9. SHUT ME UP - LINDSAY ELL: Following her singles "Trippin On Us" and "Pickup Truck," this track continued to prove how much talent Ell has. The booming country rock production, along with the electro-pop vocal effects were radio-ready. This song is also completely addicting, and and would have fit in perfectly next to Luke and Miranda on the radio. "Shut Me Up" is the best single Ell has released so far, cohesively and lyrically, but it only reached No. 46 on the US Country Airplay chart.
8. LOOKING BACK NOW - MAGGIE ROSE: This was Rose's third single off of her debut, Cut to Impress, and actually did the worst on the charts out of all of her singles. This was weird, because this is exactly the kind of country-pop music that is popular for women these days. Additionally, this song has a killer story, not unlike Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs", along with Rose's silky smooth vocals, which spelled out a hit.
7. KEEP IT TO YOURSELF - KACEY MUSGRAVES: The fourth single from Same Trailer Different Park, this track was one of the most radio friendly songs on the album, and also one of the best. It's a wry ballad, mourning a relationship, but also accepting it's end. The simple production is flawless, but most likely wasn't upbeat or rocky enough for the radio.
6. I WISH I COULD BREAK YOUR HEART - CASSADEE POPE: Often it is difficult for artists to follow up a huge hit, like Pope's "Wasting All These Tears" which hit the Top 5. This song was a very strategic follow up, keeping up with the pop/rock influenced country/pop production, but somehow didn't work out on radio. This song also has flawless lyrics that spell out a completely relatable story, which if radio gave a chance, would have touched many people.
5. FAMOUS - KELLEIGH BANNEN: The dubstep and electro-pop influences in this song, along with the prominent banjos and powerhouse vocals from Bannen were clearly aimed to appeal to radio country fans. Additionally, this song is genius, with the use of the title, "Famous" which most people would assume would be a song like "Lucky" by Britney Spears, not this rocking girl power anthem. This could have ruled the charts, on both the country and pop plains.
4. LOVE IS WAR - AMERICAN YOUNG: Although not quite as hauntingly beautiful as another song by the duo, "Soldier's Wife," this song has a simplistic beauty, and lyrics that are incredibly truthful. This single reached the Top 50 on the Country Airplay chart, but deserved much more. There aren't that many of these kinds of songs on country radio, which is why this song belonged there: to show country fans that there's more than Florida Georgia Line.
3. YOUNG IN AMERICA - DANIELLE BRADBERY: Released just in April last year, this song was made to be a summer/Fourth of July anthem. Bradbery's previous single "The Heart of Dixie" had cracked the Top 20, and this was an obvious follow up, with it's catchy tempo and youthful lyrics that fit Bradbery's image. If there were a Best Country Summer Song of 2014, this song would have won by a landslide.
2. SIMPLE LIFE - MEGAN & LIZ: With their already enormous pop fan base, Megan & Liz's country debut was sure to succeed. A fan favorite, this is a sweet song about "driving around in the Chevy" and going back home to the country. If there are songs like "Cruise" on the radio about driving around and countless songs about "taking back roads," it doesn't make sense that this wouldn't fit right in. However, the duo was new to country music, but still, this song deserved to go at least Top 10.
1. HOW COULD I WANT MORE - JAMIE LYNN SPEARS: Although this song did break the Top 30 on the Hot Country Songs chart, it deserved so much more. Arguably the best song of 2013, this song started off Spears' music career with a bang, showing the critics that she is amazing as a country singer. This song is bittersweet, as Spears debates why she wants more than this perfect guy she has right now. This is true country music, and what should be sitting at the top of the chart.
8. LOOKING BACK NOW - MAGGIE ROSE: This was Rose's third single off of her debut, Cut to Impress, and actually did the worst on the charts out of all of her singles. This was weird, because this is exactly the kind of country-pop music that is popular for women these days. Additionally, this song has a killer story, not unlike Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs", along with Rose's silky smooth vocals, which spelled out a hit.
7. KEEP IT TO YOURSELF - KACEY MUSGRAVES: The fourth single from Same Trailer Different Park, this track was one of the most radio friendly songs on the album, and also one of the best. It's a wry ballad, mourning a relationship, but also accepting it's end. The simple production is flawless, but most likely wasn't upbeat or rocky enough for the radio.
6. I WISH I COULD BREAK YOUR HEART - CASSADEE POPE: Often it is difficult for artists to follow up a huge hit, like Pope's "Wasting All These Tears" which hit the Top 5. This song was a very strategic follow up, keeping up with the pop/rock influenced country/pop production, but somehow didn't work out on radio. This song also has flawless lyrics that spell out a completely relatable story, which if radio gave a chance, would have touched many people.
5. FAMOUS - KELLEIGH BANNEN: The dubstep and electro-pop influences in this song, along with the prominent banjos and powerhouse vocals from Bannen were clearly aimed to appeal to radio country fans. Additionally, this song is genius, with the use of the title, "Famous" which most people would assume would be a song like "Lucky" by Britney Spears, not this rocking girl power anthem. This could have ruled the charts, on both the country and pop plains.
4. LOVE IS WAR - AMERICAN YOUNG: Although not quite as hauntingly beautiful as another song by the duo, "Soldier's Wife," this song has a simplistic beauty, and lyrics that are incredibly truthful. This single reached the Top 50 on the Country Airplay chart, but deserved much more. There aren't that many of these kinds of songs on country radio, which is why this song belonged there: to show country fans that there's more than Florida Georgia Line.
3. YOUNG IN AMERICA - DANIELLE BRADBERY: Released just in April last year, this song was made to be a summer/Fourth of July anthem. Bradbery's previous single "The Heart of Dixie" had cracked the Top 20, and this was an obvious follow up, with it's catchy tempo and youthful lyrics that fit Bradbery's image. If there were a Best Country Summer Song of 2014, this song would have won by a landslide.
2. SIMPLE LIFE - MEGAN & LIZ: With their already enormous pop fan base, Megan & Liz's country debut was sure to succeed. A fan favorite, this is a sweet song about "driving around in the Chevy" and going back home to the country. If there are songs like "Cruise" on the radio about driving around and countless songs about "taking back roads," it doesn't make sense that this wouldn't fit right in. However, the duo was new to country music, but still, this song deserved to go at least Top 10.
1. HOW COULD I WANT MORE - JAMIE LYNN SPEARS: Although this song did break the Top 30 on the Hot Country Songs chart, it deserved so much more. Arguably the best song of 2013, this song started off Spears' music career with a bang, showing the critics that she is amazing as a country singer. This song is bittersweet, as Spears debates why she wants more than this perfect guy she has right now. This is true country music, and what should be sitting at the top of the chart.
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