brice's song is not really about trucks. It's a touching story about dealing with the loss of a loved one and finding solace in driving his old truck. This is a true testament to the strength of the genre.
3. "Over You" by Miranda Lambert - Another sentimental song about the departure of a loved one. Delivered with chilling vocals and simplistic lyrics, this song, which won the "Song of the Year" trophy at the 46th Annual CMA Awards, speaks volumes of Lambert's power as a vocalist and songwriter.
2. "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood - In a time when the men of Country were releasing songs about beer and partying, Underwood comes out swinging with the best song of her career. "Blown Away" is a sinister story about revenge, and Underwood packs a punch with her best vocal performance ever.
1. "Merry Go 'Round" by Kacey Musgraves - As a newcomer, she has a ton to prove, and it isn't any wonder that the singer-songwriter kicks off her mainstream career with a social commentary-based tune. Taking on traditional gender roles, Musgraves delivers a tongue-in-cheek vocal that is quite impressive and certainly solidifies her place for her next release.
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Honorable Mentions
"Two Black Cadillacs" by Underwood - Yes, Underwood hits another homerun with her current single, an even darker look into the mind of revenge and murder. Two women done wrong by the same man, Underwood plays the narrator (who may or may not be involved in the actual crime), and she plays the character remarkably well. This track alone is a sign that Underwood is well on her way to a long career in the business.
"Hope on the Rocks" by Toby Keith - Unlike most of his previous singles, Keith delivers a sorrowful story about despair and heartache. Wrapped up in a nice melodious package, this track is sure to be a No. 1 hit.
"Ours" by Taylor Swift - Despite Swift's new more pop-leaning music, she still released one of her best singles to-date this past year. With "Ours," Swift taps into her innocent charm and great songwriting. Without overdoing it, she comes across as sincere in the song's light lyrics and sweet melody.
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I know it's the Examiner, but their list is pretty spot on. 
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I admire her talent tho.
