Martina McBride Album Series Rankdowns

[bboat11]

Alright, let's go!!!!!! Somebody's gonna lose their #1

[bboat11]

Take the ribbon from my hair.

 Shake it loose, and let it fall.

 Lay it soft against your skin 

Like the shadows on the wall.

15. "Help Me Make It Through The Night"

Track #18
Runtime: 4:04
Songwriters: Kris Kristofferson
Original Artist: Kris Kristofferson
Vocal Range: F#3 - C#5



Total: 182
Average: 13.00
Std Dev: 7.67 (2nd largest!)


cerulean - 1
castleoblivion26 - 3
dub - 4
kansasmeetsmo - 4
someguy - 6
g8erboi - 12
fearlessarrow - 17
Cody Wants Out... - 18
SHOOTER - 18
bboat11 - 18
Kanenrá:ke - 19
.indulgecountry - 19
d3vin44 - 21
tim - 22


Troublemaker


I was definitely shocked to see this song's somewhat lackluster performance here, as this has gone on to be one of the most widely-known and heavily praised songs on the album through the years. I'm thinking it must be one of Martina's personal favorites, because she has performed it more than just about any other song on the album, other than maybe "Rose Garden" and "You Ain't Woman Enough". She likes to introduce it as a song that was "naughty" for a woman to sing back in the day when Sammi Smith covered it, because the lyrics that I highlighted at the top of this post are certainly suggestive. So I think she recorded this song to make some kind of feminist statement, like celebrating how far the industry has come now with regards to female rights. There is obviously still a long way to go, but a woman being able to sing this song now without creating controversy is a victory.

This is also one of the standout vocal performances on the album. I could understand this song being boring to some, and in fact its placement on the album immediately after "Help Me Make It Through The Night" does it no favors in that regard, but this is still one that I thought would be a contender for the top 10.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
Heartaches By The Number
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
Today I Started Loving You Again
True Love Ways
You Ain’t Woman Enough
You Win Again

[dub]

There's something about the arrangement that doesn't work for me. It's the music for sure - the vocals are great obv. cf., LeAnn Rimes's cover, which I feel like the music works way better.

But the more I listen to this version, the more I enjoy it.

[bboat11]

Today I started lovin’ you again. 

And I’m right back where I’ve really always been.

 I got over you just long enough to let my heartache mend. 

Then today I started lovin’ you again.

14. "Today I Started Loving You Again"

Track #5

Runtime: 3:46

Songwriters: Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens

Original Artist: Merle Haggard

Vocal Range: G3 - C5



Total: 179
Average: 12.79
Std Dev: 6.82 (5th largest!)


g8erboi - 3
Kanenrá:ke - 3
castleoblivion26 - 4
tim - 5
SHOOTER - 11
bboat11 - 11
.indulgecountry - 11
dub - 16
someguy - 17
kansasmeetsmo - 18
d3vin44 - 19
cerulean - 20
Cody Wants Out... - 20
fearlessarrow - 21


Troublemaker

This song was a very consistent top 10 contender, until literally everybody in the second half of the submission process tanked it... This went from being a consistently-loved song to being one of the most polarizing songs of the rankdown. It would have been interesting to see where this one would have settled in if we had more participants. 4 people lose a top 5, with the highest ranks being a pair of #3s from Kanenrá:ke and g8erboi.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
Heartaches By The Number
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
True Love Ways
You Ain’t Woman Enough
You Win Again

[bboat11]

Aug 21, 2018 21:54:35 GMT -5 dub said:

There's something about the arrangement that doesn't work for me. It's the music for sure - the vocals are great obv. cf., LeAnn Rimes's cover, which I feel like the music works way better.

But the more I listen to this version, the more I enjoy it.

Lmao you ranked it at #4, so I guess the musical arrangement doesn't hold it back too much for you!

[tim]

I wanted to like "Help Me Make It Through The Night" but there's something about it that just didn't click for me. I thought it just kind of went nowhere and kept reaching for the skip button whenever I listened to it.

"Today I Started Loving You Again" on the other hand is great and sad to see it not make the top 10; I thought this was a standout cover.

[bboat11]

This heart of mine could never see 

What everybody knew but me. 

Just trusting you was my great sin. 

What can I do?

 You win again.

