The most important part of any pop song is arguably the hook. The hook is the part that sucks you in, focuses your attention, and preps you for the three-minute ride you are about to endure. Without it, pop musicians can lose the listener’s attention in a matter of seconds. Consequently, if this happens too many times, the tune will inevitably fall into obscurity and not be known by the masses. Thanks to the sprawling variety of pop music currently on the market, it’s rather difficult to choose three of the best hooks in all of pop music. To narrow down the search, this article will strictly pertain to the best pop country hooks.
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So, without further adieu, here are three of the best pop country hooks of all time.
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain
Whether you’re a fan of Shania Twain or not, the minute the synth starts playing and Twain sings Let’s Go Girls, you know exactly what song you are about to hear. The fluid melding between synth and guitar is a trance no one, not even purist country fans, can escape. It’s hypnotic, alluring, and enticing in all the right ways.
Thanks to the awfully recognizable hook, Twain was able to win over the masses with her 1997 single. Following its release in 1997, Twain’s song was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Furthermore, thanks to the hook and the song it entailed, Twain won Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 42nd Grammy Awards.
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
Written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, the hook of Carrie Underwood’s song is in fact in the music. However, the music wouldn’t be enough, as the line I dug my key into the side / Of his pretty, little, souped-up four-wheel drive / Carved my name into his leather seats…You know the rest, and that is exactly why Tompkins and Kear created one of the best hooks in pop country history.
Thanks to the memorable lyrics, Underwood’s break-up anthem has become a staple in not only her catalog but in the broader catalog of country break-up songs. Released in 2005, the song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
“Need You Now” by Lady A
Written by all three members of Lady A and Josh Kear, the opening piano line of “Need You Now” is both the hook and refrain of this 2009 classic. Unlike most pop-country hooks, nothing about this piano part is flashy, ornate, or kitschy. Rather, it’s simple and classy, and the arrangement does all the talking for the rest of the song. Lastly, it also perfectly sets the tone for the thematic subject matter of the song.
Thanks to Lady A and Kear’s masterful hook, “Need You Now” is Lady A’s biggest hit peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and won four Grammys in 2011. Additionally, it became a 9x Platinum-selling single following its release in 2009.
Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
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