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Post by tim on Sept 19, 2019 19:19:28 GMT -5
bboat11 your enthusiasm for these album tracks is glowing! In all honesty, though, I didn't expect many of you to share the same sentiment I have for this album as I really do revisit this one quite a bit. My bottom three is really interchangeable and I easily could've put any one of them at #10 or #9 depending upon what mood I might be in, so seeing "Is It That Time Again" out first wasn't surprising given that it might come off as a bit lackluster or humdrum. "It's Too Late Now" is a great toe-tapper but considering it's short length I feel like it kind of gets lost in the shuffle of the album overall so again seeing it out second wasn't surprising. I think the next two songs to leave will likely be "Don't Mind If I Do" and "Let's Get Down To It" but I'm just unsure of in which order they'll exit.
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 0:29:17 GMT -5
That ol’ clock can just tick off the wall,
I ain’t worried ‘bout the time at all
Long as I’m makin’ time with you
And holdin’ you tight.
8. "Don't Mind If I Do"
Track #4 Runtime: 3:21 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 1:00:11 GMT -5
Time to say goodbye to my last place! "Don't Mind If I Do" has always been oddly jarring to me. The way the chorus starts just does not sound like the melody was very well thought out or something. "That old clock can just tick off the wall" has always felt like it could be smoother to me. This song was trending at #7 for most of the submission process, but fell to #8 at the last second thanks to LBTrocks! Kanenrá:ke already loses a #2, which is very odd considering how VASTLY superior every single one of the 3 hits from the album is...  |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:14:26 GMT -5
Let’s get down to some huggin’ and some squeezin’. Arm and arm, we’d be a perfect fit. So put a freeze on the teasin’, Let’s get on with the pleasin’. Honey, let’s get down to it.
7. "Let's Get Down To It"
Track #9 Runtime: 2:05 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:17:46 GMT -5
As tim predicted, "Let's Get Down To It" is indeed the next song to leave! While the last song was the consistent #7 contender that ended up getting bumped back to #8 at the last minute, "Let's Get Down To It" was the song that benefitted from that bump. This song was the primary #8 contender, before it got bumped up to #7 at the last second by LBTrocks ' #4. Another song that weirdly got high votes despite being vastly inferior to any of the singles, this one saw a #2 from .indulgecountry and pair of #4s from Kanenrá:ke and LBTrocks . I will admit that this song is one of the catchier album tracks on this album, but tbh the "let's get down to the nitty grit" lyric has always REALLY bothered me... Lmao! I am okay with "nitty gritty" as an adjective, but as a noun it literally makes me want to throw up! Ruins the entire song for me, tbh... |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:23:11 GMT -5
I’m back to who I was Before I was the one who fell in love With the one who never, ever was in love. I’m back to bein’ me.
6. "Back To Bein' Me"
Track #10 Runtime: 2:36 Songwriters: Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:25:16 GMT -5
Despite a strong start thanks to tim's #2, "Back To Bein' Me" trended backwards slowly for the entire submission process. It looked likely to finish in the top 5, but just could not hold on with gonecountry and LBTrocks both putting it in the back half of their lists. This song feels like a nice, classic song that could have appeared on any of his '80s albums. Definitely one that I am okay seeing be among the highest album tracks from this album! It's far from being my favorite song ever from him, but I consider it to at least be better than all of the songs that have left so far! |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:26:36 GMT -5
Here is the top 5!
Baby Blue
Bigger Man Than Me
Famous Last Words Of A Fool
If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)
Under These Conditions
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:30:07 GMT -5
It takes a mighty man to live with lonesome. Some big men might live with misery. But there’s one thing I know for sure and certain. It’s for sure it’s gonna take a lot bigger man than me.
5. "Bigger Man Than Me"
Track #5 Runtime: 2:52 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:32:10 GMT -5
"Bigger Man Than Me" is a catchy song that also feels like a classic George Strait song. There has always been something about the songwriting that doesn't sit well with me though. I think it's the fact that, "But there's one thing that I know for sure and certain. It's for sure it's gonna take a lot bigger man than me" is just plain sloppy. It's horrible phrasing to repeat "for sure" that close together. However, the song is also one of the catchiest on the album, so I am feeling like I probably underranked it with my #8 placement!