13. "You Win Again"

Track #1
Runtime: 3:00
Songwriters: Hank Williams
Original Artist: Hank Williams
Vocal Range: F3 - B♭4



Total: 177
Average: 12. 64
Std Dev: 5.47


dub - 2
SHOOTER - 3
kansasmeetsmo - 8
.indulgecountry - 10
castleoblivion26 - 12
someguy - 12
bboat11 - 13
Kanenrá:ke - 15
d3vin44 - 15
fearlessarrow - 15
tim - 16
cerulean - 17
Cody Wants Out... - 17
g8erboi - 22


Troublemaker


Coming in just shy of the top half, we say goodbye to track 1 of the album. "You Win Again" is a good song, but doesn't really jump out to me the way that track 1 of an album normally does. I am totally fine seeing it leave here. However, this time the obligatory #2 loss comes from dub, followed by a #3 from SHOOTER. This song was pretty consistently just shy of the top 10.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
Heartaches By The Number
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
True Love Ways
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[bboat11]

So "You Win Again" was actually in a tie with the #12 song. Considering that it has a #2 vote and I break the tie by highest vote, you know what that must mean if it was able to lose the tie

#numberonelosscomingup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bboat11]

Throughout the days our true love ways

 Will bring us joys to share with those who really care.

Sometimes we’ll sigh. Sometimes we’ll cry.
And we’ll know why, just you and I know true love ways.

12. "True Love Ways"

Track #10
Runtime: 3:15
Songwriters: Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
Original Artist: Buddy Holly
Vocal Range: F#3 - C5



Total: 177
Average: 12.64
Std Dev: 6.58


d3vin44 - 1
fearlessarrow - 3
bboat11 - 7
castleoblivion26 - 8
Kanenrá:ke - 10
tim - 12
cerulean - 12
someguy - 13
kansasmeetsmo - 14
Cody Wants Out... - 15
dub - 17
.indulgecountry - 21
g8erboi - 21
SHOOTER - 23


Troublemaker


TOO SOON. This is one of the standout ballads on the album, imo. The melody is so memorable, and Martina sells the hell out of this one with an emotional vocal performance. One of the strengths of this song is that it really shows off the richness of her low range, which is something that she does not get a lot of credit for. It also allows her to show off the dexterity of her voice as she switches around within her range, as there are plenty of times where lower notes are followed immediately by higher notes, or else higher notes move back down pretty quickly to lower notes. One of my favorite vocal performances on the album, and I figured it would be a top 10 contender. The last place vote from SHOOTER really sank this one, but even then he was far from the only person to tank it. d3vin44 loses a #1, however, while fearlessarrow loses his first top 3.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
Heartaches By The Number
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[bboat11]

Heartache number one was when you left me.

 I never knew that I could hurt this way. 

Heartache number two was when you come back again. 

You came back and never meant to stay.

11. "Heartaches By The Number"

Track #13
Runtime: 3:06
Songwriters: Harlan Howard
Original Artist: Guy Mitchell
Vocal Range: A3 - B♭4



Total: 170
Average: 12.14
Std Dev: 6.04


Cody Wants Out... - 5
g8erboi - 6
d3vin44 - 7
kansasmeetsmo - 7
someguy - 8
dub - 8
.indulgecountry - 8
SHOOTER - 12
cerulean - 14
tim - 15
bboat11 - 16
castleoblivion26 - 21
Kanenrá:ke - 21
fearlessarrow - 22


Troublemaker

This is a song that stands out on the album because it has a lot of personality. The premise is really unique and creative but in a simple way, which is one of my favorite aspects of older country music songwriting. Dwight Yoakum on background vocals actually elevates the song for once too, and the fiddle and steel are just the cherry on top of this awesome arrangement!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[bboat11]

Recap!

23. Take These Chains From My Heart
22. Cryin' Time
21. Make The World Go Away

20. Dreaming My Dreams
19. I Can't Stop Loving You
18. I Don't Hurt Anymore
17. Walk On By
16. Satin Sheets

15. Help Me Make It Through The Night
14. Today I Started Loving You Again
13. You Win Again
12. True Love Ways
11. Heartaches By The Number



Ladies and gentlemen, your top 10!!!

’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough



Any predictions for how this top 10 is gonna go? :)

[tim]

Aug 21, 2018 22:56:33 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Ladies and gentlemen, your top 10!!!

Any predictions for how this top 10 is gonna go?

This has been a very hard rankdown to predict thus far and has been all over the place which is kind of what I was thinking might happen going into this. I still have six songs in the top ten (including my #1!) and expect my top 4 to make it most of the way...that said I still have my #21, #18, #14, and #11 in so I expect #10 - #6 to still be all over the map lol.

I’m still reeling from seeing “Dreaming My Dreams” miss the top 10...shame!

[dub]

Aug 21, 2018 22:02:46 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Aug 21, 2018 21:54:35 GMT -5 dub said:

There's something about the arrangement that doesn't work for me. It's the music for sure - the vocals are great obv. cf., LeAnn Rimes's cover, which I feel like the music works way better.

