Sugarland- “It Happens”

Much better!  Apparently, Sugarland and their people decided that “Love” wasn’t going to be received well, so they never officially released the song and instead moved on with “It Happens.” 

“It Happens” is a fast paced run through the minor downs of life that just happen.  The first verse talks about sleeping thrpugh the alarm clock and being an hour late to work and makes the person sound very embarrassed (boss man screaming, two mismatched shoes).  The second verse talks about a fender bender than happens when their car is unavailable (flat tire) and they had to borrow someone’s Cadillac.  These are things that just happen to some people without a reason.

The only thing that I don’t like about this song, and it’s a small thing, is the two times before Jennifer sings “It Happens” when she sings “psh.”  If she doesn’t take a breath between psh and it then it would sound like she’s swearing, which was probably purposedly written in there as a way to play with words.

Anyway, one minor issue isn’t going to stop this song from being their third straight #1.

Chart Prediction- #1

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If you like this song and want to help it reach #1 on the CML Chart, you can write-in this song in this week’s CML Chart.  Eventually, it’ll show up on the polls normally, but wouldn’t it be cool if you and some buddies successfully wrote it in?

Holly Williams- “Keep The Change”

One quick question.  Does anyone think that the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. is going to be any more successful on the national charts that the son?

Holly’s debut single in 2005 didn’t chart, and this one is going to be hard pressed to either.  Not that the song is bad, it just lacks the qualities of a nationally appealing song.  There is plenty of attitude, the vocals sound good, and there is some level of connection between the artist and the lyrics. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be enough.  This song just feels like an album song for an artist who has mediocre success on the charts.  I’m sure this song will get airplay in certain regions of the country, but I don’t think it’s going to chart, and if it does, it won’t go very high.

Chart Prediction- Top 60, if it charts at all

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Want to help this song do better on the CML Chart than it already has?  Click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page for details.

Chris Young- Gettin’ You Home

Ever since Chris Young won Nashville Star, he has struggled to find a big hit single.  His previous single, which I thought was his best to date, only reached #37.  This song, which I would put on an equal level as “Voices” may suffer the same fate and be underplayed and underappreciated.

The song talks about a couple who is on a dinner date.  The man is having a hard time because all he can think about is getting the woman back home because of how she looks in her black dress.  The second chorus switches it around as he points out that she’s thinking the same about him.  It’s acutally a normal occurance for two people who are in love and in need of that date night to get away from the normal stresses of the world.  I, as a married man of nearly 6 years, can relate because I think the same about my wife when we are out on a date.

I do like this song, and its early chart success could point to this being Chris’ breakthrough hit.  I am going to forget about his past lack of success with my prediction and just concentrate on this song.

Chart Prediction- Top 20

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Do you like this song?  You can vote for it in the CMLCI (as a write-in at this time).  Just click on the link at the top of the page for an explanation of the CMLCI and for the links to vote.

CMLCI Updated

This week’s CMLCI is updated. Just click on the CML Chart Interactive link at the top of the page to participate. Polls will be closed Wednesday, March 4th at 11am EST.

Jamey Johnson- “High Cost of Living”

Is Jamey Johnson trying to be Willie Nelson?

From the title, I thought this song would be about financial struggles for a middle class person.  Well, the struggles for a middle class person is there, but the struggles aren’t just financial.  The hook to the song is ”the high cost of living beats the cost of living high.” 

While the subject of the lyric, a man who throws his life away for drugs, is a little controversial, the song itself is actually a decent melody.  If the song was playing in the background and you weren’t trying to listen to words, it’s not a bad country song.  However, I’m a little hesitant to support a song like this, even thought it’s not an unrealistic song nor is it promoting drugs.

This song will get a lot of play, plain and simple, but I don’t think it’s going to be everyone’s favorite.  It’ll at least reach the same level as “In Color,” albeit in a quicker fashion.

Chart Prediction- Top 10

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Do you like this song?  You can vote for this song on the CMLCI this week as a write-in vote.  Eventually, it’ll be a regular choice, but for now you cana try to get some buddies to write it in and maybe it’ll be out the rest of the choices.  For details on the CMLCI, just click on the link at the top of the page.

CMLCI Results for 3/1 to 3/7/09

The polls are closed, so here are the results.

The one song moving up to 100 is Brooks & Dunn’s “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” which won the tiebreaker (more weeks on the chart) over Trent Tomlinson’s “That’s How It Still Ought To Be.”

