Yes I still follow the charts and yes I still like quite a lot of songs in there although I rarely buy their parent albums (I like them in the 'put them in streaming playlists' way not in 'I gotta have them' way lol). What I have noticed lately is that I like more and more the country songs which make it into the Top 40. Examples:
Live Like We're Dying-Kris Allen
White Lier-Miranda Lambert
Consider Me Gone-Reba
Run To You & Need You Now-Lady Antebellum
Sideways-Dierks Bentley
She's Country-Jason Aldean
Whatever It Is & Toes-Zac Brown Band
American Ride-Toby Keith

Those are all great songs in my opinion. Is country the best genre currently inside the Top 40?
[Edited 1/2/10 19:16pm]

i've always been a country fan. how songs are fairing in the charts i don't know, but i've really enjoyed this past year in country music. even if some of it be country/pop. Faith Hill is one of my favourites. as is her husband Tim McGraw.Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts are also up there on my list.

Lady Antebellum
Deirks Bentley
Darius Rucker
Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood
Billy Currington
Zac Brown Band
Reba (of course)
Jason Aldean
Sugarland is alright but i can only take a song or two here and there.
Kenny Chesney is ok..but my coworker plays the heck out of him. enough.
i'm not a fan of Toby Keith and never will be.

as far as being the best in the current top 40...i guess it's just matter of opinion. but it's been the majority of what i've listened to this year. the thing with country music is that no matter what kind of music you're into, just about everyone can relate to a good love song or 'life songs' as some call it.
i think top 40 (as far as pop/r&b) has forgotten that. it's now about fast beats, no real melodies, no real messages, only talking about sex and self aggrandizing. not to be a hypocrite, because i enjoy my share of pop music...i just find myself sticking to fewer and fewer artists.





did i just geek out on my country music?
[Edited 1/2/10 19:52pm]

and the great Patsy Cline

i love this box set



3 songs that i enjoyed this year...

I really enjoy the songs I mentioned but as a European I am generally ignorant of the country scene although I like it more and more as time goes by. Who knows I might even buy my first country cd this year. Talking about the charts most of the country acts make it into the lower ranks of the Top 40 but there are always at least 3-4 country songs there. I think the Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood went Top 20 and 'Need You Now' by Lady Antebellum went Top 5 but otherwise, with the exception of Taylor Swift who I don't like much, the rest of country goes into the Top 40 but stays outside the Top 20
[Edited 1/2/10 21:13pm]