Best Songs of 2012 … So Far
It's hard to believe, but the year is already almost halfway over! In the past six months, country radio has provided an awesome soundtrack to our 2012. Below is our pick for ten of the best songs of 2012 ... so far.
10. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," Kip Moore
Pick-up truck owners everywhere may be getting luckier in love these days, thanks to Kip Moore's autobiographical tune that boasts, "There's somethin bout a truck in a field / And a girl in a red sundress with an ice cold beer to her lips beggin' for another kiss / And there's somethin bout you and me and the birds and the bees / And lord have mercy it's a beautiful thing / Ain't nothin bout it luck / There's somethin bout a truck." It's the Georgia native's first No. 1 hit, and we're betting he'll buy a new truck with his earnings.
Listen to "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" | Download It
9. "The Sound of a Million Dreams," David Nail
Fresh off the success of his first No. 1 hit, "Let It Rain," David is certainly living the lyrics of his next single, "The Sound of a Million Dreams." With lines that include "So I labor for hours 'cause I know the power / Of a song when a song hits you right / Pouring my soul into stories of life / Hoping someone'll hear one tonight," the title cut of his sophomore album, written by Phil Vassar and Scooter Carusoe, will be heard on radios everywhere for a million years to come.
8. "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," Eli Young Band
The second single from Eli Young Band's sophomore album, Life at Best, this tune perfectly represents where the four-man group has been -- and the direction they are heading. "We've had this band for eleven years now and all four of us have dreamed about making music for a living since we were kids," lead singer Mike Eli told The Boot. "We still say it every day: 'live your dream' ... This is that song for us. It tells that story for the fans who are just discovering us, and for the ones who have been with us for a long time."
Listen to "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" | Download It
7. "Over You," Miranda Lambert
One of the more poignant songs Miranda has ever recorded, "Over You" is even more meaningful given that she wrote it with her husband, Blake Shelton, about the death of his older brother. "I love that song and I feel like it's time for me to show I have that side of me that's vulnerable and hurting for someone else," Miranda explained. It's when she sings, "It really sinks in, you know, when I see it in stone," that we get a glimpse of the pain Blake admitted he lives with every day.
Listen to "Over You" | Download It
6. "For You," Keith Urban
Keith penned this song, along with Monty Powell, for the "Act of Valor" movie, and he admits wife Nicole Kidman had to talk him into doing it, easing his fears of writing for a film. "She said to me, 'You should do this, you really should. I think you'll be able to do this if you commit to it,'" he told The Boot. "She gently suggested that I do it and I'm glad she did." The generous singer donated his proceeds from "For You" to the Navy SEAL Foundation.
5. "Pontoon," Little Big Town
This is the perfect summer song to take you away from the daily work grind and out in the open air, if only for a few minutes. With lines like, "On the pontoon / Makin' waves and catchin' rays up on the roof / Jumpin' out the back, don't act like you don't want to / Party in slow motion / Out here in the open / Mmmmmmm ... motorboatin'," we want to grab a towel and head out to the water. Now.
4. "Springsteen," Eric Church
The song may be named after Bruce Springsteen, but it turns out it has nothing to do with the rock icon. "It didn't happen with Springsteen, ironically, it happened with another artist. I went to a concert when I was younger with a girl, and to this day when I hear that artist, it's the soundtrack to that girl," Eric told The Boot. "That's where the 'Springsteen' came from, and he seemed to be the perfect guy to craft that story around because of my love for him ... I have such a reverence for Bruce Springsteen's career and how he's built it."
3."So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore," Alan Jackson
With more than 50 Top 40 songs to his credit, it's safe to say Alan knows a hit when he hears one. So the fact that this song was written by his nephew, Adam Wright, didn't factor in at all to his decision to record the tune. "At first, it raised the hair on my arms when I heard the demo," Alan told The Boot. "It was one of those songs that, when I heard it, it's the kind of song that made me want to be in country music." With touching lines such as, "If you need me to make you cry / I don't want to but I'll try / So you don't have to love me anymore," this song is guaranteed to be one of Alan's most memorable songs.
Listen to "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore" | Download It
2. "Good Girl," Carrie Underwood
The long-awaited first single from Carrie's Blown Away CD has now been certified platinum! But it's the video, which includes multiple wardrobe changes, that makes the song stand out for this blond bombshell. "We just had fun with it, rocked out and had a fun day. We had some great shoes!" she told The Boot. "We definitely had some good clothing options." The song helped propel Blown Away to the top of the charts for five consecutive weeks.
Listen to "Good Girl" | Download It
1. "That's Why I Pray," Big & Rich
If there was ever a song that motivated us to action, this one is it. Thanks to lyrics such as, "Now I'm begging for forgiveness / I wanna make a difference even in the smallest way / I'm only one person, but I can feel it working / I believe in better days / That's why I pray," the song is perfect for the duo whose motto is "Love Everybody." After Big Kenny and John Rich's five-year hiatus from recording together, "That's Why I Pray" reminds us why we are so glad Big & Rich are back on the airwaves.
Watch Big & Rich's "That's Why I Pray" Video
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