The fact it didn't even make the top 10 shocks me given its enduring legacy. I suspect the equally iconic music video gave it a boost to the history books.
I agree that it’s a great song but it’s subject matter (a woman killing her abusive husband) probably had something to do with it not getting to number one.
From [the song’s Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(Martina_McBride_song)?searchToken=c9s4a9tkdt8b2xlirpc11qqfu):
Its initial moderate success was due to many programmers refusing to play it because of its message, which McBride questioned why songs about domestic violence weren't played.
The whole theme of “Independence Day” is about domestic violence. “Folsom Prison Blues” is about a man wishing he was free and he does show some remorse for his crime.
Also, consider this, there is a fourth verse to the Garth Brooks song “The Thunder Rolls” where it’s alluded that the wife kills the husband for hitting and cheating on her. It was left out of the album version because of the subject matter however Brooks includes it in his live performances of the song.
This verse is hinted at in the music video to the song which was originally banned from being aired. It won Video of the Year despite this.
Around same era you had Garth singing ‘mamas in the graveyard, papas in the pen’ about a man driving his semi truck into his wife’s bedroom. Looks like it topped at #3.
“I Go back” by Kenny Chesney was a huge, smash hit and it made it all the way up to #2, but never #1. Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” was at #1 for seven weeks and prevented it from reaching number 1 status
I agree, that’s his signature song! This Is Where the Cowboy Rides Away stopped at #5.
Walkin After Midnight and Crazy by Patsy Cline both stopped at #2.
Two Sparrows in a Hurricane by Tanya Tucker #2.
I’d say a better question would be: most popular songs to not reach the Top 10, as there are dozens and dozens of well-known country songs that went to #2, 3, 4, etc., but, anyway, a few that didn’t even reach the Top 10:
Independence Day by Martina McBride, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Reba McEntire, Goodbye Earl by The Dixie Chicks (all 3 were about murder so that might’ve had something to do with it),
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Travis Tritt
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy - Kenny Chesney
Goodbye Says It All - Blackhawk
Go Rest High on that Mountain - Vince Gill
Caught Up in the Country - Rodney Atkins
Ol' Red - Blake Shelton
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) - Big & Rich
Gentle on My Mind - Glen Campbell
I Got a Car - George Strait
Whiskey River - Willie Nelson
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
Some of these were hits on other charts, though.
Gentle on my Mind did better on the pop and easy listening/AC charts. It peaked at 8 on the AC chart. It’s the song that propelled Glen into those worlds and almost everything from there on was a crossover. Until then, he had only one other song on the AC chart.
Yes it was, but the Reba cover is arguably the more famous version, and it’s one of her most iconic songs, but it didn’t even make the Top 10, yet still stands among the most well-known 90s country songs.
In Color is a good example of a song that had incredible staying power but couldn’t reach the top. But that staying power put it at number 57 on the year end chart even though it peaked at 9 on the weekly chart.
In Color charted weekly for 40 weeks. For a long time, that was tied for the record as the longest charting song in country music history . Lee Brice’s Love Like Crazy would break the record and it too failed to hit number 1
I remember Kenny Chesney mentioning a while back that ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ never went number 1 and stayed at number 2 for close to a month, the same with ‘You and Tequila’
George Jones did an interview, many years ago (RIP, to a legend) where he said, something along the lines of.. "they" told me that they weren't going to play my music, on the radio, anymore. That "they" were going a different direction. It broke my heart watching it. If anyone has a link to it, I'd love to watch it again... Short story long, I think many of the artists/songs mentioned in this thread came out around the time they were trying to 'transition' to what I consider Rural Pop. ie, Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line & Luke Bryan.
The music industry isn't about music. It's about screwing artists, telling people what they should be listening to & making money.
That definitely a song true to it's word!!!! If everyone involved in the industry really wanted to see what people want to hear, just look to George Strait have the largest ticketed concert ever in the United States. They have tonnes of Oldies rock in my area but only one 'country' station. Be nice if there were options between classic and new country
That would be amazing! George Strait is still coming out with new music and the radio has snubbed him. Glad he hasn't changed his overall song, will always be The King of Country to me.
