5 Popular Country Music Songs You Need to Know
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We’ve rounded up five of the most popular country music songs that you need to know! These hits are sure to get you on your feet and dancing along.
“All My Friends Say” by Luke Bryan
This song was released in 2007 as Bryan’s debut single and it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The lyrics tell the story of a guy who is trying to convince his friends (and himself) that he is over his ex-girlfriend.
The song starts with the narrator’s friends giving him a hard time about still being hung up on his ex. He insists that he is over her, but it’s clear that he isn’t. In the chorus, he begs his friends to stop talking about her and says that he doesn’t want to hear her name again.
The second verse reveals that the narrator has run into his ex and she seems to be doing well without him. This only makes him more upset, but he still pretends like he doesn’t care.
In the end, the narrator finally admits that he is not over his ex and probably never will be. This song is relatable for anyone who has ever gone through a break-up and it’s catchy enough to get stuck in your head for days.
“She’s Country” by Jason Aldean
“She’s Country” is a song by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in December 2008 as the fourth single from his album Wide Open. The song became Aldean’s first number-one single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in February 2009. It was written by Kirko Bangz, Michael Williams, Mark Irwin, and Jeff Stevens.
The song is an up-tempo in which the male narrator expresses his love for a “country” girl. The second verse makes reference to Billy Currington’s “Good Directions” in its opening line; Currington posted on his Twitter account that he was flattered by the mention. In the chorus, the female subject is said to have “a little bit of everything”, including “a touch of hay / Just a little bit of payback”.Critical reception for “She’s Country” was positive, with many reviewers praising Aldean’s vocal performance and the song’s production.
The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions, features Aldean and his band performing at a barn party. “She’s Country” has been certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over six million copies in that country. It also peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming his first top 20 hit on that chart as well as his highest-peaking single overall until 2014’s “Burnin’ It Down”.
“Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” by Luke Bryan
“Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was released in March 2011 as the fifth single from his album Tailgates & Tanlines. The song became Bryan’s fourth consecutive number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 2011. It was written by Bryan, Dallas Davidson and Ashley Gorley.
“Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” is an up-tempo track with a length of three minutes and fifty-three seconds. The song’s groove is based around a shuffle beat. The song’s opening lyrics are “Hey, girl / Shake it for me / Girl, shake it for me / Shake it for me, ooh ooh.” The song is about a guy trying to pick up girls at a bar. He tells them to “shake it” for him, meaning to dance.
Critical reception of the song was mixed. Some critics praised the song’s catchy beat and lyrical content, while others criticized it for being too crude and misogynistic. Despite the mixed reviews, “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and becoming Bryan’s fourth consecutive number-one single on that chart. The song also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it Bryan’s highest-charting single on that chart to date.
“Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” has been certified 5× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying sales of five million copies in the United States as of September 2017. The song has also been certified 6× Platinum by Music Canada, indicating sales of six hundred thousand copies in that country as of July 2016. An accompanying music video for “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”, directed by Jason Derulo, features Luke Bryan performing the song at various outdoor locations including a farm and a creek.
“Take a Little Ride” by Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean’s “Take a Little Ride” was released in 2012 as the lead single from his album Night Train. The song became Aldean’s sixth number one hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and his seventh overall. “Take a Little Ride” is an up-tempo song with a pounding drums and electric guitar riff. The song’s lyrics are about a guy who is trying to convince his girl to take a ride with him in his truck.
“Mud on the Tires” by Brad Paisley
“Mud on the Tires” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in July 2003 as the lead-off single to his album Mud on the Tires, and his eleventh single overall. The song became Paisley’s fifth Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2004. Keith Stegall produced the track, with session musician Matt Chamberlain playing drums. The song is about a man who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so he goes off-roading with his friends.
Paisley wrote this song with Bill Anderson and Frank Rogers. He told CMT that he got the idea for it while he was out mountain biking with friends. He said: “I was just out riding my bike one day, and I thought, ‘Man, this would really be a great place to take a date.’ You know, just kind of get away from everything and be out in nature.”
