Faith Hill Album Series - Finished!

[bboat11]

Jul 19, 2019 0:56:45 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

I Think I Will is catchy AF! And I knew Unsaveable would die quickly but it’s a guilty pleasure nonetheless.

This album has aged terribly though so I’m not really surprised about any of this. Wine is helping!

It's interesting that you think it has aged terribly! I think it has aged really well, personally... But keep in mind, 1) I did not actually give this album a chance until a little over a year ago, so it is all still pretty fresh to me, and 2) I think of it in the context of country music and what an abomination of the genre it seemed like upon its release, and now it fits in with the modern country music landscape way better than it did in its own time. In fact, I think the blending of genres here is done way more successfully than a lot of modern country music, largely because the melodies here are stronger, and the instrumental arrangements feel more complicated and thought-out in comparison to somebody like Kelsea Ballerini or Brett Young whose pop edge feels very one-dimensional and formulaic.

[SHOOTER]

Interesting take and I can see your points. I guess having owned and lived with it for over a decade has tainted my ears. The highs are still really high with me while the lows sound like the dated b-list tracks they used to pad American Idol winner/runner-up albums with back in the day.

[Troublemaker]

THIS.IS.A.MESS!

[ClevelandRox]

I wanted to like One more than I did, but I've never cared for it OR Free- for the longest they killed this album for me as I never made it past those two (besides Cry and When The Lights Down Low).

at the Google Translation lyrics to Wicked. Looking back, they really are bad. And she just threw in some Wicked's, the title had nothing to do with the song.

I thought Beautiful was about a minute and a half too long but didn't really deserve to be out first?! :/

[BlueShades874]

Beautiful – I actually kind of forgot how this one went when I revisited this album. Back in the day this was one I always skipped because it was just so boring. I’m not a fan of spoken lyrics in songs. Looking back I probably ranked this one a little too high, not that it made a difference lol.

Wicked – I somehow came across this song a few years after the album was released. I like it a little more this time around than I did back then, but those lyrics just seem so random!

Shadows – I actually like this one quite a bit, but it does seem a bit slow and drags on a bit. On an album that’s already full of so many ballads, I guess it’s not surprising that this one was left off.

One – I really wanted to like this one, but just never did. Even back in 2003, this one sounded so out of place to me on the radio. If they wanted to release a song to AC, there were so many better options than this one! I thought I might be in the minority on my dislike for this song, but I guess not…

I Think I Will – I can’t believe this one is already out! I love this song so much! I love the unique instrumentation on this one, especially in the opening. This one has always been a favorite of mine on this album.

Unsaveable – Honestly I’m really surprised to see this one out this early as well. On an album full of so many ballads, this one stood out a little being more on the mid-tempo side...plus I’m always a sucker for a key change on the last chorus haha. I remember thinking this one might have worked as a single (thought sadly I don’t think anything would have done well at the time).

[The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷]

How can both One and Unsaveable be out already? They are such great songs... I love groovy/soulful Faith LOL. Unsaveable has one of my favorite vocal deliveries by Faith...she sounds so good in it. What a mess

People’s reactions to this album always seem so all over the place... it’s kinda fascinating lol

I agree completely with bboat11 here. This album feels way ahead it’s time... it’s like a more refined version of the concept a lot of contemporary country artists try to master these days

[bboat11]

So you'll take a thousand pills,

Hoping to be numb.

Lie awake in bed

Counting all that's wrong.

No one understands.

No one ever will.

Trust me when I tell you

I know just how you feel.

10. "If You're Gonna Fly Away"

Track #8

Runtime: 3:48

Songwriters: Alecia Moore, Linda Perry





*Just a snippet, but it's at least the best part of the song!*


Total: 154
Average: 9.63
Std Dev: 4.05


Kanenrá:ke - 4
someguy - 5
castleoblivion26 - 5
BlueShades874 - 6
dub - 6
@xfer - 6
austin - 9
tim - 9
codyj100 - 9
The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 - 11
Troublemaker - 12
ClevelandRox - 12
SHOOTER - 14
bboat11 - 15
.indulgecountry - 15
Cody Wants Out... - 16

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby You Belong
Back To You
Cry
Free
If This Is The End
Stronger
This Is Me
When The Lights Go Down
You’re Still Here

[bboat11]

"If You're Gonna Fly Away" has a great message, but tbh there is just not much in the way of description here. The song touches on depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, etc., but it has always felt very superficial and generic to me. Plus the cold open into the chorus hasn't aged very well for me, so I am always slightly put off when the song starts.

That being said, I knew this would get some love! Three people lose a top 5 here, while three people put it in their bottom 2.

[bboat11]

#9 is sure to ruffle a few feathers... It is the 3rd most polarizing song of the rankdown. It is also the first #1 loss of the rankdown!!

