I grew up surrounded by classic country music. My grandfathers on both sides of my family played honky tonk covers in bars across Oklahoma and my parents’ stereo was usually playing Merle Haggard, George Jones, George Strait, or Charley Pride. As a result, I haven’t listened to country radio on purpose since around 1996 and am a proud card-carrying member of the That Ain’t Country Club. However, if I said there weren’t a few pop-country songs that I enjoyed, I’d be lying to you and myself.
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Now, that being said, I wouldn’t say that I seek these songs out regularly. However, if they happen to come on, I may instinctively reach for the volume knob and turn it up and sing along.
1 “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain—Pop Country At It’s Finest
I firmly believe there are two kinds of people in this world—people who say they like this song and liars. Shania Twain released some of the best pop country of the ‘90s and, to me, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” is the pinnacle of that. It’s got a catchy melody, a great overall arrangement, and lyrics that almost compel listeners to sing along, no matter how big, burly, and bearded they are.
There isn’t a lot about this song that is demonstrably “country” other than the fiddle buried deep in the mix and the occasional steel guitar flourish. Removing those two elements would make this song right at home on a pop-rock playlist.
Twain co-penned the song with her then-husband Mutt Lange and included it on her 1997 album Come on Over. It went to No. 2 on the RPM country chart in her home country of Canada and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart here in the States.
2 “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood—Nobody Blends Genres Like Carrie
Carrie Underwood is undeniably a fantastic vocalist. In recent years, she’s shown that she can apply her voice to nearly anything by collaborating with the likes of Guns N’ Roses and Papa Roach. I have a huge amount of respect for her as an artist. Honestly, though, I never got into her music. She usually leans a little too far to the pop end of the spectrum for me. “Before He Cheats,” on the other hand, is a banger.
A blend of country and blues elements with slick pop production, “Before He Cheats” is one of those songs that will hit the sweet spot for just about anyone with an open mind and a set of ears. More than that, Underwood is in top form in this revenge anthem.
Written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, Underwood released it as the fourth single from her 2005 debut album Some Hearts. It topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks. The song was also a huge crossover hit, landing in the top 10 of several charts including the Billboard Hot 100. It went on to be the first country song to sell more than two million digital units and, for a time, was the best-selling country song in history. Pop country, country rock, pop, call it what you will, the singing sensation from Checotah, Oklahoma knocked it out of the park with this one.
3 “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift—The Pop Superstar’s Country Roots
Taylor Swift might be the biggest pop star in the world today but she started as a country artist. However, even when she was getting country airplay and dominating CMT’s countdowns, Swift always leaned toward pop. While I was never a fan of her music, I’ve always respected the fact that she writes her own songs and that’s more than you can say about most mainstream country artists.
There’s something about “You Belong with Me” that is hard to hate. Maybe it’s the melody that works its way into your brain and makes itself comfortable. Maybe it’s the earnest emotion in the lyrics or the hopeful longing in her vocal delivery. Who knows? Either way, it’s a good song.
Swift co-wrote “You Belong with Me” with Liz Rose and released it in 2009 as the third from her sophomore album Fearless. Saying that this song was a massive hit would be an understatement. It was the first song to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Radio Songs charts. Additionally, it went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Looking back, this feels like a foreshadowing of Swift’s future success.
4 “Bury Me in Georgia” by Kane Brown—Some Modern Pop Country
Kane Brown has a great voice, it would be foolish to argue otherwise. However, I’m not a fan of his music. Between the lyrics and production, I’m just generally not interested in what he has to offer. “Bury Me in Georgia,” on the other hand, is rock-solid and I’m not even from The Peach State.
Brown co-wrote the song with Josh Hoge, Matt McGinn, and Jordan Schmidt and released it as the fifth and final single from Different Man. “Bury Me in Georgia” topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart and landed at No. 8 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also entered the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 34.
Featured Image by Beth Gwinn/Redferns
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