Filed under: Singles In Need Of Saving Series, Uncategorized | Tags: Billboard, Last Call, Lee Ann Womack, Singles In Need Of Saving Series, Solitary Thinkin
You see it every week, another song topped the Billboard charts. And while at times it seems just plain dumb to think a song is good because it made it to the number one position on a certain chart, WE DO. And if we are a fan of the song, then we of course are happy when the song hits number one or breaks a new record.
But what happens when a song on a chart isn’t thriving so much? Then we might get a little mad and try to figure out how to help the song chart higher. I for one, know I am guilty of feeling this way. So I decided it’d be nice to a have an occasional post here that lets people a chance to give some exposure to a single that hasn’t been doing so hot over at Billboard.
The only rules:
1.They can’t be in any of the Top 15 positions, and
2. A month has to have passed since it’s release to radio.
My recommendation: It’s no secret that Lee Ann Womack hasn’t been very appreciated at radio for the past couple of years. Her song “Last Call” was her first Top 20 single in 3 years. Her new single “Solitary Thinkin” has so far only peaked at the 39th position on the Billboard Country Charts, since being released back in April. While it doesn‘t have a typical up-tempo country-pop beat to it. “Solitary Thinkin” has tinges of pop and R&B with it’s nice slow-tempo country sound that I’m surprised few have latched on too.
Now it’s your turn, so post away! :D
Filed under: Country Music, Country/Pop, Flashback Series | Tags: Lee Ann Womack, Flashback Series, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, I Hope You Dance, 2000, There's Your Trouble, Blue On Black, Kenny Wayne Shpepard, Blue Clear Sky, No News, Lonestar
“I Hope You Dance” became a crossover hit back in 2000 when it went number one on both the country and adult contemporary charts. The songs success isn’t much of a shocker, given it’s message. This song has had multiple interpretations, whether it be about a mother advising her daughters not to make the same mistakes she did, and sit it out instead of dance or a lover hoping that her loved one will not became bitter after she is gone. Either way you interpret it, the song’s message can be heard loud and clear when she belts out “DANCE!”
Interesting Facts:
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In an interview with Songwriter Universe magazine, Sillers explained that she was going through a painful divorce when she wrote this song. Said Sillers: “For ‘I Hope You Dance,’ I had written the opening line, ‘I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. I had just broken up with someone, going through a brutal divorce. I needed to get away, so I went to a beach on the Florida Gulf Coast. Sitting on the beach and reflecting about the break-up, I felt so small and inconsequential. But out of this difficult time came the inspiration to write ‘I Hope You Dance.’ As I was leaving the beach, I remember thinking that things weren’t really so bad, that I would get through it. That’s when I came up with the line, ‘I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.’”
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This was written by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders. Sillers also wrote “There’s Your Trouble” for The Dixie Chicks and “Blue On Black” for Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Sanders has written several Country hits, including “Blue Clear Sky” for George Strait and “No News” for Lonestar.
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This won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song and also the Country Music Award for Song Of The Year.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Ann Womack, Sugarland, LeAnn Rimes, Grammys, 2009, Grammys 2009, Predictions, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Jake Owen, James Otto, Jamey Johnson, Kathy Mattea, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Rascal Flatts, Robert Plant, Rodney Crowell, SteelDrivers, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood
2009 Country Grammy Predictions
I’m sure some of you readers out there are getting sick of these, but I just wanted to post my predictions just so, if for some weird reason I guess right, I have some proof to show for it.
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson
“Just Got Started Lovin’ You” – James Otto
“Letter to Me” – Brad Paisley
“Troubadour” – George Strait
This lineup seems like an easy one. While Paisley, Strait, and Adkins released decent tracks, Jamey Johnson IMHO is the deserving winner. His vocals paint a great picture and are so powerful making it one of the best listens of the year. Johnson’s vocals just prove he is destined for greatness in the years ahead.
