Garth Brooks songs are worth a listen to because of their unconventional melody and recall. Fans even comment on how his songs are what country music sounds like. With his integration of rock and pop elements, it earned the country singer massive popularity. Multi-platinum recordings, album charts, and record-breaking live performances are just a tiny and brief summary of Garth Brooks’ music career.
The Diamond-status country music genius has churned out notable music that we have listened to and are candidates for the modern classic greatest hits list. With this, check out and listen to the 15 best Garth Brooks songs.
1. “What She’s Doing Now”
One of his most convincing performances to date happened when Garth Brooks sang “What She’s Doing Now,” which charted for four weeks in February 1992. Yes, other fans may argue that it’s not the first thing that you’ll think of for classic Garth Brooks songs, but it has proven how moving it is with its story where a shadow of a former lover still hounds on his present life. The people who’re living their life similar to the lyrics definitely endured a lot, which makes it an unforgettable song.
2. “Make You Feel My Love”
It’s not a Garth Brooks original, but his version has made airwaves for this Bob Dylan piece. In 1998, the country icon was included in the soundtrack of the old film Hope Floats. The famous singer gained a nomination for the Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards. It was a classic song that was covered by over 450 performers since it was released in 1997.
3. “The Dance”
From the country star’s self-titled album of 1989, “The Dance” is a timeless tune with one of the most poetic lyrics you will ever hear. Touching and beautiful, this song is a memorable piece that celebrated the lives of social activists who made a difference in our society, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, among others. With a passionate songwriter, Tony Arata, he has written a song about uniting people and taking no account with color, gender, and religion.
4. “Friends In Low Places”
Garth Brooks is lucky when it comes to his parents. His mother was so supportive of his career that she even made a trip to a radio station just so they could hear the strong vocals of her son. The radio station loved Garth’s material from his sophomore album and included it on their playlist, which skyrocketed “Friends In Low Places” on the charts. It’s one of the riotous entries of the singer yet is a result of his talent.
5. “If Tomorrow Never Comes”
An emotional piece that we can consider as a modern classic, we bet you have heard this song on the radio wherever you are in the world. It’s part of the Sunday classics that cannot go out of style. Although it doesn’t have a radio-friendly theme as it touches on the subject of death, it’s still a favorite among listeners. The song was written by Brooks together with Kent Blazy, who tells the tale of a man who wonders what if he died in his sleep and does his wife know how much he loved her. “If Tomorrow Never Comes” became one of Garth Brooks’ signature songs after achieving the No. 1 spot on the charts.
6. “Two Pina Coladas”
On May 9, 1998, Garth Brooks made history with this chart-topping tune and was even dubbed as his most well-known song of all time. Two Pina Coladas boasted 28 weeks on the chart. Impressively, Brooks worked his magic behind this song, making it a staple for a karaoke night. It talks about a man who uses rum as a solution to his woes. An important tip: Get your dancing shoes ready before you play this song.
7. “More Than A Memory”
The country superstar has put his family first for quite some time during the height of his career. He has helped his wife raise their children, and so, he cannot record and play just as much as he used to. Some critics noted that Garth Brooks might gradually leave the limelight as trendy music style started to grow and his competitors are getting younger and younger. However, he proved them wrong when he released this jaw-dropping emotional tune “More than a Memory” that swept the charts in 2007.
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8. “The Thunder Rolls”
Because of its theme of domestic violence, this volatile song had been chased by controversy making TV companies pull out its music video from their music programs. Nonetheless, it had shown resiliency despite the challenges, which earned it an award as Video of The Year at the 1991 CMA Awards. It also became Brooks’ fifth straight No. 1 single in history. If you’re unfamiliar with its music video, the story is about a woman who’s planning to shoot her husband with a gun.
9. “Unanswered Prayers”
How would you feel if you came across your high school crush years later? That’s what Garth Brook’s hit “Unanswered Prayer” is. This song is about his encounter with his first wife, Sandy Mahl. One of his most popular recordings and a key single that made his 1990 album No Fences reach No. 3 among the albums in Billboard 200.
10. “Shameless”
The country superstar knows how to pay homage to his idols, and one of them is the fantastic Billy Joel. It’s a song about a man who’s head over heels in love with a woman. He’s willing to go all out just for love. The most remarkable performance happened in his 1991 CMA Awards performance, where roses were torn to their petals. It became the talk of the town the next day.
11. “The River”
From his 1992 album Ropin’ The Wind, Brooks has made an inspirational song out of “The River.” It’s like a gentle breeze that suddenly gives way to his powerful vocals in the chorus. The lyrics are not too shabby either, as the singer-songwriter teamed up with famous songwriter Victoria Shaw. It became Brooks’ ninth No. 1 song.
12. “Ain’t Goin’ Down Till The Sun Comes Up”
Through the years, some critics doubt Garth Brooks’ ability to sing flawlessly, like in his younger days. It’s common for other musicians to lose their musical bite, but not for Brooks. He has repeatedly proven that no matter how many decades he’s been in the industry, he still can sing and bring out emotions in people. This show is still part of his roadshow to this day.
13. “Papa Loved Mama”
It’s a toe-tapper 1992 song that brought to the limelight how lies, adultery, and murder are some things that occur in a bad relationship. Kim Williams helped make this song reach the higher positions on the charts with his impeccable lyrics. It gained No. 3 in the Billboards Hot Country Songs chart in 1991.
14. “Callin’ Baton Rouge”
It’s not an original Garth Brooks song, but he made it famous than the original. The song was released way before Brooks was famous. Originally a Dennis Linde tune, New Grass Revival and the Oak Ridge Boys has made their own rendition. It has a bluegrass-inspired sound.
15. “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”
This is the country icon’s debut song in 1989 under Capitol Records. It narrates the tale of a broken rodeo rider whose careless lifestyle took a toll on his wife, who leaves him after many years. However, it can also be a song about a traveling musician.
Now that you know about the 15 best Garth Brooks songs, what’s your favorite?
