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“Thrilling Songs All About the Town (Part II),” features 11 ‘town’ songs courtesy of Elton John, Florida Georgia Line, Madonna, Niall Horan & Tuxedo.  

As country duo Montgomery Gentry once sang, “This is my town (Nana nan a na).” Sigh, R.I.P. Troy Gentry. Country artists are known for singing about home, hometowns, and towns a lot.  But country musicians aren’t the only ones who sing about some of the smallest places in the country, or where all the buzz is going down.  Sure, there are plenty of country musicians who appear on Thrilling Songs All About the Town (Part II), but there are also pop, R&B, and rap artists in the mix as well.  And just in case you were wondering, because there are so many town songs, we’ve split this playlist into parts.  Also, if you were wondering if this introduction sounds very familiar, it’s because it is… it sounded so good on Thrilling Songs All About the Town (Part I) that it felt only right to copy and paste. Thrilling Songs All About the Town (Part II) features 11 ‘town-centric’ songs courtesy of Elton John (“A Town Called Jubilee”), Florida Georgia Line (“Small Town”), Madonna (“Ghosttown”), Niall Horan (“This Town”), and Tuxedo (“Back in Town”).

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1. Florida Georgia Line, “Small Town”

Can’t Say I Ain’t Country • Big Machine • 2019

“I bet you been sittin’ on a John Deere tractor / Bet you been fishin’ with an old cane pole / Been cow-tippin’ in a big green pasture / Burned up a clutch on a red dirt road…” Okay… In the context of Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, the fourth studio album by country duo Florida Georgia Line, “Small Town” continues the countrification, or at least the confirmation of such.  This is a popular topic in country music, so much so that it’s become cliché.  That’s the case on “Small Town” which is harmless and inoffensive, yet nothing ‘brand-new’ in concept.

The guitars are souped-up, the twang full-throttle, and the melodic lines chocked-full of rhythm.  Maybe the most ‘innovative’ aspect is the rap, or pseudo-rap.  Does FGL have bars? Um… we’ll leave that alone.  The key reason why “Small Town” made this list? Well, it features the world ‘small’ in its title, so, it meets the criteria.  The chorus continues as follows:

“Homegrown twist, a pinch of tobacco
Shiner Friday night, the sun settin’ real slow
In the parking lot with the party crowd
Little bit of love in the truck way out
If you’re pickin’ up what I'm puttin’ down
You might be from a small town.”

“Small Town” previously appeared on the playlist, 13 Little or Small Songs That Transcend Size.

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2. CupcakKe, “Old Town Hoe (Old Town Road Remix)”

Old Town Hoe (Old Town Road Remix) [Single] • CupcakKe • 2019

“I’m gonna take your dick, put it in my hole / I’m gonna ride ‘til I can’t no more.” OMG… Brash and totally unapologetic female rapper CupcakKe has a way with words – understatement.  Yes, CupcakKe, perhaps much more than Britney Spears could ever hope to be, is simply “Not that innocent.” Ole girl knows how to put some ‘stank’ on something – rather, she knows how to over-sexualize EVERYTHING.  That’s just what she does on “Old Town Hoe,” a remix of the much cleaner number one hit by Lil Nas X, “Old Town Road”.  Yeah, CupcakKe puts Lil Nas X’s “boobies” line to shame.

From the jump, CupcakKe remains true to self, which means she’s explicit AF.  The chorus is totally sexed-up, and of course she doesn’t stop there.  On the first verse she spits, “Ride it like a horse, good brain like a dork,” and she’s not really talking about intellect… It gets worse on the second verse, which references fingering, and the fact that she “forgot to shave” – we’ll leave that at that.  In between the verses, on the refrain, CupcakKe asserts she “Keep suckin’ even when he cummin’…” There’s even more filth to be had on the third verse, but clearly, the rapper stays on-point with the “Old Town Hoe” script. Damn!

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3. Dylan Scott, “Nothing to Do Town”

Nothing to Do Town (EP) • Curb • 2019

“It ain’t New York City / And it ain’t LA / We ain’t got no rooftop bars / Like they do on Broadway.” Rising country singer Dylan Scott delivered a respectable single in 2018 with “Nothing to Do Town”.  The single appears on his 2019 EP, Nothing to Do Town, fittingly.  While “Nothing to Do Town” appeals to Scott’s fan base, it ultimately takes few risks to potentially crossover.

From the jump, “Nothing to Do Town” the country cards are revealed. Dylan Scott stays amplifies the twang and tried-and-true country cues. The rhythmic component of the record does have some appeal beyond the base, without going too far left of center.  The synths and programming incorporated in aren’t part of your father’s brand of country, so there’s that for ‘progressive spirit.’  Scott sings proficiently, checking off all boxes. There’s nothing game changing about the performance or song, but it covers a familiar script –  small town life, simple living, etc.  While it’s arguably a bit ‘middle-of-the-road,’ it’s a perfect fit for this list.