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“Last Name” – Carrie Underwood
“What I Cannot Change” – LeAnn Rimes
“For These Times” – Martina McBride
“This Is Me You’re Talking To” – Trisha Yearwood
“Last Call” – Lee Ann Womack
Beside “Last Name” and “For These Times” this is a pretty good lineup. My pick has to be “This Is Me You’re Talking To”, Trisha’s vocals are amazing as always, and she conveys such strong emotions like regret, bitterness, and understanding all into one. Saying that, I also think LeAnn is worthy of this award too. “What I Cannot Change” is her best song to date, and I think it’s safe to say that I’d be happy for either one that wins it.
Best Country Song
“Dig Two Graves” – Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan
“I Saw God Today” – Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto
“Stay” – Jennifer Nettles
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller
If this were a year ago I would’ve gone with “Stay”that would’ve been before Johnson’s “In Color” started hitting airwaves.
Best Country Album
That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson
Sleepless Nights – Patty Loveless
Troubadour – George Strait
Around the Bend – Randy Travis
Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love– Trisha Yearwood
This overall is a great list. Heaven, Heartache, and The Power of Love is the best IMO overall. The album is Trisha’s best this decade and is almost as good as her 1992 Hearts In Armor masterpiece. That Lonesome Song would be my second pick as it is one of the best new albums out there, and a great debut for Johnson.
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
“God Must Be Busy” – Brooks & Dunn
“Love Don’t Live Here” – Lady Antebellum
“Every Day” – Rascal Flatts
“Blue Side of the Mountain” – The SteelDrivers
“Stay” – Sugarland
This is a pretty easy one for me. “Stay” has so much heartfelt emotion which comes from the fact Nettles wrote the song. “Blue Side Of The Mountain” is another good one, but nothing seems to live up to “Stay” on this list.
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
“Shiftwork” – Kenny Chesney & George Strait
“Killing the Blues” – Robert Plant & Alison Kraus
“House of Cash” – George Strait & Patty Loveless
“Life in a Northern Town” – Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town
“Let the Wind Chase You” – Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban
“Let The Wind Chase You” is the best collaboration I have heard in a long time. If you give it one listen you’ll be hooked. It’s the evolved version of “Trying To Love You” and with Urban on vocals as well, it’s a country masterpiece. To sum it up, country radio should be busting their butts to get this song airplay.
Filed under: Country Music, Single Reviews | Tags: Last Call, Lee Ann Womack
Now, before I do this review, I will mention that I am very new to the whole reviewing songs thing, so this being my first review of a single, cutting some slack is appreciated. :D 
Now when I was about 6 or 7 in 2000, that was when I really knew who Lee Ann Womack was, all thanks to her smash hit “I Hope You Dance”. Looking back I now remember that I had heard earlier hits like “Buckaroo”, “A Little Past Little Rock”, and “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later”. One thing that I have always loved about Lee Ann is that everything seems fresh, new and exciting, and even if it’s not as fresh it’s still good.
On that note, Lee Ann didn’t disappoint with her new single, “Last Call”. She not only didn’t disappoint but suprised me a bit, she came up with a new fresh single. I can’t help but think of her hit 10 years ago “A Little Past Little Rock” when I think of this song, not because they sound similar or alike, but because they both have a cool fresh appeal to them.
For anyone who hasn’t heard Lee Ann’s 2004 single “I May Hate Myself In The Morning” this song would be the exact opposite in regards to that the woman here decides to take the ‘higher road’ by not giving in to the man’s, well, ‘crap’. She states “cause I’m always your last call”. The woman at the end states that it looks like it’s their “last call”, giving the song a great double meaning. The song also is great in the way that the chorus lyrics don’t always stay the same.
The song really flows together well, and why it doesn’t always grasp you for more, it sure doesn’t leave you unsatisfied.
A+
P.S. If that review didn’t help you to go and give the song a buy, than this amazing video will surely do the trick.
