Country music is for the people. And, well, people are weird! That means there are going to be at least a few country songs out there that reflect humanity’s weird side. But when done right? When these strange tunes are written in a way that make it conducive to sing along to? Well, then you have a bona fide masterpiece, do you not?
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Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples. A trio of country songs that are both a little odd and a little too fun to sing along to. Tracks that represent the unique sides of their performers but also get their audiences to take deep breaths and belt right along with them. Indeed, these are three guilty pleasure country songs that we know you love to sing along to.
[RELATED: Darius Rucker on Country Music, His Favorite Hootie Memory and His Mother’s Legacy]
“A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash from At San Quentin (1969)
Both a brilliant and a silly song, this track was originally written by author Shel Silverstein and performed by the deep-voiced Johnny Cash. The substance of the tune created an interesting juxtaposition in which the outlaw country star sings from the perspective of a male character whose name is Sue. And that oddity is what helped this track have lasting power. Released by Cash on his live album At San Quntin, it is one of his best-known songs even today, along with others like “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line.” On it, Cash sings,
Well, my daddy left home when I was three
Didn’t leave very much to my mom and me
Except this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze
Now I don’t blame him ’cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that my daddy ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me Sue
“Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks from No Fences (1990)
This is a fun song but it’s made more so because it’s a joy to sing along to, to bend your voice to go its lowest as country star Garth Brooks belts out the famous chorus. Brooks, who is known for selling out stadiums and entertaining country fans in his big cowboy hat, achieved one of his biggest hits with this quintessential bar song in 1990 via his LP No Fences. And ever since, people in saloons all over the country sing along with him as he croons,
Well, I guess I was wrong, I just don’t belong
But then I’ve been there before
Everything’s all right, I’ll just say good night
And I’ll show myself to the door
Hey, I didn’t mean to cause a big scene
Just give me an hour and then
Well, I’ll be as high as that ivory tower
That you’re livin’ in
‘Cause I’ve got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be OK
Yeah, I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I’ve got friends in low places
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain from Come On Over (1999)
Another crowd-pleaser, this signature song from the very successful country star Shania Twain is one of those songs people can’t help singing along to. Whether it represents the heartland of North America, the tune is one everyone knows and has sung to themselves at home or belted out in a crowd of thousands of close concert-going friends. Indeed, on the offering from her 1999 LP Come On Over, Shania sings,
The best thing about bein’ a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun and
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy, forget I’m a lady
Men’s shirts, short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild, yeah, doin’ it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action, feel the attraction
Color my hair, do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free, yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man, I feel like a woman
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