Good Country Music for Haters of Country Music

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By imadork


Country Songs for Non-Hicks

I am a rocker, but sometimes I like to expand my horizons.  I must admit, I like some country music; not the shit-kicking ho-down crap, but the good stuff.  Here is a list of some of my favorite country songs.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels

Neon Moon - Brooks & Dunn

Back Home Again - John Denver

You Were Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson

Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis

Doesn't Have to Be This Way - Alison Krauss

Loving Arms - Dixie Chicks

All My Rowdy Friends - Hank Williams Jr.

Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers

I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton

The Dance (9/11 Tribute) - Garth Brooks

When the Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash

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Mighty Mom profile image

Mighty Mom  says:
8 months ago

I'm with ya -- rock rules, but every so often as I'm scanning through channels on the car radio I have to stop and listen to a country song. Very few capture attention -- but you've picked some great ones here! Surprised not to see any Johnny Cash. Maybe he's so cool that he's above the genre:-).

Another one I like a lot is "Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson. It's the quintessential anthem for country gals. Hell yeah!

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Johnny Cash is on here. It's the last vid. Just goes to show how much you pay attention to my hubs! ;-)

Cris A profile image

Cris A  says:
8 months ago

Great selection here dork! Specially the classics - Nelson, Cash, Denver. I  too have expanded by musical taste in that direction to include Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts - but I am where I am so you could just imagine how foreign-sounding country music is here. thanks for sharing! Hee-haw! :D

Pam Roberson profile image

Pam Roberson  says:
8 months ago

I respect your choices and give you props for expanding your music horizons. I suppose if I was tied up and forced to listen to country, I'd have to choose Johnny Cash...there's something about his voice that is attractive. I just heard a pop remake of his "Ring of Fire" song last night on the radio. Wasn't bad.

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
8 months ago

It's interesting to see a rocker's country picks. I'm more country than rock, guess it's a Texas 'thang'.

I got to see Charlie Daniels live with Alabama back in the 80s. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Drinking My Baby Goodbye" were awesome!

"The Dance" is such a beautiful song. You see a portion of the lyrics on a lot of tombstones here. "Our lives are better left to chance, I might have missed the pain, but I would have to have missed the dance".

Just as a matter of interest, the Dixie Chicks music was not played here. They were banned for comments they made regarding former President Bush. This was considered "Bush Country" with his home being here.

Cris mentioned Rascal Flatts. They are an awesome group and more of across over group in my mind. Some friends and I got to see them perform live a couple of years ago. They put on entire show doing their own stuff then came with an encore of cover tunes. It was awesome.

Great hub, Imadork!

JamaGenee profile image

JamaGenee  says:
8 months ago

Dork, if you listen closely, many songs labeled "rock" have roots in country.  The same is true of most genres.  Very little music is "pure" anything.  A lot of the songs the group Kansas did were classical music recycled.

Laughing Mom profile image

Laughing Mom  says:
8 months ago

Some interesting choices here, dork! It's good to expand your musical horizons sometimes, isn't it? I personally like them all except the Dixie Chics, but that's just me. That's Dolly's best song, if you ask me.

And Cris is right--Rascal Flatts baby!!!

goldentoad profile image

goldentoad  says:
8 months ago

dork, for once, good taste

Nayberry profile image

Nayberry  says:
8 months ago

I am a fan most kinds of music- even country. You have some realy good picks here. I like THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA, FOREVER AND EVER AMEN, YOU'RE ALWAY ON MY MIND, and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. I've never really heard any of the others, but I have always come to like other country artists like Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, and Alabama- among others. I am really a blues-loving kind of gal, but I find something I like in most genres.

Tootles!!!

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Cris: just curious - what kind of music is popular in the Philippines?

KCC & LM: I dislike the loudmouth girls in the Dixie Chicks, but some of their songs are pretty good.

JamaGenee: I agree.  Rock's origins were mainly blues influenced, but there is also a lot of country and classical influence too (depending of the type of rock music)

GT: I never thought of you as a country music fan.

Everyone: y'all failed to point out my favorite artist here - Alison Krauss!  She is so talented!!!

 

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
8 months ago

I do like Alison Krauss' version of Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing at All", and the duet she did with Brad Paisley "Whiskey Lullaby". But, she's just kinda mousy sounding for my tastes.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Mousy sounding?!?! What do mean by that? Too soft and light?