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:37:35 GMT -5
Congratulations to both myself and gardyfan, as we both have our top 4 remaining!!! Honorable mention for ClevelandRox and castleoblivion26 who both came close. Both have lost their #3, but their #5 still remains. Of this top 4, three of them were #1 hits, and one is our last remaining album track. Time to see if that album track will be able to disrupt the status quo and outlast any of the singles! |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:43:09 GMT -5
You’ve got those eyes That won’t let go of me. They pull me in and out of touch With reality. And you’ve got those lips That I’ve just got to taste. And I’d love to hear them whisper, “Darlin’, take me from this place.”
4. "Under These Conditions"
Track #2 Runtime: 3:31 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:46:57 GMT -5
"Under These Conditions" has always been my favorite album track from this album, so I am thrilled to see that we more or less agreed on that fact!!!! This song settled into the highest album track position very early on, and pretty much had no trouble staying there. Unfortunately, it was not able to gain any footing on any of the singles, meaning we have to say goodbye to it now, and say hello to yet another top 3 that is composed entirely of singles. However, with this album I don't mind that being the case, because I have always felt that MCA really nailed the single choices from this album. Me putting "Under These Conditions" at #3 does mean that I put it ahead of one of the singles, but I am not at all surprised or disappointed to see all the singles remaining! They were all huge hits, and all absolutely helped define this year in country music and this phase of George's career.
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 17:52:30 GMT -5
I told her I wouldn’t miss her at all As she walked to the door. I couldn’t care less If she didn’t care anymore. And with tears in my eyes, I lied I was glad we were through. As she drove away cryin’ At the famous last words of a fool.
3. "Famous Last Words Of A Fool"
Track #6 Runtime: 3:37 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 18:00:01 GMT -5
I have never understood why "Famous Last Words Of A Fool" is not better liked on Pulse than it is. This song is the epitome of an iconic '80s ballad! The lyrics are definitely one of the strongest aspects of this heartbreaking song, as they effectively capture the emotions of regret that hang in the air after you say things that you don't mean in the middle of a fight. They are perfectly complemented by a simple, memorable melody that is really easy to sing along to. After seeing its mistreatment in the singles rankdown, where it finished at #68, I was pleased to see it at least hold its own against the album tracks on this album. It pretty much always stayed below the other singles, but it did not get left in the dust or anything!
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 18:10:36 GMT -5
You gotta get a little honey. It’s better than money. If you ain’t lovin’, Then you ain’t livin’.
2. "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')
Track #1 Runtime: 2:21
She brought colors to my life That my eyes had never touched. When she taught me how to care, I never cared so much. I try not to think of her But I fall asleep and do, And drift off where the grass is green And the sky is baby blue.
1. "Baby Blue"
Track #3 Runtime: 3:36 |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 18:31:12 GMT -5
There you have it! This top 2 was pretty much always the top 2. "Baby Blue" put a royal stomping all over the other songs from this album!!! There was absolutely NO competition for 1st place!!!! Until...by some stroke of pure floppiness...several of the final people to submit didn't put this song at #1, while also ranking "If You Ain't Lovin'" super high!!! After gonecountry 's last-place ranking especially, the lead that "Baby Blue" put between it and the title track just about vanished. It was able to hang on, however, and I have no doubt in my mind that if we had gotten more submissions this song would have had absolutely no problems holding onto the first place position. BB has always been the most iconic hit from this album, and I would even go so far as to say it is George's most well-known hit of the late '80s. George's smooth vocals on this song are among my favorite of his entire career. Plus just like what made "Famous Last Words Of A Fool" so effective, this song has a simple yet easy-to-sing-along-to melody, which helps me to never even come close to getting tired of it! "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')", on the other hand, has always been one of my least favorite singles of George's entire career. The fact that I ranked it as high as #4 really speaks to how I feel about this album as a whole... I have definitely come to enjoy it more as the years have gone by, but it still pales in comparison to the other singles for me. I would have loved to see "Famous Last Words" come out ahead of it, as it did in the singles rankdown. |
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 20, 2019 18:47:05 GMT -5
Honkytonkville Rankdown: Results Time!
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Post by .indulgecountry on Sept 20, 2019 18:47:11 GMT -5
At least the title cut beat "Fool" here (opposite of how it went in his singles RD) to come in at #2. Not a fan of "Fool" at all. "Baby Blue" is a solid winner.
Excited for the reveals of the next album as it is much better!
