The recent announcement of Brooks and Dunn splitting up has had all country music fans reflecting on their favorite country songs by this dynamic duo. Twenty-three # 1 songs and a multitude of CMA awards will undoubtedly land them in the Country Music Hall of Fame eventually. Wikipedia says of the singing duo, “They are the most successful duo from any genre, having sold more albums than all others in the Nielsen/SoundScan era.”
The ACM held a farewell tribute to them May 23, 2010, entitled “Last Rodeo”. Country Music greats and a few pop singers paid tribute to Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn’s amazing body of work by performing their songs. The gala affair was alive with the voices of Reba MacIntyre, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley,George Strait, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatt, and Jason Aldean.
Each song sung during the tribute cast its same old Brooks and Dunn magic on the audience, with thousands of people singing along to every song, sometimes with tears in their eyes. That’s probably because, since their start in 1991, each Brooks and Dunn song has woven real life and heartache into memorable music that rocks the house! I tried to narrow down their songs to my favorite ten, but ended up with twelve, of which all but one made it to the top in either the U.S Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks or U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
1. Boot Scootin’ Boogie” – Album: Brand New Man (single released September 30, 1991)
Best line: (When you can sing this part of the song, word for word, you are an official Brooks & Dunn fan!) Heel, toe, docie doe, come on baby let’s go boot scootin; Cadillac black jack, baby meet me out back we’re gonna boogie; Get down, turn around, go to town, boot scootin’ boogie.
2. “Little Miss Honky Tonk” – Album: Waitin’ on Sundown (single released February, 1995)
Best Line: We leave all our troubles and cares way behind us, I feel like I’m a king when I’m out with her highness, I’m her big cat daddy, she’s my little Miss Honky Tonk.
3. “That Ain’t No Way to Go” – Album: Hard Workin’ Man (single released April, 1994)
Best Line: Getting nowhere, I’m tired of thinking, guess I’ll do a little wishful drinking, and make a whiskey wish upon a star.
4. “Neon Moon” – Album: Brand New Man (3rd single released January, 1992)
Best Line: (Chorus) If you lose your one and only, there’s always room here for the lonely, to watch your broken dreams dance in and out of the beams of a neon moon.
5. “Hard Workin’ Man” – Album: Hard Workin’ Man (single released 1993)
Best Line: I’m burnin’ my candle at both ends, ‘Bout the only way to keep the fire goin is to outrun the wind.
6. “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” – Album: Waitin’ on Sundown (single released June, 1995)
Best Line: Someday, girl, you’re gonna wake up and wonder what went wrong, you better kiss me ‘Cause you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.
7. “Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You” – Album: Steers and Stripes (single released February, 2001)
Best Line: The way you look, the way you laugh, the way you love with all you have,
There ain’t nothing about you, that don’t do something for me.
8. “How Long Gone” – Album: If You See Her (single released August, 1998)
Best Line: All you said was you had to get goin, oh but baby I wouldn’t mind knowin’, just
how long gone are you gonna be?
9. “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” – Album: Waitin’ on Sundown (single released August 1994)
Best Line: She walks by and every head turns, you can see how hot her fire burns, he didn’t know what a good thing he had, but it’s too late and that’s too bad.
10. “Brand New Man” – Album: Brooks and Dunn Debut (single released August, 1991)
Best Line: I saw the light I’ve been baptised, by the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes, I’m born to love again, I’m a brand new man.
11. “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” – Album: Hard Workin’ Man (single released December, 1993)
Best Line: Looking so sweet it oughta be a crime, she plays with my heart and messes with my mind,
Acts like Madonna but she listens to Merle, Rock my world little Country girl.
12. “Play Something Country” – Album: Hillbilly Deluxe (single released May, 2005)
Best Line: She said: “I didn’t come here to hear somethin’ thumpin’ from the city”. Said: “I shaved my legs, I paid my money. Ha-ooh-hoo, play somethin’ country.”
Interestingly, one of their most moving songs, “Believe” (released October 2005) only made it to number six on the charts, so it didn’t make this list. But if you saw Jennifer Hudson sing it during the tribute, you undoubtedly realized the depth of Brooks and Dunn’s songwriting talent, as is evident by this lyric from the song:
I raise my hands, bow my head
I’m finding more and more truth
In the words written in red
They tell me there’s more to life
Than just what I can see
Oh, I believe.
And one of my favorite songs, “Mama Don’t Get Dressed up for Nothing” only made it to number six on the charts as well, but, in my opinion, it is worth an honorable mention with these humorous lyrics:
I got my low cut dress and my knee high boots,
I’m like money to burn with nothing to lose,
You’re the man of the house you better think of something,
‘Cause Mama don’t get dressed up for nothing.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, we will miss your lyrical spin on a blue color attitude or a raging heartache, the harmonic blend of your voices, and the way you deliver a country rock or soulful melody. Even though 2010 may be your last rodeo, we country music fans will have our favorite Brooks and Dunn songs for decades to come. Thank you, and good luck as you ride off into your separate sunsets!
Related Reading:
Ten Popular Sing Along Songs: Classic Oldies
Ten Funny Misunderstood Song Lyrics
Resources:
CowboyLyrics.com
Wikipedia: Brooks and Dunn
Reference:
- Country Music’s Lady Antebellum: Today’s Fleetwood Mac?www.associatedcontent.com/article/2772864/country_musics_lady_antebellum_todays.html?
- The Seven Sexiest Male Voices in Country Music: www.associatedcontent.com/article/2504269/the_seven_sexiest_male_voices_in_country.ht
- How Do Songwriters Make Money? www.associatedcontent.com/article/2988344/how_do_songwriters_make_money.html?cat=2
