During my undergraduate years, I really learned to appreciate country music. My roommate Weston and I became western aficionados, you might say, and we began publishing a list called the Country Song of the Week (CSOTW) on an early version of Dupyshon.com. This went on for over a year, and we celebrated our first anniversary with a big top ten countdown party (we called it the "Big Bash"). Here's the complete list of country songs of the week, as well as a few details about awards from the Big Bash.
Date Song Artist
August 31, 2006 My Kind of Music Ray Scott
August 24, 2006 How 'Bout You Eric Church
August 17, 2006 Yee Haw Jake Owen
August 10, 2006 I Don't Know What She Said Blaine Larsen
August 3, 2006 A Little Too Late Toby Keith
July 27, 2006 When It Rains Eli Young Band
July 20, 2006 Nothin' But a Love Thang Darryl Worley
July 13, 2006 Whever You Are Jack Ingram
July 6, 2006 Brand New Girlfriend Steve Holy
June 29, 2006 Real Good Man Tim McGraw
June 22, 2006 Backwards Rascal Flatts
June 15, 2006 Favorite State of Mind Josh Gracin
June 8, 2006 Good Little Girls Blue County
June 1, 2006 Yes! Chad Brock
May 25, 2006 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins
May 18, 2006 Size Matters (Someday) Joe Nichols
May 11, 2006 The World Brad Paisley
May 4, 2006 Summertime Kenny Chesney
April 27, 2006 Hillbillies Hot Apple Pie
April 20, 2006 Get Drunk and Be Somebody Toby Keith
April 13, 2006 Down on the Farm Tim McGraw
April 6, 2006 Comin' to Your City Big and Rich
Date Song Artist
March 30, 2006 You're Like Coming Home Lonestar
March 23, 2006 She Don't Tell Me To Montgomery Gentry
March 16, 2006 Drunker Than Me Trent Tomlinson
March 9, 2006 Ain't Nothing 'Bout You Brooks and Dunn
March 2, 2006 Mrs. Steven Rudy Mark McGuinn
February 23, 2006 Celebrity Brad Paisley
February 16, 2006 Good to Go to Mexico Toby Keith
February 9, 2006 Nobody But Me Blake Shelton
February 2, 2006 Good Ride Cowboy Garth Brooks
January 26, 2006 Me Neither Brad Paisley
January 19, 2006 Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Trace Adkins
January 12, 2006 I Got a Feelin' Billy Currington
January 5, 2006 I Should Be Sleeping Emerson Drive
December 29, 2005 It's a Great Day to Be Alive Travis Tritt
December 22, 2005 Best I Ever Had Gary Allan
December 15, 2005 Dream Big Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
December 8, 2005 Everything I Want Jace Everett
December 1, 2005 Nineteen Somethin' Mark Wills
November 24, 2005 Friends in Low Places Garth Brooks
November 17, 2005 Watch the Wind Blow By Tim McGraw
November 10, 2005 Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off Joe Nichols
November 3, 2005 Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right Billy Currington
October 27, 2005 99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before) Brian McComas
October 20, 2005 Prayin' for Daylight Rascal Flatts
October 13, 2005 Awful Beautiful Life Darryl Worley
October 6, 2005 God Blessed Texas Little Texas
September 29, 2005 That's What I Love About Sunday Craig Morgan
September 22, 2005 Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident) John Michael Montgomery
September 15, 2005 So So Long Dierks Bentley
September 8, 2005 Hicktown Jason Aldean
September 1, 2005 Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On Neal McCoy
August 25, 2005 Something to Be Proud Of Montgomery Gentry
August 18, 2005 Pickup Man Joe Diffie
August 11, 2005 Summertime Blues Alan Jackson
August 4, 2005 Some Beach Blake Shelton
July 28, 2005 Nothing On but the Radio Gary Allan
July 21, 2005 Baby Girl Sugarland
July 14, 2005 I'll Take That As A Yes Phil Vassar
July 7, 2005 Arlington Trace Adkins
June 30, 2005 Boot Scootin' Boogie Brooks and Dunn
June 23, 2005 Five O'Clock Somewhere Alan Jackson
June 16, 2005 How Am I Doin' Dierks Bentley
June 9, 2005 When the Sun Goes Down Kenny Chesney
June 2, 2005 Chicks Dig It Chris Cagle
May 26, 2005 Pickin' Wildflowers Keith Anderson
May 19, 2005 Big Time Big and Rich
May 12, 2005 Somethin' Like That Tim McGraw
May 5, 2005 Stays in Mexico Toby Keith
April 28, 2005 Nothin' to Lose Josh Gracin
April 21, 2005 I Don't Have to Be Me ('Til Monday) Steve Azar
April 14, 2005 What's a Guy Gotta Do Joe Nichols
April 7, 2005 Gone Montgomery Gentry
The Top Ten Country Songs of 2005/06
1. Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On - Neal McCoy
This song by the talented Texapino has it all. It has great lyics, it's fun to dance to, has a strong beat, and a phenomenal ending. Not much more to say than that, except that it is truly deserving of CSOTW's highest honor. Don't believe us? Then you obviously have never heard it before.
