The Big One - A George Strait Rankdown (Revealing)

[Kanenrá:ke]

WTF why or better yet how is this anybody's #100?!!!!!!

Such a great song and an amazing hook, this has always been an absolute favorite of mine, I'm more sad about this than my #1 loss because I didn't expect this to tank. :(

[LBTrocks]

I seriously don't understand why "Desperately" isn't magic to everyone's ears. It's exquisite.

[fearlessarrow]

I think I underranked "Desperately". I don't know why I like it so much, but it's such a smooth land pleasant listen! But then again a lot of George's songs that I've heard tend to be that way haha

[bboat11]

The next song only beat "Desperately" by 1 point! We will say goodbye to another George Strait album with this next elimination as well.

[bboat11]

You were sayin’ how a fool can only fool you so long.
It’s true, it’s so true.
When they do you like that,
What else can you do but go on?

52. "Go On"

Album: George Strait

Year: 2000





Total: 1038
Average: 51.90
Std Dev: 18.31


Cody Wants Out... - 14
BackwoodsBarbie - 28
carriekins - 30
castleoblivion26 - 36
LBTrocks - 39
Kanenrá:ke - 42
DistrictTwelve - 46
zaclord 🌈 - 48
gardyfan - 48
CoJoFan - 51
tim - 52
bboat11 - 53
sabre14 - 54
mamasaid - 54
George Strait Junkie - 60
.indulgecountry - 68
codyj100 - 73
countrymusicjunkie - 76
fearlessarrow - 82
@adam1995 - 84




One of George's most forgotten hits, despite being one of his #1s! This song managed to be one of the most consistent performers in this rankdown. It was pretty much in the 50s for the entirety of the submission process once things started settling into place. Nobody loses a top 10 or a bottom 10. In fact, only 1 person loses a top 20 and 2 people lose a bottom 20, giving this song a super low SD as well.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Cross My Heart
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Just Want To Dance With You
I Saw God Today
I’ve Come To Expect It From You
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Murder On Music Row
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Big One
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
The Fireman
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Unwound
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love
You’ll Be There

[bboat11]

Jan 8, 2018 0:20:05 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

The next song only beat "Desperately" by 1 point! We will say goodbye to another George Strait album with this next elimination as well.

Yes, my hint was really that obvious With that reveal, we say goodbye to the George Strait album! I will reveal #51 before I spotlight that album, however.

Any predictions about the last song to miss the top 50??!!!?!?!?!?!!?

[LBTrocks]

"Go On" deserved at least top 50, geez.

[bboat11]

I will just preface the next reveal by saying that some people are going to be SHOOKETH!!!! I would describe this next elimination to be the first truly MASSIVE hit that will leave us!

[Kanenrá:ke]

Jan 8, 2018 0:32:27 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Jan 8, 2018 0:20:05 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

The next song only beat "Desperately" by 1 point! We will say goodbye to another George Strait album with this next elimination as well.

Yes, my hint was really that obvious With that reveal, we say goodbye to the George Strait album! I will reveal #51 before I spotlight that album, however.

Any predictions about the last song to miss the top 50??!!!?!?!?!?!!?

"The Big One"?

[bboat11]

I got a feeling that you have a heart like mine,

So let it show, let it shine.

If we have a chance to make one heart of two,

Then I just wanna dance with you.

51. "I Just Want To Dance With You"

Album: One Step At A Time

Year: 1998





Total: 1017
Average: 50.85
Std Dev: 26.85


mamasaid - 6
LBTrocks - 7
fearlessarrow - 11
BackwoodsBarbie - 11
gardyfan - 33
sabre14 - 39
castleoblivion26 - 45
CoJoFan - 45
DistrictTwelve - 47
@adam1995 - 52
Kanenrá:ke - 52
carriekins - 57
Cody Wants Out... - 58
codyj100 - 69
George Strait Junkie - 73
tim - 77
zaclord 🌈 - 80
bboat11 - 80
.indulgecountry - 82
countrymusicjunkie - 93




Right on the cusp of the top 50, we shockingly say goodbye to one of George's most well-known songs! This was an absolutely massive hit, which is really saying something in a catalog full of massive hits. I would definitely describe it as being one of his top 10 biggest hits. Unfortunately it does not seem to be as well-loved among Pulse as you would think. 4 people lose a top 15, but otherwise it is more in the middle of peoples' lists.

