The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161

The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161

#180
“These Days”
Rascal Flatts
2002
Peak: #1

It’s the pairing of aching nostalgia and all the power that comes with a Flatts country-pop ballad that makes this song so potent. – Tara Seetharam

#179
“Takin’ Off This Pain”
Ashton Shepherd
2007
Peak: #20

Like a wide-eyed hybrid of Loretta Lynn and Jennifer Nettles, Shepherd burst onto the scene snapping her newly ring-free fingers at the clueless sap not treating her right. Next Decade, please take note: you’ve got a star in waiting. – Dan Milliken

#178
“Welcome to the Future”
Brad Paisley
2009
Peak: #2

Paisley blends funky, fresh production with a powerful yet lighthearted depiction of the progress that marks our times. Refreshingly, the result is a politically-tinged song that doesn’t preach, but celebrates. – TS

#177
“A Real Fine Place to Start”
Sara Evans
2005
Peak: #1

Evans simply soars on this perfect bubblegum hook, a hormone rush courtesy of the inimitable Radney Foster. – DM

#176
“Ticks”
Brad Paisley
2007
Peak: #1

One of the decade’s most polarizing singles, as evidenced by its inclusion in both this countdown and our recent Worst Singles of the Decade one. Indeed, Paisley’s shamelessly pervy, creepy ditty has inspired much tut-tutting from those who equate quality with seriousness, or who simply don’t care for pervy, creepy things in general. For others, however, “Ticks” is just a hilariously wrong little novelty with some of the smokingest Telecaster riffs around. – DM

#175
“Band in the Window”
Pam Tillis
2007
Peak: Did not chart

In this jaunty song, Pam Tillis pays tribute to the struggling hopefuls whose only platforms for sharing their music is in bar bands that can be seen through windows by passersby. It’s a celebration of Nashville’s vibrancy wherein talent can be found on every corner. – Leeann Ward

#174
“Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me”
Keith Urban
2003
Peak: #1

Only Urban could strip a phrase like this of all its pomposity and turn it into a hook for an exhilarating song about open-road bliss. – TS

#173
“Something More”
Sugarland
2005
Peak: #2

An anthem for those who believe that happiness is something we create. – Kevin Coyne

#172
“Ten Rounds With José Cuervo”
Tracy Byrd
2002
Peak: #1

Byrd is contagiously entertaining on this boozy, purely fun number. – TS

#171
“Some Beach”
Blake Shelton
2004
Peak: #1

The often cerebral Paul Overstreet helped write this catchy and amusing song that skates around cussing with “some beach” as the expression of choice instead of what is more likely to come out when one has had a bad-luck day like the one in this song. – LW

#170
“Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)”
Willie Nelson
2006
Peak: Did not chart

The Aughts have brought us some classic Willie, from reggae experiments to dead-on Western swing revivals to badass live sets. Also classic: his cover of Ned Sublette’s underground “gay cowboy” song, equal parts goofy satire and bold queer theory. “Say, what did you think all them saddles and boots was about?” – DM

#169
“Sounds So Good”
Ashton Shepherd
2008
Peak: #21

“Sounds So Good” effectively illuminates the joys of summer activities by effectively focusing on their sounds, most notably that of a cooler slushing. – LW

#168
“Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”
Billy Currington
2005
Peak: #1

Intimate, soulful and incredibly sensual – there’s not much more to say. Currington has never sounded so good. – TS

#167
“Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago”
Lee Ann Womack
2005
Peak: #32

Beautifully frank, from the awesome title to the distinct little moments of bittersweet hindsight throughout. – DM

#166
“Sweet Music Man”
Reba McEntire
2002
Peak: #36

Kenny Rogers wrote a nice song that was marred by insufferable, dated eighties production. Fortunately, Reba McEntire had the good sense to update the song by eliminating the synthesizers, which uncovers a gem with a more organic, acoustic sound. – LW

#165
“High Cost of Living”
Jamey Johnson
2009
Peak: #34

This song is dark for today’s sterile radio climate, and Johnson’s no-nonsense performance makes no effort to lighten the mood in any way. As a result, we get a glimpse into raw emotions and real consequences that make for a more authentic and enlightening song. – LW

#164
“For These Times”
Martina McBride
2007
Peak: #35

McBride is no stranger to socially conscious songs, but there’s a sad honesty to this one that sets it apart from the others. It reads like a prayer for these often disheartening times in which we live, that we can’t and weren’t made to give up on. – TS

#163
“Already Gone”
Sugarland
2008
Peak: #1

Sure, they’ve got some silly-pops in the fridge, but few modern country acts write with the passion and intelligence of this duo at their best. “Already Gone” makes the insightful observation that we spend much of our lives playing catch-up to our hearts, and touches upon both the joys and tragedies that that tendency can bring. – DM

#162
“No Fear”
Terri Clark

With this reflective song co-written by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Terri Clark shows that bravery and silence are not contradictory. – KC

#161
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson
2008
Peak: #9

A song whose premise is a series of photographs may have fallen flat in the hands of another artist, but Johnson infuses it with poignant imagery and a heaping amount of understated conviction – and just like that, it comes alive. – TS

- – -

• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 1: #201-#181
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 2: #180-#161
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 3: #160-#141
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 4: #140-#121
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 5: #121-#101
  
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 6: #100-#81
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 7: #80-#61
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 8: #60-#41
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Part 9: #40-#21
• The 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade, Conclusion: #20-#1