Happy Friday, friends! I bring you the final part of the very first MUSIC LOVE HITLIST. Stay tuned because I’ll be adding new songs and removing the originals in the future. I’m stoked to continue writing about new(ish) music  and sharing it with you. When you come across great things (especially great music), you share it! 🙂

For those just now joining the MUSIC LOVE HITLIST, get caught up with Part One and Part Two below:

Music Love Hitlist – Part One
Music Love Hitlist – Part Two

Thanks for reading and listening! I’m excited to talk about the 15 remaining songs on my inaugural hitlist! But first… a reminder of where to listen:

 Listen on Spotify
 Listen on YouTube

 

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Artist
Chris Young

Album
I’m Comin’ Home

Featured Songs
Heartbeat written by Chris Young, Josh Hoge, & Corey Crowder

This album dropped nearly a year ago and I’ve been waiting for “Heartbeat” to be released as a single. I’m still waiting, but since it hasn’t been released as a single, I’m happy to share it with you! 🙂 This song has Chris’ signature sound, style, and sex appeal. I’m certain it’d be sure to have a bullet next to it on the charts if it gets a shot as a single some day…

Written by very seasoned and successful writers (Young, Josh Hoge, and Corey Crowder), “Heartbeat” has the perfect tempo to make your heart beat in sync with the song as you’re driving down the road with your windows down, blaring this one from the speakers… because who wouldn’t be doing that?! Mmm Hmm…

 

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Artist
Drake White

Album
Spark

Featured Songs
Heartbeat written by Drake White, Ross Copperman & Jason Sellers
Take Me As I Am written by Drake White, Phil Barton & Lindsay Rimes
Makin’ Me Look Good Again written by Drake White, Shane Minor & Monty Criswell

First of all, I need to acknowledge Drake’s first single off this album, “It Feels Good.” I’ve been jamming to that one since early 2015, no joke. It’s practically a crime that it didn’t perform better on the charts. I’ve still not grown tired of this song. How could you? Simply put… it feels good! Furthermore, while I’m totally digging Drake’s current single, “Livin’ the Dream,” as well, I’m focusing on three other tracks from his album, Spark. I guess you could say I like this body of work a lot!

Yup, it’s another “Heartbeat” song, but in a totally different context than Chris Young’s, “Heartbeat” song. The heartbeat that’s referred to in Drake White’s song is not solely about the kind of love that makes your heart beat out of your chest, but the ordinary things in life that comprise the existence of you and thus, your heartbeat. To steal a line from the song, “it’s in the heartbeat, it’s in the real thing.” This song is about the real things. This song is about life and living the real things well. It’s simple and succinct.

I about died when I saw who co-wrote “Take Me As I Am” with Drake White… Phil Barton and Lindsay Rimes. Why? Because this song has Phil Barton written all over it. I’m a total fan of his writing and even more so of his spirit. I don’t know him personally, but every time I’ve gotten to see him in a writers round here in Nashville, it’s a blast to be in the crowd. Barton has this insane kind of contagious energy of positivity and excitement. I challenge you to sit in the room when he’s performing a round and not be engaged and entertained. “Take Me As I Am” radiates that same kind of energy. Add Drake White’s vocals to that kind of energy and the result is magic.

The soul and authenticity that pours forth from Drake White is a large reason I enjoy his music so much. This man sings with passion and “Makin’ Me Look Good Again” is no exception. White has said he dedicates this song to his wife, and the emotion in his vocal performance on this song is certainly palpable. Ultimately, I love genuineness and vulnerability. Drake White isn’t afraid to write and sing his emotions. I’ve never heard a half-hearted performance by him yet. Instead every performance (live or recorded) bleeds raw emotion. This is the mark of a true artist, no matter the amount of public acknowledgement received.

 

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Artist
Carrie Underwood

Album
Storyteller

Featured Song
The Girl You Think I Am written by Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey & David Hodges

If it hadn’t already ridden to the top of the charts awhile back, I would be writing about a third song named, “Heartbeat,” but alas Carrie Underwood’s song under that title from her Storyteller album has already earned it’s proper rank as a number one song on the country radio charts earlier this year. Whoop! The Storyteller album as a whole is an awesome piece of art for the ears, but I’m highlighting just one more song off the album for the MUSIC LOVE HITLIST. The song? “The Girl You Think I Am.”