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Post by tim on Sept 20, 2019 18:49:10 GMT -5
I really thought that “Famous Last Words of a Fool” would’ve had an edge on the title track and I was fully expecting it to see it in the top 2…alas the title track made it in which I’m actually thrilled to see that it did but am somewhat surprised by the amount of support it ended up receiving. For some reason I always pegged that to be one of George’s least liked singles from the late 80’s. “Baby Blue”, on the other hand, has and always will be by favorite from this record and I agree with bboat11 that this is one of his more iconic hits from this time. It’s especially fitting given that I believe George recorded this song with the memory of his late daughter Jenifer heavy on his mind. |
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Post by tim on Sept 20, 2019 18:54:22 GMT -5
Oh and just for the record I adore "Famous Last Words of a Fool" but I just happen to like quite a few of the album tracks more, especially "Back to Bein' Me" and "Under These Conditions" of which would've made for a great fourth single had they released one (his producer Jimmy Bowen was petty much against this idea). I must admit, though, that I very rarely revisit "Famous" and often find I skip over the song on the album for whatever reason and it might have to do with its length as at 3:37 minutes it does happen to be the longest song on the album lol.
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Post by tim on Sept 20, 2019 19:18:41 GMT -5
1) What will be #1? I think the fan favorite "As Far As It Goes" will win being the first of this series and probably the only one to see an album track win (although I'm not counting out "Cowboys Like Us" either...)
2) What will be #12? Could the first single "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa" also be the first one out?! I think so...otherwise I really have no idea what could come in last place considering overall this is a stellar album so maybe something like "My Infinite Love"
3) Which songs belong in the top 5? "As Far As It Goes", "Cowboys Like Us" and "Honk If You Honky Tonk" are all likely contenders along with "Desperately"...I'm also hoping "Look Who's Back From Town" makes it in
4) What song will be most polarizing? "Honkytonkville" Least polarizing? "As Far As It Goes"
5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? "Cowboys Like Us" in the top 2
6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? The lead single "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa" could easily be in the bottom 3
7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? It should be "Honk If You Honky Tonk" and in the top 5 at a minimum (this was one of George's favorite songs from the album as he performed it for years on tour)
8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see make it into the album tracks rankdown? "Honk If You Tonky Tonk", "Look Who's Back From Town", "I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor", "Heaven Is Missing an Angel", and I really hope "My Infinite Love" makes it in but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one
9) Any other thoughts/predictions? I was deployed in the Middle East when this album was released and thanks to my mom who sent me the album I was able to listen to it (which I did ad nauseam lol!). I remember that George's next single for this project was highly anticipated because he had just scored his 50th #1 hit with "She'll Leave You With a Smile" and all of that momentum was for not because instead we got the somnolent "Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa". Looking back I can't but help think that MCA intentionally sent out singles with the hope that they wouldn't reach #1 so they could release the compilation album that followed this release. Overall, though, this is a strong album from start to finish and is yet another example of how consistent his albums were during the middle 00's.
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Post by .indulgecountry on Sept 21, 2019 0:50:06 GMT -5
1) What will be #1? Either "As Far As It Goes" or "Cowboys Like Us" probably.
2) What will be #12? "My Infinite Love"
3) Which songs belong in the top 5? "I Found Jesus on the Jailhouse Floor" plz. Also AFAIG and "Look Who's Back From Town" should be up there too.
4) What song will be most polarizing? Least polarizing? Most: "Tulsa" | Least: "My Infinite Love"
5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? (Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa, Cowboys Like Us, Desperately) Highest: "Cowboys" in the top 2 prob | Lowest: "Tulsa" around #7-8
6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? "Tulsa" probably won't make it. For me personally, I don't think any of the three singles are among the best the album has to offer.
7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? "As Far As It Goes" should be top 3, with a possible chance at winning.
8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see make it into the album tracks rankdown? I'd like to see "Jesus," "As Far As It Goes," "Look Who's Back," "Honk If You Honky Tonk," and "She Used to Say That to Me" make it.
9) Any other thoughts/predictions? The lack of any real standout singles should make this an interesting rankdown because there's no clear winner and an album cut might take this one, which would be fun to see. Rooting for "I Found Jesus..." to do well here and for "My Infinite Love" (only song I disliked) to flop.
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Post by ClevelandRox on Sept 21, 2019 15:04:51 GMT -5
Holy cannoli, Baby Blue only winning by one point! =o Definitely the first song that comes to mind when I think old-school George Strait. I've always heard it was about his daughter too, even though I don't know much about it.
Honkytonkville was such a great album, I'm excited for it's results!
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 17:54:37 GMT -5
Let the countdown begin!!!
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 17:55:48 GMT -5
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 17:56:41 GMT -5
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 17:57:48 GMT -5
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 17:59:14 GMT -5
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 22, 2019 18:00:30 GMT -5
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