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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 13:16:43 GMT -5
Every day is like a new beginning
One door opens, while another starts to close
But just slip your arms around me
Cause life's a dance, don't know
That's it, There you go 12. “There Ya Go” Track: #7
Songwriters: Dan Hill, Keith Stegall Total: 118
Average: 9.08
Std Dev: 2.53 (2nd Lowest!) {Songs Remaining}Burnin’ the Honky Tonks Down
If French Fries Were Fat Free
If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 13:22:30 GMT -5
“There Ya Go” is our first song to exit which comes in as our second least polarizing song. This was our most consistent contender to finish in last place as it picked up eight bottom 3 rankings including a last place from Kanenrá:ke. This never really was able to pick up enough support with only ClevelandRox and 🌺CountryLineDancer putting this in their top 5. This is a rather pleasant song to listen to in the context of the album as a whole, but it certainly isn't a song that I necessarily revisit whenever I happen to put the album on. I actually think I might've overranked this by one or two spots and I'd likely put this closer to my bottom 2. |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 13:23:55 GMT -5
What a wonderful world this would be
If the whiskey really helped me
Forget your memory
I'd wear a smile endlessly
If French fries were fat free
And you still love me 11. “If French Fries Were Fat Free” Track: #5
Songwriters: Alan Jackson Total: 116
Average: 8.92
Std Dev: 2.63 (4th Lowest) {Songs Remaining}Burnin’ the Honky Tonks Down
If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 13:29:33 GMT -5
Despite picking up not one but four last-place rankings, “If French Fries Were Fat Free” managed to escape such a fate and actually never even slipped back into last place once it snuck out early on. That is thanks in part to it not receiving any additional bottom 4 rankings as the majority of the group put this either at #8 or #9. It also picked up a pair of top 5s from .indulgecountry and Kanenrá:ke which likely aided in keeping this from slipping back into last place as well. It wasn't enough to keep it out of the bottom 2 though as it was the most consistent contender for being the second song out. I can appreciate Alan's sense of humor with these type of songs as it's certainly not his first (think "Meat and Potato Man" and "I Still Like Bologna"), but more than not these just never work for me. |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 13:31:00 GMT -5
Here are the Top 10 Songs!
Burnin’ the Honky Tonks Down
If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture
I'm going to pause there momentarily before coming back around to reveal another two songs. Will one of them be a single?! Stay tuned to find out!
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:00:39 GMT -5
Alright, I'm back! Now let's find out which two songs leave next which will clear out the bottom 4.
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:00:58 GMT -5
She caught me running around
She was dancing in the ashes when they caught her with them matches
I tried but I couldn't put them out
Did the best to save the whiskey but the flame's just too risky
She couldn't stop that honky tonk sound
It was sizzling like a griddle when I ran out with my fiddle
She's down in the jailhouse now
Said she felt no remorse for breaking out that torch 10. “Burnin’ the Honky Tonks Down” Track: #11
Songwriters: Billy Burnette, Shawn Camp Total: 115
Average: 8.85
Std Dev: 3.08 (5th Highest) {Songs Remaining}If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:07:31 GMT -5
Initially a top 5 contender, “Burnin’ the Honky Tonks Down” exits in the bottom 3 as our fifth most polarizing song. It had a great early start thanks to a near top 5 from yours truly as well as a top 2 ranking from George Strait Junkie, but it began its descent downward from there as it picked up its first of two last place rankings from castleoblivion26. While it did momentarily rebound with another top 5 ranking from gardyfan, that would be brief as additional bottom 2 rankings began to pile up including a second last place from kw9461. This slide back into the bottom 2 towards the end only to move back up one more spot with the final list. I can understand why this song may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I've always kind of thought it was a jam. I've also long been a fan of Shawn Camp who just so happened to co-write this and I can certainly hear his influence on it. |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:08:30 GMT -5
It might seem a bit early, but our first single will exit next! Which one could it be?!
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kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,776
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Post by kw9461 on Jul 23, 2021 15:08:43 GMT -5
"Burnin' The Honky Tonks Down" just goes on WAY too long. It's kind of fun filler for the first 3 minutes or so, but then it becomes quite tedious.
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:10:36 GMT -5
Oh, I forgot to mention that is Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys on background vocals in "Burnin' the Honky Tonks Down"!
