Year in Review: My Top 100 Country Music Songs of 2016
It’s that time of year again where I like to take a look back at my favorite country music songs of the year. We’re into the home stretch so now is as good a time as any, right?
Now, let me preface this list as I always do.
- I’m not a professional music reviewer.
- I don’t get paid to promote artists.
- I don’t go by Billboard or radio airplay charts.
Got it? Good. Let’s get going. My list consists of the top 100 songs that I loved over the past year (or so). The songs that I wanted to come on my radio while driving to and from work, on a road trip, or when I was just sitting at home.
Now you might notice that a lot of mainstream, radio hits by major artists are not included. No reason except for the fact that my list is not based on how famous you are. Simple as that. I listen to the radio all day long, but a lot of the songs that are played just get played too often. I get burned out. Or, I hear them so often that I change the station. For that reason, those songs may or may not be on my list.
Frankly, it’s my personal list which includes the songs that I love and want to hear (but please feel free to sway me in your direction if I left a song off or ranked a song too high/low). I must also put in the caveat that my kids did have some influence on the Top 100. They don’t listen to as much music as I do, but they certainly know the songs they like and hearing them over and over and over again helped push a few underdogs up the list.
You probably heard a lot of these songs every hour (on the hour) on your local station. Others may not have been played much (if at all) when they should have been, in my own, personal opinion. You’ll note quite a few songs on the list that haven’t even been played on the radio. If you see those…be sure to take a listen!
Also, while some of these songs may have come out in late 2015, they were ones that were predominantly played (if they made the radio) in the 2016 calendar year. Others may be primed for success later next year so, like I’ve said before, keep your ears open!
Either way, I’m sure that I’m going to leave quite a few songs off this list that could have easily made it. I know this going in and expect each and every one of you to say “hey, what about this song…or that song.” Please do.
Fight for the music and artists that YOU love!!!!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go through each entry and provide detailed background on the song, reasons for it’s placement, etc…But, feel free to leave a comment and I’d be happy to respond.
Now, without further ado, let’s get this party started with a three-way tie at #100:
(T) 100. “California Grown“, Tyler Rich
(T) 100. “Paradice“, Michael Beck
(T) 100. “Find a Way“, Lucie Silvas
99. “Monterey“, Dean Brody
98. “Let’s Ride“, Interstate 10
97. “Ice Cold Summer“, Trailer Choir
96. “The Dogs“, Justin Wells
95. “One Less Fool in Amarillo“, Marcus Lindsey
94. “Crazy Last Night“, Michael Tyler
93. “June“, Runaway Angel
92: “California“, Carolina Gold
91. “Fishing Alone“, Erik Dylan
90. “Rebound“, Drew Baldridge
89. “Think a Little Less“, Michael Ray
88. “Hometown Girl“, Josh Turner
87. “Angels in This Town“, Eric Paslay
86. “Room to Breathe“, Chase Bryant
85. “Are You With Me“, Easton Corbin
84. “Leaving Nashville“, Charles Kelley
83. “Leave the Light On“, Jackie Lee
82. “Drunk People“, Ryan Hurd
81. “There’s a Girl“, Trent Harmon
80. “Everywhere“, Mo Pitney
79. “With You I Am“, Cody Johnson
78. “A Few More Cowboys“, Toby Keith
77. “Sweetheart“, Kari Lynch Band
76. “I’m Not the Devil“, Cody Jinks
75. “Wrong Side of the Dream“, Austin Lucas featuring Lydia Loveless
74. “Shake it Like a Hillbilly“, Hillbilly Vegas
73. “New Hometown“, Mike Ryan
72. “Drinking with Dolly“, Stephanie Quayle
71. “One Wave at a Time“, Cash Creek
70. “Damn Drunk“, Ronnie Dunn
69. “Love Can Go to Hell“, Brandy Clark
68. “Lipstick“, Runaway June
67. “Dirty Laundry“, Carrie Underwood
66. “Hurtin’ on the Bottle“, Margo Price
65. “Roots“, Parmalee
64. “Running for You“, Kip Moore
63. “Cigarette“, Frankie Ballard
62. “Woke Up in Nashville“, Seth Ennis
61. “Better in Boots“, Tyler Farr
60. “Backwood Bump“, Waterloo Revival
59. “Middle of Nowhere“, McKenzies Mill
58. “Make You Mine“, High Valley
57. “If the Boot Fits“, Granger Smith
56. “If I Told You“, Darius Rucker
55. “Wasn’t That Drunk“, Josh Abbott Band w/ Carly Pearce
54. “Put a Label on It“, Ryan Follese
53. “American Country Love Song“, Jake Owen
52. “Setting the World on Fire“, Kenny Chesney featuring Pink
51. “Today“, Brad Paisley
50. “Suitcase“, Steve Moakler
49. “Sooner Than Later“, Jacob Davis
48. “Livin’ the Dream“, Drake White
47. “Someone to Take Your Place“, Tara Thompson
46. “Getting Over You“, Jackie Lee
45. “Bluebonnets“, Aaron Watson
44. “Different for Girls“, Dierks Bentley
43. “Fix“, Chris Lane
42.”Rock On“, Tucker Beathard
41. “Break Up in a Small Town“, Sam Hunt
40. “American Love Story,” LANco
39. “Mayday“, Cam
38. “I Met a Girl“, William Michael Morgan
37. “Hurricane“, Luke Combs
36. “It All Started with a Beer“, Frankie Ballard
35. “Think of You“, Chris Young w/ Cassadee Pope
34. “Forever Country“, Various Artists
33. “Outskirts of Heaven“, Craig Campbell
32. “American Outlaw“, Halfway to Hazard
31. “Peter Pan“, Kelsea Ballerini
30. “Record Year“, Eric Church
29. “Drink by Drink“, Tony Jackson
28. “Snapback“, Old Dominion
27. “80’s Mercedes“, Maren Morris
26. “Long Live Tonight“, LANco
25. “You Should Be Here“, Cole Swindell
24. “Humble and Kind“, Tim McGraw
23. “I Know Somebody“, LOCASH
22. “Girl Next Door“, Brandy Clark
21. “Sleep Without You“, Brett Young
20. “Vacation“, Thomas Rhett
19. “H.O.L.Y.“, Florida Georgia Line
18. “She Got Me“, Cash Creek
17. “21 Summer“, Brothers Osborne
16. “Southernality“, A Thousand Horses
15. “From the Ground Up“, Dan & Shay
14. “Dirt on my Boots“, John Pardi
13. “Parachute“, Chris Stapleton
12. “Backroad Song“, Granger Smith
11. “Mr. Misunderstood“, Eric Church
10. “Dance With Ya“, Drew Baldridge
9. “Beautiful Drug“, Zac Brown Band
8. “It Don’t Hurt Like it Used To“, Billy Currington
7. “Better Man“, Little Big Town
6. “Song for Another Time“, Old Dominion
5. “Head Over Boots“, Jon Pardi
4. “Saltwater Gospel“, Eli Young Band
3. “May We All“, Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw
2. “My Church“, Maren Morris
1. “Die a Happy Man“, Thomas Rhett
Well that’s it. My Top 100 of 2016!
Where did I hit the nail on the head? Where did the arrow miss the mark?
I want to hear from you!
Let me know in the comments below!
Tags: Best Country Music Songs, Best Country Music Songs of 2016, Best of 2016, Best Songs of 2016, Country Music, Country Music Countdown, Top Country Music Songs, Top Country Music Songs of 2016, Top of 2016, Top Songs of 2016
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