There aretwo songs moving up to 90–Miranda Lambert’s “More Like Her” and Lee Ann Womack’s “Last Call.”

Three songs are moving up to 80–Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country,” Martina McBride’s “Ride,” and Dean Brody’s “Brothers.”

Lastly, three songs are moving up to 70–Trace Adkins’ “Marry For Money,” Jamie O’Neal’s “Like A Woman,” and James Otto’s “These Are The Good Ole Days.”

The new polls for the CMLCI for 3/8 to 3/14/09 will be up later today.  Thanks to all of you who voted this week!

Trailer Choir- “What Would You Say”

In case you didn’t know, new band Trailer Choir is on the Toby Keith label Show Dog Nashville.  Their debut single, “Off The Hillbilly Hook” didn’t even get a whiff of the charts, but their second single gives them an opportunity to get some national attention.  “What Would You Say” asks the question “What would you say/write down if you had only minutes to live.”  The lyric refers to the West Virginia miners who lost their lives a couple years ago, which is a nice touch, but a little outdated.

All in all, the vocals are decent, the lyric makes you think a little bit, but there is no major wow factor to this song.  It has a good chance of making the Top 20, but will it catch on soon enough or with enough people to really do so?  I think it’ll climb the charts for a while without a problem, but once enough “better” songs come along, it’ll get pushed aside so those songs can receive airplay.

Chart Prediction- Top 40

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Do you like this song or are you a big fan of Trailer Choir?  You can influence how this song does on the CML Chart through the CMLCI.  Click on the link on the top of the page for details on what the CMLCI is and how you can participate.

CML Chart for 2/22 to 2/28/09

The CML Top 60 for 2/22 to 2/28/09 is online now.

Quick View:

Number One Song- Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally- “Down The Road”

Highest Debut- “What Would You Say” by Trailer Choir at #51

Biggest Mover-”Cry Cry (‘Til The Sun Shines)” by Heidi Newfield (from #50 to #26 thanks to the song winning the CML Chart Interactive [CMLCI] for this chart week).

As always, single reviews for the new entries into the Top 60 will be completed as the week progresses.  There are six total new songs this week, so I expect to do one each day starting tomorrow.  To see what the other new songs and the two songs that returned, just go to the Top 60 link at the beginning of this post.

The CMLCI for the CML Chart for 3/1 to 3/7/09 is still going.  There’s just under 48 hours left from the time of this post to vote.  The polls will close at approximately 11am EST on Wednesday.  In total, eleven songs will move up this week.  For details on the CMLCI, just click the link at the top of the page.  There, you can read up on how it works and vote.  Please vote in each poll.  Thanks!

Justin Moore- “Small Town USA”

Here is another is a long line of songs trying to describe the small town life.  In order for a song to be a big hit on country radio when it’s not about love or drinking (or both) you need to have something special.  The small town life has been done by many people, so Justin’s take on it has to have something to it that makes people interested.  While this song uses his vocals better than his debut single, it doesn’t really leave me wanting to hear it over and over.

I do think this song is better than his debut (the non-charting “I Could Kick Your Ass” which was pulled from the radio) and probably will do better on the charts than his previous single (“Back That Thing Up”).  I could be wrong, but I think Justin’s not going to get far into the Top 30, if he makes it there at all with this song.  It just lacks that distinct flavor.

Chart Prediction- Top 30

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You can influence how this song does on my CML Chart.  All you have to do is click on the CML Chart Interactive link at the top of the page for details.

Darryl Worley- “Sounds Like Life To Me”

Darryl Worley has a way with songs that speak right to the normal persons views.  In this song, the main subject is tracking down his buddy who is having a lot of problems–cars, washer, mom, baby, lack of work with bills to pay (all in the verse).  The response is that it “sounds like life to me.”  In the chorus, the guy says “I know it’s tough, but you’ve got to suck it up.”

This is just a plain old, wake up, you have to enjoy life song.  Add this song to Darryl’s growing list of “real life” songs (“I Just Came Back From A War,” “Awful, Beautiful Life,” “If Something Should Happen,” etc.).  Darryl hasn’t been to the Top 10 with a song since 2005 (“If Something Should Happen”) and has only done so four times.  I say this is his fifth trip there!

Chart Prediction- Top 10

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Do you like this song, too?  You can vote for this song or other songs on the CML Chart Interactive.  For more details, click on the CML Chart Interactive link at the top of the page.