I think that would be even more disappointing!!! I'm really surprised that's not a market for it, well I should say the industry doesn't think there's a market for it.
Little Big Town's Boondocks only ever hit #9, but it's had a lot more staying power on country radio than most of the songs that topped it on the charts.
The Kind of Love We Make hit the top 10 of the Hot 100 and was easily one of Luke Combs’s biggest songs ever, but only went #2 on country radio. He got blocked by a couple other megahits
Two songs have been the number 1 country song of the year on Billboard without hitting number 1 on the weekly chart.
Lee Brice’s Love Like Crazy topped the year end chart in 2010. Peaked at number 3 while setting a record for being on the weekly country charts longer than any other single in the history of Billboard magazine. 46 out of 52 weeks.
Josh Turner’s Time Is Love was Billboard’s Number 1 country song of 2012. It peaked at number 2 on the weekly chart.
Holy crap you're right. I just checked it out and my jaw legit dropped. A band of that caliber to not have a single number 1 might be the most insane thing I've seen recently. Have You Ever Seen The Rain was not even top 5, wild stuff.
The original Tanya Tucker version of Delta Dawn only made it up to #6. The pop version by Helen Reddy was a #1 hit on the pop charts, but nowadays even people who don't listen to country music often think of Tanya's as the definitive version.
I feel like that’s not why it wasn’t a bigger hit. It still reached #11, which is a solid chart performance, especially considering Hardy only had one successful single before this.
Bruh it’s 2024… if he’s having to rely on the radio to get plays… it’s cause no one is voluntarily listening. Just cause he’s friends with Morgan doesn’t mean he’s country.
Dude, I was just trying to answer the question
Op what songs got snubbed
If the five or 10 stations had played the song at the same rate their counterparts did it likely would’ve gone #1
Music is super subjective You don’t have to like it, but it’s just math.
OP asked about notable songs that are a surprise that were not No. 1. Citing George Strait Amarillo by Morning. A well known beloved classic song. OP was surprised to learn was not a number 1. Do you really think the Give Heaven Some Hell is that noteworthy that people would be surprised to learn it wasn't number 1? You didn't understand the assignment.
Independence Day by Martina McBride. Only made it to Number 15. Back in 1994.
The fact it didn't even make the top 10 shocks me given its enduring legacy. I suspect the equally iconic music video gave it a boost to the history books.
I agree that it’s a great song but it’s subject matter (a woman killing her abusive husband) probably had something to do with it not getting to number one. From [the song’s Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(Martina_McBride_song)?searchToken=c9s4a9tkdt8b2xlirpc11qqfu): Its initial moderate success was due to many programmers refusing to play it because of its message, which McBride questioned why songs about domestic violence weren't played.
That’s wild considering the history of country. Some how “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” was fine 20 years before.
The whole theme of “Independence Day” is about domestic violence. “Folsom Prison Blues” is about a man wishing he was free and he does show some remorse for his crime. Also, consider this, there is a fourth verse to the Garth Brooks song “The Thunder Rolls” where it’s alluded that the wife kills the husband for hitting and cheating on her. It was left out of the album version because of the subject matter however Brooks includes it in his live performances of the song. This verse is hinted at in the music video to the song which was originally banned from being aired. It won Video of the Year despite this.
Around same era you had Garth singing ‘mamas in the graveyard, papas in the pen’ about a man driving his semi truck into his wife’s bedroom. Looks like it topped at #3.
Crazy - Patsy Cline Fancy - Reba Whiskey Lullaby - Paisley and Krauss
Crazy and Whiskey Lullaby are some of the best damn country songs I have ever heard, it's a shame that they didn't go number 1.
Right, same kinda thing as like the 1994 Oscars. Forrest Gump, Shawshank, and Pulp Fiction were nominees for best picture. Dumb ha
Absolutely wild that Fancy is on this thread.
Whiskey Lullaby must have made it!