Personally I love this song quite a bit, but it is definitely one that overplay has killed for me through the years, to the point where I don't listen to it very often anymore.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Cross My Heart
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
I’ve Come To Expect It From You
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Murder On Music Row
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Big One
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
The Fireman
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Unwound
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love
You’ll Be There

[fearlessarrow]

RIP "I Just Want to Dance With You" :'(  This is another one that is a very pleasant listen for me.

[bboat11]

100. Shiftwork

99. Overnight Success

98. Drinking Champagne

97. You're Something Special To Me

96. I Believe

95. River Of Love

94. Lovesick Blues

93. Down And Out

92. Twang

91. Let It Go

90. Lovebug

89. The Breath You Take

88. Don't Make Me Come Over There And Love You

87. Goin' Goin' Gone

86. Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa

85. I Know She Still Loves Me

84. Lead On

83. King Of The Mountain

82. What's Going On In Your World

81. So Much Like My Dad

80. Am I Blue

79. Texas

78. The Man In Love With You

77. When Did You Stop Loving Me

76. I Gotta Get To You

75. If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain' Livin')

74. We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This

73. It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You

72. Right Or Wrong

71. Let's Fall To Pieces Together

70. Gone As A Girl Can Get

69. Ace In The Hole

68. Famous Last Words Of A Fool

67. Drinkin' Man

66. What Do You Say To That

65. The Seashores Of Old Mexico

64. If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger (There's One Coming Home)

63. Cold Beer Conversation

62. Love's Gonna Make It Alright

61. Give It All We Got Tonight

60. The Chill Of An Early Fall
59. The Best Day
58. I'd Like To Have That One Back
57. Meanwhile
56. If You Can Do Anything Else
55. Round About Way
54. You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody
53. Desperately
52. Go On
51. I Just Want To Dance With You

80s: 12/27 eliminated (44% eliminated)

90s: 18/36 eliminated (50% eliminated)

00s: 11/26 eliminated (42% eliminated)

10s: 9/11 eliminated (82% eliminated)

#1s: 23/60 eliminated (38% eliminated)

---

Ladies & Gentlemen, your top 50:

A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Cross My Heart
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
I’ve Come To Expect It From You
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Murder On Music Row
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Big One
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
The Fireman
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Unwound
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love
You’ll Be There



What are your biggest surprises so far? Is there anything that you think doesn't belong in the top 50 that is still in? Any predictions for later on in the rankdown?

[George Strait Junkie]

i like "You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody" its a good song but not better than any of the other tracks on this list

[BackwoodsBarbie]

I was just about to start complaining about "Desperately" being eliminated in the bottom half of this rankdown and then I saw that "I Just Want To Dance With You" was eliminated as well. When I first heard this song a couple of months back I immediately transfer it from rankdown playlist to my favourite songs playlist and it's still there. I like everything about this song and I would have never guessed that this one won't at least make it to top 30.

[Deleted]

Jan 8, 2018 0:50:16 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

I got a feeling that you have a heart like mine,

So let it show, let it shine.

If we have a chance to make one heart of two,

Then I just wanna dance with you.

51. "I Just Want To Dance With You"

Album: One Step At A Time

Year: 1998





Total: 1017
Average: 50.85
Std Dev: 26.85


mamasaid - 6
LBTrocks - 7
fearlessarrow - 11
BackwoodsBarbie - 11
gardyfan - 33
sabre14 - 39
castleoblivion26 - 45
CoJoFan - 45
DistrictTwelve - 47
@adam1995 - 52
Kanenrá:ke - 52
carriekins - 57
Cody Wants Out... - 58
codyj100 - 69
George Strait Junkie - 73
tim - 77
zaclord 🌈 - 80
bboat11 - 80
.indulgecountry - 82
countrymusicjunkie - 93




Right on the cusp of the top 50, we shockingly say goodbye to one of George's most well-known songs! This was an absolutely massive hit, which is really saying something in a catalog full of massive hits. I would definitely describe it as being one of his top 10 biggest hits. Unfortunately it does not seem to be as well-loved among Pulse as you would think. 4 people lose a top 15, but otherwise it is more in the middle of peoples' lists.

