The 2024 Saving Country Music SINGLE of the Year
There are few if any other musical outfits who have so consistently shown a gift for unlocking the sheer unmitigated joy in music through a combination of talent and toil than Mike and the Moonpies. A name change to Silverada in 2024, and a slight tweak in musical style and approach were apparently incapable of impinging on the band’s unprecedented capability to put audiences in the feels, because they did so throughout the year.
In fact, when it comes to the band’s song “Eagle Rare” off their 2024 self-titled album, the minor changes in approach might have enhanced their ability to orchestrate a frenetic, euphoric moment from their already elevated level of mastery. That is why “Eagle Rare” has bested a very strong field of contenders to become the Saving Country Music Single of the Year for 2024.
This is the result of voting by you, the Saving Country Music reader, and approved from on high. To see all the Single of the Year nominees, CLICK HERE. To see the SONG of the Year winner, CLICK HERE.
And though some will chide that “Eagle Rare” isn’t really a conventional “country” song, its strength is its unconventional approach, while the message of the song perhaps embodies the idea of “saving country music” more than any of the other nominees, however subtle and open for interpretation it might be. This isn’t just a song about a brand of bourbon whiskey.
In a close 2nd place, and certainly worthy of recognition as well is Jesse Daniel’s song “Cut Me Loose” from his excellent 2024 honky tonk album Countin’ The Miles. The final track from the album produced by Jesse Daniel himself features the respective musicians “cutting loose,” and is a great example of how pound for pound, Jesse Daniel delivered more twang per square inch than anyone in 2024.
In third place is a song that wasn’t even an official nominee, but benefited from a strong write-in campaign. Zach Top’s “I Never Lie” became a late year fan favorite, and a truly viral track that has since been released to country radio, and is shooting up the charts. This track beats out Zach Top’s “Use Me,” which was nominated for both Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
Zach Top fans can’t complain too much that he lost out in the song categories. He’s been announced as Saving Country Music’s 2024 Artist of the Year.
But right here, right now, it’s time to give plaudits to Silverada, who persevered through some naysaying that coincided with the name change to prove they are still at the top of their game, and still perhaps the most underrated band in all of country music.
Silverada’s self-titled album is also nominated for Saving Country Music’s 2024 Album of the Year.
December 28, 2024 @ 9:38 am
Hell yeah! Good for them.
Love the band.
Love the song.
Love the Bourbon
Trifecta!
December 28, 2024 @ 9:39 am
Excellent choice! It has been on repeat for me since the album came out.
December 28, 2024 @ 9:41 am
Also, Trig, in bourbon circles at least, Eagle Rare is far from an obscure brand.
December 28, 2024 @ 10:04 am
It is not obscure, but in fairness Trigger drinks tiger bind wine
December 28, 2024 @ 10:11 am
I want to sincerely apologize to my constituents for mischaracterizing Eagle Rare as an obscure form of bourbon whiskey. I want everyone to know that I am committed to being a better person and I hope this moment doesn’t reflect negatively on my character. But I’m not much of a drinker, so I really don’t know dick about this topic.
December 28, 2024 @ 10:42 am
“I think I’ll buy us all a round….”
Slainte’
All in good fun, Trigger!
December 28, 2024 @ 5:43 pm
“bring me a bottle of Dickle” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
December 28, 2024 @ 10:05 am
Excellent choice! I agree with all that you’ve said, apart from the statement that Eagle Rare is an “obscure” brand of bourbon whiskey. I think that most bourbon lovers won’t agree with you! That Saïd, congratulations Silverada! It’s well deserved.
December 28, 2024 @ 11:35 am
Good choice. However, it doesn’t seem right that either 49 Winchester or Red Clay Strays are going to come up empty in 2024.
December 28, 2024 @ 12:23 pm
Both The Red Clay Strays and 49 Winchester are still nominated for Album of the Year. And even if neither win, I wouldn’t say they “came up empty.” They were nominated. The nature of these things is that you can only have one winner, but that shouldn’t be taken as an insult to everyone else. The process allows for public discussion around important artists and bands.
