When bro-country emerged more than a decade ago, it was met with mixed emotions. Some, rightfully, said it was great for the genre, with a new sound that hadn't been done before. Others, also rightfully, found it lacking depth, and also, by virtue of its name, meant a lack of airplay for female artists.
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While both points are valid, there are several bro-country songs that managed to be hits, while also surprisingly really, really good. We picked four of our favorites.
1. "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line
It was "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line that, if it didn't create the bro-country movement, it was at least very influential in making it popular. But "Cruise," unlike some other songs of the same era, was too catchy to criticize. The song, written by FGL members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, along with three other writers, stayed at the top of the charts for weeks, and became the best digital-selling song of all time.
It's hard to argue with that.
2. "That's My Kind Of Night" by Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan has been criticized by some for his bro-country songs, but he was likely laughing all the way to the bank -- literally. Bryan had several hit singles during the bro-country era, including "That's My Kind Of Night." Released in 2013, one year after "Cruise," "That's My Kind of Night" was written by three hit songwriters: Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley.
The song, like many, did tout the benefits of riding around in a pick-up truck instead of going downtown. But the melody was so catchy, and Bryan's delivery was so spot-on, it somehow also became a country music classic at the same time.
3. "Up Down" by Morgan Wallen
"Up Down" was Morgan Wallen's second single, which featured Florida Georgia Line. The song, written by HARDY, Brad Clawson and CJ Solar, was an earworm, in the best possible way. With catchy lyrics like, "We just holding it down here in BFE / Still rolling around with a burnt CD / Free Bird, five minutes deep / Head bobbing up, down, up, down, up, down," it's hard to call a song this catchy as anything but a big hit.
4. "House Party" by Sam Hunt
Country music fans of all ages can get behind Sam Hunt's "House Party." From his freshman Montevallo album, Hunt co-wrote the song with Jerry Flowers and Zach Crowell. The lyric, about literally having a party at home instead of going out, combined with the feel-good melody, helped make the song a six-time platinum hit for Hunt.
"House Party" was also a bit ironic for Hunt.
"I haven't really been to many house parties since I put out the record," he joked.
