bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:04:43 GMT -5
"Take Me Away" is actually one of my favorite album tracks on this album, and one I was hoping to see make the top 5 highest album tracks. The melody to this one is incredibly memorable, contrary to what the low rankers may think. After listening to this album for the first time, I didn't pay much attention to this song at first. But then all of a sudden I was singing it in my head over and over and over for the entire afternoon, and finally I was like "What song even is this??!" and then I realized it was one of George's new songs, and then I listened to the album again and the connection was instant and huge. Such an amazing, straightforward country shuffle that is positioned perfectly in the tracklist to give a well-needed boost of energy to the album right when it starts to feel a tad lethargic. I could understand someone disliking it for the melody being kinda repetitive, but BORING?!?!?!! I could not have even predicted that criticism
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:34:47 GMT -5
I'm talkin' 'bout Código! I take it with me everywhere I go. Best tequila, baby, don't you know? A little sip and you're ready to roll. They make it down in Mexico, A little state called Jalisco Where the beautiful agaves grow. I'm talkin' 'bout Código. 8. "Código"
Track #7 Runtime: 3:14
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:43:07 GMT -5
Just like that, recordyear is no longer the only person to have lost their #1! This time he is joined by Cody Wants Out.... Honestly, "Código" leaving already might be a bit of a surprise to some, but this song really struggled to get much support throughout the submission process. It was on pace to finish at #10 for the majority of the time, so the fact that it was able to rebound up to #8 right at the end was borderline miraculous! I was definitely surprised this song did so poorly. It was one of the pre-release tracks, and seemed to get a pretty positive reaction upon release. I suppose it might be seen as a bit of a novelty song, which could factor against it when compared to the rest of this album. However, George turns in a very solid vocal performance. He delivers that jaunty and dexterous melody with the finesse and precision of somebody 30 years younger than he currently is, which is hella impressive given his age! It really is amazing how smoothly his voice is aging!
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:44:10 GMT -5
Up next, the final album track to miss out on the future album tracks rankdown.... :(
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:51:03 GMT -5
So one more time, just to be sure, I said, "Now, Troubadour, where in the hell do you go from here?" And you know, there wasn't a nickel's worth of difference When I looked in the mirror. 'Cause there I was seein' an old violin Soon to be put away and never played again.
And just like that, it hit me Why that old violin and I were just alike. We give our all to music, And soon we'll give our life.
7. "Old Violin"
Track #8 Runtime: 3:58
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 28, 2020 23:56:43 GMT -5
This classic Johnny Paycheck cover song bows out at #7, just barely missing out on the eventual album tracks rankdown unfortunately. I was really hoping this one would be able to make it in too, so this loss is kinda painful for me. Talk about a song that is more poignant with age!! George singing this song for this album is WAAAAAAY more meaningful and impactful than it would have been had he recorded it even 10 years ago. The reflections on where the hell you go with your life after a career filled with success, paired with the insecurity of whether or not you have lived a fulfilling life is just so incredibly powerful. And then of course there's that "We give our all to music, and soon we'll give our life" closing that is absolutely goosebump-worthy. Seriously, this just feels like a really important song. It's one the fans will definitely look back on and cry to when George passes eventually, alongside the likes of "I'll Always Remember You" and "Somewhere Down In Texas".
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recordyear
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Post by recordyear on Feb 28, 2020 23:58:31 GMT -5
Código is an ad song, although it is well disguised. Also hey a George Strait music video. Old Violin is a nice cover. Feel like it can be a statement song from George towards modern country music actually.
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 29, 2020 0:02:16 GMT -5
There must have been a genie at the bottom of the bottle, 'Cause I was hopin' real hard that you'd appear. The temperature here keeps gettin' hotter, So let's go ahead and get on outta here 'Cause I've got two more wishes.
6. "Two More Wishes"
Track #2 Runtime: 3:00
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Post by lady𝓐fan on Feb 29, 2020 0:04:51 GMT -5
K, time for “Honky Tonk Time Machine” to go. Other than that the top 5 is excellent.
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 29, 2020 0:09:25 GMT -5
Apparently I am in the minority, but I have no idea what y'all see in "Two More Wishes". The song feels like pure middle-of-the-road album filler to me. "Old Violin", "Código", and "Take Me Away" are all WAY bigger standouts to me, especially "Old Violin". "Two More Wishes" isn't particularly flashy or catchy, and doesn't do much to shape the identity of the album as a whole. It could literally be on any other album, or else completely replaced with another song, and the album would not be worse off for it. Whereas if you got rid of a song like "Every Little Honky Tonk Bar", the entire album would feel like something was missing.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 29, 2020 0:14:31 GMT -5
K, time for “Honky Tonk Time Machine” to go. Other than that the top 5 is excellent. K, this post has earned you the shady Martina gif!
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 29, 2020 0:15:33 GMT -5
I present to you, the top 5!!!!!
Blue Water Every Little Honky Tonk Bar God And Country Music Honky Tonk Time Machine Some Nights
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recordyear
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Post by recordyear on Feb 29, 2020 0:20:41 GMT -5
Two More Wishes is middle of the road for me hence my middle rank. Also no hate for title track please. It is a bop.