Laughing Mom profile image

Laughing Mom  says:
8 months ago

dork, did you like the duet she did with Robert Plant?

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Amazingly enough, I haven't listened. I guess I just haven't come across it yet. I hear it won a Grammy and that made Krauss the most Grammy-winningest female artist ever.

k@ri profile image

k@ri  says:
8 months ago

I've always like Charlie Daniels, but I remember when they used to say he was "Southern Rock". I must admit I like quite a bit of Johnny Cash's music. :)

goldentoad profile image

goldentoad  says:
8 months ago

I'm not a fan of country but I know the songs and plenty I can dig while sitting back and enjoying a beer but here's one of my favs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhRqDvP-mwM

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

That's a good one GT.  I like the Chipmunk version on the album "Urban Chipmunk".  I used to have that record when I was a kid.

Here's another great track from that album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cljAOksF17c&feature

gwendymom profile image

gwendymom  says:
8 months ago

I am a fan of country and rock music and the songs you have picked are great classics. I think country music today is a little more pop sounding than the classics you have listed here and it is attracting younger fans and artists like Taylor Swift who I think is great. She is so very talented, writing and singing her own music, not many people do that anymore. Here is a link to one you might like and one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBGZrljOm-Y

and heres one with Taylor Swift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LgNx6E9a_Q

gwendymom profile image

gwendymom  says:
8 months ago

oh and thanks btw, you just gave me an idea for a new hub, and I need all the help I can get.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

gwendymom: I didn't really like those two songs -- sorry.

I dislike the new pop-sounding country but that Taylor Swift is hot.

Glad to help on the new hub. Not sure what I did though.

gwendymom profile image

gwendymom  says:
8 months ago

Really, wow, I'm surprised. I figured you would like the first one because it has a more classic country sound and the other was just an example of the more pop sounding. I like them both because it's what I can relate to.

Just inspired me, I'll just call you muse now.

EYEAM4ANARCHY profile image

EYEAM4ANARCHY  says:
8 months ago

Of the ones you picked I particularly like "You Were Always On My Mind" and "Coward of the County." Plus, it's hard to go wrong with the Dixie Chicks. Personally, I'm partial to "Lucille" from Kenny Rodgers, "The Highwayman" from (appropriately enough) The Highwaymen, "The City of New Orleans" by Willie Nelson, and "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash.

KCC Big Country profile image

KCC Big Country  says:
8 months ago

Imadork, yeah...mousy...kinda too sweetsie-cutsie-I'm-so-delicate sounding. It works with some songs. But, I prefer a gutsier singer.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

anarchy: I was torn between Roger's "Lucille" and "Coward...". I love them both!

KCC: I guess I like "mousy" in my female country singers.

Christoph Reilly profile image

Christoph Reilly  says:
8 months ago

I like all kinds of music, but I go through a country stage sometimes.  I do like the Dixie Chicks.  I used to go see them when they were strictly bluegrass - like the sisters were 19 and 21 or something, and two other chicks, not Natilie Manes - so I feel like I have followed their career long before the albums and fame and stuff.  They used to play at On Broadway over by the Lemp Mansion.  You know it?  Around the brewery but a little more south. I still like them.  They always throw in a few bluegrass tunes and their harmonies are very complicated stuff.

Good hub!

 

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Never been to On Broadway but I have toured the Lemp Mansion, so I know the general area. Are they from around here or did they just come to that club a lot?

jjrubio  says:
8 months ago

Loving the Charlie Daniels. Johnny Cash and dare I say it Brooks and Dunn! Those are some good songs.....I don't like Dolly Parton or the Dixie chicks ....hey its a free country....good hub

Christoph Reilly profile image

Christoph Reilly  says:
8 months ago

No, they just always toured through here, but coincidentally, one of the other girls who was with them at the time was from Kirkwood.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Thanks for reading/listening jjrubio. Have you heard many Dolly Parton songs? She has got some really good songs! Try listening to Jolene and Coat of Many Colors.

jjrubio  says:
8 months ago

I know those songs....I just never liked the sound of her voice. It sounds like an old cat to me...sorry! I like hearty voices...

