ANOTHER HARD LIST, VOLUME 2

Last week, I gave you a list of my favorite Country songs of all time. I had fun doing that, and thought that I would share my list of favorite pop songs this week. I was surprised when I came up with a list that stretched four pages....so what I thought I would do is simply give you from an A-Z list.....Here goes....

A---"All Shook Up," Elvis Presley
B---"Baby, Baby," Amy Grant
C---"Crazy For You," Madonna
D---"Don't Wanna Lose You," Gloria Estefan
E---"Emotion," Destiny's Child
F---"Father Figure," George Michael
G---"The Game Of Love," Michelle Branch & Santana
H---"Hazard," Richard Marx
I---"If You Asked Me To," Celine Dion
J---"Joyride," Roxette
K---"Kiss," Tom Jones
L---"Lyin' Eyes," The Eagles
M---"Man In The Mirror," Michael Jackson
N---"November Rain," Guns N Roses
O---"Operator," Jim Croce
P---"Please, Mr. Please," Olivia Newton-John
Q----No Q, so I substitute "Heart Of Stone" by Cher
R---"Rainy Days & Mondays," The Carpenters
S---"Show And Tell," Al Wilson
T---"Take A Bow," Madonna
U----No U, so I substitute "Together Again" by Ray Charles
V---"Ventura Highway," America
W---"Walk This Way," Aerosmith
X----No X, so I substitute "Save The Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams
Y----"You Light Up My Life," Debby Boone
Z----No Z...soI substitute "You're The One That I Want" by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

And finally....because I know you care.....

Best Pop Album of all-time: I didn't put any songs from Janet Jackson's RHYTHM NATION 1814 disc, because all of them would make it. Simply put, it's one of the best and most fun albums I have ever heard.

Song that will always get me: "Maybe," by Thom Pace. You might not know the title, but this John Denver-esque song was the theme song from the old show "Grizzly Adams," which I remember watching with my parents years ago, The lyrics of this song are so touching and beautiful. Not that I want it to happen anytime soon, but it's one that I want played when I pass on....Look it up on iTunes. You'll be glad you did!

A HARD LIST TO MAKE

I will be the first to tell you that this week's blog is a personal one. I recently received the book My Country: 50 Musicians On God, America, & The Songs They Love by Melanie Dunea. I hope to interview her soon, but the book is a beauty. In it, many of the all-time top Country singers reveal their favorite songs. I think back to a question that my father's wife Marcia asked me a couple years ago. "Of all the songs, which one is your favorite?" To single out one song would be difficult to do, but the book reminded me of that question, so for what it's worth....here are twenty songs that you will never find me fast forwarding through....I set two rules in making this list. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" makes theses lists every time, as well it should. Quite possibly, it's the greatest song that has ever been written, but I thought I would give it a rest.....Plus....no Kenny Rogers.....If so, this list would never end! So, here are 20 of my favorites. Hopefully, they might be some of yours, as well!

"Southern Nights," Glen Campbell 1977
"Bobbie Sue," The Oak Ridge Boys 1982
"Indian Summer," Brooks & Dunn 2009
"If Loving You Is Wrong," Barbara Mandrell 1979
"What She's Doing Now," Garth Brooks 1992
"All The Gold In California," The Gatlin Brothers 1979
"Miss Emily's Picture," John Conlee 1981
"Believe," Brooks % Dunn 2005
"Blue Moon With Heartache," Rosanne Cash 1981
"The Man In The Mirror," Jim Glaser 1984
"Big In Vegas," Buck Owens 1969
"Here You Come Again," Dolly Parton 1977
"Behind Closed Doors," Charlie Rich 1972
"I've Been Around Enough To Know," John Schneider 1984
"Elizabeth," The Statler Brothers 1983
"Pop A Top," Jim Ed Brown 1967
"I May Hate Myself In The Morning," Lee Ann Womack 2005 "Walkaway Joe," Trisha Yearwood 1992
"Two Teardrops," Steve Wariner 1998
"In Color," Jamey Johnson 2008

OK....I can't forget "Send Me Down To Tuscon," "Linda On My Mind," or "Miami, My Amy," can I? Would love to hear from ya on this one!

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

Wow....Has it really been a month since I posted? Well, there are a lot of reasons for that. Getting settled in our new home has a lot to do with that, and there have been other issues at play...which I'll tell you about later.



Life in Georgia is good. There seems to be a Huddle House in every small town here, and that's not a bad thing. After a slow start, the Bulldogs took care of UT this past weekend, so there were more than a few happy faces around town. This week I am covering a few softball games, so life is good. It's tough getting used to softball in the fall, but whatever works.



So many times, you hear about how life can change so quickly. Well, Amen to that! But, thankfully, some things don't. The beauty of East Tennessee in the Autumn is one thing that has remained a constant.McDonald's French Fries, that could be another. But, the other night, something hit a nerve inside of me. The bond between friends is something that never goes away.



When asked if I have any siblings, I usually say "No." However, that's not entirely true. I have been blessed with some very close friends that are just like brothers or sisters. Randall is one of those. Since meeting him in second grade back in 19--none of your business, he and I have developed a bond that is just as much family to me as anyone outside of my parents.



We've played Atari....Nintendo....Over the years, you name it. We've discussed just about everything you can talk about over the years. I told him the other night that the only fight I remember us having was about who could kick the other's butt in a fight. We weren't even mad.....but each had a different answer. Fortunately, we never found out.



Nearly three decades later, that friendship has endured through a lot. Most of our conversations are of the 5-10 minute type, as he has his family, and I have mine. However, last week was a little different. Without going into detail, as it doesn't really matter, there was a conversation that meant a lot. Getting older makes for interesting stories sometimes, whether you plan them that way or not. There was about an hour and a half conversation last week between two friends that meant a lot. Sometimes sharing those "interesting stories" in life makes you realize that you're not alone. And, though the subject matter might have been a little different from 1983, 1990, or 2000, it was two friends talking about shared experiences---good and bad....and while I can't say I want the bad.....Thank God for the conversation. Thankfully, friendship is the same whether your six or thirty-six. So, if there's a friend that you haven't talked to in some time....give them a call.....Might pick them up a little....but I bet it will do the same for you!