NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Great American Country) -Nearly one-third of men and women have tossed embarrassment aside to sing a love song to that special someone in their lives, according to a national survey conducted for Great American Country network (GAC). The willingness to express one's love in song is almost evenly split between male and female voices. The GAC Valentine's Day survey of 600 adults found that 31 percent of men and 33 percent of women had belted out a country classic at one time or another as a token of their love.
When asked which song best describes the feeling invoked by singing a love song, respondents chose the Elvis Presley standard 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You,' followed by Willie Nelson's 'Always on My Mind.'
Lovers-turned-singers also expressed clear preferences when asked from which country music artist they would most like to receive a love song for Valentine's Day. Men would like to hear lyrics of love from Faith Hill (49 percent), Reba McEntire (47 percent) and Shania Twain (41 percent); while women prefer Tim McGraw (61 percent), Garth Brooks (52 percent) and Kenny Chesney (41 percent).
The GAC survey proves once again that country music really is America's music of choice. Forty-two percent of those surveyed picked country music as the genre they most prefer.
As for their favorite all-time country love song, both men and women named Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' as their No. 1. Men picked Patsy Cline's classic 'Crazy' as their second-favorite love song, while women named 'If Tomorrow Never Comes,' by Garth Brooks.
The GAC Lifestyle Survey interviewed 600 adults, age 18-69. At 95 percent confidence, the margin of error is +/- 5 percent. Several survey questions allowed respondents to have multiple choices, in which case the total percentage may exceed 100 percent.
Highlights of GAC Lifestyle Survey
February 2007
All-time favorite country love songs:
Men: 'I Will Always Love You'/Dolly Parton (24 percent); 'Crazy'/Patsy Cline (21 percent)
Women: 'I Will Always Love You' (25 percent); 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'/Garth Brooks (19 percent)
Which song best describes the relationship with that special someone in your life?
Men: 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You' /Elvis Presley (35 percent); 'If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right' /Barbara Mandrell (18 percent)
Women: 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You' (35 percent); 'If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right' (16 percent)
Have you ever sung a love song to that special someone in your life?
Men: Yes 31 percent
Women: Yes 33 percent
Which song best describes your feelings when you sang to that special someone?
Men: 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You'/Elvis Presley (46 percent); 'Always on My Mind' /Willie Nelson (35 percent)
Women: 'I Can't Help Falling in Love With You' (45 percent); 'Always on My Mind' (23 percent)
Which country artist would you most like to sing you a love song for Valentine's Day?
Men: Faith Hill (49 percent), Reba McEntire (47 percent), Shania Twain (41 percent)
Women: Tim McGraw (61 percent), Garth Brooks (52 percent), Kenny Chesney (41 percent)