But the more I listen to this version, the more I enjoy it.

Lmao you ranked it at #4, so I guess the musical arrangement doesn't hold it back too much for you!

Lmao I forgot I ranked it that high tbh, guess it is growing on me more than I realized. I remember re-listening to it right before I sent my list and thinking, "is this song actually as clunky as I think it is?" I guess I decided no, it's not.  :kii:

[castleoblivion26]

Mess

[bboat11]

I'd like to finish this today! I will share the back half of the top 10 in a little bit, and then we can do the top 5 this evening 

[bboat11]

Oh, the sun’s gonna shine in my life once more. 

Love’s gonna live here again. 

Things are gonna be the way they were before. 

Love’s gonna live here again.

10. "Love's Gonna Live Here"

Track #16
Runtime: 2:02
Songwriters: Buck Owens
Original Artist: Buck Owens
Vocal Range: B♭3 - B♭4



Total: 168
Average: 12.00
Std Dev: 8.13 (1st largest!!!!)


Cody Wants Out... - 1
g8erboi - 2
.indulgecountry - 5
fearlessarrow - 5
kansasmeetsmo - 6
bboat11 - 6
SHOOTER - 10
someguy - 11
d3vin44 - 16
tim - 18
dub - 19
cerulean - 23
castleoblivion26 - 23
Kanenrá:ke - 23


Troublemaker


And here we say goodbye to the most polarizing song of the rankdown! I was personally shocked that so many people seem to adamantly detest this song, because to me it has always been one of the catchiest songs on the album... However, THREE people finally lose their #23 here! Cody Wants Out... also becomes the next person to lose his #1. This song was on pace to finish in the low teens, but made a very epic comeback to sneak into the top 10, where it managed to stay for the last 4 lists, suggesting that it was likely destined to settle in around here anyway despite the tankers.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Let It Be Me
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[castleoblivion26]

alright I'm gonna say I'm super happy to see this song go. Not sure why but ever since the first time I ever listened to it, it annoyed me and it never grew on me unlike the rest of the album.

honestly I'd be happy with ANYTHING being #1 though I definitely have my personal preference I really do love this album!

[Cody Wants Out...]

I figured that...



I hear this at work all the time though!

[bboat11]

Each time we meet, love,

I find complete love.

Without your sweet love,

Tell me, what would life be?

9. "Let It Be Me"

Track #23
Runtime: 3:37
Songwriters: Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis
Original Artist: Gilbert Bécaud
Vocal Range: (I finally tracked this song down just a few months ago, so I haven't sat down at a piano with this one yet...)




Total: 166
Average: 11.86
Std Dev: 7.53 (3rd largest!)


kansasmeetsmo - 1
bboat11 - 4
tim - 4
fearlessarrow - 6
Kanenrá:ke - 6
castleoblivion26 - 7
g8erboi - 8
someguy - 14
dub - 15
.indulgecountry - 18
cerulean - 18
SHOOTER - 19
Cody Wants Out... - 23
d3vin44 - 23


Troublemaker


At #9, we say goodbye to the final bonus track from the album! This was the iTunes Pre-Order-Only bonus track that is literally impossible to find nowadays, so thanks again to Kanenrá:ke for uploading this to YouTube so we could rank it This is also the first song we have seen to be in the top 10 for the entire submission process.

This song is SO hauntingly beautiful. To me it absolutely vibrates with a palpable energy despite being a pretty lethargic and pulse-less song. Martina's vocal performance here is super passionate and nuanced, and imo she knocks this one out of the park! It's a clear standout on the album. Unfortunately not everybody agrees, as two #23 votes helped sink this one prematurely, resulting in kansasmeetsmo losing her #1 next. This songs should have done MUCH better. It was actually a #1 contender briefly towards the beginning of the submission process.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Once A Day
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[castleoblivion26]

could you imagine if a Bonus track had won the album rankdown lmao

Anyways I love this song and am glad it did this well. I am sadly now down to only 3 Top 10's left, my 10, 9, and 1. Very disappointed to see most of my top 10 gone because they deserved better lol.

Interested to see how much longer my #1 last because I hope it can at least be Top 5.

[bboat11]

They have changed your attitude,

Made you haughty and so rude. 

Your new friends can take the blame.

Underneath you’re still the same. 

When you’ve learned these things are true

I’ll be waiting here for you.

As you tumble to the ground.

Pick me up on your way down. 