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4. Jason Aldean, “Rearview Town”

Rearview Town • Broken Bow • 2018

“It ain’t nothin’ but a rearview town / Broken hearts and rusted plows / Roots ripped right up out of the ground / Never thought I’d ever leave it.”  Jason Aldean confidently and expressively flaunts his rich, robust vocals on “Rearview Town”, the title track and second single from his 2018 album, Rearview Town. “Rearview Town” runs a respectable length, lasting just a little more than three minutes. Aldean doesn’t draw anything out or milk this record for more than it’s worth – that’s a pro. Mid-tempo, the song is set in a minor key, giving it a darker sound. After a solid, relatively poised first verse sung by Aldean, the briefer second verse grows more robust, and adds more attitude.

Expectedly, Aldean drops a catchy, memorable chorus, partially excerpted above.  The chorus continues:

“…It ain’t nothin’ what it used to be
Population minus me
On the other side of that dust cloud
Ain’t nothin’ but a rearview town.”

Worth noting, the second iteration of the chorus is followed up by a brief, somewhat predictable, but soundly executed electric guitar solo. Ultimately, “Rearview Town” meets the expectations by all means.

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5.Niall Horan, “This Town”

Flicker • Capitol • 2017

Niall Horan became the second One Direction member to issue a solo single, behind Zayn and ahead of Harry. When “This Town” arrived, it was a pleasant, thoughtful single.  Perhaps somewhat blasé from a first impression, it ultimately showcases a beautiful vocal by Horan and more mature songwriting than most pop singles. The gem from Horan’s debut album, Flicker, peaked at no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated January 14, 2017.

“This Town” smartly appears early on Flicker.  While it isn’t as exciting as the opener, “This Town” is well-written and well-performed.  The sound itself isn’t unlike the ‘singer/songwriter-oriented tracks’ from the 1D albums. Horan sounds excellent vocally, even presenting himself more subtly than some of his contemporaries.  Perhaps the main rub is a lack of a dynamic musical personality, but that same criticism could be made of 1D as well. If nothing else, “This Town” is a pleasant, more-than-suitable addition to this totally ‘towned-out’ playlist, whatever that really means.

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6. Tuxedo, “Back in Town”

Tuxedo II • Stones Throw • 2017

As much fun as it would be to “Fux With the Tux”, the profane Tuxedo song from Tuxedo II just doesn’t fit this town-centric list.  BUMMER! Luckily, the R&B duo (Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One) have another song that perfectly matches the criteria for inclusion.  Hey, we may not be able to ‘fux’ with the specific “Fux With the Tux” song, but we can ‘fux’ with “Back in Town” … something like that…. Let’s just break down the song.

“Looking at your picture / And I can’t wait / To be with you / And now it’s time to play.” Ooh-la -fuxing-la! Like the music of Mayer Hawthorne himself, or Tuxedo songs in general, “Back in Town” thrives off its funky, throwback, soulful sound and groove.  Honestly, the fact that Hawthorne is “back in town” is nothing short of glorious, not to mention sexually-charged.  Sure, on the chorus he merely mentions dancing, but if he’s back in town, you think he doesn’t want more?

“And I’m back in town
I want to dance tonight
I want to feel alright
And I’ve still got your number
And I’m back in town
I want to dance tonight
I want to feel alright
So call me on the under babe.”

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7.Madonna, “Ghosttown”

Rebel Heart • Interscope • 2015

“You’re all that I can trust / Facing the darkest days / Everyone ran away / We’re gonna stay here, we’re gonna stay here.” Okay Madonna – okay! There is and will only ever be one Madge, period.  Anytime Madonna performs or releases a new album, everybody is interested to see what the cutting-edge pop legend is going to do – specifically how she is going to reinvent herself.  While her most innovative days are in the past, the pop star has constantly proved she’s still ‘got it.’  Throughout her 2015 album Rebel Heart, Madonna continued to show why she’s still the one to beat. Where she comes to play on this list is “Ghosttown,” the third song on the album.

“Ghosttown” highlights the importance of love when everything else ceases, highlight perfectly by the aforementioned lyrical excerpt from the first verse.  She also sums things up pretty well on the chorus, the centerpiece of “Ghosttown.” “When the world gets cold, I’ll be your cover,” she sings, later adding, “When it all falls, when it all falls down / We’ll be two souls in a ghost town.”  As shocking as it might be to say, ultimately, “Ghosttown” is a pleasant and wholesome Madonna song.  Go figure.

