George Strait Album Series

[tim]

I'm very with the top two even if they are the albums lone singles. I'm personally rooting for one song in particular, but I'm happy with either outcome.

[tim]

Before the final reveal I just wanted to say that there's very few songs I can look back on and remember when/where I was when I first heard it. "So Much Like My Dad" is one such song. It's an odd memory to hold onto (I think I was 8 or so), but I remember I was walking to and from the garage when I heard this hauntingly beautiful song coming out from the radio. I had just lost my father the summer before and while I was too young to grasp what the subject of the song was really about all I can say is the lyrics and George's fatherly voice just hit me like a ton of bricks.

[bboat11]

She says she’s gonna leave me, momma.

Nothin’ on God’s green earth will make her stay.

I can’t live without her, momma.

This time you can’t kiss the hurt away.

But if I’m so much like my dad,

There musta been times you felt her way.

So tell me word for word what he said

That always made you stay.

2. "So Much Like My Dad"

Track #4

Runtime: 3:26

Songwriters: Chips Moman, Bobby Emmons

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #81 out of 100

Total: 52
Average: 4.0
Std Dev: 3.58 (Largest!!!)




fearlessarrow - 1
tim - 1
gardyfan - 1
bboat11 - 1
Cody Wants Out... - 1
taylor is terrified - 1

castleoblivion26 - 2
gonecountry - 4
.indulgecountry - 5
ClevelandRox - 7


Kanenrá:ke - 9
LBTrocks - 9
George Strait Junkie - 10

---

She’s outta here,

She disappeared without a trace.

More or less unimpressed

By the tears on my face.

Destination unknown, she just dropped out of sight,

Last seen headin’ right on out of my life.

Like a stranger I ain’t never met,

She’s about as gone as a girl can get.

1. "Gone As A Girl Can Get"

Track #3

Runtime: 3:16

Songwriters: Jerry Max Lane

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #70 out of 100



Total: 44
Average: 3.38
Std Dev: 2.02 (2nd smallest!!)


.indulgecountry - 1
LBTrocks - 1
gardyfan - 2
Cody Wants Out... - 2
ClevelandRox - 2
tim - 3
gonecountry - 3
George Strait Junkie - 3
bboat11 - 4
Kanenrá:ke - 4
castleoblivion26 - 5
taylor is terrified - 6
fearlessarrow - 8

[bboat11]

Remind me again why I continue to enable Flops' procrastination by accepting his late af lists...

[tim]

Aug 26, 2020 16:09:01 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Remind me again why I continue to enable Flops' procrastination by accepting his late af lists...

Oui, I just saw that

[bboat11]

"So Much Like My Dad" and "Gone As A Girl Can Get" ended up being fairly equal #1 contenders...even to the point of switching with each other for practically every new list for the entire submission process!! "So Much Like My Dad" was very clearly the song from the album with the most passion, as it had a whopping SIX people put it at #1 (just about half of us!) However, the negative response including a last place from George Strait Junkie and two bottom 2s from Kanenrá:ke and LBTrocks allowed it to be held back just enough for "Gone As A Girl Can Get" to remain competitive.

I love both of these, but "So Much Like My Dad" is one of George's more underrated #1 hits. The hook is absolutely brilliant, both in creativity and vulnerability. The trope of a son being just like his father is very common in pop culture, but never has it been used in this context. Here it is turned into a heartbreaking plea to his mother, where he reveals that his wife is about to leave him, and he needs his mother's help, because if he's so much like his dad, the mom must have been through similar situations before. Not only is that a brilliant twist on a common theme, but it is also important because it normalizes male vulnerability, which is something that is woefully rare in our society filled with toxic masculinity, where men are raised to be big and tough and never experience emotions. Even in country music where women leave men fairly often, there is seldom such a raw focus on how badly the man is torn apart.

"Gone As A Girl Can Get" is catchy, but imo feels very much like straightforward '90s filler. There is absolutely no competition between these two songs.

[tim]

We're never going to let Flops submit late again...what a travesty! I mean, at best I thought "So Much Like My Dad" would make the top three, but seeing that it was on track to win only to get tanked?! Ugh, that makes this one hurt even more.

[tim]

Aug 26, 2020 16:20:42 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

I love both of these, but "So Much Like My Dad" is one of George's more underrated #1 hits. The hook is absolutely brilliant, both in creativity and vulnerability. The trope of a son being just like his father is very common in pop culture, but never has it been used in this context. Here it is turned into a heartbreaking plea to his mother, where he reveals that his wife is about to leave him, and he needs his mother's help, because if he's so much like his dad, the mom must have been through similar situations before. Not only is that a brilliant twist on a common theme, but it is also important because it normalizes male vulnerability, which is something that is woefully rare in our society filled with toxic masculinity, where men are raised to be big and tough and never experience emotions.

