Nine Great Country Tunes (For Non-Country Music Fans)

Country music is the biggest selling music genre, and music stations are some of the most profitable. Despite that, there are a lot of people who claim they can't imagine ever listening to country music.

If you fall into that category, then take this list of nine tunes as a reason to reconsider your opinion. The following songs are all technically "country," but are in the end just fabulous pop-rock songs.

Here is the list, in no particular order:

1) "Who Says You Can't Go Home," Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles
This song has been a huge country music hit in 2006, and rightfully so. It sounds like vintage Bon Jovi, with the addition of a smoking hot vocal by Sugarland lead vocalist Jennifer Nettles. Somehow, the band manages to make its vintage 1980s sound relevant 20 years later.

2) "Change," The Warren Brothers
Any duo who titles their CD's "Barely Famous Hits" and "Well Deserved Obscurity" obviously have a sense of humor. But they also have a wicked pop-rock guitar sound. "Change" was the unofficial theme song for their CMT reality series, which followed the brothers as they attempted to somehow crank out a hit record.

3) "Cold Outside," Big House
This 1997 tune almost qualifies as a golden oldie. I recently ran across it online, and have listened to it at least a couple of time per day ever since I purchased it. It's part Robert Palmer, part bluesy rock. It's just an absolutely jaw-dropping fun time, and if someone out there is putting together a movie soundtrack, this is one tune that deserves more recognition.

4) "Big Time," Big N' Rich
Combine Jimmy Buffett with a rocking bar band and you'll get this tune, which manages to be both breezy and energetic. Sure, some of their other harder tunes might be more fun on the dance floor, but "Big Time" is the one you'll want playing when you're in the mood for a trip to the beach.

5) "Voice Inside My Head," Dixie Chicks
Granted the entire "Taking The Long Way" CD sounds like a great lost example of 70s country-rock. But "Voice Inside My Head" is the standout track of the package, with its jaunty guitar riffs and a full sound that explodes through your speakers. In a better world, this song would be playing on every adult contemporary format radio station in the U.S.

6) "Leave The Pieces," The Wreckers
By all rights, this tune should not be a success. The Wreckers received their first big public exposure on the teen primetime drama "One Tree Hill," and their music label seems to spend more time promoting Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp's looks than their talent. But "Take The Pieces" is a fun pop tune that just happens to include some steel guitar and fiddle. And yes, this is the same Michelle Branch who had a solo pop hit a few years back with "Everywhere."

7) "Celebrity," Brad Paisley
While it's pretty easy to crank out cheesy song parodies, social satire is a bit tougher. Paisley pulls off the stunt perfectly with this indictment of reality TV and faux celebrities. And despite all of the satire, it's still one catchy tune.

8) "Born To Fly," Sara Evans
Evans manages to fill all of her CD's with a wide range of tunes, from the countrified "Suds In The Bucket" to a cover of the Bruce Hornsby hit "Every Little Kiss." But she's at her best with tunes such as "Born To Fly," which combine a pop sound with subtle country instrumentation.

9) "Kerosene," Miranda Lambert
There were a lot of reasons to be suspicious of Miranda Lambert's rookie release. She spent some time modeling, came to public notice as a contestant on "Nashville Star," and co-wrote all but one of the tunes on the CD. But once her CD was released, all doubts of her talent disappeared. "Kerosene" is a fiery rocker that explodes from the first guitar riff. Those people lucky enough to see her perform it live won't quickly forget the experience.