Personally I love this song quite a bit, but it is definitely one that overplay has killed for me through the years, to the point where I don't listen to it very often anymore.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
A Fire I Can’t Put Out
Adalida
All My Ex’s Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Baby Blue
Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye
Blue Clear Sky
Carried Away
Carrying Your Love With Me
Check Yes Or No
Cowboys Like Us
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Easy Come, Easy Go
Fool Hearted Memory
Give It Away
Heartland
Here For A Good Time
How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
I Cross My Heart
I Got A Car
I Hate Everything
I Saw God Today
I’ve Come To Expect It From You
If I Know Me
It Just Comes Natural
Living And Living Well
Living For The Night
Love Without End, Amen
Marina Del Rey
Murder On Music Row
Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her
Ocean Front Property
One Night At A Time
Run
She Let Herself Go
She’ll Leave You With A Smile
The Big One
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
The Fireman
Today My World Slipped Away
Troubadour
True
Unwound
Wrapped
Write This Down
You Know Me Better Than That
You Look So Good In Love
You’ll Be There

Granted, I only missed this ranking by one spot, but I am most assuredly shooketh.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Jan 8, 2018 0:33:14 GMT -5 LBTrocks said:

"Go On" deserved at least top 30, geez.

This really sucks as I was hoping to make it to the top half with my top 20 intact.

[.indulgecountry]

Pleasantly surprised to see "I Just Want To Dance With You" bow out just before Top 50! I thought I'd have to endure seeing that lifeless and overplayed song stay in this much longer. I hate that it's one of his most popular recurrent hits, because it's just totally blah.

[tim]

I’m way behind on the results since the new year as I’ve had the flu and am slowly recovering from it. Needless to say I haven’t felt like getting on Pulse or doing much of anything.

I did want to add that I really underranked “I Just Want to Dance With You” and not sure why I ended up doing so. It probably has suffered some from being overplayed but whenever I hear it I always think back to his ACM performance of the song and remember just how dang handsome he looked performing it! It’s probably one of my top five award show performances by George.

[bboat11]

Album Spotlight: George Strait

Released: September 19, 2000

Label: MCA Nashville

Producer: Tony Brown, George Strait

Runtime: 34 min. 22 sec.

Country Albums Chart: 1

Certification: Gold

Singles/Rankdown Placements:

Go On (52)

Don't Make Me Come Over There And Love You (88)

If You Can Do Anything Else (56)

Average Rank: 65.33


Tracklist:
1. If You Can Do Anything Else
2. Don't Make Me Come Over There And Love You
3. Looking Out My Window Through The Pain
4. Go On
5. If It's Gonna Rain
6. Home Improvement
7. The Night's Just Right For Love
8. You're Stronger Than Me
9. Which Side Of The Glass
10. She Took The Wind From His Sails

George's self-titled album is one of the most underrated and seemingly-forgotten albums in his discography, so I am not at all surprised that it is one of the first to go. This was overall an underwhelming era for George. However, I have always loved this album to death! Probably way more than most others seem to, based on how they talk about it. But imo there are album tracks here that make this an album worth revisiting VERY often, even if the singles were among his more boring offerings.

---

Album Tracks:

"Looking Out My Window Through The Pain"

This is a missed single opportunity, imo, and I think George must think so as well because he chose to include it on the Strait Out Of The Box Part II collection. It's the type of classic breakup ballad that George does such a good job with. The melody is strong, and I love the pictures that the lyrics portray as well as the way the drums pick up the pace in the chorus to make the song feel more intense. But of course, the best part of it all is the pun-tastic hook! "Looking out my window through the pain" is such a silly but powerful play on words!


"If It's Gonna Rain"

By far my favorite song on the album, and probably even in my all-time top 5 favorite George album tracks. The melody here is so powerful, and George's voice is perfect for this song. When people talk about George having an unremarkable voice, this is always the first song that comes to my mind to prove them wrong. He sounds literally perfect here. The random high notes towards the end of each verse are a total eargasm to me. And the lyrics are abundantly heartbreaking as well.


"Which Side Of The Glass"

This is somewhat of a quirky song that has always jumped out to me because George's vocal interpretation. This song has more vocal inflections to discover and obsess over than your typical George Strait song does. For example, the way he says "pain" in the "dealing with the pain" line. The lyrical depth in this song is also incredible. And of course, if you have a good sound system, the bass suddenly jumping to that low note in the middle of the first chorus will literally cause your bones to shake... Lol haven't tried it? I would highly recommend that you do!


"She Took The Wind From His Sails"

One of the oddest and most unique gems in George's entire catalog, this song is so powerful because of the story that it tells. The couple described in the song are people that you want to root for SO badly, and the way that their story unfolds is so tragic that you can't get enough of it. Not to mention the fact that the chorus is so simple yet high, it just gives the whole song such a unique vibe. George's performance here honestly goes hand in hand incredibly well with the overall ocean tragedy vibe of the song.