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8. Sam Hunt, “Break Up in a Small Town”

Montevallo • MCA Nashville • 2014

“I knew she’d find a way to get over me / But I never thought that… / She would get down with somebody I know / I guess that’ just how it goes / When you break up in a small town.” One guy who aided in changing the country game is former UAB college football player Sam Hunt. No, Hunt didn’t eschew ‘tried-and-true’ country themes on his debut album Montevallo, but he did incorporate elements of various musical styles, making him sound fresh and appealing to a broader audience. Hunt was a prominent representative of the ‘new guard’ in 2014, with his nods to pop, R&B, hip-hop, and electronic music. A great example? “Break Up in a Small Town.”

“Break Up in A Small Town” has Drake written all over it.  Say what? How does Drake, a hip-hop artist, ever come anywhere close to country music? Listen to “Break Up in A Small Town” and you’ll hear how, thanks to Hunt’s experimentation. Hunt alternates between singing and speaking, and his sung portions resemble Drake’s mellow rhymes/vocals.  Another clear indicator of the influence? The rhythmic nature of the melodic lines.  As for the town connection with this playlist, well, as the aforementioned lyrical excerpt suggests, it’s not easy whatsoever to “break up in a small town.”

“But there’s only so many streets, so many lights
I swear it’s like I can’t even leave my house
I should’ve known all along
You gotta move or move o
When you break up in a small town.”

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9. Elton John, “A Town Called Jubilee”

The Diving Board • Capitol • 2013

When you hear the name Elton John, one of the first words that comes to mind is legend. John was certainly a gargantuan presence in pop and rock music back in the day – understatement.   While his commercial lucrativeness has waned, as is the case with most veteran musicians, his musical longevity remains firmly intact. The Diving Board, released in 2013, marked John’s first solo album in seven years. Working once more with lyricist Bernie Taupin, the gem from the album that appears on this list is “A Town Called Jubilee.”

“Come on little sister get up off my knee / Gonna settle down someday / In a town called Jubilee…” “A Town Called Jubilee” infuses some funkiness into The Diving Board, propelled not only by an initial groove, but also John’s bluesy piano lines.  John gets to further flex his pianistic muscles during an instrumental section.  But more than John’s keyboard skills shine, so does his voice as well as the backing vocal support he receives during the aforementioned, standout chorus. The chorus continues:

“Come on brother Jake
Break on out and break free
Going to set things right and set up a house
In a town called Jubilee.”

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10. Matchbox Twenty, “English Town”

North • Atlantic • 2012

In 2012, Matchbox Twenty reunited to deliver their highly-anticipated fourth studio album, North. North arrives ten years after their last studio album. One positive for Matchbox Twenty following so many years MIA is the fact that frontman Rob Thomas remained visible, releasing two solo albums during their hiatus. On North, the band remained true to themselves, but also crafted songs assimilating to the times. But this isn’t about North but rather, a particular song from the album, “English Town.”

“English Town” opens moodily with a mysterious, ominous sound about it.  The use of keyboard synths adds to the unique timbre, not to mention the chilly acoustic piano.  Thomas’ vocals are restrained and dark at the onset. By the chorus and successive verse, he sounds less mysterious.  It’s not the tour de force of North (that honor belongs to “She’s So Mean”) but continues to exhibit consistency from the reunited collective.

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11.Jay-Z, “Run This Town”

Ft. Kanye West & Rihanna

The Blueprint 3 • Roc Nation • 2009

“Life’s a game, but it’s not fair / I break the rules, so I don’t care / So I keep doin’ my own thang / Walkin’ tall against the rain…” There’s no better way to conclude this playlist than a big-time hip-hop hit.  Well, we could’ve selected other songs, but hey, the song at hand is pretty sick IMO. Anyways, taking it back to 2009, Jay-Z had a juggernaut on his hands with “Run This Town.” He didn’t drop the hotness without any assists of course.  Rihanna kills it on the aforementioned memorable chorus, which continues a little something like this: “Victory’s within the mile / Almost there, don’t give up now / Only thing that’s on my mind / Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight.”

Beyond Rihanna, Kanye West drops a smoking hot third verse, along with co-producing (“This the fast life, we are on a crash course / What you think I rap for, to push a fuckin’ RAV4?”).  Also, it should be noted that No I.D. co-produces as well.  But of course, the man of the hour is Hov, who shines like the boss he is on the first and second verses.  His opening line – in response to the Rihanna hook – sets the tone as he raps, “We are, yeah, I said it: we are / This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance.” Town-centric? More like Roc-centric!

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[Photo Credits: Atlantic, Big Machine, Broken Bow, Capitol, Capitol, CupcakKe, Curb, Interscope, MCA Nashville, Pexels, Pixabay, Roc Nation, Stones Throw]

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