litlover12

It was a weak year for country music, my friends. A weak, weak year. I won't go into all the reasons again -- you've heard me rant about 'em often enough (and you can click on my country music tag if you want to revisit the rants). All I'll say is, I had to search hard just to find 20 songs for this list. There were some good songs released this year, even some great songs . . . but there weren't very many.

Let's hope 2014 is better.

Same rules as always: Where I can't choose between an artist's singles, I list them as a tie. For the first time ever, there's a tie for first place. I really do like this Hayes kid -- he's a bright spot in a musical landscape that doesn't have very bright spots right now.

(Note: The video for #18 is a little racy.)

20. The Heart of Dixie, Danielle Bradbery
19. Sunny and 75, Joe Nichols
18. That Girl, Jennifer Nettles
17. Better, Maggie Rose
16. It Ain't the Whiskey, Gary Allan
15. Wagon Wheel, Darius Rucker
14. You Can't Make Old Friends, Kenny Rogers feat. Dolly Parton
13. I Believe, George Strait
12. When I See This Bar, Kenny Chesney
11. Little Bit of Everything, Keith Urban
10. Goodbye Town, Lady Antebellum
9. Highway Don't Care, Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
8. Stripes, Brandy Clark
7. Bruises, Train feat. Ashley Monroe
6. Done., The Band Perry
5. Little Bit Gypsy, Kellie Pickler
4. Aw Naw, Chris Young
3. Mama's Broken Heart, Miranda Lambert
    I Want Crazy, Hunter Hayes
1. Everybody's Got Somebody but Me, Hunter Hayes feat. Jason Mraz

Yep, already working on the 2011 list! There've been quite a few good candidates already this year. In no particular order:





"You Lie," The Band Perry
"Mean," Taylor Swift (Yes, it's an earworm. But in a good way.)
"Somewhere Else," Toby Keith
"Love Don't Run," Steve Holy
"I Won't Let Go," Rascal Flatts (link is to a TV performance)