Videos by American Songwriter
Rachel of Gloriana’s 5 Best Karaoke Songs
“Our Song” – Taylor Swift
“Jolene” – Dolly Parton
“Gunpowder and Lead” – Miranda Lambert
“I Fall To Pieces” – Patsy Cline
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” -Shania Twain
Tom of Gloriana’s Best Drinking Songs
“Cocaine Blues” – Johnny Cash
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Friends In Low Places” – Garth Brooks
“Tequila Sunrise” – Eagles
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” – Waylon Jennings
Joe Bonsall (Oak Ridge Boys)
Top Country Songs
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” – George Jones
Picking my favorite country song of all time is hard, but I’ll take a shot… I remember like it was yesterday when, on a rainy evening at the DuQuoin Sate Fair in Southern Illinois, George Jones jumped onto the front of our bus with a guitar and said, “I want to play a song for you BOYS. I just recorded it and I think it just might be a monster!” George proceeded to play and sing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” for an audience of FOUR! It was downright stunning and, yes, the Possum was correct. Of course, it was a monster and we were amongst the first to hear it. So my number #1 would have to be “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
“Chiseled In Stone” – Vern Gosdin
As a side note, after songwriting legend Max D. Barnes passed away his house went up for auction. I hate these things, but my wife Mary really wanted to attend the open house as it was just a few coves over from us on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville. Well, here we were with several hundred people pouring over a dead man’s stuff when I heard “Chiseled In Stone” playing softly on the stereo set. To honor Max I cranked it up to about 12 and went back home. I could still hear Vern singing outside as I drove off and it gave me a measure of comfort.
“She Thinks I Still Care” – Merle Haggard
“For The Good Times” – Kris Kristofferson
“Jesus Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood
In the modern era I have to say that “Jesus Take The Wheel” nearly made me crash my car when I first heard it.
Mark Wright
Award-winning songwriter /record executive /producer (currently Chief Creative Officer and President of ShowDog – Universal Records)
Love Songs With Loss
“When I Call Your Name” – Vince Gill
Vince’s voice has a tear in it and he really pulls it off. You feel lonely just listening to it.
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” – George Jones
A true classic. There are sad songs and then there is this one.
“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley
This was ‘Song of the Year.’ One of the most depressing tunes ever written.
“Chiseled In Stone” – Vern Gosdin
One heck of a tear jerker. As sad as a song can get right here.
“Watching Airplanes” – Gary Allan
This song’s tempo is deceiving. It doesn’t feel like a sad song but when you really listen to the lyric, it is as depressing as hell.
