Top 25 Country Songs, #20 - 16



Faith Hill!



Get your check shirts out, your best jeans on, find some boots with those spurs on them and git ready to saddle up, partners! Your favourite country countdown (of the moment) is back and this time... it's personal. No, not really. But it is slightly less depressing than our last installment. Can I get a yeehaw for that? No? Fine, whatever. Let's hear some music.

#20. He Stopped Loving Her Today (1980)

by George Jones


Oy vey. George Jones reasserted his dominance with this tale of a man who was never able to get over his first love. "But, it's called 'He Stopped Loving Her Today," you quite rudely interrupt me with. "Doesn't that indicate that he did get over her and you're just a filthy liar?" First things first... how dare you. Would I ever lie to you? Yes. But that has nothing to do with anything. Secondly, the poor fella only stopped loving her because he died. Yep... he loved her until the day he died.

Best Line: "He said I'll love you 'til I die, She told him you'll forget in time."

#19. I Hope You Dance (2000)

by Lee Ann Womack

A country song that's not depressing and is actually kinda amazing? The mind boggles. In all seriousness, the lyrics to 'I Hope You Dance' are, for lack of a better word, beautiful. I'd imagine this is what any good parent hopes for their child, but it's the perfect inspirational song for anyone that needs a bit of a pick-me-up. Womack's powerful vocal performance would win her a Grammy for Best Country Song. A win that was well and truly deserved.

Best Line: "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean."

#18. Amazed (1999)

by Lonestar

I'm not even a little ashamed for liking this song. Part of me is going, maybe you should be, but I'm shutting it out... for now. For those keeping score, that's two country songs in a row that don't have you booking an extra session this week with your therapist. You're welcome.

Best Line: "I don't know how you do what you do, I'm so in love with you."

#17. Breathe (1999)

by Faith Hill

Correction. Three upbeat songs in a row! Let's get this out of the way early; the video does nothing but point out that Faith Hill is better looking than we are. She is drop dead gorgeous in the video for 'Breathe' and, well, at all other times of her existence. With that irrelevant point discussed, let's talk about how awesome Faith Hill the singer is. How can you not love her voice? She can hit the high notes, never falters on the low ones and can go all out powerhouse when she wants to. Evidence #1. 'Breathe.' The song would end 2000 as the #1 song of the year in the USA and it didn't even reach #1 on the Hot 100. Very impressive!

Best Line: "I can feel the magic floating in the air, being with you gets me that way."

#16. Need You Now (2009)

by Lady Antebellum

'Need You Now' is the youngest song to make the countdown, released almost two years ago. It's also one of the most critically acclaimed, going on to win four Grammy awards, including Record and Song of the Year. Not too shabby! Of course, it's deserving of all the love. Uber-catchy chorus? Check. Perfect harmonies? Check. Depressing? Check! That's right... we're finally done with the bizarre, "happy" country music. It's time to get sad again, starting right now!

Best Line: "And I wonder if I ever cross your mind, For me it happens all the time."

Your next five songs will be coming soon. Stay tuned!