Sounds like something the three gentleman who put this in their bottom two might want to consider and think about in context as to why they don't like the song

[bboat11]

Aug 26, 2020 16:24:22 GMT -5 tim said:

Aug 26, 2020 16:20:42 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

I love both of these, but "So Much Like My Dad" is one of George's more underrated #1 hits. The hook is absolutely brilliant, both in creativity and vulnerability. The trope of a son being just like his father is very common in pop culture, but never has it been used in this context. Here it is turned into a heartbreaking plea to his mother, where he reveals that his wife is about to leave him, and he needs his mother's help, because if he's so much like his dad, the mom must have been through similar situations before. Not only is that a brilliant twist on a common theme, but it is also important because it normalizes male vulnerability, which is something that is woefully rare in our society filled with toxic masculinity, where men are raised to be big and tough and never experience emotions.

Sounds like something the three gentleman who put this in their bottom two might want to consider and think about in context as to why they don't like the song

[bboat11]

Ooo, I forgot to mention how much I love the steel guitar in "So Much Like My Dad" That might be some of the most robust and resonant steel guitar work I have ever heard!!! When there's the final "So tell me word for what what he said that always made you stay", followed by the steel guitar ascending up into the heavens, my goosebumps get goosebumps. Absolutely beautiful instrument

[bboat11]

Pure Country Rankdown: Results Time!

Final Participant List: (14)
1. tim
2. George Strait Junkie
3. gardyfan
4. bboat11
5. castleoblivion26
6. gonecountry
7. fearlessarrow
8. ClevelandRox
9. .indulgecountry
10. taylor is terrified
11. Cody Wants Out...
12. Kanenrá:ke
13. LBTrocks
14. lady𝓐fan


I will still take last-minute lists for the rest of today if anybody wants to send one! Otherwise, let's see some predictions for how one of George's best albums will go

---

Questions to get us started:

1) What will be #1?

2) What will be #10?

3) Which songs belong in the top 5?

4) What song will be most polarizing? Least polarizing?

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? (I Cross My Heart, Heartland, When Did You Stop Loving Me)

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5?

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place?

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best?

9) Any other thoughts/predictions?

[fearlessarrow]

Aug 26, 2020 16:09:01 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Remind me again why I continue to enable Flops' procrastination by accepting his late af lists...

His plan is to make me look like a bigger flop because look where I ranked "Gone As A Girl Can Get"...

[tim]

1) What will be #1? "Heartland"

2) What will be #10? "Heartland (Main Title Sequence)"

3) Which songs belong in the top 5? "Heartland", "I Cross My Heart", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "Overnight Male", and "The King of Broken Hearts"

4) What song will be most polarizing? "I Cross My Heart" and maybe "Last in Love" Least polarizing? "Heartland (Main Title Sequence)"

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? "Heartland" FTW

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? "When Did You Stop Loving Me" very likely could miss the top five but considering single bias I still say it gets to at least #6

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? It'll be either "Where the Sidewalk Ends" or "Overnight Male"

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best? "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Last in Love"

9) Any other thoughts/predictions? Being this is my favorite and most played George Strait album of all time, I'm both excited and anxious to see what y'all think of it!

[taylor is terrified]

After seeing that ending I don't even want to imagine the way this album is about to be treated. Good God. 

[tim]

For the record I'm just giving our dearest Flops a hard time and as we wrap up this album series I certainly hope he doesn't miss a single one!  Any shots being thrown his way are done out of love (and a whole lot of shaking of the fists) 

[taylor is terrified]

Aug 26, 2020 18:34:44 GMT -5 tim said:

For the record I'm just giving our dearest Flops a hard time and as we wrap up this album series I certainly hope he doesn't miss a single one!  Any shots being thrown his way are done out of love (and a whole lot of shaking of the fists) 

Same here (although I am quite bummed; I would've MUCH preferred a different outcome)

[.indulgecountry]

Omg I'm so glad I bothered LBTrocks about not submitting now. He made our favorite win at the last second!! That's twice in the last few weeks that he's done this for me, lmao.

[tim]

Aug 26, 2020 19:58:25 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Omg I'm so glad I bothered LBTrocks about not submitting now. He made our favorite win at the last second!! That's twice in the last few weeks that he's done this for me, lmao.

