Country music is known for its stereotypical topics; Christian values, drinking alcohol, and loving America more than everywhere else on Earth. Fortunately for yall, I typically hate those kinds of songs, and my ranking leaves them in the dust. 2011, like pretty much every other year in the history of country music, was dominated by male artists while the more talented and more meaningful female artists took the back seat. Furthermore, country music has always been known for the fact that its songs tell stories. This seems to be less common than it used to be; the most common trends in country music this year have been to sing about one of the following things: how country you are, dirt roads, how country you are, drinking, how country you are, fishing, how country you are, drinking, America, God, love, drinking, and how country you are.
While the most successful artists of the year have been the disposable, cookie-cutter, wannabe-outlaw guys singing about how country they are, my list of the top 20 country singles of the year steers far and clear of their type. Instead, I've selected songs by country artists who have their own image and sound; artists who may not have the most technical country sound, but sing quality songs that mean something more than "I'm country." Some of the artists on this list have been in the industry for as long as I've been alive, and some of them have just started their careers in the past two years. Because I've decided to maintain some level of objectivity (read: I didn't want to give Taylor 3 spots in the top 10), I've decided to rank just one song per artist; as a result, this is the most diverse list I’ll be posting this year.
20 Jason Aldean (with Kelly Clarkson) Don't You Wanna Stay
"We can make forever feel this way, don't you wanna stay?"
Jason Aldean was the biggest artist on country radio this year, and I really dislike him. Despite this, and despite being released as a single in 2010 (which goes against my rules), I feel obligated to include Don’t You Wanna Stay for three reasons. One, it’s the best duet to hit country airwaves in 2011. Two, it’s the best single Aldean has released from his album. Three, Kelly deserves the recognition, because this song would be **** without her.
19 Zac Brown Band (with Jimmy Buffett) Knee Deep
"When you lose yourself you find the key to paradise"
Knee Deep was a pretty big song on country radio this summer; one of many popular Zac Brown Band singles. The song was written by the band to be reminiscent of a Jimmy Buffett beach-themed summer song, and Buffett himself joined onto the song.
18 Dierks Bentley Home
"It’s been a long, hard ride; got a ways to go, but this is still the place that we all call home"
Patriotism is one of the most cliché country music themes there is, but Dierks Bentley’s most recent single Home resonates more with classic American songs like America The Beautiful, as opposed to the trashy, testosterone-filled pro-American singles Tobey Keith has released.
17 Reba If I Were A Boy
"I’d kick it with who I wanted and I’d never get confronted for it"
It’s always been popular for country artists to cover songs from other genres, and country queen Reba has a wonderful cover of queen Bey’s If I Were A Boy. This was a minor hit on country radio, if it could be considered a hit at all, but Reba did a beautiful job with the song. All of the singles from Reba’s most recent album have underperformed, and now she’s working on a new TV show instead of a new album.
16 Billy Currington Love Done Gone
"The bells stopped ringin’, the music won’t play"
Love Done Gone is a strange song; its sad, simile-filled lyrics contrast with its catchy horn section. Songs like this set Billy Currington apart from other mainstream male country artists.
Because I've decided to maintain some level of objectivity (read: I didn't want to give Taylor 3 spots in the top 10), I've decided to rank just one song per artist; as a result, this is the most diverse list I’ll be posting this year.
Besides, Taylor's only released 3 country singles in 2011
20. Jason Aldean (with Kelly Clarkson)- Don't You Wanna Stay
19. Zac Brown Band- Knee Deep
18. Dierks Bentley- Home
17. Reba- If I Were A Boy
16. Billy Currington- Love Done Gone
15 George Strait Here For A Good Time
"I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time"
I know that I denounced drinking songs in my introduction, but this one slips passed for two reasons. First of all, it’s George Strait, and the king of country deserves the recognition he’s due. Second of all, the lyric that I cited above reflects the song’s message; life is short, so make it sweet.
14 Sara Evans A Little Bit Stronger
"Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger"
I’ve liked this song for a few months now, but I’ve only just realized that the song’s first verse is rather similar to Rebecca Black’s Friday. Regardless of that, A Little Bit Stronger is a lovely song about finding the strength to move on after a heartbreak.
13 Jake Owen Barefoot Blue Jean Night
"We were shining like lighters in the middle of a rock show"
Barefoot Blue Jean Night was the country song of the summer, and the biggest song of Jake Owen’s career.
12 Kenny Chesney Somewhere With You
"I can go out every night of the week; can go home with anybody I meet"
While Kenny Chesney’s duet You & Tequila (with Grace Potter) was his biggest single of the year, I prefer Somewhere With You. This song is about wishing you could get back together with an ex, even though you know you can’t.
11 Ronnie Dunn Bleed Red
"We all say words we regret, we all cry tears, we all bleed red"
Ronnie Dunn is one half of the famous country duo Brooks & Dunn, and this is his debut solo single. Bleed Red is a touching song about how we’re all human; equality is its unstated message. Unfortunately, Ronnie’s solo career hasn’t been quite successful thus far.