November 14, 2009

Rascal Flatts' third single from the album "Unstoppable" tackles what might be the group's darkest subject yet: the loss of a friend to suicide. A delicate piano melody anchors the song's beginning and end, providing the sole support for singer Gary LeVox's voice. In between, its instrumentation widens to include somber strings, a steadfast drumbeat and finally, a piercing electric guitar during the emotional climax. LeVox matches the mood with a vocal delivery that fluctuates between fragile and commanding. Co-songwriters Robert Mathes and Allen Shamblin weave an affecting story, using music as a metaphor for life. "Who told you life wasn't worth the fight," LeVox sings. "They were wrong, they lied/And now you're gone and we cried/'Cause it's not like you to walk away in the middle of a song." —Michael Menachem

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!