2. So So Long - Dierks Bentley
We had a chance to see Dierks Bentley in concert this year, and boy was it a treat. He is a great performer, and sounds every bit as good live as he does on his albums. Dierks has a perfect voice for singing country, and he sings catchy songs which get stuck in your head and stay there for days. His sound is a bit more traditional than some of the Alt-Country artists we've been hearing lately, so there's a good chance that his music will stand the test of time and still sound good decades from now. "So So Long" was the encore tune that Dierks played when he was in Pullman, and we knew it was a good song from the first chord.
3. Honkeytonk Badonkadonk - Trace Adkins
Has there ever been a country song with more attitude? We are hard-pressed to think of one. Trace's relationship to the Country Song of the Week list is quite interesting. It all started over the summer, when Trace first heard about the list. He recognized the value and prestige of the list, and called his agent. "Why haven't I been listed on the CSOTW yet!? I think I am definitely qualified for such an honor. Maybe you haven't been doing your job very well. Do I have to fire you?" Now, Trace is a very good country artist, but Weston and I just hadn't been exposed to his music very much. He ended up firing his agent and publicist for not getting him enough attention, and began to handle all of his scheduling and advertising by himself. (Currently, he is the only major country star who manages himself.) At the top of Trace's To Do List: get on the CSOTW. He immediately booked a flight to Woodland, Oregon to talk to Christine Baker. (He had to buy new tickets when he found out that Woodland is technically in Washington, but his mistake is quite understandable). Anyway, Trace really wanted to talk to Kylan or Weston, but he figured that they were too busy making important decisions. He was a little intimidated because he had heard so many great things about us. Trace figured that he could tell Christine that he wanted to be on the list, and she could relay the message to us. It was nearly the Fourth of July, and he decided that his new patriotic song, Arlington, was his best shot. Trace went to the country club where Christine was working and gave her his autograph along with his request. Then Christine told Weston and I that he wanted to be on the CSOTW. We were impressed by both Trace's persistence and musicianship, so we agreed to give him the July 7th spot. When he came out with Honkeytonk Badonkadonk later this year, we were very excited. Here are our favorite parts of this song: "Slap your grandma," "like Donkey Kong," and "you hate to see her go but love to watch her leave."
4. Pickin' Wildflowers - Keith Anderson
This song is the definition of B.A. The best moment is at the end of the first verse, with the "Uh-ha-haw." Utilizing the Jew's harp was definitely a good choice. What cha' say we go pickin' wildflowers? You and me, baby.
5. What's a Guy Gotta Do - Joe Nichols
Artichoke hearts, Super Walmarts, and pretty girls with shopping carts make this a very, very good song. It's hard to sing the whole chorus in one breath (just try it sometime). This song makes the top ten because Joe Nichols is such a protagonist. By the end of the song you're really rooting for him to get a girl.
6. Something Like That - Tim McGraw
This guy just came out with a Greatest Hits album, and he has lots of material that would qualify as a "greatest hit." Tim McGraw is very well-respected in the country world, so we couldn't resist putting him on this list. "Something Like That" tells a good story about barbeque stains, mini skirts, Labor Day weekends, and New Orleans. Very American.
7. Gone - Montgomery Gentry
This is the one that started it all. "Gone" was the first ever CSOTW, and for good reason. It has a good dose of bad attitude and a real country-flavored theme. The chorus is the best part, though. What other songs talk about freight trains and the Civil War? What other songs include an onomatopoetic "Bang! Bang!"?
8. 99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before) - Brian McComas
Another young artist, Brian sings this song with good energy and a clear voice. Truly a great song to dance to. The fast-paced lyrics make the it fun, reminiscant of Josh Gracin's "Nothin' to Lose" or "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" by John Michael Montgomery. Personally, I am a big fan of the banjo work of Leigh Reynolds in the background.
9. Me Neither - Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley has a way with lyrics... this song is hilarious. How can a guy get shut down so many times in the same conversation? This is a fast song with a good beat, and the guitar solo is quite impressive. Very fun.
10. Hicktown - Jason Aldean
Jason is a young, emerging country artist with a bright future. This song is his best so far, and it was selected primarily because it reminds us of Pullman, WA. Yes, Jason, we do like the way that sounds. And we know you ain't finished yet.
The CSOTW Artist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
The CSOTW Rookie of the Year
Jace Everett
The CSOTW Brokeback Artist of the Year
Cowboy Troy
Rachael's Predictions:
1. So So Long - Dierks Bentley
2. Some Beach - Blake Shelton
3. Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On - Neal McCoy
4. Nothin' to Lose - Josh Gracin
Christine's Predictions:
1. So So Long - Dierks Bentley
2. Honkeytonk Badonkadonk - Trace Adkins
3. Stays in Mexico - Toby Keith
4. Billy's Got His Beer Goggles One - Neal McCoy
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