Comments on: Sweet Spot

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:55:56 +0000

I agree on the single choices for Play On. Though “Undo It” has grown on me a bit in the past three years, I still would have preferred to see it swapped out in favor of “Songs Like This.”

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:49:39 +0000

It just has me thinking what poor singles choices were made for Play On. The album isn’t all that great, but “Someday When I Stop Loving You” and “Quitter” were obvious singles choices (and highlights) to me. “Look At Me” would have also been better than “Temporary Home” or “Mama’s Song.”

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:56:41 +0000

Now Jason’s got me imagining what “Someday When I Stop Loving You” would sound like sung by Dolly Parton, and I rather like what I’m hearing in my head….

I echo all of Jonathan’s above comments pertaining to the nineties ladies, and to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:44:52 +0000

Carrie Underwood sings “Someday When I…” I was also thinking of Dolly Parton’s “The Grass Is Blue” as they are similar.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:43:07 +0000

The songs that always get me are ones about someone who wants to be over a romantic interest, but they aren’t there yet. Some of my favorites:

“What’s A Broken Heart” – Patty Loveless
“Someday When I Stop Loving You” – Dolly Parton
“Come Pick Me Up” – Ryan Adams
“HATEU” – Mariah Carey

By: Jonathan Pappalardo

Jonathan Pappalardo — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:50:59 +0000

My sweet spot? The music of the strong and adult female singer / songwriters of the 90s – Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, etc. There isn’t a theme per se, but they just knew how to write and pick songs that were fantastic and put a mature review on relationships and life. (Two favorite songs that come to mind – Suzy Bogguss’ “Hey Cinderella” and Patty Loveless’ “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am.”)

Part of my issue with mainstream country today is the relative lack in this perspective. It’s as if people over 40 don’t even exist anymore. Hopefully Ashley Monroe and Kacey Musgraves (two twenty something’s mind you) are helping to get the genre back on track.

As for a “sweet spot” album, Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison’s duet project totally fits the bill. When Kelly opens the CD singing “I can fake it for a while/’till I fall apart in style/after all rock bottom’s not too far down” I melt. Now that’s my kind of country!

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:35:48 +0000

Listening to this Josh Turner cover of the great Waylon Jennings song, “America”, made me think of this thread and the theme that hits my sweet spot:

By: Erik North

Erik North — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:57:16 +0000

“I Hope”–The Dixie Chicks

“America The Beautiful”–Ray Charles

“American Trilogy” (Live From Hawaii, 1973)–Elvis Presley

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:44:20 +0000

If I had a sweet spot for certain songs, I think it would be more along the lines of the sound of the song more than the lyrics. Not that the lyrics are unimportant, but there are lots of songs with great lyrics that just don’t connect with me. Songs with a really laid-back groove usually pull me in: Sugarland’s ‘Fall Into Me’ and ‘Very Last Country Song’, the Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson gem ‘Sweetest Waste of Time’, Reba’s recording of ‘Sweet Music Man’, Lorrie Morgan’s ‘If I Cry’ and Gary Allan’s ‘Half of My Mistakes’ are all great examples of cool and tranquil tunes.

By: Craig R.

Craig R. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:45:14 +0000

I have a sweet spot for songs that talk about growing old in love. ” Rocking Chair” by Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton, ” The Last Waltz” by Rodney Crowell, ” Remember When” by Alan Jackson, ” Love is The Foundation” by Loretta Lynn. If someone sings about growing old in love I am right there with them. Kathy Mattea sings two that I love ” Where Have You Been” and ” Love at the Five and Dime.” To me love doesn’t mean anything unless you can lok forward to it as you grow older. Those songs hit me where I live.