[austin]

Jul 20, 2019 8:10:18 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

#9 is sure to ruffle a few feathers... It is the 3rd most polarizing song of the rankdown. It is also the first #1 loss of the rankdown!!

I am done

[bboat11]

Life pulls fast changes.

Winds blows past pages.

All I see is I don't need this

High-strung tight rope walk,

Ticking time bomb clock.

Scratch my name,

I'll cut these chains.

9. "Free"

Track #1

Runtime: 4:39

Songwriters: Annie Roboff, Beth Nielsen Chapman





Total: 136
Average: 8.50
Std Dev: 4.68 (3rd largest!!)


austin - 1
codyj100 - 2
@xfer - 3
Troublemaker - 3
Kanenrá:ke - 6
The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 - 6
someguy - 7
Cody Wants Out... - 8
BlueShades874 - 10
ClevelandRox - 10
bboat11 - 11
tim - 13
SHOOTER - 13
castleoblivion26 - 14
.indulgecountry - 14
dub - 15

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby You Belong
Back To You
Cry
If This Is The End
Stronger
This Is Me
When The Lights Go Down
You’re Still Here

[bboat11]

"Free" bows out at #9, undoubtedly to the dismay of several people... This song received four top 3 rankings, making this by far the song with the most passion among those who love it! It is also the first song to not have a single last-place rank.

My condolences to austin for losing his #1, but good news...this becomes the first album track to make it into the album tracks rankdown!

[austin]

“Free” is so good! One of my all time favorites from her so I am glad it at least got into the Top 10 here. I was so excited she unexpectedly sang it as part of the setlist at the last tour with Tim, even if it was a slowed down lifeless rendition.

[dub]

I'm glad I was able to bump "If You're Gonna Fly Away" into the top 10. It's always been interesting to me that Pink and Linda Perry wrote it - it does feel like it could be a Pink song in another timeline.

As far as "Free"... I don't get it?? There's something off putting about the music for me. It feels very Backstreet Boys or something to me. Idk it doesn't work for me.

[bboat11]

My relationship with "Free" is improving all the time. I used to put it alongside "One" as having an annoying melody and production, but over time I have realized that the two are not even comparable. "Free" has a powerful, infectious energy that can really be fun to jam out to every once in awhile! I think I might have even underranked it a bit.'

I was definitely surprised to hear Faith perform this on her most recent Soul2Soul tour setlist. It felt very random, but it helped me to have a new appreciation for the song when I saw the crowd response. That was probably the biggest catalyst to me starting to like the song more recently :)

[bboat11]

Jul 20, 2019 8:21:09 GMT -5 austin said:

“Free” is so good! One of my all time favorites from her so I am glad it at least got into the Top 10 here. I was so excited she unexpectedly sang it as part of the setlist at the last tour with Tim, even if it was a slowed down lifeless rendition.

I swear when I saw the tour it was the original version of the song! But when I was trying to find a live video a few minutes ago I discovered this slowed-down lifeless rendition about which you speak... I wonder if she changed it mid-tour or something? Either that or I'm just delusional.

[ClevelandRox]

There's elements of Free I like, but it just feels clunky and like it's three different songs thrown together. :/

[bboat11]

austin and I are going to be equally miserable with the next loss... :(

[bboat11]

I lie in bed and watch the shadows

Dancing across the wall.

Nothing to do but think of you

And count the tears that fall.

Oh, how I wish it was real,

I wish I could feel you holding me close.

The only thing I know for sure

Is I should've never let you go.

8. "Back To You"

Track #12

Runtime: 4:36

Songwriters: Derek Bramble, Lindy Robbins





Total: 135
Average: 8.44
Std Dev: 3.44


austin - 3
bboat11 - 3
@xfer - 5
Cody Wants Out... - 6
Troublemaker - 7
SHOOTER - 7
ClevelandRox - 8
.indulgecountry - 8
dub - 8
BlueShades874 - 9
castleoblivion26 - 9
Kanenrá:ke - 11
tim - 11
The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 - 12
someguy - 12
codyj100 - 16

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby You Belong
Cry
If This Is The End
Stronger
This Is Me
When The Lights Go Down
You’re Still Here

[bboat11]

I have always felt that "Back To You" was one of the most underrated songs on this album... This song has always been one of my favorites from the moment I heard it. The blending of pop/rock elements in this song is absolutely masterful, and Faith's vocal performance slays (especially in the bridge)! I love everything about this song from the dissonant electric guitar that just kinda rises out of nowhere and hangs there for the last couple seconds before the big drop at the beginning, all the way through to the sweeping cellos that close out the song. I was SO glad this managed to do as well as it did here, because it is not one that I ever really hear people talk about

[bboat11]

At #7...the MOST polarizing song on the album!!! Here's a hint:

[bboat11]

That picture is of an English Horn, which is a rare woodwind instrument. So rare in fact that I would be willing to bet that you have literally never met someone who plays it! Lol. It is a double-reed instrument, just like an oboe and bassoon. Pitch-wise, it falls right between the oboe and bassoon. Those who are not musically trained enough to know the difference (but still trained enough to recognize an oboe, lol) might just assume it is an oboe, but the pitch is in fact deeper and more haunting.

