Martina McBride Album Series Rankdowns

[bboat11]

She sat down on the floor
And said, “I wish that I was stronger.
Right now I feel as fragile as glass.
And I want to believe you,
Believe what’s held you has freed you.
And I hate these doubts that keep on comin’ back."

12. "I'm Trying"

Track #5

Runtime: 4:01

Songwriters: David Campbell, Tia Sillers, Darrell Scott

Vocal Range: F#3 - B♭4



Total: 164
Average: 8.63
Std Dev: 3.37 (1st largest!!!)


kansasmeetsmo - 2
someguy - 3
Kanenrá:ke - 3
codyj100 - 4
Troublemaker - 6
BackwoodsBarbie - 8
dub - 9
cerulean - 9
born - 9
.indulgecountry - 9
bboat11 - 11
austin - 11
soulfulwings - 11
castleoblivion26 - 11
fearlessarrow - 11
d3vin44 - 11
Normi - 12
Cody Wants Out... - 12
SHOOTER - 12


@adam1995
tim
George Strait Junkie
DistrictTwelve
Leo ✔
BlueShades874



This song paints a poignant picture of a couple where the man is struggling with alcoholism, and its strength definitely comes from its lyricism. Many people have praised this song through the years for being such an unexpected left-field play from Martina, and I even heard talk that it should be a single for that reason. Personally I have always considered this to be one of my least-favorites on the album, so I am thrilled to see that more or less be the consensus here! While it is beautiful, I think that it has something missing. Like, maybe even a bit more reverb on the vocals would have helped it sound better to me. As it is now, the production is sparse in a boring way, and the somewhat cumbersome melody doesn't allow Martina's voice to truly shine in a way that her ballads normally would.

Like I previously mentioned, this song was never really a last-place contender! In fact, as you can see from the trajectory, it just about managed to be a top 5 contender early on... I was floored to see so much support, as this album is just SO strong I thought this would be a clear bottom-half song at least.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Don’t Cost A Dime
I Can’t Stop Loving You
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Sunny Side Up
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wild Rebel Rose
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
You’re Not Leaving Me

[bboat11]

As mentioned previously, #11 will bring us our first #1 loss!!!

[bboat11]

I could say that's the way it goes.
I could pretend, and you won't know
That I was lying.

11. "I Can't Stop Loving You"

Track #12

Runtime: 4:28

Songwriters: Billy Nicholls

Vocal Range: Haven't looked up yet!



Total: 164
Average: 8.63
Std Dev: 2.97


dub - 1
Kanenrá:ke - 4
Normi - 5
BackwoodsBarbie - 6
born - 7
austin - 8
bboat11 - 8
codyj100 - 8
castleoblivion26 - 9
.indulgecountry - 10
someguy - 10
fearlessarrow - 10
kansasmeetsmo - 10
SHOOTER - 10
cerulean - 11
Cody Wants Out... - 11
d3vin44 - 12
Troublemaker - 12
soulfulwings - 12


@adam1995
BlueShades874
George Strait Junkie
Leo ✔
tim
DistrictTwelve


Just like with the Waking Up Laughing rankdown, we are saying goodbye to the largely-unknown bonus track in the second-to-last position of the rankdown. "I Can't Stop Loving You" is like impossible to find now, and is made even more obscure by the fact that Martina had previously recorded a song of the same name for the Timeless album, so when you try to search for this one at all all you get is results for the other one.

I think this song is amazing, so I am glad it was able to escape last place. However, I only was able to put it at #8, and that is a result of how strong this album is. Has anyone heard Phil Collins' version of this? His is like an upbeat 4/4 version of the same song, and Martina took it and turned it into a 6/8 power ballad. I have always been impressed by her artistic creativity in that regard. Keith Urban has a really good version of this as well!

I think unfamiliarity largely tanked this song, as it was the song that held the #12 spot for the second-longest amount of time, and was never really able to even gain much footing into the top 10 at any point, but is far from being the worst song on the album.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Don’t Cost A Dime
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Sunny Side Up
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wild Rebel Rose
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
You’re Not Leaving Me

[Normi]

At least she was trying!

Robbed for being a bonus track

[bboat11]

Up next, a song that is only 4 points ahead of the bottom 2, which means it barely escaped a similar fate to those that came before it! It was never last place, but it was never more than a few steps ahead... 3 more people will lose a bottom ranking, while 3 others lose a #2, a #3, and a #5!

