10 Country Songs to Listen to If You Hate Country Music
Contrary to popular belief, there is a lot more to country music than burly bearded men singing about big trucks, drinking beer, and falling in love with pretty girls.
Written by Emma Tanner
Photo courtesy of Adam Degross
Historically, country has gotten a bad rep from music lovers and seems to be the one genre that tends to harbor resentment amongst most audiences. Though we’ve heard our fair share of run-of-the-mill country songs that glorify sex, beer, and shooting guns, there are some gems of the genre that may just soften passionate country haters’ hardened hearts. Check out the list below if you’ve ever found yourself rolling your eyes when your friend on aux decides to blast “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (or … basically anything by Sam Hunt). These country tracks might just change your mind.
“Cover Me Up” — Jason Isbell (Morgan Wallen Cover)
Morgan Wallen’s take on Jason Isbell’s classic “Cover Me Up” combines all the best elements that country music has to offer. Serving as the main player on this track, the guitar is supported by some bluegrass backing instrumental lines that artistically convey the tune’s heart wrenching storyline. Isbell originally wrote “Cover Me Up” as a heartfelt tribute to his wife Amanda Shires, who helped him through his time in rehab and supported him on his journey to sobriety. Though Morgan Wallen has received some heat from country fans for covering such an intensely vulnerable track, Isbell himself came out in support of the pop-country star, saying in a tweet, “It can be so painful to bring a song from your heart into the world then watch it start to fade away after a year or two. I feel like ‘Cover Me Up’ is very much alive right now and I’m so grateful for that.” Morgan Wallen’s modern rendition of the classic hit brings a heartfelt edge to the tune, making it the perfect track to show off the stylistic songwriting and instrumental artistry which sets country music apart from other musical genres.
“Sleeping Alone” — Flatland Cavalry
Photo courtesy of Fernando Garcia
“Sleeping Alone” is the first track that Flatland Cavalry has ever released that is solely acoustic. The guitar stands alone on this tune, accompanied only by lead singer Cleto Cordero’s silky-smooth vocals and a singular slide solo reminiscent of an intimate lullaby. The recording is Cordero’s very first take from the studio, which he says are a result of his producer’s schemes: “Scott asked me to keep playing and singing while he was ‘checking levels’ in the booth. He tricked me and was recording the whole time. So what you hear on the record is the first take of that song.” The resulting track possesses a rawness which artfully conveys the vulnerability of long-distance love. If you’re looking for a song that’ll really make you feel something, “Sleeping Alone” is one you should definitely add to the queue.
“Neon Moon” — Brooks & Dunn feat. Kacey Musgraves
Photo courtesy of Jordan O’Donnell
This modern take on another country classic truly shows the beauty of blending old history with fresh musical takes. Kacey Musgraves first covered this song live, which caught the attention of country legends Brooks & Dunn. The duo then invited her on their 2019 album Reboot, which features redone versions of their biggest hits, resulting in this special collaboration. The slide guitar is a standout star on this track, which brings a classic country edge to the main synth beat that is a result of Kacey’s modern-pop influences. Kacey’s smooth vocals make this the perfect chill track to add to your late night drive playlist and is definitely appropriate to jam to with the windows rolled all the way down.
“Cowboy Take Me Away” — The Chicks
“Cowboy Take Me Away” was originally written by Martie Maguire of the Chicks to perform at her sister’s wedding, and it has since become one of the group’s greatest hits. The tender message behind the track is evident in Natalie Maine’s sincere vocals and the simplified instrumentals of the track. The main melody is held by a banjo riff and easily complemented by uncluttered fiddle backing tracks that perfectly communicate the emotional sincerity of the lyrics. The narrator tells of her yearning for tranquility and untethered romantic connection, calling upon her love — her cowboy — to take her away from the confusing mess of normal life.