[gonecountry]

1) What will be #1? "Heartland"

2) What will be #10? "Heartland (Main Title Sequence)"

3) Which songs belong in the top 5? "Heartland", "I Cross My Heart", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "Overnight Male", and "When Did You Stop Loving Me"

4) What song will be most polarizing? "I Cross My Heart" Least polarizing? "Heartland (Main Title Sequence)"

5) Which of the singles will place highest? Where will it place? "Heartland" #1

6) Do any of the singles have a chance of missing the top 5? I doubt it

7) What will be the highest-placing album track? Where will it place? "Where the Sidewalk Ends" #3

8) Which album tracks would you prefer to see do the best? "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Overnight Male"

9) Any other thoughts/predictions? I predict Bubba Strait has no future as a singer after this auspicious debut. Seriously, I gotta see this movie.

[tim]

Aug 26, 2020 20:37:23 GMT -5 gonecountry said:

9) Any other thoughts/predictions? I predict Bubba Strait has no future as a singer after this auspicious debut. Seriously, I gotta see this movie.

Ok, show of hands...who amongst us has actually seen this movie?! Personally speaking I’ve lost count, but I did see it twice in the theater as a kid and also a third time when they brought it back to select theaters for its 25th anniversary.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the movie it is airing on CMT this Saturday the 29th at 2 PM ;)

[bboat11]

Guess what!!! I was able to talk lady𝓐fan into joining us Bringing us up to 14 people!!! (And undoing some of the predictable damage done by Flops' list right at the end )

[Kanenrá:ke]

Aug 27, 2020 16:14:32 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Guess what!!! I was able to talk lady𝓐fan into joining us Bringing us up to 14 people!!! (And undoing some of the predictable damage done by Flops' list right at the end )

The fix is in!

[LBTrocks]

Aug 26, 2020 16:24:22 GMT -5 tim said:

Aug 26, 2020 16:20:42 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

I love both of these, but "So Much Like My Dad" is one of George's more underrated #1 hits. The hook is absolutely brilliant, both in creativity and vulnerability. The trope of a son being just like his father is very common in pop culture, but never has it been used in this context. Here it is turned into a heartbreaking plea to his mother, where he reveals that his wife is about to leave him, and he needs his mother's help, because if he's so much like his dad, the mom must have been through similar situations before. Not only is that a brilliant twist on a common theme, but it is also important because it normalizes male vulnerability, which is something that is woefully rare in our society filled with toxic masculinity, where men are raised to be big and tough and never experience emotions.

Sounds like something the three gentleman who put this in their bottom two might want to consider and think about in context as to why they don't like the song

That's cool but musically it's one of his worst songs so meh lol.

[LBTrocks]

Aug 27, 2020 16:14:32 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Guess what!!! I was able to talk lady𝓐fan into joining us Bringing us up to 14 people!!! (And undoing some of the predictable damage done by Flops' list right at the end )

I'm wondering what I did that needed fixing lol. I suspected I might do some "damage" (I call it renovation) in the Holding My Own RD but what it's not so obvious with Pure Country, I must have tanked a really popular album track lol.

Anyway, "Gone As A Girl Can Get" has such a strong and infectious melody and I am so not sorry for causing it to take the crown over "So Much Like My Dad" lol.

[bboat11]

Hey y'all! Sorry for the delay getting this one started :) I ended up prioritizing the July New Releases reveals since I wanted to get it finished before the end of the month. This one's ready to go though It's probably kinda late right now, but let's see how far we can get tomorrow!!

[bboat11]

Sooo who's ready to get this show on the road ;)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Dusty Tractors}
tim -
George Strait Junkie -
gardyfan -
bboat11 -
castleoblivion26 -
gonecountry -
fearlessarrow -
ClevelandRox -
.indulgecountry -
taylor is terrified -
Cody Wants Out... -
Kanenrá:ke -
LBTrocks -
lady𝓐fan -

[bboat11]

There's a place where mornings are an endless blue,

And you feel mother nature walk along with you.

Where simple people livin' side by side

Still wave to their neighbor when they're drivin' by.

11. "Heartland (Main Title Sequence)"

Track #11

Runtime: 2:42

Songwriters: Steve Dorff, John Bettis

Total: 130
Average: 9.29
Std Dev: 2.64


ClevelandRox - 2
castleoblivion26 - 6
Kanenrá:ke - 7
gonecountry - 9
Cody Wants Out... - 9
bboat11 - 10
lady𝓐fan - 10
tim - 11
George Strait Junkie - 11
gardyfan - 11
fearlessarrow - 11
.indulgecountry - 11
taylor is terrified - 11
LBTrocks - 11

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby Your Baby
Heartland
I Cross My Heart
Last In Love
Overnight Male
She Lays It All On The Line
The King Of Broken Hearts
Thoughts Of A Fool
When Did You Stop Loving Me
Where The Sidewalk Ends

[tim]

Sept 2, 2020 22:06:04 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Sooo who's ready to get this show on the road ;)

This deserves a new page before we get started.

[tim]

Or not.

[taylor is terrified]

Well, at least the next reveal will be on a new page!