Country Universe
  • About Us
    • Comment Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Staff Biographies
  • archives
  • Features
    • 100 Greatest Women: 10th Anniversary Edition
    • 100 Greatest Women: 2008 Edition
    • 100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
    • Songwriter Series
    • Starter Kits
    • Artist Retrospectives
      • Olivia Newton-John
    • Countdowns
      • 400 Greatest Singles of the Nineties
    • Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists
    • Favorite Songs by Favorite Songwriters
    • Retro Single Reviews
      • Alan Jackson
      • Dolly Parton
      • George Strait
      • Shania Twain
      • Tim McGraw
    • Six Pack
    • The 30 Day Song Challenge
    • Year in Review
  • History
    • CMA Awards
      • Classic CMA Awards Moments
    • Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties
    • Every #1 Country Single of the Nineties
    • Yesterday’s Songs
    • Classic Country Singles
    • Grammys
  • home
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Concerts
    • DVDs
    • Singles
    • Videos
  • Yearly Content
    • 2022
Latest Posts
  • [ January 25, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Alabama, “Feels So Right” 1981
  • [ January 24, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Anne Murray, “Blessed are the Believers” 1981
  • [ January 24, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Barbara Mandrell with George Jones, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” 1981
  • [ January 23, 2023 ] Single Review Roundup: Vol. 2, No. 1 – January 2023 Single Review Roundup
  • [ January 23, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Dottie West with Kenny Rogers, “What are We Doin’ in Love” 1981
  • [ January 23, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Razzy Bailey, “Friends”/”Anywhere There’s a Jukebox” 1981
  • [ January 20, 2023 ] Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Dolly Parton, “But You Know I Love You” 1981
HomeChris DeStefano

Chris DeStefano

The Best Singles of 2015, Part Two: #20-#1

December 20, 2015 Jonathan Keefe 15

Our singles list concludes with strong entries from new artists, established superstars, and alternative country stalwarts.

Single Review: Carrie Underwood, “Smoke Break”

August 21, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 24

“Smoke Break” is a remarkably good attempt at a working class anthem. It’s so stylistically different from the “rah rah, let’s party this weekend” approach that has made drinking synonymous with adolescent behavior in modern country music.

No Picture

Single Review: Luke Bryan, “Kick the Dust Up”

May 23, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 13

“Kick the Dust Up” Luke Bryan Written by Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, and Ashley Gorley I actually kinda like Luke Bryan.  But I still hated this song before the first twenty seconds were up. He

No Picture

Single Review: Jason Aldean, “Just Gettin’ Started”

March 1, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 12

“Just Gettin’ Started” Jason Aldean Written by Rhett Akins, Chris DeStefano, and Ashley Gorley Competently performed.  Creatively stagnant. Completely unnecessary. Grade: D

No Picture

Single Review: Carrie Underwood, “Little Toy Guns”

February 19, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 22

“Little Toy Guns” Carrie Underwood Written by Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, and Carrie Underwood With her latest single, Carrie Underwood once again reaffirms that she is among the best and most compelling artists of modern

No Picture

Single Review: Carrie Underwood, “Something in the Water”

September 29, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 46

“Something in the Water” Carrie Underwood Written by Chris DeStefano, Brett James, and Carrie Underwood If anybody’s going to sing a song about the power of the water to cleanse your soul, it should be

No Picture

Single Review: Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”

May 21, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 36

Miranda Lambert Carrie Underwood Somethin' BadMiranda Lambert’s tempting fate with her titles, calling her upcoming album Platinum and her high-profile collaboration with Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad.”

No word for a while yet on whether the album will sell a million copies, but as far as the single goes, it lives up to the promise of the two singers more than it does to its title.

No Picture

Single Review: Rascal Flatts, “Rewind”

January 22, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 5

Rascal Flatts RewindUsing the word rewind in 2014 is a bit dated and quaint, don’t you think?

Social Media

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Writers

  • Kevin John Coyne
  • Leeann Ward
  • Tara Seetharam
  • Ben Foster
  • Jonathan Keefe
  • Sam Gazdziak
  • Zackary Kephart
  • Michelle Ivey
  • Peter Saros
  • Guests

Latest Comments

  • CJ Ellis on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Alabama, “Feels So Right”
  • Caj on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Alabama, “Feels So Right”
  • Caj on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Anne Murray, “Blessed are the Believers”
  • Kevin John Coyne on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Barbara Mandrell with George Jones, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”
  • J.R. Journey on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Barbara Mandrell with George Jones, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”
  • Erik North on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Dottie West with Kenny Rogers, “What are We Doin’ in Love”
  • Joanne on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Anne Murray, “Blessed are the Believers”
  • Joanne on Every No. 1 Country Single of the Eighties: Barbara Mandrell with George Jones, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”

Most Popular

  • 100 Greatest Men
  • 100 Greatest Women
  • 400 Greatest Singles of the Nineties
  • Album Reviews
  • Favorite Songs By Favorite Artists
  • Retro Single Reviews
  • Single Reviews

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Worth Reading

  • American Songwriter
  • Americana Boogie
  • B-Sides and Badlands
  • Belles and Gals
  • CMT Blog
  • Color Me Country
  • Country Exclusive
  • Country Perspective
  • Country Standard Time
  • Don't Rock the Inbox (Newsletter)
  • Hard Times No More
  • Highway Queens
  • Kyle’s Korner
  • Music & More
  • My Kind of Country
  • Shore2Shore Country
  • That Nashville Sound
  • The Black Opry
  • The Bluegrass Situation
  • The Musical Divide
  • The Women of Country
  • Think Country
  • This is Country Music

View Older Posts

Copyright © 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes

 

Loading Comments...