Best Country Music of 2007
What were the best country music songs of 2007? Here’s a list of the top 10 songs, according to CMT.
Introduction
2007 was a great year for country music, with a wide variety of artists releasing both traditional and contemporary sounding records. There were sad songs and happy songs, heartbreak songs and party songs, and everything in between. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best country music that was released in 2007.
Best Country Songs of 2007
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood released her debut album Some Hearts in 2005, which contained the mega-hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” She followed that up with 2006’s Carnival Ride, which featured the equally popular “Before He Cheats.” The song, which is about a woman who takes revenge on her cheating man, was a massive success, spending seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country chart and earning a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
“Never Wanted Nothing More” by Kenny Chesney
“Never Wanted Nothing More” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in July 2007 as the second single from his album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. The song became Chesney’s fifteenth Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 2007. Chesney wrote this song with Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn
Chesney told CMT that he did not write this song with Ronnie Dunn intending it to be a Brooks & Dunn-sounding song. “We didn’t set out to write a Brooks & Dunn song. We were just writing a cool country song,” he said. Chesney also told CMT that he did not want to release this song as a single, but his producer, Buddy Cannon, convinced him otherwise. “Buddy called me up and said, ‘You know, I really think we oughta put this out as a single,'” Chesney said. “I was like, ‘What? That’s the last thing I would’ve thought about.’ But he played it for some people, and they loved it.”
“Long Black Train” by Josh Turner
“Long Black Train” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Josh Turner. It was released in May 2003 as his debut single and title track from his debut album of the same name. The song became Turner’s first Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2004. It was also his first top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 13 in May 2004. “Long Black Train” won Single of the Year at the 2004 Country Music Association Awards.
“Lost in this Moment” by Big & Rich
“Lost in this Moment” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Big & Rich. It was released in June 2007 as the lead-off single to their album Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, and it peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song was written by the duo’s members John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin, along with Sarah Buxton, Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols.
“Lost in this Moment” is a slow-tempo ballad in which the male narrator states that, despite all of his life’s problems, he only wants to focus on enjoying the moment that he is sharing with his significant other. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its production and lyrics, while others criticized its slow tempo and called it unoriginal.
The song has been certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over three million copies in the United States. It won the Top Country Song award at the 2008 ASCAP award ceremony.
“Ticks” by Brad Paisley
“Ticks” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in May 2007 as the lead-off single to his album 5th Gear. The song became Paisley’s ninth Number One hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in August 2007. In Canada, the song peaked at number ten on the Canadian Hot 100.
Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.
Best Country Albums of 2007
There were some great country albums released in 2007. If you’re a fan of country music, you’ll definitely want to check out these albums. Some of the best country albums of 2007 include: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” by Miranda Lambert, “Is There Life Out There” by Reba McEntire, “Long Trip Alone” by Dierks Bentley, “lost in the moment” by Big & Rich, and “She’s My Kind of Rain” by Tim McGraw.
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” by Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert’s debut album, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” was one of the best country albums of 2007. The album’s title track was a hit single, and the album received positive reviews from critics.
“These Days” by Vince Gill
With a mix of uptempo tunes and sentimental ballads, Vince Gill’s These Days appeals to fans of all types of country music. The album features many of Gill’s trademark guitar licks, and his vocals are as smooth as ever. These Days was nominated for several Grammy Awards, and it won the award for Best Country Album.
“Long Black Train” by Josh Turner
“Long Black Train” is the title track and lead-off single from American country music artist Josh Turner’s 2003 album of the same name. It was released in May 2003 as his debut single and became a Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2004. The song was penned by Turner along with songwriter Frank Rogers.
In an interview with Songfacts, Turner said of “Long Black Train”: “‘Long Black Train’ is a song that’s very near and dear to me. It’s about choices and consequences and riding that line between salvation and sin. It’s something that we all go through, making decisions in life, whether to do the right thing or wrong thing.'”
“Let it Go” by George Strait
George Strait’s “Let it Go” is one of the best country albums of 2007. Released on October 30, 2007, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Strait’s first album to top that chart. It also debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of one million copies in the United States.
“4” by Carrie Underwood
4 is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood. It was released on October 11, 2011, by Arista Nashville. The album includes the singles “Good Girl”, “Blown Away”, and “Two Black Cadillacs”. 4 has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, it has sold over five million copies. Critical reception to 4 was generally positive. Many praised Underwood’s new musical direction which incorporated a more rock-oriented sound on some of the album’s tracks, while others called it a return to her musical roots. At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013), 4 won Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album. It also received a nomination for Album of the Year, making Underwood the only female country artist to be nominated in that category.
Conclusion
It’s no surprise that country music had a strong showing in 2007. With crossover hits from Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Brad Paisley, the genre continued to gain popularity with mainstream audiences. At the same time, traditionalists like George Strait and Alan Jackson maintained their hold on the country charts. These artists, along with many others, released some of the best country music of 2007.
