Not every current country fan grew up loving the genre. In fact, there are countless die-hard fans of the genre today who were people who listened to “Anything but country” a few short years ago. Sometimes, all it takes is one great country song to pull someone into the fold.
Below is a short list of country songs that will likely win over even the most country-adverse people out there. These tracks will grab the ear with stellar musicianship, captivating stories, familiar melodies, and more.
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“Dust in a Baggie”—Billy Strings Is the Gateway to Bluegrass
If listening to country and bluegrass was an addiction, Billy Strings would be the gateway drug and this song would be the first hit. “Dust in a Baggie” combines Strings’ lightning-fast flatpicking and some top-notch storytelling to create a song just about everyone can appreciate.
This is also the song that helped launch Strings’ career. Watch the classic video of his solo acoustic performance of the song on a couch at a friend’s party below.
“The Way”—Silverada Delivers a Killer Country Cover of an Alt-Rock Staple
Alt-rock band Fastball had a massive hit with “The Way” in 1998. Released as the lead single from their sophomore album All the Pain Money Can Buy, this song went to the top of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and stayed there for seven weeks. More than that, the song was all over top 40 radio and MTV.
Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) recorded a country cover of the hit song in 2019. They did so to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Hole in the Wall, the Austin dive bar where both Silverada and Fastball got their start.
“I Smoke Weed”—Ashland Craft’s Tongue-in-Cheek Ode to Enjoying Herb
Ashland Craft teamed up with Brothers Osborne to record this humorous ode to herb on HARDY’s HIXTAPE Vol. 2. While reefer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, this track has mass appeal. Those who do enjoy the occasional left-handed cigarette and folks who have a good sense of humor will get a kick out of this song, even if they don’t like country music.
“Move It On Over”—Hank Williams’ Classic Country Song That’s Too Fun to Hate
Hank Williams Sr. is about as country as it gets. However, there’s a reason his material has stood the test of time. Take, for instance, the classic “Move It on Over.” One doesn’t need to be a fan of country music or Hank to like this song. It’s fun, catchy, and some would say relatable.
More than a fun song, this one is also historically important. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Most Played Juke Box Folk Records chart, giving Williams his first hit. More importantly, music historians agree that “Move It on Over” is one of the earliest examples of rock and roll.
“Pancho and Lefty”—Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson Tell a Classic Outlaw Tale
Some songwriters have the ability to write cinematic songs that tell vast stories and paint vivid pictures. Townes Van Zandt was one of those songwriters. The story he told with “Pancho and Lefty” transcends genres. However, the most popular version of the song comes from a pair of country icons—Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
It doesn’t matter if the listener enjoys country music or not, it’s hard to avoid getting caught up in the captivating story told in this song.
Featured Image by Steve Galli/Shutterstock
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