I am in love with this song. A intimate story about an irreplaceable relationship, the bond which is created between a father and daughter. This song is such a beautiful reflection of what every little girl desires – to have these attributes ascribed to her by her own, earthly father:

You think I’m strong, you think I’m fearless
Even when I’m, I’m in my weakest
You always see the best in me when I can’t
{You believe in me, yeah you’re my biggest fan}
I wanna be, the girl you think I am

The same can be said for what we desire our Heavenly Father to whisper to us, and although He does, we sometimes have a hard time believing it is true or that we are worthy of His love.

This song is wrapped in beauty in so many ways and I imagine it will be the chosen song for many Father/Daughter dances at future weddings.

 

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Artist
Josh Turner

Album
Not yet released

Featured Song
Hometown Girl written by Josh Turner & Marc Beeson

Josh Turner is back at it with a love song that showcases his robust and reliable vocal abilities. Even though “Hometown Girl,” doesn’t highlight his infamous low register, his voice still captivates the listener. This one has all the guys wanting that Hometown Girl, while all the girls seek to embody those Hometown Girl qualities. It’s a match made in Hometown Heaven.

 

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Artist
Steve Moakler

Album
Steve Moakler – EP

Featured Song
Suitcase written by Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird & Barry Dean

“Suitcase” puts into words a common dichotomy of human desires – the struggle between our desire for things of the world vs. our desire for being with people – or in this case, being with one person in particular. The basis of “Suitcase” bears a striking resemblance to Thomas Rhett’s, “Die A Happy Man.” Maybe that’s because Thomas Rhett was a co-writer on both songs. Both are tales of all the things that might make us happy, the things that we chase and desire, but in the end the truth is we could do without all of those things if only to have the one person we desire to be with. Ultimately, that is more than enough, and so it should be.

 

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Artist
Ryan Beaver

Album
Rx

Featured Song
Rum & Roses

When I first heard Ryan Beaver’s new album, Rx, his voice hooked me. It’s raw and edgy, but even more so, it gushes real emotion all over the place. Somehow you manage to actually feel the words he’s singing. Overall his album is a bit darker than what I prefer (and it’s probably not coincidence there’s even a song on the album titled, “Dark”), but I’m amped to see his career unfold and hear what future Ryan Beaver projects will sound like. On Rx, the song I am continually drawn back to is “Rum & Roses.” It’s an interesting meeting place for something beautiful and something painful – much like our own authentic lives turn out to be at times.

 

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Artist
Chuck Wicks

Album
Turning Point

Featured Songs
Fix Me written by Chuck Wicks, Amy Krechel, Angela Krechel & Courtney Krechel
The Whole Damn Thing written by Chuck Wicks & Liz Rose

At least a year or two ago, Chuck Wicks put out an EP (I’m not sure if it was a formal EP release or informal) but I happened upon a handful of songs, which later became part of his album, Turning Point. To be entirely honest, I’m not sure how this album hasn’t received more attention than what it has. It’s an incredible project. The songs on this album are so solid, and it seems as though they’ve all been invisibly woven together to make this album feel very complete. I wasn’t a huge fan of Wicks’ first album, Starting Now, the reason being that it felt forced and not super authentic. But the opposite of that is exactly why I love this album so much – it feels and sounds very authentic.

“Fix Me” practically left me gasping for air the first time I heard it. I love the production, the soft, tender verses that lead into the passionate and assured chorus. Who hasn’t been in a relationship that’s felt a little bit like this one.

Then there’s “The Whole Damn Thing.” This song is equally breath-taking. It sings like a magical, fairytale kind of love, and who doesn’t want that?  It’s tender enough to appeal to a woman and masculine enough for the men to relate. Written by Chuck and mega-hit songwriter, Liz Rose, let’s just say these two know how to construct a make-you-weak-in-the-knees kind of love song for all those crazy romantics out there.

 

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Artist
Brett Young

Album
Brett Young – EP

Featured Songs
Left Side Of Leavin’ written by Brett Young, Jon Nite & Jimmy Robbins

PEOPLE, LISTEN UP!!! Seriously, people, you need to get Brett Young’s self-titled EP. I have worn this thing out since it released in February. It’s the kind of EP where you never skip a single track because they are all THAT good. For real, they are. Truthfully I should be writing about all the tracks on the EP right here right now, and I should have included them all on my hitlist, but because this EP released back in February and I imagine he’ll release a full album (including these tracks) sometime in the near future, I’m just choosing one song to highlight. Just know that choosing only one song was a tragic challenge for me.