[codyj100]

"I Can't Stop Loving You" is so underrated. I can't believe it was removed as an iTunes bonus track. I wonder why? 

[bboat11]

I still get that feelin’ I felt when I fell in love with my baby
Every time he makes me smile.

10. "Sunny Side Up"

Track #3

Runtime: 3:01

Songwriters: Martina McBride, Brad Warren, Brett Warren

Vocal Range: G3 - B4



Total: 160
Average: 8.42
Std Dev: 2.97


austin - 2
Normi - 3
someguy - 5
SHOOTER - 6
Cody Wants Out... - 7
fearlessarrow - 7
Kanenrá:ke - 7
soulfulwings - 8
d3vin44 - 8
bboat11 - 9
Troublemaker - 9
BackwoodsBarbie - 10
dub - 10
codyj100 - 11
born - 11
kansasmeetsmo - 11
castleoblivion26 - 12
.indulgecountry - 12
cerulean - 12


@adam1995
tim
Leo ✔
BlueShades874
George Strait Junkie
DistrictTwelve


This song is meant to be a feel-good song about living a happy life, but it falls flat for some people. The fact that it is based on a cooking style of eggs doesn't really help matters Lol! Plus her vocal performance here is very unique, almost reminiscent of her biggest hit "I Love You", which many consider to be too sickly sweet and girlish of a sound compared to what they would normally expect from Martina.

Personally I love this song, but was not able to rank it any higher than #9 because of how strong the album is. So I am definitely glad it did not get last place, but am not disappointed to see it couldn't get enough support to make any progress into the top 10. It was at #10 or 11 for most of the submission process, which is about all this song deserves imo.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Don’t Cost A Dime
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wild Rebel Rose
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
You’re Not Leaving Me

[bboat11]

Apr 7, 2018 16:35:21 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

"I Can't Stop Loving You" is so underrated. I can't believe it was removed as an iTunes bonus track. I wonder why? 

It was an iTunes pre-release-only bonus track. So as soon as the album actually became available, the bonus track disappeared >  Same with "Blue Bayou" on the Waking Up Laughing album and "Let It Be Me" on the Timeless album.

[.indulgecountry]

Glad to see "Sunny Side Up" didn't go too far, because even though Shine is probably my favorite Martina album, this song is perhaps my least favorite song she's ever recorded. There's just something so off-putting about the melody and her vocal performance on this one that I've never been able to tolerate. Not really surprised by the two tracks that went out before it though because the bonus track is so unfamiliar and "I'm Trying" is just rather blah, especially on an album with so many great songs.

[d3vin44]

I thought I was gonna do horribly in this. I’m sure I still will, but I’ve lost me 12, 11, and 8. Not bad!

[dub]

"I Can't Stop Loving You" is one of my favorite discoveries from doing these rankdowns. It was so good and did NOT deserve last place haha. It's one of the few songs on this album that I felt like actually went somewhere.

[codyj100]

The funny this is I really love, "I Love You," but I can't stand "Sunny Side Up." Martina's delivery here is almost too sunny, hehe. It just falls flat for me compared to the rest of what is a fantastic album. 

[cerulean]

I'm actually upset "Sunny Side Up" managed to last til #10.

[BackwoodsBarbie]

Martina did a great job with I Can't Stop Loving You. I think I actually prefer her version.

[fearlessarrow]

I actually I thought I had ranked "Sunny Side Up" higher, I guess that speaks more to me liking the song but there were other songs on the album that I liked even more.

[SHOOTER]

Glad I wasn’t the only one who thought I’m Trying was such a clunker on an otherwise really good album!

[someguy]

I'm pretty shocked to see the dislike for "I'm Trying". I think it's a beautiful song, and I prefer Martina's version to Diamond Rio and Chely Wright's duet version (which I also like). I'm also surprised at how many people dislike "Sunny Side Up" too!

[castleoblivion26]

"I'm Trying" is a song I've always wanted to like more but just could never get into. It is too slow and boring for me. Martina can sell a ballad like no other so I'm not sure what happened there but I was not a fan when I first got the album and still am not

"I Can't Stop Loving You" was a great pre-order bonus and I am still very happy I pre-ordered two copies of this album when it was released (a physical copy and the itunes copy for this song). She does a fantastic job on this and it definitely deserved top 10 over the travesty that is "Sunny Side Up"

speaking of, "Sunny Side Up" is terrible. I hate saying that about anything Martina has done but this song is bad in the way "Beautiful Again" is bad. Just not a fan of either and surprised it escaped last place because it is the most deserving of last place on this otherwise incredible album. Also, I get Martina's intent with both this song and "Beautiful Again" so I respect what she was going for in both cases but unfortunately they definitely did not succeed in being good.

