kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 8, 2020 23:46:00 GMT -5
Missing the top 5 by a mere 5 points, the last remaining song of the 00's falls, "Chain Of Love." The 3rd single from Live, Laugh, Love, it was Clay's last hit for Giant Records. Oddly, of Clay's 15 top 5 hits, this was the only one to peak at #3. Rory Lee Feek and Jonnie Barnett adapted the song from a short story that Barnett had written, inspired by an experience he had had years earlier, for the book "Chicken Soup For The Country Soul". Honestly kind of surprised this missed the top 5, although it's never really been a favorite of mine. I really liked the song when it came out, but the schmaltz grew a bit heavy over time and now it's not one I revisit often. It's a good story though, and frankly without this hit, Clay may not have been able to hang around for another decade scoring periodic hits. Among the only songs with multiple #1's, both George Strait Junkie and ClevelandRox fall victim this time.
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 8, 2020 23:54:55 GMT -5
And then there were 5!
"Live Until I Die"
"Dreaming With My Eyes Open"
"If I Could Make A Living"
"Hypnotize The Moon"
"She Won't Be Lonely Long"
Any thoughts or predictions on how this is going to play out?
The plan at the moment is try and take this home tomorrow evening, so hopefully we'll have a winner in less than 24 hours.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 6:36:17 GMT -5
Yessss, what an amazing top 5!!!! "Hypnotize The Moon" is the only real surprise in the bunch, but it is a very pleasant surprise! That stood head and shoulders above the rest of the '90s ballads to me, and became one of my favorite discoveries. The CORRECT winner would be "If I Could Make A Living", but tbh I would not be surprised to see a weirdo or two try to tank it just because it is so popular... I could see "She Won't Be Lonely Long" take it as well, because most seem to agree that it was an amazing late-career resurgence moment, and it probably has a lot more nostalgia for Pulse's primary demographic than any of the early '90s songs do. But if we're going for a dark-horse contender, I really would be totally fine seeing "Live Until I Die" make a run for the top! Such a sneakily catchy song... Perched to see how this plays out! Clay has not always been an artist I pay much attention to, but this top 5 is definitely representative of his strengths as an artist being put to good use!
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taylor
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Post by taylor on Jan 9, 2020 6:42:53 GMT -5
I can't remember if I've lost my #1 yet if I haven't then I know for sure that my #1 is in the Top 5...so naturally I hope that's the song that takes it! A great Top 5! I'm perched
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 8:07:21 GMT -5
What a great list of songs that is in the top five with only “Hypnotize the Moon” being the biggest surprise to make it in! I’m still going to give the edge to “If I Could Make a Living” for the win since I remember it having quite a bit of support in the 1994 rankdown, but I’d be happy with any one of these songs winning really. I’m not very good at predictions but I’ll give it a go:
5. Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open 4. Hypnotize the Moon 3. She Won’t Be Lonely Long 2. Live Until I Die 1. If I Could Make a Loving
I still have my top two remaining as well as my #4 so it’ll be fun to watch this play out! Oh, and I’ll post some more of my favorite albums tracks from If I Could Make a Living and Hypnotize the Moon later this afternoon, but I did want to post a favorite of mine from his debut record called “Next Step in Love”.
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Cody Wants Out...
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Post by Cody Wants Out... on Jan 9, 2020 14:29:37 GMT -5
"Hypnotize the Moon" a discovery bboat11? It was, like, one of the biggest hits of 1996! Nearly flawless top five; highly considered putting "The Chain of Love" as my #1, but switched it at close to the last minute. Here's how I see the top five playing out: 5. Dreaming With My Eyes Open 4. She Won't Be Lonely Long 3. Hypnotize the Moon 2. Live Until I Die 1. If I Could Make a Living
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 15:53:54 GMT -5
"Hypnotize the Moon" a discovery bboat11? It was, like, one of the biggest hits of 1996! I mean, first of all, I was only 3 in 1996. I don’t remember a whole lot from that time period unless it’s by an artist who had any longevity or recurrent play after the 90s ended (“Wild Angels”, “The Fear Of Being Alone”, “Blue Clear Sky”, etc) 😂 But second of all, the 1996 Rankdown hasn’t been able to happen yet because the mid-90s are mired in an abyss of seemingly endless inactivity, so I’m sure there are a lot of discoveries left for me to make from that year!
