I have heard it many times. “You are obviously Texan if you like country music.” “It is the music of poor people.” “I really hate country music.” I have heard these sayings best never really understood why. I, personally, think it is really hard to judge an entire genre of music, the same way it is difficult to judge an entire race of people. So I have devised a list of country songs that could help you like, or at the very least appreciate, country music.

1. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) by Luke Bryan
2. You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift (Yes, a throwback)
3. In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride
4. That’s My Kind of Night by Luke Bryan
5. I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes
6. Vacation by Thomas Rhett
7. House Party by Sam Hunt
8. Rock On By Thomas Beathard
9. All American Girl by Carrie Underwood
10. 10. Take Your Time by Sam Hunt
11. 11. Your Side Of The Bed by Little Big Town
12. 12. Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
13. 13. While You Loved Me by Rascal Flatts
14. 14. Burning House by Cam
15. 15. Crash My Party by Luke Bryan
16. 16. Castaway by Zac Brown Band
17. 17. Be My Girl by John & Jacob
18. 18. God’s Gonna Cut You Down by Johnny Cash
19. 19. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
20. 20. Mama’ Broken Heart by Miranda Lambert
21. 21. Girl Next Door by Brandy Clark
22. 22. It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To by Billy Currington
23. 23. Wanted by Hunter Hayes
24. 24. Crazier by Taylor Swift
25. 25. God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood
26. 26. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning by Alan Jackson
27. 27. Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker
28. 28. You Look Like I Need A Drink by Justin Monroe
29. 29. American Country Love Song by Jake Owen
30. 30. Day Drinking by Little Big Town
31. 31. She’s Got A Way With Words by Blake Shelton

Now obviously some of these songs have some more banjo or country twang (like Mama’s Broken Heart and Be My Girl) than others (like Need You Now and Wanted). Yet, I think all of these songs represent good country music for every occasion! Is it September 11^th? Play Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning! Are you spending a day outside by the lake? Play Day Drinking! Are you trying to make a long distance relationship work? Then, play I Want Crazy! There is literally no reason to hate country music especially with so many talented artists out there like Carrie Underwood or Luke Bryan. If you still don’t like country music after listening to all of these songs then keep searching because there has to be something out there that you will absolutely love!