The reason this is the hint is because, as rare as English Horn is, "You're Still Here" prominently features the instrument!!! The only country song I have ever heard that instrument used on

The presence of English Horn on this track is just an example of how much care and thought went into creating this album. That's not one of those instruments that you just randomly obtain and throw on an album. They had to make that decision intentionally, and probably look pretty hard to find a studio professional who could come in and play it. I would have loved to have sat in on the creative process for the creation of this song, tbh!

---

Had a dream last night

That you came to me on silver wings, and I

I flew away with you in the painted sky.

And I woke up wondering what was real.

Is it what you see and touch,

Or what you feel?

7. "You're Still Here"

Track #14

Runtime: 3:20

Songwriters: Matraca Berg, Aimee Mayo

Placement in the Singles Rankdown: #35 out of 40



Total: 132
Average: 8.25
Std Dev: 5.27 (Largest!!!)


@xfer - 2
Cody Wants Out... - 2
Kanenrá:ke - 2
.indulgecountry - 3
codyj100 - 3
tim - 4
The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 - 5
bboat11 - 8
ClevelandRox - 9
castleoblivion26 - 10
SHOOTER - 11
austin - 14
dub - 14
someguy - 14
Troublemaker - 15
BlueShades874 - 16

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby You Belong
Cry
If This Is The End
Stronger
This Is Me
When The Lights Go Down

[bboat11]

Hint for the last song to miss the top 5!

[bboat11]

The reason "Who I Am" was used as the hint for this song is pretty simple. I don't know if anyone else has ever noticed this, but the verse melody for this song is literally identical to "Who I Am", just a little bit slower

---

I don't know what you believe,

Or what you think of what you see.

But this is a part of me,

What I do and who I am.

All of my impurities

Are right here on my sleeve.

This is me.

This is me.

6. "This Is Me"

Track #11

Runtime: 5:04

Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges



Total: 125
Average: 7.81
Std Dev: 3.58


someguy - 2
BlueShades874 - 3
@xfer - 4
tim - 5
bboat11 - 5
.indulgecountry - 6
codyj100 - 7
castleoblivion26 - 7
Kanenrá:ke - 8
The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 - 9
SHOOTER - 9
austin - 10
ClevelandRox - 11
dub - 12
Cody Wants Out... - 13
Troublemaker - 14

SPOILER: Click to show

{Songs Remaining}
Baby You Belong
Cry
If This Is The End
Stronger
When The Lights Go Down

[bboat11]

Feel free to make Top 5 predictions; I'll finish this up either later today or tomorrow :) Additionally, I have put a poll at the top of the thread to see which album y'all wanna do next. Throw a vote or two up there while you're checking out this thread!


Here is our top 5!

Baby You Belong
Cry
If This Is The End
Stronger
When The Lights Go Down

[Troublemaker]

- Cry
- When The Lights Go Down
- Baby You Belong
- If This Is The End
- Stronger

[.indulgecountry]

"You're Still Here" missing the top 5 is absolutely tragic. What an incredible song. One of her best vocals on record and the lyrics are gorgeous. The 'I heard you in a stranger's laugh / And I hung around to hear him laugh again' is one of the most heartbreaking lyrics I've ever heard. I can't believe it got bottom 5 ranks.

[The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷]

Jul 20, 2019 9:56:11 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

"You're Still Here" missing the top 5 is absolutely tragic. What an incredible song. One of her best vocals on record and the lyrics are gorgeous. The 'I heard you in a stranger's laugh / And I hung around to hear him laugh again' is one of the most heartbreaking lyrics I've ever heard. I can't believe it got bottom 5 ranks.

Yep... seeing it miss top 5 is really unfortunate. An amazing song, top class production and absolutely great interpretation by Faith :'(

[BlueShades874]

I can't decide how I feel about You're Still Here (my #16 ranking was probably a little harsh looking back...) On one hand it's got some beautiful lyrics and I really like the instrumentation in the opening. On the other hand, I can't help but find it so boring compared to the rest of the album. I sometimes even forget this was a single, and really I hate that they completely changed the instrumentation on it for the radio/music video version.

Back when I first bought his album I played This is Me on repeat constantly. I absolutely love that song!

This rankdown has been kind of all over the place, and I love it! I'm a little surprised (though happy) that If This is the End is still in it. I figured that Cry, When the Lights Go Down and Stronger would easily be in the top five. Here are my top five predictions:

1. Cry
2. When the Lights Go Down
3. Stronger
4. Baby You Belong
5. If This is the End

[Deleted]

It won't win, but I am rooting for When The Lights Go Down. Maybe a weird upset will happen?

And You're Still Here deserved so much better :'(