I actually feel a little guilty dissing these 90s country classics. I know that people loved them, maybe still do. But did they deserve all the hype they generated? Sometimes when a song gets too much traction with fans, they leave their discernment behind. Are these tracks overblown or what? A fresh look is in order. Get ready, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shania Twain, Tracy Byrd, and LeAnn Rimes. Now that I have named the stellar artists who brought you these iffy 90s country classics, I feel even more reticent about talking about them so negatively - but here goes!
Videos by Wide Open Country
'Achy Breaky Heart' by Billy Ray Cyrus
I really believe that anything or anyone that gets too popular too fast comes down to Earth just as quickly. That was the case with Cyrus. For a while, he was everywhere, the new heartthrob of country music. "Achy Breaky Heart" was a 1992 crossover chart-topper from his blockbuster freshman album, Some Gave All, which went multi-platinum.. Then Cyrus was suddenly passe, mullet and all. Now he is better known as Miley's dad.
'That Don't Impress Me Much' by Shania Twain
It seemed like everyone was impressed with Twain's massive breakout album, Come On Over. "That Don't Impress Me Much" found its home on that record. It was catapulted into the stratosphere by having such a hot platform to be launched from. Twain clearly has some fun with this 1997 track, and she invites us to share it with her. It's okay - catchy, sassy, and very lively. But classic? Hmmm... That designation should be reserved for more artfully impactful material, I think.
'Watermelon Crawl' by Tracy Byrd
Cute, harmless, silly entertainment here. So what's up with this song? Per Wide Open Country, "It's the second single from Byrd's sophomore album No Ordinary Man. It hit No. 4 in the United States and No. 8 in Canada. It even spawned a dance remix that crossed over to pop radio, where it hit No. 81 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100." The tune describes a watermelon festival complete with its own signature dance. No eye-rolling, please!
'How Do I Live' by LeAnn Rimes
This Diane Warren-written song was done by LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood. Rimes' version was regarded as more pop-inflected. Yearwood's was thought by some to be more authentically country. It's a little too soap opera-style for me, although Rimes and Yearwood both handle it well.