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Cody Wants Out...
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Post by Cody Wants Out... on Jan 9, 2020 16:01:25 GMT -5
"Hypnotize the Moon" a discovery bboat11? It was, like, one of the biggest hits of 1996! I mean, first of all, I was only 3 in 1996. I don’t remember a whole lot from that time period unless it’s by an artist who had any longevity or recurrent play after the 90s ended (“Wild Angels”, “The Fear Of Being Alone”, “Blue Clear Sky”, etc) 😂 But second of all, the 1996 Rankdown hasn’t been able to happen yet because the mid-90s are mired in an abyss of seemingly endless inactivity, so I’m sure there are a lot of discoveries left for me to make from that year! I think you know more than you're letting on...
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 16:04:20 GMT -5
"Hypnotize the Moon" a discovery bboat11 ? It was, like, one of the biggest hits of 1996! I’m not all too surprised considering it was released over twenty years ago and it’s not a song country radio would play from his repertoire nowadays. That said, it’s such a great song and I’m thrilled to see it get so much support even if it was a discovery for some of you! This was another album I had on repeat back in the day and so I guess this is as good a time as any to share a couple of my favorite tracks from it:
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Jan 9, 2020 20:50:24 GMT -5
Oh damn, I still have my whole top 4 left! And then I have "Hypnotize the Moon" at #14 so hopefully that one will be next so my top 4 can be the top 4. Still rooting for "If I Could Make a Living," but I'd be happy with any of the others winning (except Hypnotize).
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 21:17:05 GMT -5
Ok, who's ready for the top 5???
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 21:31:39 GMT -5
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ClevelandRox
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Post by ClevelandRox on Jan 9, 2020 21:37:49 GMT -5
I will forever judge bboat11 for Hypnotize the Moon being a "discovery".
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 21:38:00 GMT -5
Kicking off the top 5 is Clay's lone hit of this past decade, 2010's "She Won't Be Lonely Long".
After this song did pretty well in the 2010 rankdown, I expected it to do well here, but top 5 is still impressive. Over half had this in their top 10, with just a pair of rankings outside the top 20. Such a great melody and Clay still sounded great. Clay tweaked his sound a little bit through the years, but this one sounded like it could have easily come out during his mid-90's prime.
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 21:41:49 GMT -5
Thought this would inch its way a bit higher into the top five if only because it’s one of his more recent hits, but nonetheless “She Won’t Be Lonely Long” has truly gone on to become one of his signature hits and deservedly so. As a Texan himself, Clay receives quite a bit of airplay down this way and this is one that I probably still hear at least weekly.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 21:49:31 GMT -5
I will forever judge bboat11 for Hypnotize the Moon being a "discovery". Okay boomer. I will forever judge you for thinking that Ed Sheeran could ever be better than Queen Céline. Shows how much your judgement is worth!
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Cody Wants Out...
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Post by Cody Wants Out... on Jan 9, 2020 21:51:25 GMT -5
Guys stop it! The kids don't like it when Mommy and Daddy fight! :'(
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 21:55:31 GMT -5
Guys stop it! The kids don't like it when Mommy and Daddy fight! Lmao I'm just giving Crox a bad time. He knows I love him and would never actually be mad at him over a petty game
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 21:58:10 GMT -5
Speaking of bad times... I am shocked to see "She Won't Be Lonely Long" tanked to the bottom of the top 5! That song had potential top 3 written all over it, imo. It really is such a catchy song, and has a very classic vibe to it. It is more than deserving of standing here among Clay's best songs. I love everything about it!