December 30, 2024 @ 9:52 am
Trig: My comment was not intended to be a criticism, so I am sorry if it came across that way. It was really just intended as my own commentary on how I feel about the work that 49 Winchester and RCS did this year. Everyone has their own opinions and preferences, so I get that mine will not always line up with you or with the SCM community, but for me personally, I would put them at the top of the game right now. Not a knock against Zach Top, Cody Jinks, or Mike and the Moonpies, because I enjoy all of them, but I wanted to see my favorites clean house this year.
December 28, 2024 @ 11:49 am
I respectfully disagree with this choice. There were dozens of other songs that I had on repeat this year. This was not one of those. (JMO…I’ve been wrong before.)
Was Ella Langley in the top 10?
December 28, 2024 @ 12:42 pm
This surprised me because in my opinion this is like the 5th best song on this album. I consider myself a pretty hardcore fan, and I know a lot of the other hardcores love this song, but it just doesn’t do it for me.
Radio Wave is the best song on the album, IMO.
Still, anytime Silverada gets more recognition is a great thing.
December 28, 2024 @ 10:03 pm
Yeah same. I heard them play both live before the album dropped and Radio Wave had me writing the lyrics down in my phone in case it was a cover or a deep cut I had never heard. Eagle Rare just never did it for me as a song (maybe it’s bc I sold so much of it lol). Not bad, just didn’t do it for me
December 28, 2024 @ 1:14 pm
That venue in the video is a fabulous place. It is outside of Knoxville. The barbeque is great. It is part of the Harley Davidson store which is next door.
December 28, 2024 @ 1:15 pm
I think you mean Use Me, not Tell Me, as the Zach Top song referenced.
Feel free to delete this comment.
December 28, 2024 @ 1:40 pm
Silverada is absolutely the best country band out there these days! I have had that album on repeat since it came out! We love seeing them perform Eagle Rare live!
December 28, 2024 @ 1:54 pm
Great choice. Fantastic album, another instant classic from the band. I definitely believe Eagle Rare is the song that embodies the idea of “saving country music”. Congrats to Silverada and a Well Done to Trigger!
December 28, 2024 @ 2:40 pm
And all three nominees are fantastic live, which I’ll admit always biases my decisions on favorites. Couldn’t go wrong with any of these songs
December 28, 2024 @ 2:56 pm
Over Christmas I ended up buying a bottle of Eagle Rare in a gas station in Michigan and I listened to the song again on a way to a buddy’s house. I’m surprised that this is the best single of the year. Musically I like Mike and…Silverada and a good number of their songs but they occasionally have dumb songwriting which is also the case on this song. “send a box of unlit matches”….as opposed to lit matches. Using a redundant and pointless word in the chorus is bad songwriting.
December 28, 2024 @ 6:48 pm
The songwriting made you think, now didn’t it
December 29, 2024 @ 12:01 pm
“Unlit” is not bad songwriting or redundant or pointless; it gives the mental imagery of the match being lit in the future. It’s just a less on-the-nose way of saying that he plans to strike a match. This is a very weird objection to this specific lyric that I could swear I saw you or someone else make in the SCM comments to the album when it came out.
December 29, 2024 @ 5:28 pm
I made the comment. It is pointless and rendundant because who needs to specify unlit matches? Lit matches are obviously discarded immediately and are worthless. Overall I think it’s mostly a minor gripe but bad songwriting will turn me off. I remember 8 years ago I was trying to get into red dirt country because another friend was into it and I didn’t know much of it. One day I was playing songs from a playlist and there was some Mike and the Moonpies song playing that this one friend made fun of it because they used the lyric clique of ‘New York to LA’ and I realized that this friend had a point. I’ve stated before that red dirt country’s biggest issue was it’s songwriting quality. Speaking for myself whenever I listen to music I’ve never heard on WMOT the roots/alternative station in town, I am quick to change the station if I hear what I think is a particularly dumb lyric.
I really like the ‘One to Grow On’ record’ and played it a lot. Musically I think they are great. I’m often slightly torn to give my real unfiltered opinions because I know it’s not polite but it is what I really think and I don’t believe I am the only person who has these same thoughts. Anyone who disagrees with me is going to listen to what they want to anyway so whatever.