The song I chose for my hitlist is “Left Side of Leavin'” because you just can’t go wrong with this song. The track to this song is so dang catchy and is upbeat enough to jam to, still it’s not too much to distract from Young’s vocals. He has a unique sounding voice, particularly in the calmer, more intimate moments of the song. The thing that gets me the most with this song though, is the lyrics. Out of all the break-up songs I’ve ever heard, I can’t say I’ve ever heard a break-up song from this perspective. I guess this kind of songwriting creative brilliance is bound to happen when you throw hit songwriters, Jon Nite and Jimmy Robbins in the mix, though.

 

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Artist
Thomas Rhett

Album
Tangled Up

Featured Songs
The Day You Stop Lookin’ Back written by Jaren Johnston & Luke Laird

I’m a TR fan. Thomas Rhett, that is. I think it’s his free, fun-loving spirit I enjoy the most and that seems to show through his music. Rhett records music he genuinely likes instead of worrying too much about what it is he’s “supposed” to record. I like that. I like much of his album and only recently did I start taking a liking to “The Day You Stop Lookin’ Back.” There’s something about it being written in second person that inserts a bit of intrigue. Who is it that’s speaking these words and to whom? What kind of relationship do they have with one another? Is it familial? Is it from an admirer to the admired? Is it a buddy offering truth? I like the mystique of this perspective, which seemingly never gets answered in the song. Although one might assume, based on a few minor descriptive words, that the situation includes a male admirer who is wishing these thoughts and conclusions upon the woman he’s after.

 

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Artist
High Valley

Album
Dear Life release date: 11/18/16

Featured Songs
Make You Mine written by Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis & Seth Mosley

I don’t care who you are or what kind of music you like, this dang song is catchy as all get out. Up until this year I had never heard of High Valley, but sometime around March of this year I caught wind of “Make You Mine,” and I’ll be damned if it didn’t make me theirs! I’m really curious to hear more of their material when their album, Dear Life releases next month. I hope it’s a solid project at the same caliber of their lead single. Good stuff.

 

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Artist
Charlie Puth

Album
Nine Track Mind

Featured Songs
As You Are written by Charlie Puth, Shy Carter, Jack Martello, Rick Parkhouse & George Tizzard
Some Type of Love written by Charlie Puth & David Brook

My roomie introduced me to Charlie Puth’s music a few months ago. She had invited some friends over to the condo and had Nine Track Mind playing in the background. I heard “As You Are” and asked, ‘Who is this?! I love it!’ Naturally I had to listen to his album the next day… on repeat. I’m shocked that he’s had three singles released on this album already and NONE of them were “As You Are” or “Some Type of Love.” I mean… what?! These are the best two songs on the album, and while I’m talking about Nine Track Mind, someone please tell me why this album has twelve tracks and not nine?! It seems obvious that an album titled so specifically would symbolically have nine tracks instead of any other number. Maybe I’m missing something, but whatevs…

ANYWAY… “As You Are” is the jam, people! Yes, the Mount Kilimanjaro line is a little strange at first, but after listening through a few times I love it all the more for that unique, quirky line. The essence of this song is just so great. So often in life we struggle to love people right where they are, but this song destroys that notion. We’ve all born the weight of someone else’s expectations for us to change into something they desire for us to be, and it’s not fun nor is it easy. There is nothing nice about feeling as though we could be loved if we change this or that about ourselves, but “As You Are” wrecks that notion and I love everything about that.

Then there’s “Some Type of Love…” Stop. Just stop, Charlie Puth. It may be Some Type of Love, but this is Some Type of Love Song! It sings of a forever kind of love, and who doesn’t want to be in that kind of love?! Although the lyrical idea is a bit reminiscent of Ed Sheeran’s, “Thinking Out Loud,” it’s still totally it’s own and is sure to set hearts on fire in the same way.

 

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Thanks so much for reading and listening to the first MUSIC LOVE HITLIST, and letting me share my musical loves with you! Stay tuned for more tunes in the future! 🙂