Jewels profile image

Jewels  says:
8 months ago

Nice selection. I've not listened to country for a loooooong time and so I'd not heard Neon Moon, tis lovely. I need to be swooned, I can feel it!

mayhmong profile image

mayhmong  says:
8 months ago

I'm not quite in to country, but I do recognize some good ones you listed.

blondepoet profile image

blondepoet  says:
8 months ago

Oh honestly I love every single one of these. I almost want to put my cowgirl boots on and barn dance. I don't go for all the wall banging stuff either, it hurts my head far too much. Honestly you have my thumbs up for these songs I adore Garth Brooks he is by far the greatest country singers ever. I am going to do my daily dancing to these songs now, yahooo

Peppermint Thrift profile image

Peppermint Thrift  says:
8 months ago

Great list! Loretta Lynn's "Fist City", "Coal Miner's Daughter", or Ween's Country Album ("Up Shit's Creek with a Turd for a Paddle?) I know it's not real country (Ween) but hilarious all the same.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Piss Up a Rope by Ween is pretty funny.

Peppermint Thrift profile image

Peppermint Thrift  says:
8 months ago

Whenever I am having a bad day I will play that song and it makes me feel so much better!

Anna Marie Bowman profile image

Anna Marie Bowman  says:
8 months ago

That Randy Travis song you have is one of my favorites. I had a wierd upbringing. I was raised on Patsy Cline and Judas Priest. Nice combination, huh? I have love for all music thanks to the wide variety of music I was raised with.

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

AMB: I had a similar upbringing. From my parents I got to know the classic country and rock oldies; from my older siblings I got to know the hard rock.

Cris A profile image

Cris A  says:
8 months ago

to answer your question, it's the usual TOP 40, mainstream, popular music here. which means lots of R&B/hip hop, rock, and pop. And alternative too, :D

MissJamieD profile image

MissJamieD  says:
8 months ago

I love almost every single one of these songs. I'm also a fan of every type of music. As long as the song itself appeals to me, it doesn't matter what genre it is.

I'm glad you pointed out some goodies for the country-haters though. great job!

imadork profile image

imadork  says:
8 months ago

Thanks Jamie!

Adam B profile image

Adam B  says:
7 months ago

I an; stand the Devil Went Down to Georgia for the one line in it that say "Chicek in the breadpan pickin out dough." Wa the fuck does that mean...honestly?

Anyway, I like the occasional country tunes such as:

Gretchen Wlson - Politically Uncorrect

Carrie Underwood - Last Name (Actually really rocks!)

Reba McEntire - Fancy

Dixie Chicsk - Sin Wagon

Brad Paisley - I'll Take You Back Cool guiotar riff)

Artisan Walker profile image

Artisan Walker  says:
7 months ago

Some pretty good selections here. In Oregon, the rockers all play country music for a living because it's a steadier gig than rock. So, for as long as I can remember, all the local working country bands have always had really good rock musicians in them.

That's where this rock musician cut his teeth!

Frieda Babbley profile image

Frieda Babbley  says:
6 months ago

Wasn't Kenny Rogers on Yee-Haw? I remember watching that show all the time. Always cracked me up. I'd dance away and sing along to everything. One thing about country music, it's easy to sing to . But I really have to tell you, I cannot stand Neon Moon. Really can't, sorry. I kind of grit my teeth at most Randy Travis, including this one. The rest are great. That Dolly song is actually my favorite of all and I still sing my heart out to it. She is something else.

Wanted to let you know that this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim made by Pearl Records, Inc. on the Garth Brooks song. =(.

Great hub Imadork.

That Stranger You Will Never Know...  says:
2 months ago

Ey,

I listen to A LOT of country, and the only Real good one I liked on your list was The Devil Went Down To Georgia.

You forgot a bunch of good ones likes

Tim McGraw, Big & Rich , a lot of Brooks N' Dunn ,

Dean Brody , Alan Jackson, Gord Bamford, Jason Aldean , Aaron Prittchet

&&& A lot more .

That Stranger You will Never Know...  says:
2 months ago

Toby Keith , Tracy Byrd , Lynyrd Skynard , Kid Rock (All summer long , Cocky, So Hott), Joe Walsh - In the City,

Jake Owens , Dierks Bentley , Darius Rucker , Conway Twitty - Baby's Got her BLue Jeans on , Corb Lund Band - The Truck got stuck

That Stranger you will never know...  says:
2 months ago

Yeah..... Lol.

Listen to some, you might like it.

That stranger you will Never know...  says:
2 months ago

If you wanna know a certain song, just ask...Like a song By one of those artists i mentioned. Just ask and I can list a couple good ones,.

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