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 20:33:56 GMT -5
The whole world's spinning in the wrong direction, Body and soul needs a resurrection. Ain't had a single thing go my way In I can't tell ya how many days.
I need blue water, I need a sunny day. Blue water, sail all my cares away. Head out to sea when the tide rolls in, Feel like a brand new man again. I need blue, Gonna drown my troubles in blue water.
5. "Blue Water"
Track #5 Runtime: 3:42 Songwriters: George Strait, Bubba Strait, Dean Dillon
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 20:41:52 GMT -5
"Blue Water" sounds like a fantastic potential single opportunity to me. The harmonies in the verses really jump out to me for how crisp and perfect they are, and that chorus melody is such a breezy, feel-good sound. In fact, everything in this top 5 sounds like a perfect single opportunity, so we really nailed this top 5! I'm glad to see this one do so well :) George Strait Junkie loses his #1 after being worried he might lose it like 5 positions ago. Meanwhile, gonecountry finally loses his last place... You can look forward to this one showing up again in the album tracks rankdown!
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Post by lady𝓐fan on Mar 1, 2020 20:42:27 GMT -5
"Blue Water" is one of the several missed single opportunities of the album. So catchy! ( wait when did all of these new emojis get here, lol)
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Post by lady𝓐fan on Mar 1, 2020 21:13:39 GMT -5
Trying to shake that speedboat reputation, I see?
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Post by kamala 2024 truther on Mar 1, 2020 21:14:47 GMT -5
Trying to shake that speedboat reputation, I see? I stole the speedboat
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 21:53:56 GMT -5
Trying to shake that speedboat reputation, I see? Sorry, I got distracted by Pete Buttigieg's farewell speech!! And then my dad told me he proposed to his girlfriend yesterday!! (Lmao what a random af evening this has been 😂 )
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Post by kw9461 on Mar 1, 2020 22:03:21 GMT -5
Blue Water is catchy, and I like the opening verse, but otherwise felt like solid filler. This is the correct top 4 though, excited to see it play out.
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 22:03:58 GMT -5
There's always lost in the found, And darkness in the I-saw-the-light. It's living in those small towns In some church and backroad honky tonk tonight. It's a dance between the sin and the salvation. Come hell or high water, There's two things still worth saving: God and country music.
4. "God And Country Music"
Track #4 Runtime: 4:04
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Post by fearlessarrow on Mar 1, 2020 22:10:30 GMT -5
Well this is a great top 3! I'm expecting "Honky Tonk Time Machine" to go out next and then "Some Nights" and "Every Little Honky Tonk Bar" to duke it out for the top spot. Any of these 3 would be a great winner though.
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 22:12:40 GMT -5
"God And Country Music" got a fair amount of hate throughout the submission process, so I was kinda shocked it was able to hang on to the top 3! It was basically all either high ranks or low ranks, with nothing in the middle. The high ranks won out, however, and this song pulled out a pretty big finish!
This song is beautiful, and imo would have made a fantastic single. It got plenty of hype when it was released as a pre-release track, and George even performed it at the CMAs, so I feel like this top 4 finish is quite fitting for it.
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Post by lady𝓐fan on Mar 1, 2020 22:12:46 GMT -5
Another missed single choice. With this one I see why they didn't pick it (it's slow and country) but with stronger production a la "I Saw God Today", I think it could've worked.
Please let "Honky Tonk Time Machine" be next.
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 22:13:46 GMT -5
BOWING OUT AT #3!!!!! We say goodbye to the song that was at #2 for the longest amount of time out of any other song, but ultimately got tanked towards the end!!!
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Post by bboat11 on Mar 1, 2020 22:15:38 GMT -5
Another missed single choice. With this one I see why they didn't pick it (it's slow and country) but with stronger production a la "I Saw God Today", I think it could've worked. Please let "Honky Tonk Time Machine" be next. Didn't stop them from releasing "The Weight Of The Badge" instead...
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.indulgecountry
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Post by .indulgecountry on Mar 1, 2020 22:16:23 GMT -5
Heard "God and Country Music" on the radio about a week ago and man did it sound good. Would've been a much better follow-up to the lead single than "Badge" if he needed to go the ballad route. The melody of this is just so smooth. And Harvey at the end is a cute touch.
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Post by kamala 2024 truther on Mar 1, 2020 22:17:52 GMT -5
Alrighty, "God And Country Music" haters: Let's just fight.
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Post by lady𝓐fan on Mar 1, 2020 22:18:29 GMT -5
Heard "God and Country Music" on the radio about a week ago and man did it sound good. Would've been a much better follow-up to the lead single than "Badge" if he needed to go the ballad route. The melody of this is just so smooth. And Harvey at the end is a cute touch. Hold on, what? What kind of country station is playing a George Strait album track these days, lol?
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Post by fearlessarrow on Mar 1, 2020 22:19:57 GMT -5
Let's just fight. When they said they didn't love it ["God and Country Music"] no more, she let herself go
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