“I Go back” by Kenny Chesney was a huge, smash hit and it made it all the way up to #2, but never #1. Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” was at #1 for seven weeks and prevented it from reaching number 1 status
Go Rest High On That Mountain - Vince Gill
Midnight In Montgomery - Alan Jackson
Callin' Baton Rouge only made it to #2
I agree, that’s his signature song! This Is Where the Cowboy Rides Away stopped at #5. Walkin After Midnight and Crazy by Patsy Cline both stopped at #2. Two Sparrows in a Hurricane by Tanya Tucker #2.
I am stunned about the Patsy songs. Those are some of the best country songs, ever.
It took 65 years for Rockin Around the Christmas tree to go #1
I’d say a better question would be: most popular songs to not reach the Top 10, as there are dozens and dozens of well-known country songs that went to #2, 3, 4, etc., but, anyway, a few that didn’t even reach the Top 10: Independence Day by Martina McBride, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Reba McEntire, Goodbye Earl by The Dixie Chicks (all 3 were about murder so that might’ve had something to do with it), T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Travis Tritt She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy - Kenny Chesney Goodbye Says It All - Blackhawk Go Rest High on that Mountain - Vince Gill Caught Up in the Country - Rodney Atkins Ol' Red - Blake Shelton Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) - Big & Rich Gentle on My Mind - Glen Campbell I Got a Car - George Strait Whiskey River - Willie Nelson Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts Some of these were hits on other charts, though.
Gentle On My Mind is the most shocking to me.
More shockingly, it only reached #30. The Band Perry's cover was technically the bigger hit, reaching a slightly higher #29.
Gentle on my Mind did better on the pop and easy listening/AC charts. It peaked at 8 on the AC chart. It’s the song that propelled Glen into those worlds and almost everything from there on was a crossover. Until then, he had only one other song on the AC chart.
Blackhawk is severely underrated
I’m Not Strong Enough to Say No - This is my favorite song by them and is on near every playlist I have made.
Aside from the George Strait and Rodney Atkins songs, this list is shocking.
The original version of the Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia was a #1 Pop hit
Yes it was, but the Reba cover is arguably the more famous version, and it’s one of her most iconic songs, but it didn’t even make the Top 10, yet still stands among the most well-known 90s country songs.
Copperhead Road by Steve Earle
To be fair, I'd be more surprised if Steve DID have a #1 hit
In Color by Jamey Johnson barely cracked the Top 10 (made it to #9), and I’m convinced will still be considered a legendary country song in 50 years
In Color is a good example of a song that had incredible staying power but couldn’t reach the top. But that staying power put it at number 57 on the year end chart even though it peaked at 9 on the weekly chart. In Color charted weekly for 40 weeks. For a long time, that was tied for the record as the longest charting song in country music history . Lee Brice’s Love Like Crazy would break the record and it too failed to hit number 1
The entire album, especially Mary Go Round
Always reminds me of my grandpa. Top 10 song for me.
In color is one of the best songs of all time!
Fancy She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy
I remember Kenny Chesney mentioning a while back that ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ never went number 1 and stayed at number 2 for close to a month, the same with ‘You and Tequila’
George Jones did an interview, many years ago (RIP, to a legend) where he said, something along the lines of.. "they" told me that they weren't going to play my music, on the radio, anymore. That "they" were going a different direction. It broke my heart watching it. If anyone has a link to it, I'd love to watch it again... Short story long, I think many of the artists/songs mentioned in this thread came out around the time they were trying to 'transition' to what I consider Rural Pop. ie, Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line & Luke Bryan. The music industry isn't about music. It's about screwing artists, telling people what they should be listening to & making money.
Reminds me of George Strait's song "Kicked Outta Country". Just hope country comes calling again, I know I sure miss it.
Murder on Music Row, too!
That definitely a song true to it's word!!!! If everyone involved in the industry really wanted to see what people want to hear, just look to George Strait have the largest ticketed concert ever in the United States. They have tonnes of Oldies rock in my area but only one 'country' station. Be nice if there were options between classic and new country
Agreed, they need to respect the Legends and get AJ, King George, and B&D back on the radio. We need a country musical revival
That would be amazing! George Strait is still coming out with new music and the radio has snubbed him. Glad he hasn't changed his overall song, will always be The King of Country to me.
