After having this category of postings since quite some time, I decided to have more regular country music picks in the future. One key driver of that were my recent trips to the USA. Especially during the two trip reports I wrote in 2019, A Musical Trip To CMA Fest and Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis, I recognized that young artists have hardly any chance to make it to the major country music stations there. Instead you hear the same hits again and again in heavy rotations.
This is also reflected by the Billboard Airplay Charts (as of 17th August 2019): the highest ranked song in there which is less than ten weeks in this leaderboard, is Kenny Chesney’s Tip of my Tongue on rank 18. Overall, there are just four of these songs in the Top 40, the highest new entry is Kane Brown’s Homesick, which is has already been released on his 2018 album. Thus, I will present the very hot songs here, but mainly concentrate on new and emerging artists from North America and Europe.
Sylvia Aimee – Almost
For the first time in these country music picks, I selected an artist from the Netherlands. Social media just gives you these lucky occasions – a Dutch friend of mine shared this lovely piece of writing in her account and Sylvia Aimee fascinated me from the very beginning. Almost is her latest song just recently released, but I also listened into some of her other songs and absolutely loved it. Hope to hear more of her soon.
Vic Allen – Enough
British Vic Allen is one of these young emerging artists, for whom I cross my fingers from the bottom of my heart. Recently, Vic has released another song. Enough is a lovely song with a music video full of memories on her life.
Olivia Lane – The Cape
After I featured Olivia Lane already in the last country music picks and reviewed her 2019 EP The One, I decided to list her in this edition again. The Cape is just an amazing story and song – and I just could not deforce the great music video from you. Hope you like the song and video as much as I do.
Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins – Hell Ride
After Blake Shelton is still having massive airplay in the States with God’s Country (featured in my April 2019 Country Music Picks), this time, there is hell in his song. I just listened to God’s Country too often and somehow got a bit tired of it – the more, I like this new song.
Miranda Lambert – Mess With My Head
Miranda Lambert recently had two releases. Mess With My Head may just be more remarkable, because it feels like a rock track rather than a country song. Especially as it is somehow unexpected, this song makes you look forward to her album Retreat, which will be released on 1st November 2019.
Riley Green – I Wish Grandpas Never Died
The title tells everything about the song. I heard it on Highway Radion on Sirius XM in the States and it just was musical love at first sight. Touching and amazing. Riley Green, the Alabama country artist, who started his claim to fame as a contestant in a reality TV show format, has written an excellent track. Look forward to his debut album, which will be released in September 2019.
Riley Green – Get That Man a Beer
Once? Twice! There were just two amazing songs by Riley Green, which I felt to share with you. As I could not decide between the amazing storytelling in I Wish Grandpas Never Died and the less heart-warming Get That Man a Beer, I just selected them both. Riley Green is definitely on the raise. I reviewed his debut album Different ‘Round Here in September 2019.
Carolyn Miller – Summer Time
I featured Carolyn Miller together with Christina Taylor in a designated posting after the CMA Fest 2019. I liked her music before the festival, but seeing her live on stage just nailed me – and I even skipped Nissan Stadium for that. Her latest release, Summer Time, is another great song from the powerful lady from Long Island, NY.
Gone West – What Could’ve Been
During my recent stay in Orlando, I happened to run into this song. Gone West is a very new group found around Colbie Caillat, which alredy released an EP in 2019. Enjoyed listening to the song, especially to the chorus.
Title picture: edited Riley Green cover