Billy Currington: Songs That Should’ve Been Singles
We love Billy Currington's singles, but here are eight album cuts that were equally great!
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 Billy Currington’s back catalogue and find eight gems that warrant airplay.
“Until You” – from Enjoy Yourself
If “Until You” sounds familiar it’s because the song was originally written and released as a single by Dave Barnes in 2008. Currington’s version puts his unique stamp on the powerful ballad with distinct country instrumentation and sultry vocals. “Until You” also shows off Currington’s sensitive side and would have surely been a hit at both country radio and the wedding circuit in 2010.
“That’s Just Me” – from Billy Currington
For a closer glimpse into who Currington is as a person, look no further than “That’s Just Me.” A song featured on his 2003 self-titled debut, “That’s Just Me” is an honest take on the singer’s thoughts on life. “I prefer the fiddle to the violin / And I tend to think that supermodels are too thin / I think who you are is who you oughta be / But that’s just me,” he sings on the feel-good track alongside soaring fiddle accompaniment.
“Hangin’ Around” – from Billy Currington
This poignant ballad has Currington pining for a past love. Co-written by the singer, Carson Chamberlain and Casey Beathard, it’s a song with vivid imagery as it tells the tale of a man struggling to let go of the memory of his ex. “You’re the last thing that I cling to ‘fore I fall asleep at night / You’re the first thing that I reach for in the early morning light / You’re the name that I see written in the stars / You’re the face that I see in every cloud / Oh, I wish you could have been more like your memory and kept hangin’ around,” he sings on the song’s first verse.
“That Changes Everything” – from Doin’ Somethin’ Right
This song showcases Currington’s fondness for traditional country. A track that sounds like something George Strait would cut with pedal steel and slowed string accompaniment, “That Changes Everything” has Currington thinking about finding a new job out of state. While he starts dreaming of places to move, he realizes the lady in his life might be in love with him. “The way she smiles at me / Looks a while at me / That changes everything,” he sings.
“Little Bit Lonely” – from Doin’ Somethin’ Right
“Little Bit Lonely” has an infectious island vibe at the track’s start that suits Currington. The catchy beats and the beach lover’s smooth vocals put the listener in a trance as he tells the story of receiving a message on his answering machine from his lady in which she asks him to come over because she’s feeling a little bit lonely. He more than obliges — grabbing a bottle of wine and some daisies from his neighbor’s yard before meeting her. A soulful jam, “Little Bit Lonely” was penned by Brett James and Blair Daly and showcases the singer’s penchant for love songs with a twist.
“Walk On” – from Little Bit of Everything
On “Walk On,” Currington finds himself admiring a girl from afar but can’t bring himself to say hello. Hard to envision the “Hey Girl” singer having difficulty approaching a beautiful woman, his slowed and whispered vocals are convincing. As the song develops, it’s hard to keep from rooting for the singer in hopes that he gets over his shyness and says something to the lady of his affections.
“Where the Girls Are” – from Billy Currington
The perfect summer anthem, this fun song has Currington and his buddies getting ready for a Friday night out on the town. As they decide which local bar to go to, Currington explains it as a no brainer: “Bobby asks us where we gonna go / Oh you think by now he’d know / Where the girls are, where the fun is / Where the heads get turned and the games begin,” he croons on the upbeat tune.
“All Day Long” – from Enjoy Yourself
“All Day Long” kicks off Currington’s 2010 album Enjoy Yourself and fittingly so. A song about laying around in bed all day and being lazy with one’s significant other, the track exemplifies the country singer’s laid-back persona. The lighthearted number was penned by Frankie Ballard, Dallas Davidson, and Ben Hayslip. All the while, Currington’s smooth vocals beg the listener to hit the repeat button.
