Sugarland: Songs That Should’ve Been Singles

The process of choosing a single for radio is often as arduous a task as writing the song. Each month, Sounds Like Nashville will feature a different artist and explore songs from his or her catalogue that we wish made it to radio. Make no mistake, this is no critique of the artist or label, it’s simply a list of songs we love so much that we think deserve to be in the spotlight. This month, we take a closer listen to Sugarland’s back catalogue and find eight gems that warrant airplay.

“Fly Away” – from Twice The Speed of Life
On the banjo-driven “Fly Away,” Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles sings of how she wants to “live a little bit before I die.” A relatable song, “Fly Away” details how she feels stuck in a small town while she dreams of breaking away. “I’m so sick and tired of being told what’s good for me / people got lots of ideas of who I’m supposed to be,” she sings passionately. The song’s soaring fiddle accompaniment and Nettles’ powerful vocals merge seamlessly for an anthem that would have fans singing along if heard on radio.

“These Are the Days” – from Enjoy the Ride
A song that begs the listener to find joy in the day-to-day and take in every moment as if it’s his or her last, “These Are the Days” showcases Kristian Bush trading vocals with Nettles. His soulful singing style helps adequately get the song’s point across alongside delicate piano and acoustic guitar.

“Mean Girls” – from Enjoy the Ride
This rollicking barn burner has Nettles singing of an all-too-real difficulty women face throughout their lifetime — mean girls. “They’ll make you cry, baby, and then blame it on you,” she sings with hand-clapped rhythms. “Starts on the playground pullin’ your hair then in high school it gets worse from there.” This rockin’ number, while hilarious, is so truthful and stresses the ever important point to simply be nice to each other.

“Take Me As I Am” – from Love On The Inside
Co-written by the duo and Jeff Cohen, “Take Me As I Am” is a country rocker with Nettles belting alongside gritty electric guitar and driving percussion beats. The song embodies a slight ’80s vibe and it’s easy to envision Nettles channeling her inner Madonna and Cyndi Lauper throughout. “If you want it, come and get it but understand you take me as I am,” she screams on the chorus.

“We Run” – from Love On The Inside
Written by Nettles, Bush and Scooter Carusoe, “We Run” is as catchy a song as they come. The perfect summer anthem, the track begs the listener to sing along on its infectious chorus. “Doing what you shouldn’t is half the fun,” Nettles croons on the nostalgic track about one’s first love. “You may never know how fast that you can go till someone lifts your feet up off the ground.”

“What I’d Give” – from Love On The Inside
“What I’d Give” features Nettles’ sultry vocals as she pines for a man, wondering what it would be like if she was his girl. The song’s stark production highlights Nettles’ smoky vocals. “If your heart was dark with nothin’ in it I’d give you mine and take your place,” she sings. “What I’d give to let you love me, find out everything that brings you joy. Wake up to your face above me, I’d be that girl and you could be that boy.”

“Fall Into Me” – from Love On The Inside
A bonus track featured on Sugarland’s Love On the Inside album, “Fall Into Me” is a sweet ballad that has a woman explaining how she hopes to be the person a man looks toward when life gets difficult. “I want to be the one you reach for first,” she sings. A sweet sentiment, Nettles brings the beautiful ballad to life with her yearning vocals.

“Stand Up” – from The Incredible Machine
“Stand Up” is a call to action, asking listeners to stand up and use their voices when they see others around them suffering through pain or injustice. The song blends Nettles and Bush’s voices seamlessly as they trade vocals and harmonize on the chorus. A song that reminds us all that we are not alone, “Stand Up” is a striking track that would be welcomed on the airwaves.

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