Favourite Songs of the Year - 1998

[someguy]

This is my absolute favourite year for country music. Come On Over was at the peak of its dominance, Faith Hill broke through in a huge way with Faith, the Dixie Chicks exploded onto the scene, Martina's Evolution was in full swing, Garth Brooks was arguably at (one of his) peaks, Jo Dee Messina's I'm Alright brought her back to a new level, Trisha Yearwood was at the peak of her career, Tim McGraw's Everywhere was cranking out hits left right and centre, and Reba roared back to the top with If You See Him. I had been into country for a few years by this point, but this was the year that I loved almost everything that came out. As a 14 year old kid really getting into music and building a record collecton, this year was huge for me.

Here were my favourites (in no particular order):

Shania Twain - "You're Still The One"
Shania Twain - "Honey I'm Home"
Shania Twain & Bryan White - "From This Moment On"
Reba McEntire - "Forever Love"
Reba McEntire & Brooks & Dunn - "If You See Him, If You See Her"
Brooks & Dunn - "How Long Gone"
Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
Faith Hill - "Let Me Let Go"
Faith Hill & Tim McGraw - "Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me"
Tim McGraw - "Just To See You Smile"
Tim McGraw - "One Of These Days"
Tim McGraw - "Where The Green Grass Grows"
Collin Raye - "I Can Still Feel You"
Trisha Yearwood - "Perfect Love"
Trisha Yearwood - "There Goes My Baby"
Trisha Yearwood & Garth Brooks - "Where Your Road Leads"
Pam Tillis - "I Said A Prayer"
Martina McBride - "Valentine"
Martina McBride - "Happy Girl"
Martina McBride - "Wrong Again"
Dixie Chicks - "There's Your Trouble"
Dixie Chicks - "Wide Open Spaces"
Wynonna - "Come Some Rainy Day"
Jo Dee Messina - "Bye Bye"
Jo Dee Messina - "I'm Alright"
Garth Brooks - "Two Pina Coladas"
Garth Brooks - "To Make You Feel My Love"
Garth Brooks - "You Move Me"
The Wilkinsons - "26 Cents"
Terri Clark - "Now That I Found You"
Terri Clark - "You're Easy On The Eyes"
Steve Wariner - "Holes In The Floor Of Heaven"
Linda Davis - "I Wanna Remember This"
LeAnn Rimes - "Commitment"
LeAnn Rimes - "Nothin' New Under The Moon"
Lee Ann Womack - "A Little Past Little Rock"
Mindy McCready - "You'll Never Know"

What a great group of songs.

[sabre14]

You're right about a great year. In fact 1998 might be the year that made me a young casual country fan into a full blown nut for the genre.

Favorites: :)

1. I'm Alright - Jo Dee Messina
2. Just To See You Smile - Tim McGraw
3. Honey I'm Home - Shania Twain (Shania was my childhood)
4. Dream Walkin' - Toby Keith
5. It Would Be You - Gary Allan
6. A Little Past Little Rock - Lee Ann Womack
7. 26 Cents - The Wilkinsons
8. Bye Bye - Jo Dee Messina
9. Little Red Rodeo - Collin Raye
10. I Can Still Feel You - Collin Raye
11. The Hole - Randy Travis
12. True - George Strait
13. Everything's Changed - Lonestar
14. There You Have It - BlackHawk
15. Don't Laugh At Me - Mark Wills (many hate this song I know)
16. You're Still The One - Shania Twain
17. No Man In His Wrong Heart - Gary Allan
18. I Just Want To Dance With You - George Strait
19. A Broken Wing - Martina McBride
20. Let Me Let Go - Faith Hill
21. I Do (Cherish You) - Mark Wills
22. Happy Girl - Martina McBride
23. I'll Take Today - Gary Allan
24. How Long Gone - Brooks & Dunn
25. Perfect Love - Trisha Yearwood

[Deleted]

Wow, what a stellar list of songs.

Just To See You Smile
I Do Cherish You
A Broken Wing
There's Your Trouble
You're Sill The One (Shania is actually one of my least favorite artists, but this song is gorgeous)
Bye Bye

[tim]

I have been anxiously awaiting for 1998! A great year for country music indeed :) This was also a great year for females in country music (Jo Dee Messina, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Martina McBride, Anita Cochran, Terri Clark, Dixie Chicks, the list goes on...).