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 21:59:24 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 22:00:35 GMT -5
Wow...every single one of us put “Hypnotize the Moon” in their Top 15!
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 22:07:49 GMT -5
Coming in at #4 is "Hypnotize The Moon", the second single and title track from Clay's 3rd album. The song was written by the same duo that penned George Strait's iconic "I Cross My Heart" (Steve Dorff & Eric Kaz).
This has been among my all-time favorite songs for over two decades, so I may have over-estimated how well known this song is, but I'm still happy to see everyone enjoy it. Not a single ranking below #15, by far the least polarizing song in the rankdown. I'll try not to gush over this song too much, but the intro melts me every time and the instrumentation as a whole is just damn near perfect. Plus Clay delivers a top-notch vocal performance.
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 22:11:38 GMT -5
I hadn’t listened to “Hypnotize the Moon” in quite some time and I had almost forgotten how much I love this song. I really tried to find room in m top ten for this great song but as a longtime fan of Clay’s it was hard to part with some of my other favorites. I’ll be looking forward to revisiting this one again in the 1996 rankdown (which of course yours truly will be hosting...right after 1995 gets underway!).
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 22:19:46 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 22:20:51 GMT -5
Coming in at #4 is "Hypnotize The Moon", the second single and title track from Clay's 3rd album. The song was written by the same duo that penned George Strait's iconic "I Cross My Heart" (Steve Dorff & Eric Kaz).Fun fact: every song that George Strait passed on during this time first went to Clay Walker to see if he liked it. Ok, I’m kidding of course but there’s a lot of songs in Clay’s repertoire that certainly are Strait-esque. Clay did open for George, though, during George’s 1994 tour I believe.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Jan 9, 2020 22:24:59 GMT -5
"Dreaming With My Eyes Open" is amazing, and definitely deserves this #3 finish. Now I CANNOT at the iconicness of this top 2!!!! "If I Could Make A Living" versus "Live Until I Die" What a perfect conclusion this will be! I will be thrilled to see either of them win, so I am totally ready for whatever happens
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Post by tim on Jan 9, 2020 22:27:04 GMT -5
Preferably I would’ve liked to have seen “Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open” as the first song to leave the top five, but either way this is yet another staple from Clay and one that I still hear quite frequently.
And how about the top two of which both are my #1 and #2!! I don’t want to jinx myself so I’ll predict that they leave in the opposite order of which I ranked them lol.
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 22:27:43 GMT -5
Coming in at #3 we find "Dreaming With My Eyes Open", the 4th and final single from Clay's debut album. The song finished at #4 on the Billboard year-end charts in 1994. It was written by Tony Arata, who had penned "The Dance" for Garth Brooks.
As you can see, the top 3 completely ran away with this, more than 30 points clear of the competition. I had some dim hope that this might be able to pull a surprise victory, but alas it settles for #3. Over half the rankers had this in their top 5! This is another of my all-time faves, though in this case I didn't fully appreciate the song until a few years ago. The song is so catchy that it's easy for the lyrics to breeze past you, but it's really a quite profound song. I particularly love the second verse.
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kw9461
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Post by kw9461 on Jan 9, 2020 22:30:05 GMT -5
And then there were two -
"Live Until I Die" vs. "If I Could Make A Living"
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ClevelandRox
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Post by ClevelandRox on Jan 9, 2020 22:41:01 GMT -5
I will forever judge bboat11 for Hypnotize the Moon being a "discovery". Okay boomer. I will forever judge you for thinking that Ed Sheeran could ever be better than Queen Céline. Shows how much your judgement is worth! I won't lie, when I saw you choose Celine I gasped! 😲😩😂 But I'll try to throw her a bone or two. Also to be fair, that one was of only 3 Ed Sheeran songs I'll ever be giving him votes for. I'm completely happy with this top 2! It can go either way, I'm 50/50 :) I'm also happy Where Do I Fit in the Picture and The Chain of Love both made the top ten even though neither are all that remembered. The Chain of Love might be my favorite "story song" ever.
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