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:12:01 GMT -5
And you've got a bad safety problem with
That dominant chord with the augmented fifth
Just see how dangerously high it raises you up
So just go on over there and work on my car
I'll sit here by the fan and chances are
I can straighten this thing out for eig...nine hundred bucks 9. “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues” Track: #8
Songwriters: Dennis Linde Released: March 2005
Billboard Peak Hot Country Songs: #18
Placement in Singles Rankdown: #54 out of 65 Total: 95
Average: 7.31
Std Dev: 3.50 (2nd Highest!) {Songs Remaining}If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:19:13 GMT -5
Unfortunately for those of us that put it in their top 5, “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues” is our first single to exit which may or may not come as a surprise considering that it was actually the third single from the album to exit in Alan's singles rankdown ("Too Much of a Good Thing" left first followed by "USA Today"). And just look at that trajectory! This managed to sneak into the top 5 in the middle of its run only to have the rug pulled out from under it towards the end. This clocks in as our second most polarizing song due in part to it picking up five top 5 rankings and three rankings for dead last. They include Cody Wants Out..., .indulgecountry, and 🌺CountryLineDancer while gardyfan becomes our second participant to lose a top 2 (and also his second top 5 loss as well). This likely would've performed a tad bit better had some of the previous highest-ranking participants from the singles rankdown joined in here, but alas austin and sabre14 aren't partaking in this album series. |
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Post by tim on Jul 23, 2021 15:20:42 GMT -5
Here are the Top 8 Songs!
If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
To Do What I Do
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture
I may or may not return later this evening for a few more reveals, but more than likely I will do so tomorrow. Any guesses or predictions as to which songs will exit before the top 5?!
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kw9461
3x Platinum Member
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,776
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Post by kw9461 on Jul 23, 2021 15:41:22 GMT -5
"The Talking Song Repair Blues" was a really dumb idea for a single, but as an album cut its a really enjoyable listen. I'm not surprised it's the first single out, but it should've done a little better than this, especially on a fairly underwhelming album.
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Cody Wants Out...
9x Platinum Member
Extrovertly Introverted
Forever Young at Heart
Joined: June 2009
Posts: 9,149 
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Post by Cody Wants Out... on Jul 23, 2021 15:43:55 GMT -5
Okay, cool. The iffy songs are now out of the way. I'm certain future reveals will deliver a larger amount of pain than usual.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Jul 23, 2021 19:25:48 GMT -5
"Talking Song" is the only song on this album I don't really care for. There's some clever lyricism in there admittedly, but I just have no real enjoyment out of listening to the finished product and little desire to ever purposely revisit it. The other 11 tracks on the record were easily superior imo, and I actually think this is one of his stronger albums with no real filler, which is something I rarely can say about his albums, lol.
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bboat11
Moderator
Pulse's Resident Martina McBride Expert
Joined: February 2013
Posts: 27,412
My Reviews
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Staff
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Post by bboat11 on Jul 23, 2021 20:48:49 GMT -5
Wow, I'm a little surprised to see "There Ya Go" in last place! I know the title is generic af, and the song itself is definitely more in the 'filler' direction than most of the rest of the album, but it also had a certain catchy charm to it that won me over and helped it escape my bottom 2. Although the rest of the album was just too strong to put it any higher. Alan sure does have a lot of songs that mention food for no reason whatsoever, and I agree with our host that they just don't ever work very well. I mean, they're never outright terrible, they just don't hold up very well alongside Alan's regular songs. "Burnin' The Honky Tonks Down" grabbed my attention immediately, and I thought I was going to love it!!! However, it wore very thin very fast. kw9461 summed it up perfectly. It was fun at first, but after about 3 minutes it became tedious. I thought the mixing of Richard Sterban's vocals was pretty sloppy as well. Normally low vocals are really cool, but these ones just came across as really annoying. I am shocked to see "Talkin' Song Repair Blues" out already!!! I thought for sure it would be "USA Today", just because that is the weakest impacting single and nobody ever remembers it! That being said, I had so much trouble ranking this one. I agree with .indulgecountry that it has a clever premise, but it's just not one that I feel like revisiting a whole lot. I do enjoy the finished product more than he seems to, but it's still super hard to compare to his other songs because it's just so unique. |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 16:35:08 GMT -5
"The Talking Song Repair Blues" was a really dumb idea for a single, but as an album cut its a really enjoyable listen. I'm not surprised it's the first single out, but it should've done a little better than this, especially on a fairly underwhelming album. There definitely seems to be a varying degree of opinion about this album! Some of the participants (including .indulgecountry ) have mentioned that this was actually stronger as a whole compared to Who I Am. I admittedly feel like I've long undervalued this particular album and certainly have a newfound love and appreciation for. I promised y'all I would do a few more reveals today, so that's just what I'm going to do! I must warn y'all though that our first #1 loss of the rankdown is coming up next  . |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 16:39:25 GMT -5
So I stand here tonight with this six string guitar