Top:
"A Little Past Little Rock" - Lee Ann Womack
"The Day That She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy)" - Wade Hayes
"It's Not Over" - Mark Chesnutt w/ Vince Gill & Alison Krauss
"Matches" - Sammy Kershaw
"The Note" - Daryle Singletary

Runner up's:
Garth Brooks - "To Make You Feel My Love"
Mark Chesnutt: "Wherever You Are" - (a disappointing #45 peak)
Vince Gill - "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind"

Best from the Gents:
Alabama - "How Do You Fall In Love"
Diamond Rio - "You're Gone"
Clint Black - "The Shoes You're Wearing"
Garth Brooks - "You Move Me"
Brooks & Dunn - "How Long Gone"
Kenny Chesney - "That's Why I'm Here"
Joe Diffie - "Texas Size Heartache"
Ty Herndon - "A Man Holdin' On (To A Woman Letting Go)"
Alan Jackson - "I'll Go On Loving You" (some really dislike this I know)
Toby Keith - "Dream Walkin" and "Double Wide Paradise" (yes, I actually liked that song!)
David Kersh - "If I Never Stop Loving You"
Lonestar - "Everything's Changed"
The Mavericks - "Dance the Night Away"
Tim McGraw - "One of These Days"
John Michael Montgomery - "Cover You In Kisses"
George Strait - "I Just Want to Dance With You" and "True"
Aaron Tippin - "For You I Will"
Randy Travis - "Out of My Bones" and "The Hole"
Clay Walker - "Then What?" and "You're Beginning to Get to Me"
Steve Wariner - "Holes In the Floor of Heaven"
The Wilkinsons - "26 Cents"
Mark Wills - "I Do (Cherish You)" and "Don't Laugh At Me"
Dwight Yoakam - "Things Change"

Best from the Ladies:
Dixie Chicks - "There's Your Trouble" and "Wide Open Spaces"
Terri Clark - "Now That I Found You"
Anita Cochran w/ Steve Wariner - "What If I Said"
The Kinleys - "Just Between Me and You"
Patty Loveless - "To Have You Back Again"
Jo Dee Messina - "I'm Alright"
Martina McBride - "Happy Girl"
Reba McEntire - "Forever Love"
Shania Twain - "When"
Lee Ann Womack - "Buckarroo"

Take it or leave it:
Trace Adkins - "Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone"
Garth Brooks - "Two Pina Coladas" and "It's Your Song"
Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
Martina McBride - "Valentine"
Neal McCoy - "If You Can't Be Good At (Be Good At It)"
Tim McGraw - "Where the Green Grass Grows" and "For A Little While"
Jo Dee Messina - "Bye Bye"
Shania Twain - "Honey, I'm Home" and "You're Still the One"
Reba and Brooks & Dunn - "If You See Him/If You See Her"
Steve Wariner and Garth Brooks - "Burnin' the Roadhouse Down"
Trisha Yearwood - "A Perfect Love" and "Where Your Road Leads (w/ GB)"

Head scratcher of the Year:
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Mark Chesnutt

Two of my personal favorites and underrated songs from 1998:
"Absence of the Heart" by Deana Carter
"You'll Never Know" by Mindy McCready

Overlooked single from then A-List artist:
"Loosen Up My Strings" - Clint Black (#12 peak)

[ky24941]

Definitely one of my favorite years in country music. Even though I was 4 in 1998, I still remember watching CMT and playing my Shania Twain and Patty Loveless CDs all the time.

Top 10/Top 20 hits

* Clay Walker - "Then What"
* Collin Raye - "Little Red Rodeo"
* Deana Carter - "Absence of the Heart"
* Dixie Chicks - "I Can Love You Better"
* Dixie Chicks - "Wide Open Spaces"
* Faith Hill - "This Kiss"
* George Strait - "True"
* Jo Dee Messina - "Bye Bye"
* The Kinleys - "Just Between You and Me"
* Lari White - "Stepping Stone"
* Lila McCann - "I Wanna Fall in Love"
* Linda Davis - "I Wanna Remember This"
* Michael Peterson - "Too Good To Be True"
* Pam Tillis - "I Said a Prayer"
* Patty Loveless - "High On Love"
* Patty Loveless - "To Have You Back Again"
* Shania Twain - "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)"
* Terri Clark - "You're Easy On The Eyes"
* Toby Keith - "Getcha Some"
* Trisha Yearwood - "Perfect Love"

Some forgotten/low-charting singles 

* Lee Ann Womack - "Buckaroo"
* Lila McCann - "Yippy Ky Yay"
* Lisa Brokop - "How Do I Let Go"
* Lisa Brokop - "When You Get to Be You"
* The Lynns - "Woman to Woman"
* Sara Evans - "Cryin' Game"
* Shana Petrone - "Heaven Bound"
* Shannon Brown - "I Won't Lie"
* Suzy Bogguss - "From Where I Stand"
* Suzy Bogguss - "Somebody to Love"

[Ten Pound Hammer]

