CML Top 60 updated…finally

It’s been a busy past week for me, so I am running a little behind in my posting.  The CML Top 60 is finally updated online.  Here’s my “tease”:

Did Lady Antebellum hang onto the #1 spot for a second week or did Billy Currington or Randy Houser knock them out?  What new songs are there this week?  Click here to find out!

Single reviews will be hopefully all done tomorrow.  I’ve done a few this week, but I have 5 more that I have typed up that I just haven’t made into posts yet (I type them on Word for spelling and grammar).

Zac Brown Band- “Toes”

As the first song on The Foundation, this was the first song I got to listen to after purchasing the Zac Brown Band’s debut album.  Overall, the song is a fun song to listen to and the lyric is so descriptive that anyone listening closely can be taken away.  My only complaint is the repeated use of “the a-word,” which is just a demonstration of how certain words are becoming more and more acceptable as the years go on.  Rodney Atkins’ censored his song “These Are My People” by replacing the word with back.  Having not heard this song on the radio yet, I am not sure whether a censored version is coming out or not.  Even if it doesn’t, the use of the word is more of an object than description of someone, so many stations may just let it go.  I have a good feeling this song is going #1. I was a little disappointed that “Whatever It Is” feel short on the Billboard charts, which means this will become their second #1 instead of their third in a row to start their careers.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- #1

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Lyrics

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Brad Paisley- “Welcome to the Future”

Brad has ten straight #1 hits, which is a modern era record on the Billboard Charts.  His last couple of singles have been bona fide, 100% guaranteed #1 singles.  “Welcome to the Future” is far from that.  Yes, it is well written and has an interesting lyric, but it is not a guaranteed #1.  I am pretty sure that it’ll appeal to enough people for it to make it there, but that is not guaranteed.  Only time will tell if this songs makes it eleven in a row, and I make my prediction a little hesitantly.

 Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- #1

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Lyrics

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Eli Young Band- “Radio Waves”

Okay, I got a little confused a few weeks ago when Eli Young Band’s “Guinevere” charted on the Billboard Top 60 and was listed as their new single on their Wikipedia page.  Instead, “Radio Waves” is their new single. Now that I am no longer confused, I can do a review.

I think this song fits as it has that upbeat summer feel to it, has good vocals, and just sounds really good.  If I were forced to say something “bad,” it would be the fact that it is a little too similar in concept to the band’s previous single (“Always the Love Songs”), but only as far as the fact that songs are a driving force in the lyric (love songs versus the actual radio waves).

I think the Eli Young Band has a future in the business, but I don’t think this song is going to convince people to run out and buy their CD.  I actually bought their album because of their debut “When It Rains” a couple months after “Always…” was released to the radio.  They have good music on their album, so if you are thinking about getting Jet Black and Jealous, go right ahead and do it.  “Radio Waves” will be a solid Top 20 hit, but I have a feeling that the next single, whether it be “Guinevere,” one of the others or a single from a new album, will be their first Top 10.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 20

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Lyrics

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Keith Urban- “Only You Can Love Me This Way”

For the first time since “Making Memories of Us,” Keith Urban has released a slow tempo, love song that shows off his tender vocals.  It has been a while since Keith slowed it down for a love song, with his last three ballads being anything but love songs (“Everyday” comes close, but it’s more of a statement that everybody needs somebody than it is a love song).

I truly think this song reminds everyone that Keith is more than a guitar player with a good voice.  He got where he is today because of his guitar, but he sure can sing a nice love balled when called for.  Having Defying Gravity, I know that this is one of a couple of really nice songs on the album that Keith doesn’t rock out on that are nice listens that many people would like to hear on the radio.  As for “Only…,” it’s got #1 written all over it.

 

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- #1

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Lyrics

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CML Top 60 Updated

The CML Top 60 for the week of 7/19 to 7/25/09 is now online.

Did Dierks Bentley’s “Sideways” hold on to the top spot, or did someone else keep it from being a multiple week #1?  Who’s got the only new single to the Top 60 this week?  Check out the Top 60 to find out.