---

bboat11 @adam1995 Cody Wants Out... .indulgecountry codyj100 sabre14 George Strait Junkie zaclord 🌈 mamasaid castleoblivion26 DistrictTwelve countrymusicjunkie CoJoFan gardyfan carriekins fearlessarrow LBTrocks tim BackwoodsBarbie Kanenrá:ke

[bboat11]

Now is also a great time to do a bit of an album recap, to see where we stand with the studio albums at the halfway point in the rankdown!

Eliminated:
Holding My Own
Cold Beer Conversation
George Strait


1 song remaining:
Strait Country
Right Or Wrong
Something Special
#7
If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin'
Beyond The Blue Neon
Easy Come, Easy Go
Strait Out Of The Box
One Step At A Time
Always Never The Same
Latest Greatest Straitest Hits
Honkytonkville
Twang
Here For A Good Time
Love Is Everything


Multiple songs remaining (after already taking losses):
Ocean Front Property (2 remaining, 1 lost)
Livin' It Up (2 remaining, 1 lost)
Chill Of An Early Fall (2 remaining, 2 lost)
Pure Country (2 remaining, 1 lost)
Lead On (2 remaining, 2 lost)
Blue Clear Sky (3 remaining, 1 lost)
Carrying Your Love With Me (3 remaining, 1 lost)
Somewhere Down In Texas (2 remaining, 2 lost)
Troubadour (2 remaining, 1 lost)


Still fully intact:
Strait From The Heart
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
The Road Less Traveled
50 Number Ones
It Just Comes Natural

---

As you guys can see, there are 15 albums that are just 1 song away from being eliminated! (Technically 16 if you count 50 Number Ones, since it only has one new song on it. But I put it in the intact category because it technically hasn't lost any of its new songs yet.) 9 albums are still holding up pretty well despite already accumulating a loss or two.

It is astonishing to me that at the halfway mark of a 100-song rankdown, we have only said goodbye to 3 hit-producing albums. Considering how many albums George has released, you would think that more of them would have left by now! That is not so, however, which definitely speaks to the overall strength and consistency of his catalog.
Perhaps most impressive of all, however, is the 5 albums that have yet to see a single elimination! They are all truly incredible albums, and this slayage is absolutely okay with me

[mamasaid]

How can "I Just Want To Dance With You" not make at least the top 20!?!?!? I lost a top 10 (#6) yet again ("Right or Wrong was my #9 and y'all tortured it with #72 rank...that's just mean)
But IJWTDWY is so much fun...and makes me happy...'cause there is nothing better than a cowboy who likes to dance.

[tim]

Jan 8, 2018 0:29:57 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

52. "Go On"

Album: George Strait

Year: 2000




tim - 52

Ohhhh I got a P-P-P-P-PERFECT RANKING! I was actually rooting for this one to make the top 50, but alas glad it at least came close. I've always loved this song and still occasionally hear it come on the radio. If I'm correct this was the one single George never actually sang live in concert...that is until his most recent Las Vegas shows when he sang all of his 60 number one songs. I had read somewhere once upon a time someone heard George rehearsing this once before a show back in 2001 but that he never added to the set list.

I agree with the bboat11 's sentiments that this is an underrated album as it is full of some gems such as one of my personal favorites "She Took the Wind from His Sails." I've been in love with that song from the first moment I heard it and whenever I'm having a really bad day I'll sometimes just put this on and get lost in George's voice and let him sail me away lol. Anyways I wore out this album from beginning to end back in 2000 and still love everything about it even if it is one of his most forgotten albums.

[zaclord 🌈]

Jan 9, 2018 17:14:36 GMT -5 mamasaid said:

How can "I Just Want To Dance With You" not make at least the top 20!?!?!? I lost a top 10 (#6) yet again ("Right or Wrong was my #9 and y'all tortured it with #72 rank...that's just mean)
But IJWTDWY is so much fun...and makes me happy...'cause there is nothing better than a cowboy who likes to dance.

Maybe its because you went out of your way to choose to use Comic Sans

[LBTrocks]

Jan 9, 2018 17:14:36 GMT -5 mamasaid said:

How can "I Just Want To Dance With You" not make at least the top 20!?!?!? I lost a top 10 (#6) yet again ("Right or Wrong was my #9 and y'all tortured it with #72 rank...that's just mean)
But IJWTDWY is so much fun...and makes me happy...'cause there is nothing better than a cowboy who likes to dance.

[mamasaid]

[bboat11]

I'll start the top 50 when we get to a new page!

[.indulgecountry]

New page plzzzzzzzzzz

[.indulgecountry]

[.indulgecountry]

[tim]