Tim McGraw – Page 20 – Country Universe

Veterans Day Six Pack

November 11, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 6

If history had played out the way Woodrow Wilson planned, we’d be celebrating the 92nd Armistice Day today. When first proclaimed a national holiday, Wilson declared the following:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

If the Great War had been the last war, we wouldn’t be celebrating what is now known as Veterans Day. We also wouldn’t have an incredible legacy of songs about soldiers in the annals of country music.

Here are five classics that celebrate those who have served our country and the ones who love them, along with one tale that has a returned soldier that’s not being loved quite enough.

Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists: Faith Hill

November 1, 2011 Ben Foster 32

Ben counts down his favorite songs by Faith Hill.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “She Never Lets it Go to Her Heart”

November 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 7

1996 | Peak: #1

There’s an old saying about cowboys who get the look down right but don’t have any actual cowboy abilities:

All Hat, No Cattle.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “All I Want is a Life”

September 17, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 1

1996 | Peak: #5

Tim goes gritty on the third single and namesake of his 1995 set All I Want.

He sings as forcefully as his young voice will let him, but the rough edges aren’t quite there, so he doesn’t quite pull it off.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Can’t Be Really Gone”

September 2, 2011 Leeann Ward 6

Despite the dated keys, light swells of synthesizers and layered background vocals, “Can’t Be Really Gone” manages to be McGraw’s most compelling single to that point in his career both in content and performance.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “I Like It, I Love It”

August 12, 2011 Ben Foster 13

1995 | Peak: #1

Tim McGraw’s third number-one hit is an odd record to review, as it somehow defies the typical appraisal.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Refried Dreams”

August 10, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 8

1995 | Peak: #5

By all laws of logic and reason, I should hate this song. But I don’t.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Not a Moment Too Soon”

August 5, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 4

1994 | Peak: #1

The intense heat of McGraw’s record sales helped propel a handful of middling songs to the upper rungs of the chart.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Down on the Farm”

August 1, 2011 Kevin John Coyne 9

1994 | Peak: #2

How refreshing as it is to hear a country pride anthem that actually has country instrumentation and twangy singing.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, “Don’t Take the Girl”

July 29, 2011 Leeann Ward 16

1994 | Peak: #1

After the loud, thumping, controversial nature of “Indian Outlaw”, it’s a good thing that Tim McGraw had another trick in his bag to be found on that second album, which needed to be successful after his debut album, as he has stated, “went wood.” There’s little doubt that the sappy, three act single is what catapulted McGraw’s status to the superstar level that he’s enjoyed since.