Note: I’m running a little behind on the single reviews as it’s been a busy week for me.  I’ll try to get caught up as soon as I can.

CMLCI Results

Winners: Chart Week of 7/19 to 7/25/09:

4-Star: Blake Shelton’s “I’ll Just Hold On” and Justin Moore’s “Small Town USA”
3-Star: Reba McEntire’s “Strange” and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights”
2-Star: Tim McGraw’s “It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You” and Love & Theft’s “Runaway”

Note: There is not CMLCI this week due to the fact that none of the songs with 2-Stars or more are being removed for the chart week of 7/26 to 8/1/09.  The CMLCI will return starting on 7/26/09 for the chart week of 8/2 to 8/8/09.  This is something that will happen from time-to-time and is only the second time since I started the CMLCI that it has happened.  See you all next week!

CML Top 60 online

The CML Top 60 for 7/12 to 7/18/09 is now online.

Does the Zac Brown Band make it 4 weeks in a row at #1 with “Whatever It Is” or did Dierks Bentley finally knock them out of the top spot with “Sideways”?  There are 6 new songs to the Top 60 this week, but what are they?  Check the link out at the top of this post for those answers.

Check back later this week as I review each of the six new songs to the Top 60, and is this going to be a big week for that (in number and in artist power!).  Please vote in the CML Chart Interactive by clicking on the CMCLI links at the top or left of your page.  Thanks for the visit!

CML Chart Interactive Results & Update

Winners for the CML Chart Interactive (CMLCI) Polls for the chart week of 7/12 to 7/18/09:

5-Star Poll: “People Are Crazy” by Billy Currington
4-Star Poll: “Alright” by Darius Rucker
3-Star Poll: “I’ll Just Hold On” by Blake Shelton and “Fight Like a Girl” by Bomshel
2-Star Poll: “Big Green Tractor” by Jason Aldean and “Getting You Back Home” by Chris Young

This week, two 4-Star songs are being removed from the CML Chart.  This means that two 3-star songs will move up to 4-Star, two 2-star songs will move up to 3-star, and two 1-star songs will move up to 2-star.  There will be no songs moving to a 5-Star rating since none of the 5-Star songs are being removed.

 

This post also serves as an update on the question I asked the readers about the CMLCI.  With only 4 votes placed, but all of them the same, I am going to declare the results final.  All 4 people voted for “make no changes,” so that’s what I am doing.  I have added a disclaimer to the CMLCI page that is designed to get everyone’s attention so they understand what I do with the CMLCI if someone omits a vote (whether on purpose or accidentally).  There is also a “pre-disclaimer” that states that I am not yelling at anyone for the disclaimer, that it is italicized, bolded, and capitalized to get everyone to read before voting.  If you have not read the disclaimer, please do so.  Please understand I am only trying to keep the results valid by having the exact amount of intended votes.

Matt Stillwell- “Sweet Sun Angel”

At first, I thought I would recognize the song since I recognized the title.  Then, I started listening to it and thought I was wrong.  Then, it got to the chorus and I knew I was right, that I had heard another version of it.  I then realized that this song was on one of the Clay Walker albums I have.  All of sudden, I was like “hey, for once someone has taken an album song from another artist and made it theirs and made it sound better.”  This song fits Matt’s voice better than it did Clay’s, which was a bit surprising to me.  The arrangement is also better suited for the radio than Clay’s was as well, and since Clay never released it, one would assume they knew that themselves.   Now, the next question is, will Matt get some solid airplay from it?  As much as I want to see another Matt be successful at country music (name one who’s a regular visitor to the charts), I don’t know if the vast majority of America is going to like this song.  I do, but that’s besides the point.  I am hoping that it will outdo his last two singles and even surprise a few people, but I’m not sure.  I’m predicting on the side of caution with this one.

Billboard Chart Peak Prediction- Top 50

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Lyrics

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