The list is surprisingly good. Though I’m not a country fan, per se, the fact that I can recognize (and even sing in their entirety) a good two-thirds of the list is pretty impressive. I can quibble with some of the selections (Desperado? Country Roads? Shania Twain?), but it’s better than these lists have any right to be.
Troy
“Friends in Low Places”? Really?
What’s wrong with Country Roads? I don’t even like country music, but I can tell you that a) that’s as country as country music can get, and b) it’s a great song.
From what I remember, this song really kicked off the New Country boom of the early 90’s.
Matter of taste, I guess, Matt. A top 20 song? But you are probably right that it should be on there somewhere. I think I have a hard time seeing Denver as a country artist, but I’m not sure why. These genre boundaries are artificial, to be sure, but I always see him as pop-folk. Whatever that is.
Gary, I think “Friends in Low Places” is a great country song. And mostly responsible for putting Garth Brooks on the pop culture map, for good or ill.
Troy
I think it’s a good country song, too, but #6? Ahead of numerous classics by Haggard, Cash, Rogers, et al? Just seems a bit high to me, that’s all.