CMLCI Updated

Winners for the CMLCI for the chart week of 5/3 to 5/9/09:

90- “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins

80- “I Told You So” by Carrie Underwood, “It Happens” by Sugarland, “I Run To You” by Lady Antebellum

70- “Kiss A Girl” by Keith Urban, “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney, “Sissy’s Song” by Alan Jackson

New CMLCI for the chart week of 5/10 to 5/16/09:

Songs removed:
100- “Brothers” by Dean Brody
90- “River of Love” by George Strait

This week was an interesting week as most of the songs at 90 are either getting removed or one week away from being removed.  I “suspended” the “back-to-back” week restriction on both the “100″ poll and the “90″ poll.  Had I not done that, then there would have been one song able to move up to 100 and two to move to 90.  I want to try to avoid “automatic” movements, which would have happened.  The “80″ and “70″ polls are okay, so I didn’t have to do anything special with them.

Click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page to vote.  Thanks!

Taylor Swift- “You Belong With Me”

The first time I heard this song it wasn’t being sung by Taylor Swift, but on American Idol.  I was curious that the young girl Stevie decided to sing this song on AI when not many people knew the song.  Well, those who hadn’t downloaded it on iTunes…

As for the actual single, it’s another example of why Taylor is well-liked–it’s well written, well sung, and appeals to a large audience from teens to adults that have experienced the song themselves.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 5

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Lyrics

Vote each week in the CML Chart Interactive to help songs like this climb the CML Chart.  Just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page.

Hank Williams, Jr.- “Red, White, and Pink-Slip Blues”

Some of the most unique country songs have been born out of the current events of the US.  Back in 2003, Darryl Worley had a huge hit with “Have You Forgotten,” which came from people’s complaint about sending our troops overseas.  And who doesn’t love Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?”

Our current economic woes were recently looked at by John Rich with “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” and are the inspiration for the latest from Hank Williams, Jr.  This song has already had quite the following, but it just doesn’t really work for me.  While a lot of people can relate and more people will as the recession continutes, eventually we are all going to get sick of hearing about it.  Hank’s song is “good enough” to easily make the Top 40 and might get enough momentum built up to make the Top 20, but this song has about a 2-3 month shelf life.  Come July, a lot of people will be sick of this song, much like “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” recently experienced.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 20

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Lyrics

Help make a difference on the CML Chart–vote each week in the CML Chart Interactive to help songs climb the chart.  Click on CMLCI link at the top of the page for details.

Joe Nichols- “Believers”

I feel like I’ve heard this before…Not the exact song, but the idea from beginning to end.  “Where would we be without ____” is a common theme in country music, just not as common as drinking and love.  Joe Nichols latest single is about where would we be if we didn’t have people who believe in someone/something.

When you do a song that has a common theme, you have to put your own spin on it, make it something that feels unique.  Joe’s song doesn’t feel unique, but it still sounds good.  There is enough of a following for Joe that this song will easily make it to the Top 20.  The true question is will enough people like it for the radio stations to keep playing it.  I feel that they won’t…

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 20

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Lyrics

Participate each week in the CML Chart Interactive to help songs climb the CML Chart.  To do that, just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page and vote in the polls.  Thanks!!!

New Top 60 Online

The CML Top 60 for the week fo 4/26 to 5/2/09 is now online!

There’s a brand new #1 this week with Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country” taking the spot away from Jake Owen’s “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.”  Jake comes in at #2 this week, followed by Trace Adkins’ “Marry For Money” at #3, Montgomery Gentry’s “One In Every Crowd” at #4, and Rodney Atkins’ “It’s America” at #5.

This week’s highest debut is Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” which finds itself at #35.  Other new songs include new music from Hank Williams, Jr. (“Red, White, and Pink-Slip Blues” at #54) and Joe Nichols (“Believers” at #60).  Check back Tuesday as I will do reviews on each of these songs.

As always, the CML Chart Interactive (CMLCI) needs your help.  Click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page to vote for songs to have their Impression rating (50% of their score for the CML Chart) increased and to take a big climb on the chart.  CMLCI polls will close Wednesdays at 11am, so get your vote in soon!

CMLCI Updated

The math is now finished for the CML Chart for the week of 4/26 to 5/2/09.  Check back Monday for that chart to be posted.

The winners for the CML Chart Interactive (CMLCI) for that chart week are:

“100″ Poll- “Marry For Money” by Trace Adkins
“90″ Poll- “One In Every Crowd” by Montgomery Gentry
“80″ Poll- “Then” by Brad Paisley
“70″ Poll- “Sideways” by Dierks Bentley and “Whatever It Is” by The Zac Brown Band.

As always, none of these songs will show up on a poll this week due to the fact they are not allowed to win polls in back-to-back weeks. 

The polls for this week are online now, just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page to vote.  There are three songs being removed this week, a 90 and 2 80’s.  There will be no “100″ poll since no 100’s were removed.  We are voting for one song to move up to a 90 (to replace the 90 that was removed), three songs to 80 (to replace the two removed and the one moving up), and three songs to 70 (to replace the three 70’s that moved up).  All total, 7 songs will have a chance at big movement on the CML Chart for the week of 5/3 to 5/9/09.

Thanks for stopping by and voting!

Reba McEntire- “Strange”

What else can I say other than another solid song from a “living legend.”  Reba is the female version of George Strait–she can sound current while still holding true to the formula she has used for success since the early 80s.

“Strange” tackles the subject of recovering from a breakup, saying that despite how gloomy you feel, the sun will come up tomorrow (okay, that was a cheesy cliche).  It’s a good song that everyone is sure to love.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 5

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Lyrics

You can make an impact on the CML Chart by participating in the CML Chart Interactive (CMLCI).  Just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page for details.

CML Chart for 4/19 to 4/25/09 Online

The Top 60

For the third week in a row and fourth overall, Jake Owen has the #1 single with “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.”  For the second week in a row, Jason Aldean is at #2 with “She’s Country.”  Rounding out the top 5 are Martina McBride’s “Ride” (#3), Trace Adkins’ “Marry For Money” (#4), and Rodney Atkins’ “It’s America” (#5).

There’s only one new song this week and that is the latest from “living legend” Reba McEntire.  Her new single “Strange” debuts at #56.  Check back tomorrow (Tuesday) for my review on that song.

As always, the CML Chart Interactive (CMLCI) is taking place.  You can vote in a series of polls that help me calculate the CML Chart each week.  Just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page for details.

CML Chart Interactive for 4/26 to 5/2

Now that I have the chart for 4/19 to 4/25 all calculated, the CML Chart Interactive page has been updated with the polls for the chart week of 4/26 to 5/2.  There are only two songs being removed this week, a 100 and a 70 (meaning a 90, an 80, a 70, and 2 other songs are moving up this week).   Just click on the CMLCI link at the top of the page to vote!

Bucky Covington- “I Want My Life Back”

Bucky’s first single off his upcoming sophomore album.  The song is about an encounter a young man has with a homeless man outside of the bar he was going to.  The homeless man first places the idea of wanting his life back in the singer’s mind.  When the singer gets into the bar, he starts to think back about the woman he loved and lost.

While this song doesn’t cover new ground, Bucky is able to put his own flavor on it and make it a solid song that should do well for him on the charts.

Billboard Chart Peak Position- Top 5

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Lyrics

Vote each week in the CML Chart Interactive to help your favorite songs climb the charts.  Just click on the CML Chart Interactive link at the top of the page for details.