To be something I've always been in my heart
Just for the chance to play you my song
The thrill when I hear you singing along
It's been worth everything I've been through
To do what I do 8. “To Do What I Do” Track: #12
Songwriters: Tim Johnson Total: 94
Average: 7.23
Std Dev: 3.61 (HIGHEST!) {Songs Remaining}If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Strong Enough
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 16:50:55 GMT -5
6. Which album tracks will place highest and how many of them will make it into the top 5? I think that "Rainy Day In June" will get the honors of highest, although I could definitely be way off base! I do think there is a good chance of the highest album track making it as high as #2 though, so it will be interesting to watch! "You Don't Have To Paint Me A Picture" and "To Do What I Do" should do pretty well too. I think we'll have at least 2 album tracks in the top 5, and possibly 3! Well, I'd certainly say that the title track outperformed my own expectations as it garnered a lot more support than I was anticipating (although it also picked up a few bottom 3 rankings which in turn makes this our most polarizing song of the rankdown). This actually started out in the bottom 2 and even dipped down into last place momentarily as both myself and George Strait Junkie placed this down at the bottom of our lists. It was able to bounce out of that initial slump though and snuck into the top 10 thanks to a #1 ranking from someguy (who also happens to become our first participant to lose their top-ranking song). A second last place ranking came on the heels of that though from ClevelandRox which then put this back down in the bottom 2. From there it began to pick up some additional support from the group as it picked up three top 5 rankings in a row bringing this into the top 8. While it did manage to move up on more spot thanks to a fifth top 5 ranking from 🌺CountryLineDancer, it was again offset by a bottom 3 ranking with the final list. This was a hard song for me rank if only because it's a live track. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy live albums more than most I think as there are a few I listen to occasionally ( Dwight Live and DCX MMXVI Live by The Chicks are just two examples). It's only when there is a single live track on a regular studio album that I tend to have a differing opinion and in this case I would've much preferred a studio version of this song myself. |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 16:54:39 GMT -5
Tennessee, you don't make the whiskey
California, you don't make the wine
And Mexico, you don't make tequila
Strong enough to get her off my mind 7. “Strong Enough” Track: #9
Songwriters: Adam Wright Total: 91
Average: 7.00
Std Dev: 2.58 (3rd Lowest) {Songs Remaining}If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 16:58:50 GMT -5
We go from losing our most polarizing song to one that was a bit less polarizing as “Strong Enough” bows out next. This snuck into the top 5 very early on as it picked up its first of five top 5 rankings from George Strait Junkie. From there it bounced around inside the top 10 for the remainder of its run as it was weighted down by a lone bottom 2 ranking from ClevelandRox. While this slide to the back of the top 10 in the middle of its run, it managed to find its way back into the middle of the pack as it picked up a top 3 ranking from @indulgcountry. |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 17:00:25 GMT -5
One of these six songs will not make the Top 5...
If Love Was a River
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture
Which one will it be?! Stay tuned to find out  !
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 17:48:41 GMT -5
Let's find out if the song to miss the top 5 is an album track or a single!
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 17:49:07 GMT -5
If love was a fast train on a one-way track
Would you turn in your ticket
Would you never look back
If love was a fast train
Would you even pack? 6. “If Love Was a River” Track: #4
Songwriters: Adam Wright, Shannon Wright Total: 80
Average: 6.15
Std Dev: 3.02 (6th Highest) {Songs Remaining}Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 17:55:10 GMT -5
Missing the top 5 by a mere two points is “If Love Was a River” which features husband and wife duo The Wrights on background vocals. This had a steady climb into the top 5 in the middle of its run which was fueled in part by a top 2 ranking from Kanenrá:ke and a top 3 from ClevelandRox. It was even able to withstand a lone bottom 2 ranking from castleoblivion26 and maintained its top 5 position up until a second bottom 3 ranking came along from kw9461. That pushed this into the middle of the pack but rebounded somewhat at the end as it picked up a #1 ranking from 🌺CountryLineDancer who unfortunately becomes our second participant to lose their top-ranking song. In hindsight, I think I likely underranked this one and would bump it up a couple of spots. More often than not I used to just skip this track, but after revisiting it again now I find myself enjoying it a bit more than I used to. |
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Post by tim on Jul 24, 2021 17:57:44 GMT -5
Here are the Top 5 Songs!
Monday Morning Church
Rainy Day in June
Too Much of a Good Thing
USA Today
You Don’t Have to Paint Me a Picture
I'll return tomorrow afternoon for the finale, but until then feel free to post any predictions you might have!
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Jul 24, 2021 17:59:22 GMT -5
I have left: 1 2 5 6 8
Happy enough with this top 5! "Rainy Day" need not win, but otherwise I'll be satisfied.
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Post by tim on Jul 25, 2021 15:38:25 GMT -5
I know everyone is likely out and about enjoying their Sunday afternoon, but I promised I'd wrap this up today and so I'm going to do just that! But first, here are some stats about our Top 5 songs: - Three singles remain while two album tracks made it into the top 5
- Three songs each have a #1 ranking
- The first two songs to exit are separated by only two points
- Almost 60 points separate our #1 song from #5
- Kanenrá:ke has one bottom 2 song remaining while someguy has two including his last place
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