Overall not a bad start to the results. My Top 8 are easily among my favorite songs from her ever so since all 3 were in my Bottom 4 I'm good with them being out already (though wrong order, js)

[Kanenrá:ke]

"I'm Trying" is so beautiful, it's one of the few bright spots on such a so so album.

"I Can't Stop Loving You" is a great cover and I'm very happy she decided to cover it because I can't stand Phil's original. Keith's is good too but Martina blows them both out of the water.

"Sunny Side Up" is fun to me, obviously it's nothing amazing but I appreciate what Martina was going for with it. She doesn't have a lot of songs in this mold and it was nice to hear.

[bboat11]

Apr 9, 2018 0:41:27 GMT -5 Kanenrá:ke said:

"I'm Trying" is so beautiful, it's one of the few bright spots on such a so so album.

[Kanenrá:ke]

Apr 9, 2018 0:49:47 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Apr 9, 2018 0:41:27 GMT -5 Kanenrá:ke said:

"I'm Trying" is so beautiful, it's one of the few bright spots on such a so so album.

Calm down there Tina, you know Marti's is my 3rd most played artist, I'm allowed to not care for this one album as much lol

[bboat11]

Apr 7, 2018 20:50:21 GMT -5 d3vin44 said:

I thought I was gonna do horribly in this. I’m sure I still will, but I’ve lost me 12, 11, and 8. Not bad!

I admire your optimism!!

---

It’s a big world to walk through, honey,
And if you got love, you don’t need money.

9. "Don't Cost A Dime"

Track #7
Runtime: 3:13
Songwriters: Mark Irwin, Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear
Vocal Range: F#3 - B♭4



Total: 158
Average: 8.32
Std Dev: 3.27 (2nd largest!!!!)


d3vin44 - 1
austin - 4
BackwoodsBarbie - 4
cerulean - 5
born - 6
soulfulwings - 7
Troublemaker - 8
Normi - 8
fearlessarrow - 8
Cody Wants Out... - 8
castleoblivion26 - 8
Kanenrá:ke - 9
SHOOTER - 11
.indulgecountry - 11
someguy - 12
codyj100 - 12
kansasmeetsmo - 12
bboat11 - 12
dub


@adam1995
Leo ✔
BlueShades874
DistrictTwelve
George Strait Junkie
tim


Here it is! The song that looked like it was going to be the runaway contender for last place!!!! It was actually losing by a pretty significant margin, until something happened... d3vin44 put it at #1, while simultaneously putting the only other last-place competitor, "I Can't Stop Loving You", in last place! That gave this song its magical chance. From that point forward it was caught up with the pack, and received enough middle-of-the-road votes to keep climbing for pretty much the rest of the submission process.

This is my last place song, but thinking about it now I probably should have put "I'm Trying" in last place. "Don't Cost A Dime" is not a bad song, but it is just all-around lackluster compared to most of the album. The instrumental melody is catchy but slightly annoying in large doses, and the lyrics and melody really go nowhere. It's definitely not one that I ever skip, but it is still not one of my main go-tos on this album either.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wild Rebel Rose
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
You’re Not Leaving Me

[.indulgecountry]

"Don't Cost a Dime" has a grating melody and I hate the production. It's not as irredeemable as "Sunny Side Up," but this is the other easily skippable song on the album for me.

[Kanenrá:ke]

Martina's vocal on "Don't Cost A Dime"' really bothers me, I feel like she was holding back and doing this weird affected singing on it. Idk if I'm even describing that right. Also I think I over ranked this for sure. Probably should've been my #11.

[castleoblivion26]

I go back and forth on "Don't Cost A Dime". Sometimes I like it alright and sometimes I'm annoyed with it because something about it just feels off, not exactly sure what but that being said I just relistened to this again and should have had "I Can't Stop Loving You" higher than this one. It isn't as bad as "I'm Trying" and "Sunny Side Up" though.