TOP
1. Wade Hayes - The Day That She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy)
2. Garth Brooks - Two Piña Coladas
3. Sons of the Desert - Leaving October
4. Bryan White - Tree of Hearts
5. Diamond Rio - You're Gone
6. Suzy Bogguss - Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt
7. Clay Walker - Then What?
8. Ty Herndon - A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Lettin' Go)
9. Sammy Kershaw - Honky Tonk America
10. Toby Keith/Sting - I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
11. Lonestar - Everything's Changed
12. The Warren Brothers - Guilty
13. Kenny Chesney - That's Why I'm Here
14. The Wilkinsons - 26 Cents
15. Sara Evans - Shame About That/Cryin' Game
16. Mindy McCready - You'll Never Know
17. Jo Dee Messina - Bye, Bye/I'm Alright
18. Gary Allan - It Would Be You
19. Lee Ann Womack - A Little Past Little Rock
20. Steve Wariner/Garth Brooks - Burnin' the Roadhouse Down
21. Lila McCann - Yippy Ky Yay (so sue me)
22. Collin Raye - Little Red Rodeo/I Can Still Feel You
23. Tim McGraw - Just to See You Smile
24. Alan Jackson - I'll Go On Loving You
25. Pam Tillis - I Said a Prayer
26. Trisha Yearwood - There Goes My Baby
27. Daryle Singletary - The Note
28. The Kinleys - Just Between You and Me
29. Shania Twain - Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
30. Anita Cochran/Steve Wariner - What If I Said
31. Mark Chesnutt/Vince Gill/Alison Krauss - It's Not Over
32. Michael Peterson - Too Good to Be True
33. David Kersh - If I Never Stop Loving You
34. Lorrie Morgan - One of Those Nights Tonight
35. Martina McBride - A Broken Wing
36. Keith Harling - Papa Bear
37. Terri Clark - You're Easy on the Eyes
38. Joe Diffie - Texas Size Heartache
39. Dwight Yoakam - Things Change
40. Vince Gill - If You Ever Have Forever in Mind
41. George Strait - Round About Way
42. Trace Adkins - Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone
43. Clint Black - The Shoes You're Wearing
44. Randy Travis - Out of My Bones/The Hole
45. Linda Davis - I Wanna Remember This
46. Restless Heart - No End to This Road
47. Alabama - How Do You Fall in Love
48. Reba/Brooks & Dunn - If You See Him/If You See Her
49. Deana Carter - Absence of the Heart
50. John Michael Montgomery - Cover You in Kisses
51. Lari White - Stepping Stone
52. Patty Loveless - High on Love

BOTTOM

1. Shania Twain - You're Still the One/From This Moment On
2. Tim McGraw/Faith Hill - Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me
3. Reba - Forever Love
4. David Kersh - Wonderful Tonight
5. Michael Peterson - From Here to Eternity
6. Martina McBride/Jim Brickman - Valentine
7. Mark Wills - I Do (Cherish You)
8. Sammy Kershaw - Love of My Life
9. Clay Walker - Ordinary People
10. Steve Wariner - Holes in the Floor of Heaven
11. Tracy Byrd - I Wanna Feel That Way Again
12. John Michael Montgomery - Angel in My Eyes
13. Gary Allan - I'll Take Today

[sabre14]

Jul 21, 2015 22:30:49 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

TOP
21. Lila McCann - Yippy Ky Yay (so sue me)

I enjoyed "Yippy Ky Yay" too.

[bjer127]

1998 was the start of a small decline for me. The "pop" sound in country (in relation to the early 90's heyday), drove me into rock music a little bit. And the fact I was a pre-teen and trying to "rebel" HAHA. I still casually listened to country, but not as much as when I was a kid. I came full circle back into country in 2003 and never looked back!
I'll list some of favorite songs released on albums that year, as I don't want to scour old charts for positions (for instance, maybe a single released in '97 but included on a album in '98),

George Strait "Why Not Now" (album track, could easily have been a single, classic Strait. In my top 10 of his songs)
Vince Gill - "Kindly Keep It Country"
Aaron Tippin - "Cold Chill" (unreleased track from a greatest hits album, my favorite Tippin song ever)
Lonestar - "Everything's Changed"
Kenny Chesney - "That's Why I'm Here"
Brooks & Dunn , Reba - " If You See Her/If You See Him"
Alan Jackson - "Little Man"
Sammy Kershaw - "Honky Tonk America" (one of my fave Sammy songs, from his outstanding Labor of Love album)
Martina McBride - "Wrong Again"
Chad Brock - "Ordinary Life"
Gary Allan - "It Would Be You"
Randy Travis - "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man"
Daryle Singletary - "That's Where Your Wrong"
Charlie Robison - "My Hometown" (who doesn't love this song)
Diamond Rio - "Unbelievable" (I can still see my mom dancing around to this song)
John Michael Montgomery - "Cover You In Kisses" (long overdue for an album from him)

[Ten Pound Hammer]

I agree that 1998 was the start of the decline.

I can't really put my finger on why I like "Honky Tonk America" so much. It just has this odd melancholy to it that I find so appealing. I remember "One of Those Nights Tonight" as the song that was playing when we found out that one of my cats had died. It was playing in the car when mom buried her in the front yard, in the rain, on her birthday.

And "Tree of Hearts" really gets me. That song seems like it should be a big ol' pile of sap, but somehow it works really well for me.

Finally, if you haven't heard "Leaving October" yet, find it. Now.

[Kat5Kind]

Oh, look, it's the year I was born! Lol. I need to listen to these songs!

[Andy]

Jul 22, 2015 13:05:43 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Finally, if you haven't heard "Leaving October" yet, find it. Now.

I took your advice, and indeed it is a very good song. Tom Douglas is usually money.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Whoops, forgot "Stepping Stone" and "High on Love". I should totally redo some of my lists sometimes to make up for all my omissions.