8. "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down"

Track #8
Runtime: 2:41
Songwriters: Harlan Howard
Original Artist: Charlie Walker
Vocal Range: G3 - A4



Total: 144
Average: 10.29
Std Dev: 4.75 (3rd smallest!)


kansasmeetsmo - 2
g8erboi - 4
d3vin44 - 4
Kanenrá:ke - 8
SHOOTER - 8
tim - 10
someguy - 10
Cody Wants Out... - 11
dub - 12
.indulgecountry - 12
bboat11 - 14
cerulean - 15
fearlessarrow - 16
castleoblivion26 - 18


Troublemaker

This song is so catchy, but this feels like a good time for it to leave. This one bounced around a bit, but ultimately trended upwards for the whole submission process, before gaining consistency at its highest placement of #8. kansasmeetsmo loses a #2 right after losing her #1, but the lowest rank this time is only a #18, making this the 3rd least polarizing song of the rankdown.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Once A Day
Thanks A Lot
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[bboat11]

You wanted a fool and I played the part.

 Now all I’ve got is a broken heart. 

We loved a little and we laughed a lot. 

Then you were gone. 

Honey, thanks a lot.

7. "Thanks A Lot"

Track #15
Runtime: 2:36
Songwriters: Eddie Miller, Don Sessions
Original Artist: Ernest Tubb
Vocal Range: E3 - B4



Total: 136
Average: 9.71
Std Dev: 7.19 (4th largest)


Kanenrá:ke - 2
cerulean - 3
someguy - 4
d3vin44 - 5
SHOOTER - 5
Cody Wants Out... - 6
.indulgecountry - 7
fearlessarrow - 7
bboat11 - 8
kansasmeetsmo - 9
castleoblivion26 - 15
tim - 21
dub - 21
g8erboi - 23


Troublemaker


Another polarizing song bows out here, taking Kanenrá:ke's #2 and g8erboi's #23. "Thanks A Lot" is a song that stands out to me simply because of its spiteful simplicity. The song is so basic in structure, but packed with personality! I wouldn't have minded seeing it in the top 5, honestly, but I am also okay seeing it leave here :)







Lmao I love her personality in this performance She's such an awesome performer

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Once A Day
You Ain’t Woman Enough

[bboat11]

Anyone wanna predict the final song to miss the top 5???

[castleoblivion26]

I think either "I'll Be There" or "Once A Day" will be out next. Makes the most sense to me

[bboat11]

Sometimes a man’s caught lookin’ at things that he don’t need.

 He took a second look at you, but he’s in love with me.

 Well, I don’t know where that leaves you. 

Oh, but I know where I stand.

 And you ain’t woman enough to take my man.

6. "You Ain't Woman Enough"

Track #6
Runtime: 2:13
Songwriters: Loretta Lynn
Original Artist: Loretta Lynn
Vocal Range: G#3 - C5



Total: 129
Average: 9.21
Std Dev: 6.75


SHOOTER - 1
.indulgecountry - 1
Cody Wants Out... - 2
dub - 3
d3vin44 - 6
cerulean - 7
someguy - 7
bboat11 - 10
kansasmeetsmo - 11
castleoblivion26 - 11
tim - 11
g8erboi - 18
fearlessarrow - 19
Kanenrá:ke - 22


Troublemaker

One of Martina's sassiest songs from her entire catalog bows out at #6, and I am shocked! "You Ain't Woman Enough" is one of the best known songs on this album, because she performs it everywhere. It seems to be one of her favorites. The personality of this song is seriously so sassy and spiteful, and it is so fun to see Martina's claws coming out for a moment in the midst of an album that is largely ballads. I am shocked this song missed the top 5! It managed to get a duo of #1 ranks from .indulgecountry and SHOOTER , but the occasionally floppy taste of Kanenrá:ke struck again to give this a bottom 2 vote... It was a pretty clear contender for the back half of the top 10, once it recovered from Jordan's tanking, but unfortunately was never really close to making the top 5.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Once A Day

[bboat11]

With that, here is our top 5!!!! Let's see those predictions, so I can finish this tonight!



’Til I Can Make It On My Own
(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
I Still Miss Someone
I’ll Be There
Once A Day

[d3vin44]

1. (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
2. I Still Miss Someone
3. I’ll Be There
4. 'Til I Can Make It On My Own
5. Once A Day

[Cody Wants Out...]

5. 'Til I Can Make It On My Own
4. I Still Miss Someone
3. Once a Day
2. I'll Be There
1. (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden

Prolly just wishful thinking on my part!

[.indulgecountry]

Ugh, I really hope "Rose Garden" doesn't win. :'(

[bboat11]

Top 5 coming...now! Just finishing up the post for #5!