[d3vin44]

Omg this song was the only song to immediately just “click” as a I LOVE IT song on this albums first listen. I will say my number 2 was one big note away from topping this one. In hindsight it probably should have been my number 1. Still I thought this was great and it belongs in the top 2. Y’all have NO taste! 😜

[bboat11]

It’s hard for anyone to understand
Why at sixteen you just up and ran.
They didn’t know you only knew your daddy’s love
Like the back of his hand.

8. "Wild Rebel Rose"

Track #10

Runtime: 3:55

Songwriters: Mark Irwin, Josh Kear

Vocal Range: G#3 - B♭4

Total: 157
Average: 8.26
Std Dev: 2.40 (2nd smallest!!!)


.indulgecountry - 3
castleoblivion26 - 5
fearlessarrow - 6
d3vin44 - 6
Cody Wants Out... - 6
austin - 6
cerulean - 7
Kanenrá:ke - 8
kansasmeetsmo - 8
codyj100 - 9
SHOOTER - 9
soulfulwings - 10
bboat11 - 10
born - 10
Troublemaker - 10
someguy - 11
Normi - 11
BackwoodsBarbie - 11
dub - 11


@adam1995
BlueShades874
tim
DistrictTwelve
Leo ✔
George Strait Junkie


Alright guys, I LOVE this song!!! So the fact that it rounds out my bottom 3 is a testament to how strong this album is Lol. This song is amazing, and could have easily been a single. The melody is so unique, and strong, and the production has some interesting moments (especially when the guitar suddenly comes in to signal the end of the instrumental solo section). But the best part of this song is that it tells such an interesting story!

Unfortunately, it is a story that is so good that I wish it had been told even more... It could have been fleshed out a lot more. Right now it is interesting, but this song could have been a lyrical murder masterpiece a la Queen Reba's "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia". What we get instead is an awesome story that is underwritten. And that is why this song has not held up nearly as well for me as most of the rest of the album. I am not disappointed to see it leaving here, and it really was never a contender to make it much higher anyway. Pretty much every song above it was above it for the whole submission process.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
You’re Not Leaving Me

[bboat11]

Oh, I forgot to mention, in that live video I included for "Wild Rebel Rose", it sounds like Martina and her band decided to switch out the mandolin intro and play it on steel guitar instead OMG the result is magical! I think that would have improved the song so much if they had done that to begin with! As much as I love mandolin, steel guitar is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[bboat11]

Yeah, you’re my husband, and you need my lovin’. 

That ain’t gonna change.

 So keep on big talkin’, go on, start walkin’. 

You'll come back anyway!

7. "You're Not Leaving Me"

Track #9
Runtime: 3:46
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges
Vocal Range: G#3 - C#5




Total: 133
Average: 7.00
Std Dev: 3.23 (3rd largest)


Kanenrá:ke - 2
SHOOTER - 3
kansasmeetsmo - 4
Troublemaker - 4
someguy - 4
d3vin44 - 5
soulfulwings - 5
codyj100 - 6
cerulean - 6
Normi - 7
castleoblivion26 - 7
dub - 7
bboat11 - 7
.indulgecountry - 8
Cody Wants Out... - 10
born - 12
austin - 12
BackwoodsBarbie - 12
fearlessarrow - 12


@adam1995
Leo ✔
tim
George Strait Junkie
BlueShades874
DistrictTwelve


This song is a straight up romper! Martina and her band absolutely rock this song! I LOVE when she lets her feisty side show. This is a side of her personality that I wish she would revisit more often in her music. My only complaint with this song is that the chorus is a little too repetitive, but undoubtedly that is intentionally part of the magic of the song. I also feel like the studio version is a little too polished or something. Watching her sing this live in the video below, I realized just how incredible of a concert song this is. It pumps the crowd up so much live! The studio version, as fun as it is, doesn't have quite the same energy.

Of course, Martina consistently brings more magic to her songs live, so I am definitely not surprised. That is why she is so incredible and successful as an artist.

That said, this was the least favorite song on the album for FOUR people, which makes it the second-most-hated song on the album ("Don't Cost A Dime" had 5 people rank it last). It also received a #2 rank, which is why it was our 3rd most polarizing song of the whole album.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
I Just Call You Mine
Lies
Ride
Walk Away
What Do I Have To Do
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong

[d3vin44]

When this song first started playing I thought, “omg this is my #1!”. However, it started off with a bang and didn’t really go anywhere. Still love it though!