“Burning House” — Cam
Photo courtesy of Dennis Leupold
Cam is a gloriously unique kind of country singer whose expertise shines through her vocal acumen and brilliant lyricism. “Burning House” is the hit single off of her 2015 album Untamed and has received great critical acclaim, including a double platinum certification. This song skyrocketed Cam to the forefront of the country-pop scene — and rightfully so. The beautiful guitar riff melds flawlessly with her mellow vocals and artfully tells the story of her feelings towards a former lover, melding emotional torment with tangible regret. The subtle string section ties the whole song together, adding a poignant undertone that really drives home the vulnerable message of this daringly heartfelt track.
“Loving You Easy” — Zac Brown Band
Okay, well, this track is a prime example of a burly bearded man singing about falling in love with the pretty girl, but it undoubtedly deserves a spot on this short list. On “Loving You Easy,” Zac Brown Band displays its mastery of musicality by putting a groovy spin on the classic country sound. As in many other Zac Brown Band hits, the fiddle has a prime spot on this track, playing easily off the main melody held by an easily recognizable electric guitar riff. This feel-good tune is one you can’t help but bop your head along to and is a sweet testament to the immense joy of loving someone with ease.
“When Someone Stops Loving You” — Little Big Town
If you’re looking to expand upon your ‘crying alone about nothing (i.e. boys) at 3 am’ playlist, this is definitely the song for you. “When Someone Stops Loving You” tells the story of heartbreak and the difficulty of finally getting over that special someone after a difficult breakup. The track speaks of the world-ending feeling that comes with someone falling out of love with you and having to deal with the resulting emotional turmoil while trying your best to continue on with normal life. The slide guitar and insane vocal harmonies make this song really hit you in your feels and perfectly captures the feeling of utter heartbreak. By creating a modern take on the standard sad country song, Little Big Town beautifully displays the rawness of sound and emotion that makes country music a force to be reckoned with.
“All Your’n” — Tyler Childers
“All Your’n” is a sugary sweet tune about Childers’ forever love for his soulmate: his wife, Senora May. In this song, Childers speaks of his pledge to love her for life, singing, “So I’ll love you ‘til my lungs give out I ain’t lyin’ / I’m all your’n and you’re all mine.” The whole song is a ballad for his girl, speaking of how he is completely and totally devoted to her and her only. The upbeat piano melody, slide guitar, and fiddle solos bring the classic country sound to this catchy tune and flow easily together to produce a truly “feel good” track that you’re sure to hum along to.
“Girl Crush” — Little Big Town
Another example of great country sound from Little Big Town, “Girl Crush” is a truly special track. Harry Styles (prince of modern pop himself) covered this classic for a Spotify Singles session in 2017, displaying the true genre-bending nature of the track. Karen Fairchild takes the role of lead vocalist, lending her chillingly touching vocals to a story of heartbreak and deep-rooted jealousy for the girl that stole her crush’s heart. The lyrics melt smoothly like butter over the twangy guitar melody and added synth beats. Once again, the group shows their ingenuity when it comes to vocal harmonies, making the chorus stand out as a beautifully emotional tale of rejection and female heartbreak.
“More Hearts than Mine” — Ingrid Andress
Photo courtesy of Jess Williams
Ingrid Andress is a fairly new name in the modern country scene, but her track “More Hearts Than Mine” expertly displays her mastery of the classic country style. Andress’s vocal mastery is on full display, accompanied by a simple piano and string melody with a handful of starkly country guitar riffs thrown in for good measure. The song tells the story of a girl planning to take her boyfriend back home to her family for the first time, immortalizing that very specific conversation a couple has on the nerve-racking — yet, wildly exciting — road trip to ‘meet the family.’ With a heart-wrenching twist, Andress spins the situation to discuss the looming possibility of heartbreak, discussing how taking someone home to your family fully integrates them into your life, and ironically inches you closer to complete heartbreak. She says “Oh, if we break up, I’ll be fine / But you’ll be breaking more hearts than mine,” perfectly encapsulating the grief the whole family goes through when their daughter gets hurt by the guy they all found themselves growing fond of.
Though country has gotten a bad rep in the past, these 10 tracks truly show the depth of the genre and the musical ingenuity of country groups that may have been previously overlooked. As there are always two sides to every story, there are two sides to every musical genre as well — you just have to know where to look.