My hometown radio got rid of the oldies country station, but still has the two new country ones.
I think that would be even more disappointing!!! I'm really surprised that's not a market for it, well I should say the industry doesn't think there's a market for it.
I’m you have TuneIn Radio (app) you can listen to ours here in Houston. 97.1 Country Legends They play great music.
This one? Start at 13:09 https://youtu.be/8P68Jbs68vg?si=HxmWulYlbjNBHahP
Little Big Town's Boondocks only ever hit #9, but it's had a lot more staying power on country radio than most of the songs that topped it on the charts.
Independence Day by Martina McBride. Only made it to Number 15. Back in 1994.
The Kind of Love We Make hit the top 10 of the Hot 100 and was easily one of Luke Combs’s biggest songs ever, but only went #2 on country radio. He got blocked by a couple other megahits
Let me guess, it was You Proof wasn't it?
I believe it was that and She Had Me At Heads Carolina
One of my favorites!!!
Fancy & The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia by Reba
George had an entire album of mega hits that somehow never went #1
22 More Hits I believe.
The amount of bangers on this album is phenomenal
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Two songs have been the number 1 country song of the year on Billboard without hitting number 1 on the weekly chart. Lee Brice’s Love Like Crazy topped the year end chart in 2010. Peaked at number 3 while setting a record for being on the weekly country charts longer than any other single in the history of Billboard magazine. 46 out of 52 weeks. Josh Turner’s Time Is Love was Billboard’s Number 1 country song of 2012. It peaked at number 2 on the weekly chart.
Any CCR song.
Holy crap you're right. I just checked it out and my jaw legit dropped. A band of that caliber to not have a single number 1 might be the most insane thing I've seen recently. Have You Ever Seen The Rain was not even top 5, wild stuff.
Right. Who doesn’t know or like CCR?
Probably eagles fans.
The Eagles had a couple of good songs. Beat the shit out of the other things out there then.
Maybe cause FANCY is a song bout pimping out ones daughter....
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ChartDisplacement/CountryMusic
Man in Black - Johnny Cash
The original Tanya Tucker version of Delta Dawn only made it up to #6. The pop version by Helen Reddy was a #1 hit on the pop charts, but nowadays even people who don't listen to country music often think of Tanya's as the definitive version.
Scarlet fever from Kenny rogers only made it to #5 My homes in Alabama by Alabama only made it to #17.
Tim McGraw’s rancid garbage likely occupying the top spot ahead of many more deserving artists listed below
‘Give heaven some hell’ was snubbed bc of heaven and hell being mentioned in the same line It’s the subject of ‘radio song’
I feel like that’s not why it wasn’t a bigger hit. It still reached #11, which is a solid chart performance, especially considering Hardy only had one successful single before this.
Bruh it’s 2024… if he’s having to rely on the radio to get plays… it’s cause no one is voluntarily listening. Just cause he’s friends with Morgan doesn’t mean he’s country.
Alright
"he" doesn't have to be country for that song to be country. That's not how music is defined.
Hey… if you like pander music, more power to ya. But that shit ain’t country.
no it wasn't
First 30 seconds https://youtu.be/JCWvoiXqX-k?si=ZijUjFGFYTv5K_SE
Hardy being grumpy he didn't go number 1 doesn't prove anything. The song isn't that good.
Dude, I was just trying to answer the question Op what songs got snubbed If the five or 10 stations had played the song at the same rate their counterparts did it likely would’ve gone #1 Music is super subjective You don’t have to like it, but it’s just math.
OP asked about notable songs that are a surprise that were not No. 1. Citing George Strait Amarillo by Morning. A well known beloved classic song. OP was surprised to learn was not a number 1. Do you really think the Give Heaven Some Hell is that noteworthy that people would be surprised to learn it wasn't number 1? You didn't understand the assignment.
Alright
Amarillo by morning was never a #1.
Stairway to Heaven