The 10 Best Billy Currington Songs of All-Time
With the occasional exception, Billy Currington has built his career on feel-good, easy-going numbers like “Good Directions,” “Bad Day of Fishin'” and “People Are Crazy.” It’s not earned him a huge amount of critical success, but it’s certainly giving him plenty of hits – to date, he’s racked up 11 number ones and the kind of airplay most of his contemporaries would kill for. Here, we doff our cap to one of country music’s biggest stars as we count down the 10 best Billy Currington songs of all time.
10. Bad Day of Fishin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv9-KICbuB0
Who knew you could make a great song about fishing? Billy Currington, apparently. For some reason, “Bad Day of Fishin'” from the 2010 album “Enjoy Yourself” wasn’t judged single material, but it’s still an outstanding song. As flcountry.com says, Currington sounds like a man who understands that fishing doesn’t always have anything to do with catching fish. Sometimes, it’s about just enjoying the moment, and that’s exactly what the listener will do when they play this underappreciated gem.
9. It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To
Described by Taste of Country as a “fist-pumping love song built for the live show” with meaty hooks and a sense of sonic urgency reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” is easily one of the standout tracks from Currington’s 2015 “Summer Forever” album. The lyrics get slightly lost in the beefy arrangements, but when the result is this listenable, no one’s going to complain.
8. Do I Make You Wanna
The fourth single released from “Summer Forever” is “Do I Make You Wanna.” It took Currington to the top of the Country Airplay chart, certified platinum, and became one of his most streamed hits on Spotify. None of that necessarily makes it a great song, but it is anyway, with a sweet sentiment and an infectious chorus you can’t help but sing along to.
7. Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer
When life leaves you feeling useless, there’s always one thing you can do – drink. It’s not necessarily the greatest advice in the world but it’s certainly one that resonates with country boys. Simple and honest, “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” is a low-key charmer that delivered Currington his fifth number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and a No.41 position on the Billboard Hot 100. It didn’t go down well with the critics, but considering it sold over a million copies in the US alone, we doubt Currington cared too much.
6. Hey Girl
The lead single from Currington’s fifth studio album has a relaxed vibe, an easy charm, and some incredibly infectious guitar hooks. The vocal delivery isn’t exactly shabby either, lending a delicious groove to the piece. It’s not groundbreaking, but a song doesn’t need to push boundaries to be successful. On its release, it sailed straight to the top of the Country Airplay chart and stayed there for three consecutive weeks.
5. Walk a Little Straighter
On “Walk a Little Straighter,” Currington showed he was capable of an emotional depth we’d never expected. In fairness, he hasn’t made anything quite like it again, having discovered that laid-back, fun tracks make for greater chart success than emotionally wrought tear jerkers. Still, it’s a great tune, with insightful lyrics and a flawless vocal performance from the man himself.
4. That’s How Country Boys Roll
Written in collaboration with hitmakers Dallas Davidson and Brett Jones, “That’s How Country Boys Roll” encapsulates Billy Currington’s career in a nutshell. It’s easygoing, feel-good, and isn’t going to tax either your brain or your ears. Described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic as a “straight-up redneck anthem,” it soared to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and even achieved some cross-over success via a No.100 position on the Billboard Hot 100.
3. Let Me Down Easy
Billy Currington doesn’t do straight-up romance that often, but when he does, the results are immense. “Let Me Down Easy” from the 2010 album “Enjoy Yourself” is a sensual love ballad with a smooth sound and an irresistible arrangement. Currington’s vocals are flawless, gliding like silk over the exquisite blend of acoustic guitar and organ. His fanbase agreed, snapping up enough copies to give Currington his fourth consecutive and sixth aggregate No.1.
2. Good Directions
Currington was already doing pretty well for himself by the time he dropped “Doin’ Somethin’ Right” in 2005, but it was nothing compared to the success he’d enjoy after releasing the album’s chart-topping single, “Good Directions.” Written by Luke Bryan, the lyrics are clever, snappy, and the perfect vehicle for Currington’s vocals. It debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 2006, and remains his signature song to this day. Bryan would later release his own version of the song as a bonus track to his debut studio album “I’ll Stay Me ” – it’s good, but the original is better.
1. People Are Crazy
As udiscovermusic.com notes, “People Are Crazy,” the second single from 2008’s “Little Bit Of Everything,” has a co-writing credit from Bobby Braddock, the celebrated composer of such classic country staples as Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” and George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” That didn’t necessarily mean it was going to be a guaranteed hit, but in the event it was, racking up a No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs, two Grammy nominations, and a CMA nomination. According to Billboard, the song came about when collaborator Troy Jones and Baddock were discussing the things in life one couldn’t argue with. Jones came up with the line “God is great. Beer is good. People are crazy,” Braddock added a twist ending and the rest is country music history.