December 29, 2024 @ 5:32 pm
” It’s just a less on-the-nose way of saying that he plans to strike a match.”
I don’t understand what you mean here.
December 28, 2024 @ 4:49 pm
Is this a joke had to be this shd be the worst song of the year for sure alot better music than this came out this past year the song makes little sense at all and the the band sound like there on a acid trip all playing different songs for real u hope this is a joke
December 28, 2024 @ 9:55 pm
Good choice. Hell of a song from one of the best records in recent memory.
December 28, 2024 @ 10:18 pm
I hadnt really listened to their music when they were the moonpies but i did give their new album a listen. There were a few good songs on there but i didnt care for this one at all. So it is what it is.
December 29, 2024 @ 4:21 am
This song conjures up visions of the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Little Feat, et al. It does not conjure up images of any form of country music at all. “Eagle Rare” is an interesting track but it is far more “southern rock” than country.
December 29, 2024 @ 4:30 am
The same as Cody Jinks’ “What You Love”: old man music by old men with old man voices. Well, if that saves country music, so be it…
Now I’m going to listen to “Alabama Stone” by the Castellows, then “Suburban Outlaw” by Maggie Antone and then “Rodeo Junkies” by Noeline Hoffman. It may not save country music, but it will save my day.
December 29, 2024 @ 8:09 am
The Castellows? If you ever find yourself in the deep South and in need of the ride, bring your headphones and expect to ride in the backseat…. I ain’t letting you anywhere near the radio.
– An old man with an old man voice
December 29, 2024 @ 8:41 am
Alright. Thanks for this advice and the possible ride. I always have headphones with me so I don’t annoy others with the music I like. And yes, I definitely want to go to the deep South at some point.
– A middle-aged man with a middle-aged voice.
December 29, 2024 @ 2:59 pm
Fair enough. Hope ya make it down our way.
December 29, 2024 @ 5:00 pm
It’s not my kind of country, but it’s listenable.
An interesting article about country Renaissance in 24′
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/2024-year-country-music-broke/
December 29, 2024 @ 5:28 pm
Eagle Rare is a very decent 10 year bourbon from Buffalo Trace. It used to be common shelf stock until the bourbon craze reached nuclear levels. Now every Tom, Dick , Harry and for that matter Karen is standing in lines that wrap around a store in hopes of getting one. I’ve got a couple sealed bottles stashed for an appropriate situation. I’ve moved in to just buying stuff that’s attainable now. A Lotta good ones out there. Tried Horse Soldier Barrel proof last night. It’s a good one! I did try Eagle Rare 17 once and it was pretty great, but you’d have better luck spotting a dodo bird than finding a bottle at MSRP in the wild!
As for the Silverada boys, I say as always about them, mighty fine band, very enjoyable music. Fun song is suppose.
December 29, 2024 @ 5:40 pm
The pint (375ml) of Eagle Rare that I found was $40. I wasn’t familiar with it but the indian man at the gas station was enthusiastic about it.
December 30, 2024 @ 7:49 am
Swing and a whiff. Fan of M&MP/Silverada, bigly. But this ain’t their best song by a mile and it ain’t even their best single on the album – Radio Wave and Wallflower. Strait has it right, there’s some clowning in the lyrics. To be positive: we can agree Eagle Rare is 1000% better than A Bar Song by Shaboozy or Texas Holdem by Beyonce or I Had Some Help by Morgan Wallen and Post Malone and any other moron-targeted dog shit being shoveled out there. So, let’s celebrate that an average grocery store steak which tastes better than tainted dog shit.
December 31, 2024 @ 10:57 am
Admittedly, I’ve never been able to get into Mike & the Moonpies, but this seems like a weak winner relative to prior years. To my untrained ears, the song just doesn’t seem to go anywhere sonically the way past winners like “Brought Me” and “Russell County Line” do. Smarter listeners may disagree (and are probably right), but part of Single of the Year should be broader appeal and something that you keep singing to yourself long after listening to the song.
I think “Yearnin’ For You” by 49 Winchester and “Outlaws and Mustangs” by Cody Jinks both would have captured the ethos of Single of the Year much better had they been nominated.