Wish I'd written that...
I was flipping radio stations while driving home this evening and came across "Live Like You Were Dying" so I stopped and listened for a while. Man! Not only does that song pack a particularly powerful punch in my life at the moment, what with my dad's situation, but it's just airtight, musically and lyrically. Great production, great performance by Tim McGraw. I felt overcome with envy. So that got me thinking about other songs I wish I'd written, and I decided to start listing them. After all, I can always refer to this list when I need inspiration.
I also decided to limit the list to songs which were probably written in Nashville, and probably intended for the country market, since that's where we're aiming and I sometimes find it so stifling that it'll be a good reminder to see a list of great songs that stayed within the "safe" limits of country radio acceptability.
So this is the beginning of it...
Live Like You Were Dying
(James Nichols / Craig Wiseman)
I Hope You Dance
(Mark Sanders / Tia Sillers)
A Little Past Little Rock
(James Brown / Brett Jones / Tony Lane)
You'll Think Of Me
(Darrell Brown / Ty Lacy / Dennis Matkosky)
Bring On The Rain
(Helen Darling / Billy Montana)
[Edit: additions since original post]
Every Light In The House
(Kent Robbins)
I also decided to limit the list to songs which were probably written in Nashville, and probably intended for the country market, since that's where we're aiming and I sometimes find it so stifling that it'll be a good reminder to see a list of great songs that stayed within the "safe" limits of country radio acceptability.
So this is the beginning of it...
Live Like You Were Dying
(James Nichols / Craig Wiseman)
I Hope You Dance
(Mark Sanders / Tia Sillers)
A Little Past Little Rock
(James Brown / Brett Jones / Tony Lane)
You'll Think Of Me
(Darrell Brown / Ty Lacy / Dennis Matkosky)
Bring On The Rain
(Helen Darling / Billy Montana)
[Edit: additions since original post]
Every Light In The House
(Kent Robbins)
"Amarillo by Morning" - George Strait
"Every Light in the House is On" - Trace Adkins
"In My Own Mind" - Lyle Lovett
"Coat of Many Colors" - Dolly Parton
"The Gambler" and "The Coward of the County" - Kenny Rogers
"There Goes My Life" - Kenny Chesney
almost any ballad by Travis Tritt
"She'll Leave You With a Smile" - George Strait
"Ol' Red" and "The Baby" - the guy's name escapes me but I know you'll know who I mean - and he has a cute new song out now called "Some Beach"
"Does He Love You (Like He's Been Lovin' Me)" - Reba McEntire
"You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" - Toby Keith
almost anything by Brooks & Dunn - they have a really cool combination of two different voices together
"He Didn't Have to Be" - Brad Paisley
"When I Call Your Name" - Vince Gill
Ooh, yeah. I'd include "My Maria" but it's a cover and I don't think it was intended for the country market. But it's a great song. And they do have a great vocal blend.
"You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" - Toby Keith
That reminds me that my favorite Toby Keith performance is the duet with Sting on "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" but there again, Sting probably didn't originally write that for the country market. :-)
"Every Light in the House is On" - Trace Adkins
I love that song. I'm going to add it to my "wish I wrote it" list. We recorded our first Nashville demo at the studio where that album was recorded. They have a plaque on the wall. It felt like someone was saying "Welcome to Nashville, baby!"
"Ol' Red" and "The Baby" - the guy's name escapes me but I know you'll know who I mean - and he has a cute new song out now called "Some Beach"
Yeah, Blake Shelton. I used to hang out with one of the co-writers of "The Baby" (Harley Allen) and he's such a pathetic drunken lecher that it's hard to believe he can write such poignant material.